Songfacts®:

• At first lead singer Mary O'Leary (Reparata) was concerned about this song's unusual sound coupled with its nautical sound effects. She told Mojo magazine May 2008: "I thought it was horrible-the foghorn, the way they had changed my voice with effects. But I grew to like it, and it afforded the opportunity to go over to London."
• This was a hit in the UK but not in the trio's native America. O'Leary (Reparata) told Mojo: "In America, it fizzled. People in England liked quirkier stuff, and 'Captain Of Your Ship' was quirky."
• Betty Boo's 1990 #7 UK hit "Doin' The Do" sampled this track.
• This was featured in a late 1990s Müllerice advertisement with modified lyrics.
• The trio originally formed as The Delrons at high school in Brooklyn. Their first single, 1964's "Your Big Mistake" flopped, so their producer decided a hookier name was needed. The then Mary Aiese chose Reparata after the nun who'd presided at her confirmation. The change did the trick and follow-up single "Whenever A Teenager Cries" was a regional hit. Despite touring extensively in the States and becoming well-known their best chart placing was the #127 of "Captain of Your Ship." In the UK this was their only hit. Reparata left the group in 1970 and had a 1975 Top 10 hit in South Africa (#43 in UK) with "Shoes." She later left Pop and became a teacher. The Delrons name-changed to Lady Flash and became Barry Manilow's backing group.