gts018 “ships”
If you’re gonna take a long walk on a short pier, have something parked at the end!
01-01 Lebert Lombardo & Guy Lombardo Orchestra – Victor 25435 – When My Dreamboat Comes Home (1937)
— just like the Marx Brothers, there were several Lombardos, most now forgotten, just like Gummo.
01-02 Beach Boys – Pet Sounds 07 – Sloop John B (1966)
— never in my life suspected that this was a cover tune! Only this week someone enlightened me.
01-03 3rd Bass – Derelicts Of Dialect 07 – Sea Vessel Soliloquy (1991)
— one of my fave rap bands, very smart lyrics. Here they are goofing off, but on topic.
01-04 Blind Blake & The Royal Victoria Hotel Calypsos – A Second Album Of Bahamian Songs 104 – John B. Sail (Wreck Of The John B.) (1952)
— and there it is, 14 years before the Beach Boys.
01-05 Four Bitchin’ Babes – Gabby Road 06 – The Nervous Wreck Of Edna Fitzgerald (1997)
— mourn for Cleo.
02-01 Looking Glass – Looking Glass 02 – Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) (1972)
— one of FM radio’s most persistent widespread hits, last year met a guy who didn’t know the tune. I was shocked.
02-02 Blues Image – Open 06 – Ride, Captain Ride (1970)
— they didn’t wear flowers in their hair, that was the problem.
02-03 Popeye & Olive Oyl – Barnacle Bill The Sailor (1935)
— from a toon, where Bluto plays the part of Bill.
02-04 Village People – Go West 01 – In The Navy (1979)
— what would you do in a submarine? Can’t answer that anymore.
03-01 Natalie Merchant – Retrospective 206 – Birds And Ships (2005)
— short tune, great voice.
03-02 The Porkers – Hot Dog Daiquiri 14 – Schooners Of The Black (1998)
— great coincidence, was having black beer while putting this ep together. Claimed to be Germany’s No. 1 black lager, but can’t confirm that without an expensive trip.
03-03 Lyle Lovett – Pontiac 01 – If I Had A Boat (1987)
— understated, but this may be the funniest tune in this whole show.
03-04 Sex Pistols – TGRNRS 22 – Friggin’ In The Riggin’ (1979)
— had to bleep less than expected.
04-01 The Real McKenzies – Alpha Motherfuckers 24 – Sailor Man (2001)
— sounds like a good group of guys to play mumbly-peg with.
04-02 Leonard Warren & Tom Scott – Victor 10-1500B – The Drunken Sailor (1948)
— the song is of course much older than 1948, and over its long life only 1% of versions were as clean as this one.
04-03 Philip Sayce – Influence 03 – Sailin’ Shoes (2014)
— let’s get some blues rock in with the roll.
04-04 Van Morrison – Into The Mystic (1970)
— heard at Fillmore West on April 20th.
… and later at the Green Room After Party …
05-01 Andrews Sisters – Decca 3328 – Ferry-Boat Serenade (1940)
— now serving single-malts at $89.99 courtesy of Colin Jost.
05-02 Alestorm – Back Through Time 10 – Barrett’s Privateers (2011)
— who said Canadians were tame?
05-03 Boppin Steve & The Playtones – I’m On Fire 06 – I’ll Sail My Ship Alone (2001)
— heard several great versions, always willing to err on the side of rockabilly.
05-04 Doors – The Doors 03 – The Crystal Ship (1967)
— with more time, would have followed this with Jimi Hendrix, that Mary Wind tune.
05-05 Every Mother’s Son – Every Mother’s Son 01 – Come On Down To My Boat Baby (1967)
— yes a boat is surely a chick magnet, unless she has a cat named Cleo.
05-06 Iron Maiden – Powerslave 08 – Rime Of The Ancient Mariner (1984)
— muscled out 4 other tunes, but worth it. Ask anyone, me heart Coleridge.
06-01 Nina Simone – Nina Simone in Concert 03 – Pirate Jenny (1964)
— this is incorrect. Not the version from the album listed above. Have never been able to identify this one’s origin. It’s shorter and rougher, and she flubs the lyrics, but much prefer this one.
06-02 Blind Blake & The Royal Victoria Hotel Calypsos – A Second Album Of Bahamian Songs 102 – Belamena (1952)
— not only on topic, but follows well, Nina’s tune about the Black Freighter. Someday will make a tighter set with that Porkers tune.
06-03 Procul Harum – A Salty Dog 01 – A Salty Dog (1969)
— aha, always knew there was more to this band than Whiter Pale and Conquistador. Just needed a nudge to look into more.
06-04 Fats Domino – Imperial 5396 – When My Dreamboat Comes Home (1956)
— when mine comes in, the hold will be full of blueberries. No really, as a tyke gorged myself on them. My fingers looked like i just voted in Mosul.
06-05 Robert Plant – Now And Zen 07 – Ship Of Fools (1988)
— just this week learned how many bands have a tune by this name. After plenty, played this one and slotted it right in. Remember buying this LP new, and this one didn’t get much airplay but it was immediately my favorite off the disc.
06-06 Linda Ronstadt – A Retrospective 202 – Rock Me On The Water (1974)
— haha, a retrospective and she had another 4 decades of wondrous singing. Give to a Parkinson’s charity, and we may hear her again.
06-07 Bob Dylan – Enjoy Every Sandwich The Songs Of Warren Zevon 10 – Mutineer (2004)
— one of the last cuts from this ep was Bob’s 115th Dream. With this, get to apologize to him and bow to Zevon in one swoop.
06-08 Hues Corporation – Freedom For The Stallion 04 – Rock The Boat (1973)
— right, don’t rock it, there’s people trying to sleep in there!