Peter Allen - I Could Have Been A Sailor (1979)

[Philm54]

@seamaster73... Quite clearly I had, and all that could come to mind was WTF? Even more clearly to me, YOU haven't heard Miss McGovern sing it. Even if you had, such a preposterous response to my comment is more than I care to fathom beyond the writing of this response.

[Seamaster73]

@Philm54 Maureen McGovern? She's like a bad pub singer hanging round after chucking out time.

[Garrettk41]

It's all a matter of opinion, you guys. No one's right or wrong. Personallly, I don't think either of their renditions are ideal. The way I see it, Maureen's vocals were in top form but he accompaniment didn't capture the atmosphere of the song. On the other hand, I thought Ian's orchestration was appropriate but he didn't sing with as much feeling as the song required. Quite frankly, I think Glenn Yarbrough's the one whose rendition is spot on.

[Springfieldfreakful]

Does anyone have a copy of "Glittering Zero" by Peter Allen? I believe it is from his first album. I would be forever grateful to anyone if they could post it!

Thank you so much.

Zach

[rhymeandreasoning]

oddly enough the first time i ever heard this song was when i was a kid in the early 80s it was by a canadian singer named Peter Pringle..i think his version is here on Youtube...

[rhymeandreasoning]

@rhymeandreasoning Peter Pringle's version of this song is on his 1981 album "Rain Upon The Sea"..Google it.

[davidkaneen]

I was lucky enough to be in New York in the Summer of '79 and saw Peter Allen live in "Up In One". A terrific show, funny as hell and HUGELY entertaining. The one thing I remember is the jacket studded with mirrors and Peter standing on top of the piano, slowly turning and lighting up the stage, which he did so brilliantly. A wonderful talent, taken too soon.

[webaroos]

Peter was a brilliant song writer, very heartfelt, and I like him singing his own songs, very proud he was an Aussie.

[britsluver]

this had a video. omg.

[drewey07]

this guy looks homosexuazl

[helpmeanyone]

Coulda been.....he says it all.....how we all feel..........Love PETER ALLEN always !!

[Philm54]

maureen mcgovern "owns" this song. her cover is the best.

[Seamaster73]

@Philm54 You clearly haven't heard Ian McShane's. The definitive version.

[JamesTKirkCobain]

Oh wow, Phil Collins!

[TheVineyarder]

amazing talent lost to a terrible disease..I had the pleasure of seeing his one man show "up in one"..he had a wonderful comedic quality too ..Bruce Vilanch writing much of the material of that show..at least the funny parts..Bruce of course another talented man writing comedy for many including Bette Midler

[johnnyinlaunie]

Nzoz....peter allen! got a original version of Tenterfield saddler lying around? UTbe only has ONJ, Damien Leith, Ric Price and Hugh Jackman versions. All good, but just not quite the gun version that Peter did. Been shaking your maraccas Nzoz?

[nzoz1979]

@johnnyinlaunie lol, i don't have the mentioned song unfortunately... but I do need a knew pair of maracas.

[Deppdevotions]

@johnnyinlaunie sorry to butt in but i could put one up for you if yould like?? (just the song though) :(

[TheJimb007]

I was just listening to Criss Cros sing hi ssong Sailing, someone said they wanted taht song at their funeral. I always wanted this played at my funeral, says alot about a life lived without regrets,,,, what coulda been but wasn't, NO Regrets with my safer harbour choices.

[pajammypam]

What a beautiful video. It's really heartwarming to see him when he was so young and healthy. His music and lyrics will live on forever. Thanks for sharing.

[Garrettk41]

I first heard this song performed by Glenn Yarbrough. Since no composer was listed for it on the CD, I assumed Glenn had written it himself. I guess you learn something new every day.

[congelton]

Always loved this song but didn't know much a bout the singer.

[EvilBoris]

It's not a patch on the Ian McShane version

[anongoingseries13]

Peter sure seperated the talented from the untalented.

What a talent. So lucky to have his recordings. He is so missed.

Thanks so much for the posting and thankyou Youtube.

[Thestardustwlwd]

A great song by a talented artist. This is the song I play the most on my Peter Allen Greatest Hits CD.

[daniellelouis1]

I was brought up with Transvestites in the 70's, 80's (not that Peter was). My mum & dad were about the first to have a 'le gay show' which featured Peters songs. Lucky for me, it was a massive success & I went to one of the best schools in Australia (as a boarder), on the back of all their

[dallcorn9]

@daniellelouis1 hi danielle.. how interesting..I probably daw those shows..tell me more!

[LISA70LAURA74]

57 WSYR Syracuse used to play this song back in the day!

[cqsallie]

@LISA70LAURA74 Yes! WSYR used to play this song back in the day! Wow! Thanks for the memory....

[MrSilkydrew]

Thankyou Peter Allen for everything

[frannydo]

I bought this album when it first came out and about wore this track out. Was a big fan then, and a big fan still. Lost way to soon, but good music is forever.

[JadeTomZ]

lots of peter allen songs are sad.

because they reflect life.

how many reading this never followed there dreams?

and that is what he is saying.

follow your dreams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[spectre720]

gay icon

the gay dollar is huge

nuff said

[tallpaul521]

Remembering Peter, RIP, June 18, 1992.

[jrothke]

Not such a great video, but it's wonderful to see Peter young and healthy, singing one of his greatest songs.

[themoonspinner]

Nothing about Peter Allen is dated--or could possibly be dated. He is timeless, like "Casablanca", fine wine, moonlight over the peninsula, or beautiful music itself.

[happymike44]

This man got me through the toughest parts in my life.

The sad part is he left the stage way to soon.

Now the stage is cold and empty without his music.

That is the true test of a showman to miss them almost twenty years later.

But like a old friend never to far fom our mind and thoughts.

Hope that wherever he is the joint is rocking and full of happiness and music.

Thanks Peter for the music.

[david2062]

One of the best Peter´s albums, ever.

I grew with his music and his charming and lovely personality on stage.

I have read some comments here and i don´t find any reason to remind Genesis´ Phil Collins.

Peter was really a genius.

Thanks for sharing this video.

[deefoulkes]

It's the lyrics dunderheads.

A timeless song if a rather dated looking video!

[leondenis00]

I could have been a sailor too. Only I didn't even got a fucking boat!

[youareabuddha]

LOve the 70's . I get a kind of Genesis feel from this song . Has anyone else felt that ? A Great great song !

[sg72646]

Probably reminds you of Genesis because some shots of PA on the boat he looks like Phil Collins

[youareabuddha]

He does look like phil a bit on the boat . Thats another interesting point lol ! . What i was getting at was the chord changes and bass style in the intro . It's the part that comes in when the chorus ends as well .

[nzoz1979]

lol... yeah! Ever since Phil Collins got rich from music we see him on his boats with his trophy wives and his soup-drama divorces...

[hbunnykins]

wow

thanks for posting this!

<3 peter allen

the truest of legends.

[kgaddass]

thank you so much for this it means so much to me xxxx

[Baiba58]

You know ... it is such a pleasure to find old songs to which the CD has been lost. This may not be Peter's greatest but, with YouTube at least I have a chance to catch up on some Australian music history. It also should not be forgotten how long ago this video was recorded to make sense of the sound quality.

[AlanAClark]

I've always loved this song by Peter Allen.

[MurphyNorth]

Find the Peter Pringle version, you'll hate this one afer that

[mmdeutsch]

i agree with you, and i wish there was someone who have versions of peter pringles hits, this one and you really got me needing you now, who would post them, you never ever hear them on the radio

[MurphyNorth]

This version suck in comparison

Voice sounds chipmunked

[MurphyNorth]

that's Peter Pringle's song

[AlanAClark]

Hi, only just back from holiday and found your posting. I'm probably being a bit dim but have you go the link to the Peter Pringle version. I didn't realise that he was the songwriter.

[MurphyNorth]

I wish I could find it here, it's an awesome version, hopefully one day it will appear here. If I find it. I'll post here. Maybe get the CD, "It just occured to me" is one of my fave songs ever. Only the french version is here so far.

[lovethatallen]

Not a clue who Peter Pringle is, but I can promise you that Peter Allen wrote I COULD HAVE BEEN A SAILOR, both music and lyrics. It's a briliiant song, one of his best. Loved that man and still play his music all the time. He was taken much too soon.

[mmdeutsch]

you are right, peter allen did write this song, and it is a great song, but as with some of the others (dont cry out loud), he was an ok singer but not a very good singer, so i agree, if you heard the peter pringle version, you would agree that this song is so great, peter allen was a great writer and performer, but as a singer, not so much

[lovethatallen]

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. I COULD HAVE BEEN A SAILOR is one of Peter's best songs: lovely melody; wonderfully poetic lyrics. That he was a brilliant songwriter and performer- there is no question. No, maybe he wasn't a Sinatra (the gold standard for me), but he was singing his own words, his own melodies, from his heart- and that's what made him great. He touched my heart, and he and his music will always be a part of my life. Thanks for commenting back!