Ride Captain Ride

"Ride Captain Ride" is a song recorded by the American rock band Blues Image. It was co-written by the band's singer-guitarist Mike Pinera and keyboardist Frank "Skip" Konte, and was included on the group's 1970 album, Open. Released as a slightly shortened single in the spring of 1970, it shot up the charts, eventually reaching No. 4 in the USA and Canadian charts, making it Blues Image's only Top 40 chart hit. It reached No. 23 in Australia.

"Ride Captain Ride"
Single by Blues Image
from the album Open
B-side"Pay My Dues"
ReleasedApril 1970
GenreRock
Length3:45
3:07 (7" version)
LabelAtco / Atlantic
Songwriter(s)Mike Pinera, Frank Konte
Producer(s)Richard Podolor

The longer version repeats the chorus a couple of times, before the instrumental coda leads the song to its fade out.

The guitar fills and main solo were performed by Kent Henry. Pinera plays the guitar solo at the end of the song.

The song was inspired by the number of keys on Pinera's Rhodes piano. Pinera said, "Okay, I need a first word. And what came into my head was '73.' I liked the rhythm, and I went, '73 men sailed up, from the San Francisco Bay.'...The song sort of just wrote itself from there."[1]

In the lyrics, the crew are invited to ride along to an island, where they will feel free; however, when they do, they are never seen or heard from again. The Captain rides on a mystery ship, which disappears forever.

Chart history

Covers

The song was covered by Blood, Sweat & Tears in the album New City from 1975.

The song has been performed live many times by Phish with Page McConnell on lead vocals, notably during the legendary Ian's Farm show on 5/28/89.[7]

References
  1. Schweiber, Dave (June 26, 2001). "The Captain Rides Again". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on January 9, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  2. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  3. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, July 11, 1970
  4. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  5. Musicoutfitters.com
  6. Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 26, 1970
  7. https://phish.net/song/ride-captain-ride/history


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