I just downloaded this beach boys song from 1972 and was surprised to see Blondie Chaplin sings lead on it. After hearing it, maybe the Stones should play it live and give Blondie a chance to sing? thoughts. As for the song its pretty good, albeit reading about it Id barely classify it as a Beach Boys song, considering Brian wrote it, but doesnt appear on it, neither one of the two Beach Boys at the time (Carl or Dennis) sing lead. However as a song itself I like the melody, it has a nice rolling beat. Given Keefs role in Pirates, I think it would be a great song for the stones to cover and give Blondie a moment in the light.

It's on the soundtrack to THE DEPARTED btw.

Written by Almer, Kennedy & Parks:

Wikipedia:

Sail On, Sailor was the final song recorded for the 1973 Beach Boys album Holland. The song was written over a period of two years by Beach Boy Brian Wilson, along with Van Dyke Parks (Brian's lyricist for Smile), then-Beach Boys manager Jack Rieley, Ray Kennedy, and Tandyn Almer (composer of The Association's "Along Comes Mary").

When the Beach Boys submitted the original version of Holland to Warner Brothers in October 1972, the album was rejected by the company for lacking a potential hit single. After discussion among Warners executives, an associate, Van Dyke Parks, said that he had a tape of a song that he had cowritten with Brian Wilson entitled "Sail On, Sailor." Warners then told the Beach Boys to drop what the company perceieved as the weakest track, "We Got Love," and replace it with the Wilson-Parks tune. The song eventually featured contributions (some dating back from 1971) from Ray Kennedy and Tandyn Almer, and underwent some lyrical revision from Beach Boys manager Jack Rieley.

"Sail On, Sailor" was recorded in late October 1972, some time after the Beach Boys had left Holland. However, Brian Wilson was not involved at all with the song's recording sessions, leaving the basic track to be recorded by Brian's brother Carl and ex-Flame and then-Beach Boys members Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin. The lead vocal was first attempted by Dennis Wilson, who sang the vocal once before leaving to go surfing. Carl was the next to attempt a vocal, but he then suggested that Chaplin make an attempt. After two takes, Carl decided that Chaplin's vocal would feature as the lead.

"Sail On, Sailor" was released as a single in 1973, backed with "Only With You." However, the single only reached #79 on the singles charts. "Sail On, Sailor"/"Only With You" was rereleased in 1975, and ended up charting higher at #49. The song is still regarded as one of the Beach Boys' best songs of the 1970's, and one of Brian Wilson's last classic songs he wrote for the group.

Recent statements by Parks on Wilson's message board, however, suggest that the song was not really worked on by Wilson, but rather that Wilson gave him a few chords with a small melody. Parks claims that part of the reason it was so heavily stressed to be a mostly Wilson composition (indeed, Parks had to sue to gain any credits at all) is because Warner Brothers had demanded Wilson return to writing music and to the front of the band -- something Wilson was not willing to do."

Followed by a comment of Van Dyke Parks, on the authorship... Nice athmosphere, great friends they must have been... once...

[en.wikipedia.org]

Jelle

I remember seeing a live Beach Boys thing on tv, Brian introduced Sail on Sailor as a song he wrote for Ray Charles, who came on stage and sang like only Ray Charles could - and made it his own.

This link is Blondie and Waddy Wachtel's version live at the Joint.

Happy Jack Wrote:
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> I just downloaded this beach boys song from 1972
> and was surprised to see Blondie Chaplin sings
> lead on it. After hearing it, maybe the Stones
> should play it live and give Blondie a chance to
> sing? thoughts. As for the song its pretty good,
> albeit reading about it Id barely classify it as a
> Beach Boys song, considering Brian wrote it, but
> doesnt appear on it, neither one of the two Beach
> Boys at the time (Carl or Dennis) sing lead.

Brian 'doesnt appear' on quite a lot of BB songs from around the late 60's to the mid 70's, so thats nothing new. Besides, Blondie was a bonafide member of the band at the time, so its definitely a Beach Boys song (surprised at your exclusion of Al Jardine and Mike Love as band members, though! Both contributed significantly to the much underrated 'Holland' album from which this song was taken)


> However as a song itself I like the melody, it has
> a nice rolling beat. Given Keefs role in Pirates,
> I think it would be a great song for the stones to
> cover and give Blondie a moment in the light.

Its a good song for sure, but I doubt there'd be too many Stones fans clamouring for a Blondie Chaplin solo spot. There'd be about as much demand for a Charlie Watts drum solo.

Besides, Blondie doesnt care much for the song, anyway for some reason.

If you like Blondie's vocals, then I strongly recommend that you check out Leaving This Town from the Holland album.

Absolutely superb!

And Ricky Fataar is George in the Rutles. Blondie is more known for his time with the Beach Boys, or Am i wrong?

LA FORUM Wrote:
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> And Ricky Fataar is George in the Rutles.

Ricky Fataar is also the drummer in Bonnie Raitt's band.

I'm sure Brian Wilson played this at the Smile concert in Bournemouth in 2004.

I heard Blondie sing a version of Can't Find My Way Home in the lobby of the United Nations building back in the late '80's. It was a benefit put on by a loclal radio station & Jethro Tull was there as was Rick Danko from the Band. I was not familiar with Blondie but remember asking people who he was since he nailed the song vocally as well as on guitar.

I also did not realize that Blondie sang lead on this Beach Boys song till a few back. I like the tune.


ps
I think they should make Blondie a full Beach Boy.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-01-05 19:43 by schillid.

What?

I just heard that song on a live Jimmy Buffet CD

wait a sec...

Luke__you sure that wasn't son of a son of a sailor?

Best Beach Boys song ever...IMO

listen here..scroll down to song

[play.rhapsody.com]

button_your_lip Wrote:
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> Best Beach Boys song ever...IMO


its a gem, but I could think of at least twenty off the top of my head that are better

'California' from the same album for one.

button_your_lip Wrote:
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> Luke__you sure that wasn't son of a son of a
> sailor?


I'm positive......Buffet also covered Brown Eyed Girl...by Van Morrison on the same live CD

(jeeez, give me a little more credit than that Ms. Bat_Outta_Lip)

Thanks gazza, will hit limewire today...actually after I made that post, I listened to California Feeling or something like that..not bad.


Gazza Wrote:
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> button_your_lip Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Best Beach Boys song ever...IMO
>
>
> its a gem, but I could think of at least twenty
> off the top of my head that are better
>
> 'California' from the same album for one.

Look here "mr.ishouldbestudyinginsteandofplayingontheboard"


scuseeeeeeeeeeee me!!

bat outta lip...LOL


Lukester Wrote:
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> button_your_lip Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Luke__you sure that wasn't son of a son of a
> > sailor?
>
>
> I'm positive......Buffet also covered Brown Eyed
> Girl...by Van Morrison on the same live CD
>
> (jeeez, give me a little more credit than that Ms.
> Bat_Outta_Lip)

button_your_lip Wrote:
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> Thanks gazza, will hit limewire today...actually
> after I made that post, I listened to California
> Feeling or something like that..not bad.


No..thats not it....theres a 'california saga' trilogy of songs on that album - the final one, just called 'california' is the one to get. Theres also an alternative mix of it released as a single which is on the 'Best of the beach Boys 1970-86 - The Brother Years" CD



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-01-05 21:59 by Gazza.

Great..thanks!

I seen Blondie Chaplin playing guitar for Mick Taylor in a club outside Philadelphia in the early 90's, when Blondie toured with MT. Blondie sang backup all night and was pretty good on guitar.

button_your_lip Wrote:
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> Look here
> "mr.ishouldbestudyinginsteandofplayingontheboard"
>
>
> scuseeeeeeeeeeee me!!
>
> bat outta lip...LOL
>
>
> Lukester Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > button_your_lip Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Luke__you sure that wasn't son of a son of a
> > > sailor?
> >
> >
> > I'm positive......Buffet also covered Brown
> Eyed
> > Girl...by Van Morrison on the same live CD
> >
> > (jeeez, give me a little more credit than that
> Ms.
> > Bat_Outta_Lip)


Hey at least he didn't call you the Lip_Outta_Hell(ouch)

For the record. My favorite Beach Boys songon't Worry Baby.

I feel like we are playing Tag..yer IT.

I loved the Beach Boys growing up and being a native Californian.

button_your_lip Wrote:
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> I feel like we are playing Tag..yer IT.
>
> I loved the Beach Boys growing up and being a
> native Californian.


No your it!

hmmmmmmmmmmmm......I've always been partial to Little Deuce Coupe

The Beach Boys' Holland LP (featuring Sail On Sailor) was critically acclaimed back in '73. I think Rolling Stone named it as the album of the year. Too lazy to get up and walk over the the closet and find the issue featuring their picks from that year.

The whole "Beach Boys In Concert" album (the one recorded in '72/'73) is great - they really rocked during the Blondie/Ricky years. And the album kicks off with a great "Sail On, Sailor", too.

I think I read somewhere that Blondie got kicked out of the band for being drunk onstage - kind of ironic considering his current role these days!