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Sloop John B

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The John B. Sails
Traditional song
Sailboats off Nassau, Bahama Islands, c. 1900.
Other name
  • I Want to Go Home
  • Wreck of the John B.
  • Sloop John B
  • Hoist Up The John B Sails

"Sloop John B" (originally published as "The John B. Sails") is a Bahamian folk song from Nassau. A transcription by Richard Le Gallienne was published in 1916, and a version was included in Carl Sandburg's The American Songbag in 1927. Since the early 1950s there have been many recordings of the song with variant titles including "I Want to Go Home" and "Wreck of the John B".

The 1966 folk rock adaptation by the Beach Boys was produced and arranged by bandleader Brian Wilson and served as the lead single off their 11th studio album, Pet Sounds. The song peaked at number three in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number two in the UK, and number one in several other countries. It remains one of the group's most successful recordings of their mid-1960s period, containing an elaborate a cappella vocal section not found in other pop music of the era.[1]

In 2011, the Beach Boys' version of "Sloop John B" was ranked No. 276 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[2]

Earliest publications

"The John B. Sails" (3:25)
Banjo/vocal performance of the song.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"The John B. Sails" was transcribed by Richard Le Gallienne, with five verses and the chorus published in his article “Coral Islands and Mangrove-Trees” in the December 1916 issue of Harper’s Monthly Magazine (pp. 81–90). The first two verses and chorus were also published in Chapter IV of Gallienne's 1917 novel Pieces of Eight.[3]

Carl Sandburg included the first three verses and chorus of "The John B. Sails" in his 1927 collection of folksongs, The American Songbag. He states that he collected it from John T. McCutcheon (a political cartoonist from Chicago) and his wife, Evelyn Shaw McCutcheon, who at the time owned Blue Lagoon Island, a Cay off of Nassau. The McCutcheons told him:

Time and usage have given this song almost the dignity of a national anthem around Nassau. The weathered ribs of the historic craft lie imbedded in the sand at Governor's Harbor, whence an expedition, especially sent up for the purpose in 1926, extracted a knee of horseflesh and a ring-bolt. These relics are now preserved and built into the Watch Tower, designed by Mr. Howard Shaw (ed. note: Evelyn Shaw McCutcheon's father) and built on our southern coast a couple of points east by north of the star Canopus.

The Beach Boys version

Arrangement

"Sloop John B"
Single by The Beach Boys
from the album Pet Sounds
B-side"You're So Good to Me"
ReleasedMarch 21, 1966 (US)
April 15, 1966 (UK)
RecordedJuly 12 (12-07)–December 29, 1965 (1965-12-29)
StudioUnited Western Recorders, Hollywood
Genre
Length2:59
LabelCapitol 5602
Songwriter(s)Traditional, arranged by Brian Wilson
Producer(s)Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys singles chronology
"Barbara Ann"
(1965) 		"Sloop John B"
(1966) 		"Wouldn't It Be Nice"
(1966)
Music video
"Sloop John B" on YouTube
Audio sample

The Kingston Trio's 1958 recording of "The John B. Sails" was recorded under the title "The Wreck of the John B."[8] It was the direct influence on the Beach Boys' version. The Beach Boys' Al Jardine was a keen folk music fan, and he suggested to Brian Wilson that the Beach Boys should record the song. As Jardine explains:

Brian was at the piano. I asked him if I could sit down and show him something. I laid out the chord pattern for 'Sloop John B.' I said, 'Remember this song?' I played it. He said, 'I'm not a big fan of the Kingston Trio.' He wasn't into folk music. But I didn't give up on the idea. So what I did was to sit down and play it for him in the Beach Boys idiom. I figured if I gave it to him in the right light, he might end up believing in it. So I modified the chord changes so it would be a little more interesting. The original song is basically a three-chord song, and I knew that wouldn't fly.

Jardine updated the chord progression by having the subdominant (D♭ major) move to its relative minor (B♭ minor) before returning to the tonic (A♭ major), thus altering a portion of the song's progression from IV — I to IV — ii — I. This device is heard immediately after the lyric "into a fight" and "leave me alone".

So I put some minor changes in there, and it stretched out the possibilities from a vocal point of view. Anyway, I played it, walked away from the piano and we went back to work. The very next day, I got a phone call to come down to the studio. Brian played the song for me, and I was blown away. The idea stage to the completed track took less than 24 hours.[9]

Wilson elected to change some lyrics: "this is the worst trip since I've been born" to "this is the worst trip I've ever been on", "I feel so break up" to "I feel so broke up", and "broke up the people's trunk" to "broke in the captain's trunk". The first lyric change has been suggested by some to be a subtle nod to the 1960s psychedelia subculture.[2][10][11]

Context in Pet Sounds

"Sloop John B" closes the first side of Pet Sounds, an album commonly interpreted as a romantic and introspective concept album. This decision is argued by many to contradict the album's lyrical flow, as author Jim Fusilli explains: "It's anything but a reflective love song, a stark confession or a tentative statement of independence like the other songs on the album. And it's the only song on Pet Sounds Brian didn't write." However, Fusilli posits that the track fits musically with the album, citing the track's chiming guitars, doubletracked basses, and staccato rhythms.[12]

Author Jim DeRogatis suggested that the song does fit in the album due to its key lyric "I want to go home" reflecting other songs themed around an escape to somewhere peaceful — namely "Let's Go Away for Awhile" and "Caroline, No".[13]

Recording

The instrumental section of the song was recorded on July 12, 1965, at United Western Recorders, Hollywood, California, the session being engineered by Chuck Britz and produced by Brian Wilson. The master take of the instrumental backing took fourteen takes to achieve.

The vocal tracks were recorded over two sessions. The first was recorded on December 22, 1965, at Western Recorders, produced by Wilson. The second, on December 29, added a new lead vocal and Billy Strange's 12-string electric guitar part. Jardine explained that Wilson "lined us up one at a time to try out for the lead vocal. I had naturally assumed I would sing the lead, since I had brought in the arrangement. It was like interviewing for a job. Pretty funny. He didn't like any of us. My vocal had a much more mellow approach because I was bringing it from the folk idiom. For the radio, we needed a more rock approach. Wilson and Mike ended up singing it."[14] On the final recording, Brian Wilson sang the first and third verses and Mike Love sang the second.

Kent Hartman, in his book The Wrecking Crew, described Billy Strange's contribution to the song. Brian Wilson called Strange into the studio one Sunday, played him the rough recording, and told him he needed an electric twelve-string guitar solo in the middle of the track. When Strange replied that he did not own a twelve string, Wilson responded by calling Glenn Wallichs, the head of Capitol Records and owner of Wallichs Music City. A Fender Electric XII and Twin Reverb amplifier were quickly delivered (despite the shop they were ordered from being closed on Sundays), and Strange recorded the guitar part in one take. Wilson then gave Strange $2,000 to cover the cost of the equipment.[15]

Personnel

Per Alan Boyd and Craig Slowinski,[16] except where otherwise noted.

The Beach Boys

Additional musicians and production staff

Release history

A music video set to "Sloop John B" was filmed for the UK's Top of the Pops, directed by newly employed band publicist Derek Taylor. It was filmed at Brian's Laurel Way home with Dennis Wilson acting as cameraman.[18]

The single, backed with the B-side "You're So Good to Me", was released on March 21, 1966. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart on April 2, and peaked at No. 3 on May 7, remaining on the chart, in total, for 11 weeks. It charted highly throughout the world, remaining as one of the Beach Boys' most popular and memorable hits. It was No. 1 in Germany, Austria, and Norway—all for five weeks each—as well as Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, South Africa, and New Zealand. It placed No. 2 in the UK, Ireland (where it was the group's highest charting single), Canada, and in Record World. It was the fastest Beach Boys seller to date, moving more than half a million copies in less than two weeks after release.[19] It had a three-week stay at number 1 in the Netherlands, making it the "Hit of the Year".[20]

In 1968, the recording's instrumental was released on Stack-O-Tracks. Along with sessions highlights, the box set The Pet Sounds Sessions includes two alternate takes, one with Carl Wilson singing lead on the first verse, and one with Brian singing all parts.[citation needed]

In 2016, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Pet Sounds, Brian Wilson and his touring band (including Al Jardine) performed "Sloop John B" live at Capitol Studios.[21]

  • In many Jewish communities, the Shabbat table song "D'ror Yikra" is sometimes sung to the tune of "Sloop John B" because of its similar meter.[22]

Television and film

  • 1966 – Dr. Miguelito Loveless, in the TV series The Wild Wild West sang a version of this in a duet with Antoinette in the episode titled "The Night of the Raven" (original air date 30 September 1966).
  • 1967 – Bill Mumy as Will Robinson and Marta Kristen as Judy Robinson, sang a version of this song in the "Castles in Space" episode of the TV series Lost in Space (original air date 20 December 1967).
  • c. 1980 – The phrase and melody of "I Want To Go Home" appeared on a drunk driving Public Service Announcement on Los Angeles area television stations in a humorous ad depicting golf balls with the intoxicated driver as the ball rolling erratically and singing the phrase, being pursued by a plain white ball with a single black stripe accompanied by a siren sound effect.
  • 1994 – Featured in the film Forrest Gump, when Forrest first arrives in Vietnam.
  • 1999 - Featured in the closing scene of Season 1, Episode 18 of Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night (ABC Television)
  • 2000 – In the film Glory Glory, the piano player in the bar is playing "Sloop John B" as the main characters are flirting with the posse.
  • 2003 – In the film Calendar Girls, the Beach Boys instrumental track is used as the press swoops down on the little village of Knapely after the calendar comes out.
  • During the BBC programme Three Men in Another Boat with Griff Rhys Jones, Dara Ó Briain and Rory McGrath, McGrath is heard singing the popular song whilst out sailing in the English Channel.[citation needed]
  • 2007 – In the film Full of It, the main character Sam and his family sing the song while driving Sam to school.
  • 2009 – A choral arrangement was performed in episode 3 of the BBC Drama All the Small Things. It was arranged by Colin Hanson-Orr and Chris O'Hara.
  • 2013 – The film The Wolf of Wall Street prominently features the cover of "Sloop John B" by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.

English football

It has been popular amongst English football fans since the mid-2000s. It was adopted by the supporters of English non-league team F.C. United of Manchester as a club anthem in 2007.[23][24]

Since then more high-profile teams have followed suit, usually with different lyrics for their own teams, including Watford, with Newcastle, Blackpool, Middlesbrough and Hull also adopting the song as their own. It was sung by Phil Brown,[25] the manager of Hull City FC, shortly after Hull had avoided relegation from the Premier League in 2009.

The tune from the song's chorus is often sung with alternative lyrics, particularly "He scores when he wants", "You know what you are" and "We know what we are".

List of recordings

All versions titled "Sloop John B", except where noted.

1930s
  • 1935 - Cleveland Simmons Group - "Histe Up the John B. Sail" (recorded by folklorist Alan Lomax in the Bahamas)[citation needed]

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Chart history

References

  1. ^ Moskowitz 2015, p. 43.
  2. ^ a b "Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time". April 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Le Gallienne, Pieces of Eight, p. 30: " 'And you, boys, there; haven't you got a song you can put up? How about 'The John B. sails?' ' And I led them off, the hiss and swirl of the sea, and the wind making a brisk undertone as we sang one of the quaint Nassau ditties."
  4. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Great Moments in Folk Rock: Lists of Aunthor Favorites". www.richieunterberger.com. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  5. ^ Scullati, Gene (September 1968). "Villains and Heroes: In Defense of the Beach Boys". Jazz & Pop. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  6. ^ Perlmutter, Adam (May 9, 2016). "'Sloop John B' Has Seen a Sea Change Throughout the Years". Acoustic Guitar.
  7. ^ https://variety.com/2021/music/news/tiktok-sea-shanties-beach-boys-sloop-john-b-1234886841/
  8. ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 18 - Blowin' in the Wind: Pop discovers folk music. [Part 1]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  9. ^ The Pet Sounds Sessions: "The Making Of Pet Sounds" booklet, pg. 25-26
  10. ^ Matthew, Jacobs (April 16, 2013). "LSD's 70th Anniversary: 10 Rock Lyrics From The 1960s That Pay Homage To Acid". Huffington Post.
  11. ^ Mojo Staff (April 24, 2015). "The Beach Boys' 50 Greatest Songs". MOJO.
  12. ^ Fusilli, Jim (2005). Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4411-1266-8.
  13. ^ DeRogatis, Jim (2003). Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-634-05548-5.
  14. ^ The Pet Sounds Sessions: "The Making Of Pet Sounds" booklet, pg. 26
  15. ^ Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best Kept Secret. Thomas Dunne. pp. 149–151. ISBN 9780312619749. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  16. ^ Boyd, Alan; Slowinski, Craig (2016). "Pet Sounds Sessionography". Pet Sounds (CD Liner). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records.
  17. ^ a b c d http://www.beachboysarchives.com/mobilepage.php?pagenumber=10
  18. ^ *Badman, Keith (2004). The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band, on Stage and in the Studio. Backbeat Books. pp. 130–31. ISBN 978-0-87930-818-6.
  19. ^ Murrels, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Disks. Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN 978-0214205125.
  20. ^ "The Beach Boys – Sloop John B". Single Top 100. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  21. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx5PVjsRamk&ab
  22. ^ Alt Miller, Yvette (2011). Angels at the Table: A Practical Guide to Celebrating Shabbat. London: Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 274. ISBN 978-1441-12397-8. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  23. ^ Conn, David (May 9, 2007). "FC United rise and shine on a sense of community". The Guardian. London.
  24. ^ FC United of Manchester - Sloop John B Retrieved 09-21-11
  25. ^ Phil Brown singing Sloop John B
  26. ^ https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/19791
  27. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy1nPA9tBjQ
  28. ^ https://open.spotify.com/track/109F6LaqJqhKYVLXI4CgGY
  29. ^ "The Beach Boys – Sloop John B" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  30. ^ "The Beach Boys – Sloop John B" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  31. ^ "The Beach Boys – Sloop John B" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  32. ^ "The Beach Boys – Sloop John B" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  33. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sloop John B". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  34. ^ "The Beach Boys – Sloop John B" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  35. ^ "The Beach Boys – Sloop John B". VG-lista.
  36. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  37. ^ "The Official Charts Company - God Only Knows by The Beach Boys Search". The Official Charts Company. 4 April 2014.
  38. ^ "The Beach Boys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  39. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, May 14, 1966". Archived from the original on May 30, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  40. ^ The 100 Best-Selling Singles of 1966
  41. ^ Musicoutfitters.com
  42. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 24, 1966". Archived from the original on February 17, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
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