Sloop John B

by

The Beach Boys

Album: Pet Sounds      Released: 1966

US Chart: 3     UK Chart: 2

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This is a traditional West Indies tune about a sunken boat. It was adapted in 1951 by Lee Hays of the Weavers (as "The John B Sails") and revived in 1960 by Lonnie Donegan. (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL)

The song was popularized by The Kingston Trio who adapted it from a version in poet Carl Sandburg's 1927 songbook The American Songbag. The Kingston Trio's version stays true to the song's Calypso roots, and was released on their first album in 1958. Eight years later, The Beach Boys changed the title to "Sloop John B," and came away with a hit. Their debt to The Kingston Trio goes far beyond this song: The Beach Boys adopted the group's striped, short-sleeved shirts and wholesome persona as well. (thanks, rob - Birmingham, England)

This was the biggest hit from The Beach Boys landmark album Pet Sounds. The album was the brainchild of Brian Wilson, and he got the title when Beach Boy Mike Love suggested dogs were the only creatures that would like it. To keep the animal theme, Wilson put some barking dogs on the album. (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL)

In the movie Forrest Gump, this plays when Forrest is in Vietnam, and the camera shows the latrines. The lines, "This is the worst trip I've ever been on... I wanna go home" are emphasized. (thanks, Natasha - Chico, CA)

According to Pop historian Joseph Murrells, this was the Beach Boys' fastest selling record to date - over 500,000 within 2 weeks in the US alone. (thanks, Gary - Auckland, New Zealand)

The Beach Boys' Folk music buff, Al Jardine turned Brian Wilson onto the Kingston Trio's recording of this song. For their updated version, Wilson added elaborate vocals and a 12-string guitar part. He also changed some of the lyrics, including "This is the worst trip since I've been born" to "...I've ever been on" as a wink to acid culture. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

During a discussion and performance at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles in January 2009 Wilson said that Pet Sounds was named using Phil Spector's initials. Wilson's approach to the producing of the album was influenced by Spector's "Wall of Sound" technique.

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Comments:

How about the bass sound on this record?Pretty cool full tone...Carol Kaye?
- steve dotstar, los angeles, CA

The song is a metaphor for life: a ship of fools on the uncertain seas of life; drug induced, paranoiac outbursts; with a wink at reincarnation thrown in for good measure.
- Chris, Tulsa, OK

In reference to the albumn title being "Pet Sounds", it was so named because these recordings were the groups "favorite" or "pet" sounds. You know, like a teacher's "pet" is the class favorite. Mike Love never made a comment about dogs being the only ones who'd like it! It remains a landmark albumn. From the albumn's liner notes: On the morning of Feb. 15, the group assembled in the Petting Zoo at the San Diego Zoo for the cover photo session. The photos of The Beach Boys feeding an assortment of goats was a play on the album's chosen title, PET SOUNDS. The title came from the idea that the sounds heard on the album were Brian's "pet," or favorite, sounds. Exactly who came up with the idea for the title is disputed. Brian has credited Carl. Carl, on the other hand, thought it was Brian: "The idea he had was that everybody has these sounds that they love, and this was a collection of [his] 'pet sounds.' It was hard to think of a name for the album, because you sure couldn't call it Shut Down Vol. 3." Mike also has laid claim to coming up with the title. "We were standing in the hallway in one of the recording studios, either Western or Columbia, and we didn't have a title," he recounted. "We had taken pictures at the zoo and ... there were animal sounds on the record, and we were thinking, well, it's our favorite music of that time, so [I said], 'Why don't we call it PET SOUNDS.'"
- Camille, Toronto, OH

Matt -- even "Solar System" is gorgeous?? :) Anyhoo...I have my doubts that Al Jardine is THE reason The Beach Boys recorded this song. I have a theory that it was always on Brian's radar screen, but a suggestion from Al might have further encouraged Brian. Dig: on the Surfin' USA album, there are covers of "Let's Go Trippin'" and "Misirlou," both of which appear on Dick Dale's Surfers' Choice album (the latter as "Misirlou Twist," which is similar to the one we know from Pulp Fiction but has a string section). The original version of "Help Me, R[h]onda" uses harmonica licks borrowed directly from "Fanny Mae," another instrumental from Surfers' Choice. Guess what other song is on Surfers' Choice!
- Sean, Chicago, IL

This song is not about an acid trip. This really is a song about a trip at sea gone horribly wrong. My grandmother has many stories and photos of this exact ship, as it was her grandfather's.
- Meredith, Atlanta, GA

Thia song was also recorded be Johnny Cash - Ron Timaru NZ
- Ron, Timaru, New Zealand

The bridge just before the last verse is one of the finest examples of four-part vocal harmony I have ever heard. Absolutely no doubt one of their finest recordings ever.
- Jerry, Brooklyn, NY

I don't know if "I can hear music" version Beach Boys was a big hit in the U.S. but over here they played it very often on the radio. I love it, it's a very good song.
- Teresa, Mechelen, Belgium

This is a great song. I'm not sure about the acid trip angle. The lyric "This is the worst trip I've ever been on" could easily refer to a sailing journey. It seems people often look for drug references in every song from the sixties. By the way, I agree with Teresa from Belgium: "I Can Hear Music" is my favorite Beach Boys song of all time. I've never heard anyone else say that. Whenever I say it, most people don't know what song I'm talking about.
- Mark, McHenry, IL

Definatly NOT one of the Beach Boys weaker songs. Among their finest for sure.
- Jordan, Toronto, Canada

This song has roots in Gospel.
- Z, Montreal, Canada

Great song, but my favorite one of the Beach Boys is "I can hear music", written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. Brian Wilson learned a lot working with Phil Spector and you can hear Spector's influence on many songs of the Beach Boys. Working with a great talent like Phil Spector must be an exceptionnel experience. Phil Spector,"Wall of Sound","Back to Mono": LOVE YOU.
- Teresa, Mechelen, Belgium

Great song....all of the Beach Boys songs are gourgeous..
- Matt, Monroe, LA

Actually, the reference to an acid trip is correct. The original line was "This is the worst trip since I've been born"; Brian decided to change it to "This is the worst trip I've ever been on." In regard to the song, I feel it is one of the Beach Boys' weaker songs; other songs on Pet Sounds are much better.
- Sammy, New York, NY

I used to think that "the worst trip" was referring to a bad acid trip, but I think I was wrong...
- Natasha, Chico, CA

It was Al Jardine (A folk music lover) of the group that suggested recording this song.
- Maddie, Yakima, WA

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