Song of the Day 5/25: Blues Image, “Ride Captain Ride”
This band was a true one-hit wonder. Originally from Florida, Blues Image moved to Los Angeles in 1969 and released one album before 1970’s “Open,” which included their only hit, written by guitarist/vocalist Mike Pinera and keyboard player Skip Konte. It reached No. 4 and was one of the songs of the summer that year. But the band broke up the next year, most of its members leaving to join other bands. Most of the tasteful guitar work is by Kent Henry, later of Steppenwolf. Mike Pinera, who plays the solo on the outro, left the band while the album was being recorded to join Iron Butterfly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAnGe40-o9Q
I remember the summer this song was a hit, and part of the appeal was trying to figure out the inspiration for the 73 men who sailed up from the San Francisco Bay. Was this based on a true story? Not quite. Konte, who wrote the song with Pinera, revealed years later that 73 was the number of keys on his Fender Rhodes electric piano, so he started with that. He liked the rhythm of the first line, and the song “just sort of wrote itself from there.”
heh, another album I need to resurrect.
I bought Blues Image album used on Main Street just for this song and tried a second one (Red White and Blue) that never got a second listen.
I Like It Like That record store was the haven for resale LPs for us late 70s teens to pick up the 60s stuff prolly left at people’s mom’s house when they went to college. Also Goodwill had used records that were often in good enough shape to put on the turntable.
Always loved this one, as noted a true one hit wonder as if memory serves the rest of the album was not worth a second listen.
Nancy,
My wife and I were reminiscing just yesterday about I Like It Like That. It was the best of all the record stores on Main Street. We still have quite a few albums with the ILILT price stickers on them.
The owners were great. They used to successfully order unusual (read: folk) albums for me from the U.K. If memory serves me correctly, it was BJ Lobermann, Jerry Grant, and Don Challenger. I think that Don went on to work for TNJ, back in the days when it was a newspaper.
We always enjoyed going through the used l.p. bins, because you never knew what you were going to find. Nowadays, it costs way too much to park on Main Street. I don’t think that we’ve been to Rainbow or Wonderland this century.
R.I.P., I Like It Like That.
Squeezebox Records. 11th St. between Lincoln & Union. Loads of street parking.
Jerry still has his radio show, Hip City Part 2, on WVUD.
@REV,
Jupiter was good while it lasted. Used to love going through the dollar bins and the back room at the Marsh Road store. Good Boy has taken over the Roselle location. However, they’ve raised the prices. I’ll have to try Squeezebox one of these days; however, vinyl is slowly squeezing (!) us out of our house.
@Alby,
Six to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday nights. Jerry is a great guy. He plays requests for the men down in Smyrna. He’s also very active in the Democratic Party in Newark.
I’m starting to run into space issue too. I’ve decided to start buying one or two first pressing or rare stuff a month rather than a dozen $5-10 records. Saves spaces and adds gravitas to the collection.