The Beach Boys -Sail On Sailor live 1973

[spawn1lts]

Blondie Chaplin - great voice!

[inkey2]

I never got to see the beatles live but I did get to see the beach boys and to me thats just as good. It was either 1973 or 74. The played at Boston College. I was very close to them at an angle from behind and slightly to the right. The most funny thing was that Carl was pissed off at Mike throughout the entire concert. Mike kept teasing the crowd by starting to sing the first few words to "Barbara Anne"...Ba Ba Ba ..Ba Barbara anne...then stop and refuse to sing it....carl was so pissed

[olhobbler]

I got Holland when it came out, and love this tune..glad to hear it so close to the album release....as time goes on, the tune integrity goes away....

[pmoyer50]

Where's Blondie Chapman in the picture of the Beach Boys. He's the original singer on the record when it was released. It sounds like Blondie here - I'm not sure though. Blondie was a member of the Beach Boys. I can only imagine why a picture of him is missing on this video.

[BigChiefLtd1]

@pmoyer50 You are correct! Good catch! At this point in time, both Ricky Fataar AND Blondie were part of the band and Bruce Johnston was not. Yet he's in the photo and they are not. So, as pointed out to "Drenen," I think it's simply a matter of the person who posted this not knowing who the players were at this time and just put up a photo from "back in the day."

[drenen]

Why have a picture without Brian? Thanks for posting though!

[BigChiefLtd1]

@drenen That's because at this time, Brian was not part of the touring band. He did co-write the song, but he was not part of the touring band. What's odd to me, however is that at this point in time, both Ricky Fataar AND Blondie were part of the band and Bruce Johnston had dropped out. Yet he's in the photo and they are not. So I think it's simply a matter of the person who posted this not knowing who the players were at this time and just put up a photo from "back in the day."

[peterp21]

@BigChiefLtd1 Though as an interesting bit of trivia, there was a brief period where Bruce, Blondie, and Ricky were all in the band at the same time. There's some live show (Carnegie Hall?) with all three in the live band. So technically for however many days the Beach Boys were an eight piece band: Brian, Mike, Al, Carl, Dennis, Blondie, Ricky, and Bruce. Interestingly, in the photo I've seen of him with the other two, Bruce is playing electric guitar, not bass/keyboards.

[HanzChristianNL]

@drenen Brian was not playing live at that time. The band the world while he remained in the studio.

[jgossey2002]

Yes this is a great live version. I have actually seen them perform it 3 times, once with Billy Hinsche, and Bobby Figurioa. Also Ricky Fataar was a good dinger, who sang "Leaving this Town"

[etks1957]

Blondie. Does anyone have a clean video version with Blondie?

[rddnshopping]

I've always loved this song (especially since I'm married to a merchant marine). I can listen to this live version over and over. Does anyone know where to find the lyrics as he sang them here? He changed quite a few.

[Wolfsky9]

In '73 when I saw the group, this was how they opened the show. Although Blodie is OK, I still think Carl did it better --hear him from '96, Harbor Lights show--but this is a spiritied version for sure. The group was awesome in those days. Wolfsky9

[ClubViking63]

@Wolfsky9 Thanks Wolfsky, I think you are right, Carl was No 1.

But the early 70´s of the Boys was a great time.

[BeerwithDonuts]

WHY CAN'T SOMEONE UPLOAD THE STUDIO VERSION

[litenslick1]

Love them to pieces!

[bobmusicz]

Check out Scullbucket by Southren Culture on the Skids on - bobmusicz. Great!

[mrpageandfamily]

Vocals for "Sail On, Sailor" 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 Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin.The lead vocal was 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.

[redfishradical]

Far and away my favorite Beach Boys tune, very different and one of the catchiest damned melodies ever! I've been digging it since I was a kid & STILL can't over play it! Funny, when I was a kid the Beach Boys were very "uncool" but LOVED this, then found out who it was and...well it ended up getting me into the Boys! Peace out & rock on R&R fans!

[billybob4684]

Lame ass harmonies. From the "Beach Boys". Really?

[jayjayvet]

So, who IS it? I really don't know why I was so positive it was Carl singing. Don't know what I was thinking.

[delmoniaco]

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

[ElmoPiano]

Thanks for posting this version of the great Beach Boys classic. The sheet music for the original piano part on "Sail On Sailor" can be found at manymidi.com/sheetmusic.htm - a note-for-note transcription.

[koldfushen]

boy, does this ever bring back memories 8-tracks and 4-way windowpane

[ebonywahine]

@koldfushen ROTFLMAO yeah those were the days! Unfortunantely I can't seem to remember and (it isn't early onset dementia)a lot of them very properly...how 'bout you?

[alienhuman]

This line-up of the traveling band was the best. Mostly due to the fact Blondie was there and Johnston was not.

[lancethrustworthy]

I prefer the studio version, but this is nice.

[jayjayvet]

Of course its Carl. More proof is the way he sings the word "sail", if anyone else needs it. Yep, unmistakedly Carl.

[Karateworm]

@jayjayvet Wrong. Wrong. Wong.

[rangoostar]

@lainB1511 you are right about Brian's band. The new band that Brian travels with is simply amazing. Vocals....to the every musician are outstanding. Mike Love's traveling circus is just that....

[chihoosierguy]

Makes me think about the Pacific!

[tbzeee]

it's funny that when this little masterpiece of brian's came out, FOUR more people had their names tacked onto the writing credit, including their manager & van dyke parks. blondie chaplin's vocals added a nice soulful twist to the boys' music of this period (you can see him singing backups for the stones in scorsese's film). this is a pretty killer live LP.

[diamondbackseye]

Nice improv on the vox by Chaplin at the end...funny that you can hear him fine throughout, but no one else really.

[cardhang]

Great song. A little fast here though.

[arkend]

Blondie Chapin has been with the Stones on their last three tours as part of a 3 part choir - and plays a touch of guitar.

[BerlinLynn]

@arkend Thanks for the Blondie update - much appreciated, arkend. :-)

[jimmybassplayerrocks]

Is Blondie Chaplin still around?

Also didnt Bobby figuroa sing it later?

[bucks1955mjm]

Saw the BBoys in LA around 1974. They were 3rd on the bill and started their set with this song. It was incredible! Blondie sang it and he really did sing like a Beach Boy. The whole stadium went wild over this tune and I'm glad I was there. Good times.

[gittahfiend]

@bucks1955mjm He sang like a beach boy cause he WAS one !

[bucks1955mjm]

@gittahfiend Haha hmm good point!

[BerlinLynn]

@bucks1955mjm Wish I could have been there to see the awesome Blondie! Did see the B Boys in '72, New Haven, CT, yet now can't even remember if Dennis was there (i.e., the tremendous damage to his hand that kept him from playing for so long). I think Daryl D. was w/ them; have no commemorative pics (remember when we could take pics, light up all our lighters simultaneously, pass j's, etc?). Guess my "CRS Syndrome" gets worse as years pass. Recently found my concert stub; ticket cost? $7.50!

[bucks1955mjm]

@BerlinLynn Thanks for reminding me tix were once $7.50 lol. Have some more BB memories if youre interested.

[BerlinLynn]

@bucks1955mjm You're welcome for the tix price reminder, lol - and YES, absolutely would love to share BB memories...will send you a short msg. now. :-)

[gittahfiend]

Blondie Chaplin made the beach boys HAPPEN !

[Desiree50]

HEY ITS A GREAT SONG.

[actormanic]

Billy Hinsche used to sing it in concert after Blondie left the band. Blondie sang lead on the studio version,and it's him here as well...

[paisleygerry]

Some people may be confused as Carl almost sounded like Blondie and in fact Carl always loved a soulful sound and gutsy style ....but this is Blondie all the way !!!!

[peterzang]

Gotta agree with relimes. It's Blondie. A very soulful cat

[TumblingDice1972]

love bri.but hate why modern windmill stuff

[64bbfan]

It is definitely Blondie Chaplin, I was there!

[ronbo11]

Love this song and I wish there was some footage of Blondie leading the boys through it!

[andyinoregon]

Hard to imagine that this song could ever be performed live better than this. And, for the record, the phrase "Sail on, sail on, Sailor" is the most addictive musical refrain in all of rock 'n' roll.

[IainB1511]

@dumbangel75 doubt if we will ever see the remaining boys together on stage live again. Brian has nixed the idea for a 50th anniversary show or tour, He is happier with his new band and frankly so am I, Have travelled the world to see Brian but would not cross the street to see Mike Love's travelling juke box show

[pillroller88]

@IainB1511 I wouldn't cross the street to see Mike Love, but I would take the bus, if the ticket were free and I got a window seat. Otherwise, no.

[inkey2]

@pillroller88 I saw them live at Boston College in 1973. They were great. Mike Love did nothing but annoy Carl Wilson throughout the entire show. He (Mike) kept agitating the crowd by singing the first few words of Barbara anne.....Ba Ba Ba...Ba barbara anne. Then, he would stop and refuse to sing the rest of it. He did this between like 5 songs. Carl was pissed and yelling at him. I was sitting about 20 feet from them

[streyper]

@inkey2 Cool memory. I think Carl tried his best to keep the band tight, serious and on track. I saw them live without Carl in '81 and they were horrible...sloppy, Dennis was wasted and kept walking off the stage. I know Mike Love played an important role in the early songwriting, but I always found him to be incredibly egotistical and irritating.

[NS9144]

Carl repeats Blondie on:

"I worked the seaway , oh the seaway, oh the Daughter"

[davidsailz]

thanks idaflamebearer...thought Carl was lead...one of my favorite pieces of music.Happy New Year All!

[mtut]

After Blondie left the group, they put other members on lead for concerts. Carl included. That might be where you associated the song with Carl.

[lakefloor]

@mtut Carl did an amazing live rendition of this song in later years.

[mtut]

@lakefloor Yeah, there's video on yt somewhere of Carl doing SoS in the 90s -- unfortunately the audio quality is bad for the vocals, so it's hard to hear how he does it. If anyone could come in on the song after the way Blondie nailed it and still have his dignity, though, Carl was the man. Is there a good clear recording of Carl's version you'd recommend?

[lakefloor]

@mtut That's a tough one. I remember a tv documentary, possibly 1976, which featured Carl taking a decent stab at this song. In later years, much of the footage from the special was used in the video, The Beach Boys-An American Band. However that song wasn't on it. I'm sure a clear version will show up some day.

[davidsailz]

carl wilson sang "lead"...are you a dingleberry?

[idaflamebearer]

This is off of the "In Concert" LP, and not only does it sound like Blondie Chaplin, the liner notes attest that it is.

[Cowcharge]

Blondie did them on the studio version too, so who's the dingleberry?

[boyders16]

@idaflamebearer It most certainly is Blondie, sounds absolutely nothing like Carl. Cari didn't start singing lead on this until the 90's with Bobby Figueroa and Billy Hinchse singing it at various times during the 80's if i'm not mistaken.

[Okiemom50]

@boyders16

EXACTLY! thank you. Love Blondie Chaplin! Thanks to Carl for seeing "The Flame" and recognizing their talent and acting on it. It was Carl who brought them to the U.S. Great move! :o)

[boyders16]

@Okiemom50 In that case you might like the song "Hand on my Shoulder" by Anton Fig, it's on Youtube and also Spotify. He co-wrote it with Blondie who does an amazing job on the lead vocal, sounds very Carl-esque. Brian Wilson was drafted in to do backing vocals. Apparently when Anton Fig turned up with the song at the studio Brian got straight down to business "Do you want four or five part harmonies?" and then proceeded to track them up one by one.

[Okiemom50]

@boyders16

LOL! cute story. Thank you for the heads up! :o)

[alburtise]

@boyders16 I'd love to read more about this. Source?

[boyders16]

@alburtise If you google "Anton Fig Hand on my Shoulder" you should be able to get to the bit on Anton's website where he describes it in a bit more detail :)

[pbl1]

@davidsailz - No, Dingle Berry sand Johnny B. Goode

[actormanic]

@davidsailz Go ahead and call me a dinglebwrry too, while you're at it, but that's Blondie Chaplin.

[BerlinLynn]

@actormanic Thanks for the laugh - it's been years since I heard someone use the word "dingleberry". Do the "younguns" of today even know what it is? :-)

[Okiemom50]

@davidsailz

This is the immortal BLONDIE CHAPLIN. No One, NO ONE can sing this song like Blonde!! He is still performing this on tour. He puts ten times more feeling into it than anyone else!

Love you, Blondie!! :o)

[tabacblonde]

@Okiemom50 Totally totally Blondie=the best ever. This song is immortal b/c of him and the brilliance of Brian.

[bobmon54]

@Okiemom50 this is really a blondie song- now carrying the tune for the stones- he is on key

[Okiemom50]

@davidsailz

Sail On Sailor - Blondie Chaplin, Rick Danko & Paul Butterfield (79.10.12.H)

watch this ^ video for proof.

[ontheturn]

simply the most emotionally moving version

[DaddySez]

Ray Charles does a version with the BBs in Hawaii....Amazing

[relimes]

Who the hell sang lead on this song?

[idaflamebearer]

Blondie Chaplin

[mrtwang32]

@relimes Blondie Chaplin

[jimidee33]

@relimes Carl Wilson. A very underrated singer. Love that sweet tenor.

[boyders16]

@jimidee33 Afraid not, it's Blondie Chaplin singing the lead on this one, Carl never sang it live until the 90's.

[jimidee33]

@boyders16 Okay. I always thought it was Carl and have heard him sing it I think. Thanks for the correction.

[pcc68]

This is great, but I wish the photo had a picture of the guy actually singing the song.

[colindominy]

The early 70s .. the band was probably at its hard-won long-matured peak as a top-billing, genuinely-contemporary on-stage performing outfit of the highest skill, & an SRO reputation as dynamic, powerhouse entertainers. This double-album release is fantastic. And this song is one of the for-sure very best picks off the album cuts which were assembled & selected for release on this record. Real nice work, ifb !!

[PawneeBill47]

Man I wish this had the video with it.....awesome version!!