Category Archives: Seasick Steve
OH, WE ALL LOVE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE
If they can have Xmas in July then I reckon I can do a show about the sea in winter. And I did. It was never going to be the kind of breezy show I would do if it was summer, because, for me anyway, at this time of the year the ocean appears even more immense and overwhelming. Many of the songs in this week’s playlist reflected that.
Our magnificent opening track by the O’Jays, SHIP AHOY, was a perfect example. It’s introduced by the creak of timbers and the crack of slave-owners whips and is an angry tour de force that presents the ocean as a partner in crime.
And while there were other serious songs in the line-up, there were plenty of frivolous and joyful tunes as well. And nothing could be more joyful than the sound of the ukulele: It was fantastic to have some live music in the show today as Ben, Renee and Azo from the group Blue Hulas took over the studio for a segment. They are the Northern Rivers original, (and, as far as I know, only), Hawaiian style band and their cruisy, island style music – complete with ukulele – was just right for this week’s theme.
The Beach Boys recorded a version of UNDER THE BOARDWALK, but it was the Drifters original version that I chose to play this week and gave some time to the Beach Boys for SAIL ON SAILOR, which is quite a serious song that uses the sea as a metaphor for life. Another serious song about the ocean is reggae star Fred Locks’ BLACK STAR LINER. The title refers to the shipping line that was used to transport black Americans to Africa as part of the Back-to-Africa movement of the 19th century.
Some light relief came from Bobby Darin’s hit from 1959, BEYOND THE SEA. I tried unsuccessfully to get a copy of the original version for the show: LA MER by French singer Charles Trenet. I’ll track this down, hopefully, and play in a future show.
A big welcome back to Roy Orbison with one of his best, LEAH. Check out this clip from the DVD Black & White Night where Roy is supported by Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, k.d.Lang, Bonnie Raitt, J.D. Souther, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits and Jennifer Warnes. Nice group of friends!
SEVEN SEAS OF RHYE from Queen was worth including just for its ending: ‘We all like to be beside the Seaside’. Other personal favourites that I played included LIGHTHOUSE from The Waifs and FROM THE SEA by Eskimo Joe. Talking of favourites: I had to include the Marvelettes with TOO MANY FISH IN THE SEA and the gorgeous Blossom Dearie singing her version of BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA.
How’s this for a diverse three in a row: An evocative piece of bubblegum from Aqua with WE BELONG TO THE SEA, a little reggae with ON THE BEACH IN HAWAI’I from Ziggy Marley and Led Zeppelin’s DOWN BY THE SEASIDE from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti. Whew. Here’s the beautiful lead singer of Aqua, Lene Nystrom Rasted, in the weird but wonderful video clip for WE BELONG TO THE SEA:
A request from Vanessa followed: Johnny Cash with SEA OF HEARTBREAK and I chose to follow that with Jenny Lewis singing BLACK SAND. For a little change of pace we played The Presets with GIRL AND THE SEA followed by Panic At The Disco’s BEHIND THE SEA. And then it was time for I’M THE OCEAN from the album Mirror Ball by Neil Young and featuring Pearl Jam.
Jason Mraz’s live rendition of WALK ON THE OCEAN was followed by the one and only Billy Holiday asking us HOW DEEP IS THE OCEAN? And then the Ramones contributed ROCKAWAY BEACH. I can’t quite get my head around the Ramones singing about the beach, but what the hell do I know – it was the highest charting single of their career. Go figure.
We finished the show with Getaway Plan’s WHERE THE CITY MEETS THE SEA and the wonderful Cat Power with SEA OF LOVE.
Next week, I’m celebrating the SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS Music Festival being held here in Byron Bay. The show’s theme will be GRASS – no, not THAT grass – well maybe there will be some songs about THAT grass. And if I can’t find enough songs about grass I’ll move onto trees and flowers. I’d love to hear from you with your suggestions.
Here’s this week’s playlist on the SEA:
Ship Ahoy (2008 Single Version) – The O’Jays
Under The Boardwalk – The Drifters
Sail on Sailor – The Beach Boys
Beyond The Sea – Bobby Darin
Black Star Liner – Fred Locks
Leah – Roy Orbison
A Salty Dog – Procol Harum
A Drop In The Ocean – Moloko
Seven Seas Of Rhye – Queen
Lighthouse – The Waifs
From the Sea – Eskimo Joe
Too Many Fish In The Sea – The Marvelettes
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea – Blossom Dearie
We Belong to the Sea – Aqua
On the Beach In Hawai’i – Ziggy Marley
Down By The Seaside – Led Zeppelin
Sea Of Heartbreak – Johnny Cash
Black Sand – Jenny Lewis
Girl And The Sea – The Presets
Behind The Sea – Panic At The Disco
I’m the Ocean – Neil Young/Pearl Jam
Walk on the Ocean – Jason Mraz
How Deep Is The Ocean – Billie Holiday
Rockaway Beach – The Ramones
Oceans Away – The Fray
Where The City Meets The Sea – The Getaway Plan
Sea Of Love [Remastered Version] – Cat Power
Next week: GRASS (+ trees, flowers).
Listen to Lyn McCarthy on BayFM99.9 Tuesdays 2-4pm (Sydney time).
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