Sailing (Rod Stewart song)
Encyclopedia
"Sailing" is a song written by Gavin Sutherland and recorded by The Sutherland Bros. Band (featuring the Sutherland Brothers
Gavin and Iain). Released in June 1972, it can be found on their album 'Lifeboat' released in the same year.
Rod Stewart
recorded the song at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
, for his 1975 album Atlantic Crossing
, and it was subsequently a number one hit in the UK in September 1975 for four weeks. The single returned to the UK top ten a year later when used as the theme music for the BBC
documentary series Sailor
, about HMS Ark Royal
. Having been a hit twice, it remains Stewart's biggest-selling single in the UK.
The music video was shot in New York Harbour in 1975 and credited with a 1978 completion date; it also was one of the first to be aired
on MTV
when it launched on August 1, 1981. However, despite Stewart's great popularity in the United States
, the song never climbed higher than number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
The song was re-released by Stewart as a charity single after the Zeebrugge ferry disaster in 1987, and was reworked by a group of musicians led by Steve Hackett
as a protest song against the repatriation of Vietnamese boat people by Hong Kong
in 1990. Stewart performed the song at the Concert for Diana
(a concert in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales
, who had died
10 years earlier) at Wembley stadium
on 1 July 2007.
Robin Trower
covered the song for his "Long Misty Days" album. The melody has been used for the chant "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care".
Sutherland Brothers
The Sutherland Brothers originally performed as a folk / rock duo in the field of British music in the early 1970s, and then from 1973 to 1978 joined with rock band Quiver to record and tour as Sutherland Brothers & Quiver...
Gavin and Iain). Released in June 1972, it can be found on their album 'Lifeboat' released in the same year.
Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
recorded the song at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,in 1969 when musicians Barry Beckett , Roger Hawkins , Jimmy Johnson and David Hood left FAME Studios to create their own studio...
in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
, for his 1975 album Atlantic Crossing
Atlantic Crossing
Atlantic Crossing is Rod Stewart's sixth album, released in 1975, and peaking at number nine on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. On June 30, 2009, Rhino released a two-disc version with bonus tracks....
, and it was subsequently a number one hit in the UK in September 1975 for four weeks. The single returned to the UK top ten a year later when used as the theme music for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary series Sailor
Sailor (TV series)
Sailor was a major BBC television documentary series, first shown in the late 1970s, about life on board the fourth HMS Ark Royal, a British aircraft carrier. It followed the ship on a five and a half month deployment to North America in 1976....
, about HMS Ark Royal
HMS Ark Royal (R09)
HMS Ark Royal was an Audacious-class aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy and, when she was decommissioned in 1978, was the Royal Navy's last remaining conventional catapult and arrested-landing aircraft carrier...
. Having been a hit twice, it remains Stewart's biggest-selling single in the UK.
The music video was shot in New York Harbour in 1975 and credited with a 1978 completion date; it also was one of the first to be aired
First music videos aired on MTV
This is a list of the first music videos broadcast on MTV's first day, August 1, 1981. Video of the launch of MTV was uploaded onto YouTube in 2009.-List:#"Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles#"You Better Run" by Pat Benatar...
on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
when it launched on August 1, 1981. However, despite Stewart's great popularity in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the song never climbed higher than number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
The song was re-released by Stewart as a charity single after the Zeebrugge ferry disaster in 1987, and was reworked by a group of musicians led by Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
as a protest song against the repatriation of Vietnamese boat people by Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1990. Stewart performed the song at the Concert for Diana
Concert for Diana
Concert for Diana was a concert held at the then new Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday; 31 August that year brought the 10th anniversary of her death...
(a concert in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
, who had died
Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
On 31 August 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris, France. Her companion, Dodi Fayed, and the driver of the Mercedes-Benz W140, Henri Paul, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Fayed's...
10 years earlier) at Wembley stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
on 1 July 2007.
Robin Trower
Robin Trower
Robin Leonard Trower , known professionally as Robin Trower, is an English rock guitarist who achieved success with Procol Harum during the 1960s, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio.-Biography:...
covered the song for his "Long Misty Days" album. The melody has been used for the chant "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care".