By dipping into Janszoon's Vinyl thread, I found a song that was new to me:-
It made me think that ships, ocean voyages
* have been a popular theme in music for the longest time. What songs can you think of? Don't worry if they're not as powerful as Janszoon's (indirect) choice - mine certainly isn't:-
* oops! And river voyages too - rivers, lakes, boating ponds. I'm sure you get the idea.
The Book of Knots—"Back on Dry Land"A great song about life at sea from a whole amazing album about life at sea.
Do submarines count as ships?
And also that Enya track takes me back to my 90s childhood in the best way. My mom owned one of those Pure Moods compilations they used to run ads for late at night in the mid to late 90s and that track was on there.
Was very cool to actually own the synthesizer she used on that song, my old Roland D-50; the main pluck sound is a preset sound on it.
This was the first one I thought of...
Gordon Lightfoot - Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Jimmy Buffett—"Son of a Son of a Sailor"I know old Jimmy is probably not a popular artist around these parts, but this really is a great song. Bittersweet and mellow, with a great use of a ship bell.
Brian Eno's twenty-fifth solo album is titled,
The Ship and is a glacially-paced meditative ambient feature.
It rewards carefully and considered listening, and the "I'm Set Free" nod to the VU is a nice album closer.
I doubt anyone's interested, but I first thought of this (https://youtu.be/dD8C7NI15zM?si=h89lYLq5ivcD6mHe) old Norwegian classic about a steamboat called Dampen 😄
Related to the topic, I like Gentle Giant's Wreck:
It's got some great lyrics and is about the people who make their living from the sea and who eventually meet a watery end.
Also thought of a few more, with this one among them:
Privateering was a thing here in the South of Norway as well and there were quite a few ships back in the day in the town we live in.
A place we usually visit during summer is small, old community that was basically made from wealth from privateering.
It looks like this: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PGo3TZATbJanHpGGpGl5MFph8vpzuO4I/view?usp=drivesdk
Another obvious one that came to my mind...
The Beach Boys - Sloop John B.
Thanks for some nice and nasty nautical numbers, for some tasty tidal tunes !
Quote from: Janszoon on Feb 14, 2024, 04:17 AMThe Book of Knots—"Back on Dry Land"
A great song about life at sea from a whole amazing album about life at sea.
^ I'll definitely be checking out that album on the strength of the song you posted, Janszoon. :thumb:
Quote from: Lexi Darling on Feb 14, 2024, 01:33 PMDo submarines count as ships?
^ I'm guessing that submarines will never get a thread of their own on SCD, so sure, they are welcome here, Lexi !
I'm glad Orinoco Flow brought back some good memories for you. That's something we all need to do - remember our good times more.
Quote from: Psy-Fi on Feb 14, 2024, 01:46 PMThis was the first one I thought of...
Gordon Lightfoot - Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
^ That was the song that prompted me to discover the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Good call! Here's another true nautical story song that I'm sure you know:-
And here are a couple of other songs I've thought of:-
^ That isn't a very nautical song: it's just got the metaphor of the title, so perhaps barely deserves to be here.
Neil Young's song is more literal, with some nice boaty images, but is unfortunately way too short:-
...while Procul Harem came up with a beautifully mysterious voyage, and song:-
Since we're including songs about submarines, then here's the most obvious one of all...
The Beatles - Yellow Submarine
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 14, 2024, 11:54 PMI doubt anyone's interested, but I first thought of this (https://youtu.be/dD8C7NI15zM?si=h89lYLq5ivcD6mHe) old Norwegian classic about a steamboat called Dampen 😄
I dig this. Of course I have no idea what he's saying, but I like the melody and the mood of it.
@Paul Smeenus His Last Voyage is brilliant as well. Great song from a great album!
Quote from: Janszoon on Feb 15, 2024, 09:32 PMI dig this. Of course I have no idea what he's saying, but I like the melody and the mood of it.
Oh cool! 😊 The lyrics are basically about the life and eventual death of Dampen, an old steamboat with a bell that goes dingelingelingelingelingelingeling.
A song I think of as kinda ridiculous in an overblown way, but also kinda fun, is Richard Harris' I am the Sea.
Maybe that was the sort of music that inspired Monty Python's very punny Accountancy Shanty.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 15, 2024, 10:45 PMA song I think of as kinda ridiculous in an overblown way, but also kinda fun, is Richard Harris' I am the Sea.
Maybe that was the sort of music that inspired Monty Python's very punny Accountancy Shanty.
Neither of those videos are available for me. :(
Quote from: Janszoon on Feb 15, 2024, 10:55 PMNeither of those videos are available for me. :(
or me
Nor me three. Probably a regional thing.
Goddamn regional content. Maybe this Accountancy Shanty works?
Couldn't find another Youtube version of I am the Sea, but here's a Google search link (https://www.google.com/search?q=richard+harris+%22i+am+the+sea%22) for the song which should bring up hits on various streaming services.
@Janszoon, Paul S and Lexi: you guys need to move to Mexico, as Guybrush's clips opened here, no prob.
"
Sailing On The Wide Accountan-Sea" was not the direction I expected this thread to take. :laughing:
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You know how sometimes you remember a song as being good, but when you revisit it you are disappointed? That's how
The Ella B was for me yesterday:-
It's ok, but a boat song that devotes so many lines to reciting the on-board menu just doesn't convey the romance of a river trip the way I want.
Quote from: Lisnaholic on Feb 16, 2024, 02:27 PM@Janszoon, Paul S and Lexi: you guys need to move to Mexico, as Guybrush's clips opened here, no prob.
After my experience there in September, I'm confident in saying that I would melt.
Quote from: Lisnaholic on Feb 16, 2024, 02:27 PM@Janszoon, Paul S and Lexi: you guys need to move to Mexico, as Guybrush's clips opened here, no prob.
I've been getting back into wearing makeup these days, and if the climate is anything like that of the Caribbean, then I will echo Janszoon's post, haha.
Aaron does actually speak Spanish, but unless Mexico sells way better antiperspirant setting spray, he'd have to be prepared to preface every conversation with "Por favor, disculpe la pizza de queso fundido en la cara de mi esposa." :laughing:
I don't think I know off the top of my head any songs with ship references.
I think, Lisna, that you liked J-L Ponty's Enigmatic Ocean but it could have been Imaginary Voyage, Can't remember which one.
So I went with Camel's Lunar Sea instrumental. Richard Sinclair on bass for this one.
Not exactly a ship reference, but I know of at least a couple of Trawlerman's songs. One of them is Vashti Bunyan's.
And Kula Shaker's Hurricane Season is about a seafarer against the elements.
Quote from: Saulaac on Feb 16, 2024, 11:52 PMI don't think I know off the top of my head any songs with ship references.
I think, Lisna, that you liked J-L Ponty's Enigmatic Ocean but it could have been Imaginary Voyage, Can't remember which one.
So I went with Camel's Lunar Sea instrumental. Richard Sinclair on bass for this one.
Love that performance. Those lush 70s analog string synths have such an ear-tickling sound.
Quote from: Saulaac on Feb 16, 2024, 11:52 PMI don't think I know off the top of my head any songs with ship references.
I think, Lisna, that you liked J-L Ponty's Enigmatic Ocean but it could have been Imaginary Voyage, Can't remember which one.
So I went with Camel's Lunar Sea instrumental. Richard Sinclair on bass for this one.
That you remembered my comment at all is very flattering, Saulaac. Thanks.
Quote from: Lexi Darling on Feb 17, 2024, 01:37 AMLove that performance. Those lush 70s analog string synths have such an ear-tickling sound.
^ Yes, I was going to say that the synths at 3 mins in were the highlight, but Saulaac's clip has highlights all the way through it.
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 17, 2024, 12:49 AMNot exactly a ship reference, but I know of at least a couple of Trawlerman's songs. One of them is Vashti Bunyan's.
That song is just beautiful, and perhaps overshadows what comes next - but Kula Shaker (completely new name to me) also sounds very interesting.
________________________________
Here's a song I love that obliquely paints a portrait of an old sailor:
Some Old Salty. Lyrics attached if anyone is curious.
Spoiler
Lyrics
Some old salty, how he used to rock me.
Jelly roll or Jerry Lee, how he used to rock me.
Salt fare, North Sea,
Weird stare. Further than the eye can see.
He had a head like a toy shop, bow legged stance off,
Must have been the rolling sea.
Some old salty, how he used to rock me.
Jelly roll or Jerry Lee, how he used to rock me.
Hull Fair waltzers, bopping to Brenda Lee.
River boat jazz cruise, jiving to the Two-Nineteen.
Some old salty, how he used to rock me.
Jelly roll or Jerry Lee, how he used to rock me.
Down there for dancing, come on Mr Chester please.
Play "Deliah's gone" for one more round, some old Salty's on his feet.
Some old salty, how he used to rock me.
Jelly roll or Jerry Lee, how he used to rock me.
Salt fare, North Sea,
Weird stare. Further than the eye can see.
He had a head like a toy shop, bow legged stance off,
Must have been the rolling sea.
Some old salty, how he used to rock me.
Jelly roll or Jerry Lee, how he used to rock me.
Down "The Abercrombie"
Quote from: Lisnaholic on Feb 17, 2024, 03:03 AMThat song is just beautiful, and perhaps overshadows what comes next - but Kula Shaker (completely new name to me) also sounds very interesting.
Yes, I have a book, Electric Eden I believe the title was, about folk artists from the British isles. Artists like Nick Drake, Steeleye Span, Trees, Heron and Forest.
It also recounts the story of Vashti. You probably know it but for anyone else; I believe she travelled up north to Scotland with a horse cart to live in a commune. She tried playing at pubs, but hardly sings above a whisper, so that didn't quite work out. Her music was better recorded and she had help from some prominent people in the biz. However, she didn't pursue the life of professional artist, so that one album was all we got until she was rediscovered in the 2000s. I believe internet and music sharing gave her album a second wind and her another chance at being a recording artist. She's put out two more albums after that, I believe in 2005 and 2014.
Kula Shaker is the more famous of the two. I remember I got some flak for liking them when I signed up on MB (supposedly, they weren't very good live at some point?) but they had some bangers (imo) 🙂
Edit:
Also, adding more to this thread, no one's posted Mountain's Mississippi Queen yet!
Speaking of Mississippi...
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river.
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary (Live At The Royal Albert Hall)
^ True to form, that song is a real rocker from Mountain !
EDIT: ditto
Proud Mary, Psy-Fi. How could we have forgotten such a great song until now?!
Quote from: Guybrush on Feb 18, 2024, 07:44 AMYes, I have a book, Electric Eden I believe the title was, about folk artists from the British isles. Artists like Nick Drake, Steeleye Span, Trees, Heron and Forest.
It also recounts the story of Vashti. You probably know it but for anyone else; I believe she travelled up north to Scotland with a horse cart to live in a commune. She tried playing at pubs, but hardly sings above a whisper, so that didn't quite work out. Her music was better recorded and she had help from some prominent people in the biz. However, she didn't pursue the life of professional artist, so that one album was all we got until she was rediscovered in the 2000s. I believe internet and music sharing gave her album a second wind and her another chance at being a recording artist. She's put out two more albums after that, I believe in 2005 and 2014.
Actually, I don't know anything about Vashti Bunyan, so your brief summary was interesting for me. Thanks.
Sadly he doesn't post here or on MB, but I remember exploring some of the lesser known names in bold, above, with Neapolitan, who is another much missed poster, imo.
Of course English folk is just full of nautical songs, but I promised myself that I wouldn't clog up this thread with too many sea shanties, etc. By way of compromise, I'm putting a couple of not-so-standard songs in this spoiler:-
Spoiler
:-[ cant recall how you post the music links.... :-X
https://youtu.be/lP90c0Gy_sM?si=2Uo8UVl1e-vgr3GP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PnXcP8ZI7M
its got ship in the name 8)