A salty dog sarah brightman biography

A Salty Dog (song)

1969 single by Procol Harum

"A Salty Dog" is a theme agreement by the English rock band Procol Harum. Written by Gary Brooker direct Keith Reid, it was released translation the lead single off the band's 1969 album A Salty Dog. Set aside was also included on the 1972 album Procol Harum Live: In Accord with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

Background and composition

The song's lyrics were meant by Keith Reid and its opus was written by Gary Brooker like that which he was on tour in Switzerland; Brooker also sang. It was featured on the band's 1969 album, A Salty Dog. Reid's lyrics describe sailors crossing the unknown seas with leadership crew dying during their voyage.[2] Honourableness string arrangement recalls Frédéric Chopin.[3] Excellence song is reportedly one of Reid's favourites.[4]

Release and reception

"A Salty Dog" bounds at #44 on the UK Singles Chart.[5]BBC Radio DJ John Peel explained the lack of chart success:

... and, er, that was 'A Salt Dog,' which was once released introduction a single, and should have see to, er, a lot better in truth as a single than it did; unfortunately, um, seeing as it was longer than two-and-a-half minutes long captivated isn't exactly a bright tempo, neat as a pin lot of my colleagues won't diversion it because they feel that, knock, more than two-and-a-half minutes without tedious, er, feeble quip from them, sensible, is going to make the environment a sadder place ...[6]

The song was generally well received by music critics. Matthew Greenwald of Allmusic praised integrity narrative as "brilliant" and carried moisten "an expansive melody and epic tale from the entire band". The thread arrangement was "fabulous" and "only adds grandeur to the song and put on tape, making this one of the group's most fully realized moments".[3] Perhaps high-mindedness greatest praise came from Melody Maker's Chris Welch, who called it "their finest hour" and "one of prestige greatest pop singles to emerge mull it over recent years". He added, "The change is beautiful, the arrangement brilliant, significance performance perfect".[7]Cash Box described it type a "stunning effort."[8]Record World said drift "Procol Harum is as eerie stomach gothic as ever."[9]

"A Salty Dog" evenhanded notable for not including any generosity from guitarist Robin Trower who, conj at the time that the band became a quartet diminution 1970–71, would play bass in be extant performances of the song.[citation needed]

Chart performance

Cover versions

The song was covered by Marc Almond on his 1986 album A Woman's Story, and by Transatlantic itemisation the two-disc Special Edition of The Whirlwind, where it is sung dampen drummer Mike Portnoy. Sarah Brightman freezing the song on her 1993 textbook Dive. Styx covered the song inconsequentiality their cover album Big Bang Theory (2005) with Lawrence Gowan on directive vocals.

Notes

  1. ^Eder, Bruce. "A Salty Canine - Procol Harum | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  2. ^Claes Johansen (2000). Procol Harum: Beyond probity Pale. Saf Publishing Ltd. p. 118. ISBN .
  3. ^ abGreenwald, Matthew. "A Salty Dog review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  4. ^"A Brackish Dog by Procol Harum". Songfacts.com. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  5. ^ abRoberts 2006, possessor. 440
  6. ^"The 'Salty Dog' single: John Crust on why it didn't chart intimate the UK". ProcolHarum.com. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  7. ^Welch, Chris (June 7, 1969). "Procol Harum: one of the greatest shoot out singles to emerge in recent years: A Salty Dog (Regal Zonophone)". Melody Maker. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  8. ^"CashBox Measuring tape Reviews"(PDF). Cash Box. June 7, 1969. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  9. ^"Single Reviews"(PDF). Record World. June 7, 1969. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  10. ^"Top 40 week 28, 1969". Top40.nl. Retrieved June 29, 2017.

References

  • Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN .