Sloop John B

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Template:Short description

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The John B. Sails
Traditional song
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Nassau Harbor after 1877, Albert Bierstadt, de Young Museum, San Francisco
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  • I Want to Go Home
  • Wreck of the John B.
  • Sloop John B
  • Hoist Up The John B Sails
StyleFolk
LanguageEnglish
Published1916

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"Sloop John B" (Roud 15634, originally published as "The John B. Sails") is a Bahamian folk song from Nassau. A transcription was published in 1916 by Richard Le Gallienne, and Carl Sandburg included a version in his The American Songbag in 1927. There have been many recordings of the song since the early 1950s, with variant titles including "I Want to Go Home" and "Wreck of the John B".

In 1966, American rock band the Beach Boys recorded a folk rock adaptation that was produced and arranged by Brian Wilson and released as the second single from their album Pet Sounds. The record peaked at number three in the U.S., number two in the UK, and topped the charts in several other countries. It was innovative for containing an elaborate a cappella vocal section not found in other pop music of the era, and it remains one of the group's biggest hits.[1]

In 2011, the Beach Boys' version of "Sloop John B" was ranked number 276 on Rolling StoneTemplate:'s list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[2]

Earliest publications

"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.[3] Gallienne published the first two verses and chorus in his 1917 novel Pieces of Eight.[4] The lyrics describe a disastrous voyage on a sloop, with the vessel plagued by drunkenness and arrests and a pig eating the narrator's food.

Carl Sandburg included the first three verses and chorus of "The John B. Sails" in his 1927 collection The American Songbag. He states that he collected it from John T. McCutcheon, a political cartoonist from Chicago. McCutcheon told him:

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"The John B. Sails" (3:25)
Banjo/vocal performance of the song.
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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 and built on our southern coast a couple of points east by north of the star Canopus.

The Beach Boys version

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"Sloop John B"
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U.S. picture sleeve
Template:Infobox song/link by the Beach Boys
from the album Pet Sounds
B-side"You're So Good to Me"
ReleasedMarch 21, 1966
RecordedJuly 12 – December 29, 1965 (1965-07-12 – 1965-12-29)
StudioUnited Western, Hollywood
Genre
LengthScript error: No such module "hms".
LabelCapitol
[[Songwriter|SongwriterTemplate:Pluralize from text]]Traditional, arranged by Brian Wilson
[[Record producer|ProducerTemplate:Pluralize from text]]Brian Wilson
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"Barbara Ann"
(1965) 		"Sloop John B"
(1966) 		"Wouldn't It Be Nice"
(1966)
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Arrangement

The Kingston Trio's 1958 recording of "The John B. Sails" was recorded under the title "The Wreck of the John B."[9] 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:

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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".

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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.[10]

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][11][12]

Recording

The instrumental section of the song was recorded on July 12, 1965, at United Western Recorders, Hollywood, California. The session was engineered by Chuck Britz and produced by Brian Wilson. The master take of the instrumental backing took fourteen takes to achieve. Wilson's arrangement blended rock and marching band instrumentation with the use of flutes, glockenspiel, bass saxophone, bass, guitar, and drums.[13]

The vocal tracks were recorded over two sessions. The first was recorded on December 22, 1965, at Western Recorders and 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 [Love] 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 gave Strange $2,000 to cover the cost of the equipment.[15]

Single release

A music video for "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.[16]

The single, backed with the song "You're So Good to Me", was released on March 21, 1966 in the US and on April 15, 1966 in the UK. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart on April 2 and peaked at Template:Numero on May 7, remaining on the chart for a total of 11 weeks. It charted highly throughout the world, and remained one of the Beach Boys' most popular and memorable hits. It was Template:Numero in Germany, Austria, and Norway, all for five weeks each, as well as Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, South Africa, and New Zealand. It was placed Template:Numero in the UK, Ireland (where it remained 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.[17] It had a three-week stay at number 1 in the Netherlands, making it the "Hit of the Year".[18]

Cash Box described the single as a "topflight adaptation" that treated "the folk oldie in a rhythmic, effectively-building warm-hearted rousing style."[19] Record World said that "The Beach Boys have taken a tune from the folk books and given it an intriguing rock backing."[20]

Other releases

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 alternative takes, one with Carl Wilson singing lead on the first verse, and one with Brian singing all parts.[citation needed] From around 2008, the tune was used in Ulster and Scotland for the controversial Famine Song.[citation needed] In 2012, Al Jardine released his own version as a bonus track on the reissue of his solo album A Postcard from California.[citation needed]

In 2011, the song was sung by Fisherman's Friends at Cambridge Folk Festival.[21] and released on Suck'em and Sea.[22] It was featured in the compilation album Cambridge Folk Festival 2011 [23] In 2016, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Pet Sounds, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, and Brian Wilson’s touring band performed “Sloop John B” live at Capitol Studios.[24] In 2021, another UK based group, Isle 'Ave A Shanty, sang the song at the 2021 Harwich Sea Shanty Festival and included it on their 2022 debut album Swinging the Lamp.[25][26]

Personnel

Per archivists John Brode, Will Crerar, Joshilyn Hoisington and Craig Slowinski.[27][28]

The Beach Boys

Additional musicians and production staff

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Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Silver 200,000 
United States (RIAA)[30] Platinum 1,000,000 

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Chart history

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Sylvie Vartan version (in French)

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"Mister John B"
Template:Infobox song/link by Sylvie Vartan
LanguageFrench
B-side"La chanson"
ReleasedJuly 1966
RecordedSummer 1966
GenrePop
LengthScript error: No such module "hms".
LabelRCA Victor
[[Songwriter|SongwriterTemplate:Pluralize from text]]Traditional, Brian Wilson, Giles Thibaut, Georges Aber, Eddie Vartan
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"ll y a 2 filles en moi"
(1966) 		"Mister John B"
(1966) 		"Ballade pour un sourire"
(1966)

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In 1966, the song was adapted into French by Giles Thibaut, Georges Aber, and Eddie Vartan as "Mister John B" and performed by Vartan's sister Sylvie and released as a single in July 1966 as a non-album single, based on the Beach Boys version from earlier that year.[39] The song had on-and-off chart success from mid-to-late 1966 on the French Belgian charts, peaking at Number 35 on the French Belgian charts on November 19, 1966.[40] Vartan would go on to re-record the song for her 2013 album "Sylvie In Nashville" but failed to chart unlike the former version.[41][42]

Charts

Chart (1966) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 35[40]

List of recordings

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All versions titled "Sloop John B", except where noted. Script error: No such module "Template wrapper".

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Moskowitz, David V., ed. (2015). The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World. ABC-CLIO. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-4408-0340-6. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Richard Le Gallienne (December 1916). "Coral Islands and Mangrove-Trees". Harper's Monthly Magazine. 134 (799): 82–83.
  4. ^ Le Gallienne, Pieces of Eight, p. 30
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Unterberger, Richie. "Great Moments in Folk Rock: Lists of Aunthor Favorites". www.richieunterberger.com. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.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.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Perlmutter, Adam (May 9, 2016). "'Sloop John B' Has Seen a Sea Change Throughout the Years". Acoustic Guitar.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Before TikTok Inspired a Rising Tide for Sea Shanties, the Beach Boys Charted One of Their Own". 16 January 2021.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 18 - Blowin' in the Wind: Pop discovers folk music. [Part 1]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  10. ^ The Pet Sounds Sessions: "The Making Of Pet Sounds" booklet, pg. 25-26
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Matthew, Jacobs (April 16, 2013). "LSD's 70th Anniversary: 10 Rock Lyrics From The 1960s That Pay Homage To Acid". Huffington Post.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Mojo Staff (April 24, 2015). "The Beach Boys' 50 Greatest Songs". MOJO.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Granata, Charles L. (2003). Wouldn't it Be Nice: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. Chicago Review Press. p. 149. ISBN 978-1-55652-507-0.
  14. ^ The Pet Sounds Sessions: "The Making Of Pet Sounds" booklet, pg. 26
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.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. ^ *Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.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.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Murrels, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Disks. Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN 978-0214205125.
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  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 26, 1966. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 26, 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Fisherman's Friends". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sloop John B". www.last.fm. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Cambridge Folk Festival". www.propermusic.com. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  24. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Brian Wilson & Al Jardine - Sloop John B (Official Video)". YouTube. 10 June 2016.
  25. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Monger, Garry (2022). "The Port of Wisbech". The Fens (51): 20.
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Swinging the Lamp". www.isleaveashanty. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sloop John B". beachboyssessions.com. Austin Heller. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Slowinski, Craig. "Pet Sounds LP". beachboysarchives.com. Endless Summer Quarterly. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  29. ^ Script error: No such module "cite". Select singles in the Formats field. Type Sloop John B Beach Boys in the "Search:" field.
  30. ^ Script error: No such module "cite".
  31. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."RPM Top 100 Singles - May 16, 1966" (PDF).
  32. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in suomi) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. p. 96. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  33. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
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  35. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Cash Box Top 100 Singles, May 14, 1966". Archived from the original on May 30, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  36. ^ The 100 Best-Selling Singles of 1966
  37. ^ Musicoutfitters.com
  38. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 24, 1966". Archived from the original on February 17, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  39. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."EP 60 – Site officiel de Sylvie Vartan" (in français). Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  40. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sylvie Vartan - Mister John B. - ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  41. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Albums 2010 – Site officiel de Sylvie Vartan" (in français). Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  42. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sylvie Vartan - Mr John B. [2013] - ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  43. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Martin, Michel (May 9, 2012). "Major US Folk Music Archive Makes Online Debut". NPR.org. NPR. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  44. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Original versions of (The Wreck of the) John B by the Weavers | SecondHandSongs". SecondHandSongs.
  45. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Lonnie Donegan". The Official Charts Company.
  46. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Jimmie Rodgers". Billboard.
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  49. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Discogs Raymond Harper / The Vibrators (2) With Bobby Aitken's Carib Beats – Amour / John B". Discogs. 1966.
  50. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Discogs The Vibrators (2) / Raymond Harper & The Carib Beats – Sloop John B / Amour". Discogs. 1966.
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