View source for Sloop John B

{{Short description|Bahamian folk song}}
{{Infobox musical composition
| title           = The John B. Sails
| type            = Traditional song
| other_name      = {{ubl|I Want to Go Home|Wreck of the John B.|Sloop John B|Hoist Up The John B Sails}} 
| image           = Nassau Harbor After 1877.jpg 
| caption         = Nassau Harbor after 1877, [[Albert Bierstadt]], [[de Young Museum]], [[San Francisco]]
| published       = 1916
| language        = English
| style           = [[Folk music|Folk]] 
}}
"'''Sloop John B'''" ([[Roud Folk Song Index|Roud]] 15634, originally published as "'''The John B. Sails'''") is a [[Bahamian folk music|Bahamian folk song]] from [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]]. A transcription was published in 1916 by [[Richard Le Gallienne]], and [[Carl Sandburg]] included a version in his ''[[The American Songbag]]'' in 1927. There have been many recordings of the song since the early 1950s, with variant titles including "'''I Want to Go Home'''" and "'''Wreck of the John B'''".

In 1966, American rock band [[the Beach Boys]] recorded a folk rock adaptation that was produced and arranged by [[Brian Wilson]] and released as the second single from their album ''[[Pet Sounds]]''. The record peaked at number three in the U.S., number two in the UK, and topped the charts in several other countries. It was innovative for containing an elaborate ''a cappella'' vocal section not found in other pop music of the era, and it remains one of the group's biggest hits.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Moskowitz|editor-first=David V.|title=The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8XG9CgAAQBAJ|date=2015|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-4408-0340-6|access-date=October 6, 2016|archive-date=February 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222081100/https://books.google.com/books?id=8XG9CgAAQBAJ|url-status=live |page=43}}</ref>

In 2011, the Beach Boys' version of "Sloop John B" was ranked number 276 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of "[[The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]".<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/the-beach-boys-sloop-john-b-20110526|title=Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=April 7, 2011}}</ref>

==Earliest publications==
"The John B. Sails" was transcribed by [[Richard Le Gallienne]], with five verses and the chorus published in his article "Coral Islands and Mangrove-Trees" in the December 1916 issue of ''[[Harper's Magazine|Harper’s Monthly Magazine]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Coral Islands and Mangrove-Trees|author=Richard Le Gallienne|pages=82–83|journal=Harper's Monthly Magazine|volume=134|issue=799|date=December 1916|url=https://archive.org/details/harpersnew134various/page/82/mode/2up}}</ref> Gallienne published the first two verses and chorus in his 1917 novel ''Pieces of Eight''.<ref>Le Gallienne, ''Pieces of Eight'', p. 30</ref> The lyrics describe a disastrous voyage on a [[sloop]], with the vessel plagued by drunkenness and arrests and a pig eating the narrator's food.

Carl Sandburg included the first three verses and chorus of "The John B. Sails" in his 1927 collection ''[[The American Songbag]]''. He states that he collected it from [[John T. McCutcheon]], a political cartoonist from Chicago.  McCutcheon told him:
{{Listen
|pos=right
|filename=JohnBSails - Prickly Bear.ogg
|title="The John B. Sails" (3:25)
|description= Banjo/vocal performance of the song. }}
{{blockquote|Time and usage have given this song almost the dignity of a  national anthem around Nassau. The weathered ribs of the historic craft lie imbedded in the sand at Governor's Harbor, whence an expedition, especially sent up for the purpose in 1926, extracted a knee of horseflesh and a ring-bolt. These relics are now preserved and built into the Watch Tower, designed by [[Howard Van Doren Shaw|Mr. Howard Shaw]] and built on our southern coast a couple of points east by north of the star Canopus.}}

=={{Anchor|The Beach Boys}} The Beach Boys version==
{{Infobox song
| name       = Sloop John B
| cover      = Sloop John B cover.jpg
| caption    = U.S. picture sleeve
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[the Beach Boys]]
| album      = [[Pet Sounds]]
| B-side     = [[You're So Good to Me]]
| released   = March 21, 1966 
| recorded   = {{Start date|12|07}}{{snd}}{{Start date|1965|12|29}}
| studio     = [[United Western Recorders]], Hollywood
| venue      =
| genre      = {{flatlist|
*[[Folk rock]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Unterberger|first=Richie|author-link=Richie Unterberger|title=Great Moments in Folk Rock: Lists of Aunthor Favorites|publisher=www.richieunterberger.com|url=http://www.richieunterberger.com/turnlists.html|access-date=2011-01-26}}</ref><ref name="Scullati">{{cite journal|last1=Scullati|first1=Gene|author-link=Gene Sculatti|url=http://www.teachrock.org/resources/article/villains-and-heroes-in-defense-of-the-beach-boys/|title=Villains and Heroes: In Defense of the Beach Boys|journal=[[Jazz & Pop]]|date=September 1968|access-date=10 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191639/http://www.teachrock.org/resources/article/villains-and-heroes-in-defense-of-the-beach-boys/|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref>
*[[chamber pop]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Perlmutter|first1=Adam|title='Sloop John B' Has Seen a Sea Change Throughout the Years|url=http://acousticguitar.com/sloop-john-b-has-seen-a-sea-change-throughout-the-years/|website=Acoustic Guitar|date=May 9, 2016}}</ref>
* [[baroque pop]]<ref name="Number Ones 2022">{{cite book|last= Breihan|first= Tom|chapter= The Beach Boys - "Good Vibrations|date= November 15, 2022|title= The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group]]|location= New York|page= 90}}</ref>
*[[sea shanty]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/tiktok-sea-shanties-beach-boys-sloop-john-b-1234886841/|title = Before TikTok Inspired a Rising Tide for Sea Shanties, the Beach Boys Charted One of Their Own|date = 16 January 2021}}</ref>}}
| length     = {{Duration|m=2|s=59}}
| label      = [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
| writer     = Traditional, arranged by [[Brian Wilson]]
| producer   = Brian Wilson
| prev_title = [[Barbara Ann#The Beach Boys|Barbara Ann]]
| prev_year  = 1965
| next_title = [[Wouldn't It Be Nice]]
| next_year  = 1966
| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|nSAoEf1Ib58|"Sloop John B"}}}}
  {{Audio sample
 | type        = single
 | file        = Sloop John B.ogg
}}
}}

===Arrangement===

[[The Kingston Trio]]'s 1958 recording of "The John B. Sails" was recorded under the title "The Wreck of the John B."<ref>{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19768/m1/ |title=Show 18 - Blowin' in the Wind: Pop discovers folk music. [Part 1] |show=18}}</ref> It was the direct influence on the Beach Boys' version. The Beach Boys' [[Al Jardine]] was a keen [[folk music]] fan, and he suggested to [[Brian Wilson]] that the Beach Boys should record the song. As Jardine explains:
{{blockquote|Brian was at the piano. I asked him if I could sit down and show him something. I laid out the chord pattern for 'Sloop John B.' I said, 'Remember this song?' I played it. He said, 'I'm not a big fan of the Kingston Trio.' He wasn't into folk music. But I didn't give up on the idea. So what I did was to sit down and play it for him in the Beach Boys idiom. I figured if I gave it to him in the right light, he might end up believing in it. So I modified the chord changes so it would be a little more interesting. The original song is basically a three-chord song, and I knew that wouldn't fly.}}

Jardine updated the [[chord progression]] by having the [[subdominant]] (D♭ major) move to its [[relative minor]] (B♭ minor) before returning to the [[tonic (music)|tonic]] (A♭ major), thus altering a portion of the song's progression from IV — I to IV — ii — I. This device is heard immediately after the lyric "into a fight" and "leave me alone".

{{blockquote|So I put some minor changes in there, and it stretched out the possibilities from a vocal point of view. Anyway, I played it, walked away from the piano and we went back to work. The very next day, I got a phone call to come down to the studio. Brian played the song for me, and I was blown away. The idea stage to the completed track took less than 24 hours.<ref>''The Pet Sounds Sessions'': "The Making Of ''Pet Sounds''" booklet, pg. 25-26</ref>}}

Wilson elected to change some lyrics: "this is the worst trip since I've been born" to "this is the worst trip I've ever been on", "I feel so break up" to "I feel so broke up", and "broke up the people's trunk" to "broke in the captain's trunk". The first lyric change has been suggested by some to be a subtle nod to the 1960s [[psychedelia]] subculture.<ref name="RS"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/lsd-70th-anniversary_n_3092536.html|title=LSD's 70th Anniversary: 10 Rock Lyrics From The 1960s That Pay Homage To Acid| work=Huffington Post|first=Jacobs|last=Matthew|date=April 16, 2013}}</ref><ref name=mojo2015>{{cite journal|last1=Mojo Staff|title=The Beach Boys' 50 Greatest Songs|journal=[[Mojo magazine|MOJO]]|date=April 24, 2015|url=http://www.mojo4music.com/19908/the-beach-boys-50-greatest-songs/}}</ref>

=== Recording ===
The instrumental section of the song was recorded on July 12, 1965, at [[United Western Recorders]], [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], [[California]], the session being engineered by [[Chuck Britz]] and produced by Brian Wilson. The master take of the instrumental backing took fourteen takes to achieve. Wilson's arrangement blended rock and marching band instrumentation with the use of flutes, [[glockenspiel]], bass saxophone, bass, guitar, and drums.<ref>{{cite book |last=Granata |first=Charles L. |title=Wouldn't it Be Nice: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds |page=149 |date=2003 |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=eduXp1caQ4YC}}|publisher=Chicago Review Press|isbn=978-1-55652-507-0}}</ref>

The vocal tracks were recorded over two sessions. The first was recorded on December 22, 1965, at Western Recorders, produced by Wilson. The second, on December 29, added a new lead vocal and Billy Strange's 12-string electric guitar part. Jardine explained that Wilson "lined us up one at a time to try out for the lead vocal. I had naturally assumed I would sing the lead, since I had brought in the arrangement. It was like interviewing for a job. Pretty funny. He didn't like any of us. My vocal had a much more mellow approach because I was bringing it from the folk idiom. For the radio, we needed a more rock approach. Wilson and Mike [Love] ended up singing it."<ref>''The Pet Sounds Sessions'': "The Making Of ''Pet Sounds''" booklet, pg. 26</ref> On the final recording, Brian Wilson sang the first and third verses and [[Mike Love]] sang the second.

[[Kent Hartman]], in his book ''[[The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret|The Wrecking Crew]]'', described [[Billy Strange]]'s contribution to the song. Brian Wilson called Strange into the studio one Sunday, played him the rough recording, and told him he needed an electric twelve-string guitar solo in the middle of the track. When Strange replied that he did not own a twelve string, Wilson responded by calling Glenn Wallichs, the head of [[Capitol Records]] and owner of [[Wallichs Music City]]. A [[Fender Electric XII]] and [[Fender Twin|Twin Reverb]] amplifier were quickly delivered (despite the shop they were ordered from being closed on Sundays), and Strange recorded the guitar part in one take. Wilson then gave Strange $2,000 to cover the cost of the equipment.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hartman|first1=Kent|title=The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best Kept Secret|date=2012|publisher=Thomas Dunne|isbn=9780312619749|pages=149–151 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hb3-c-LLQkwC |access-date=21 June 2017}}</ref>

===Single release===
A music video set to "Sloop John B" was filmed for the UK's ''[[Top of the Pops]]'', directed by newly employed band publicist [[Derek Taylor]]. It was filmed at Brian's [[Laurel Canyon|Laurel Way]] home with [[Dennis Wilson]] acting as cameraman.<ref>*{{cite book|last=Badman|first=Keith|title=The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band, on Stage and in the Studio|url=https://archive.org/details/beachboysdefinit0000badm|url-access=registration|year=2004|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-0-87930-818-6|pages=[https://archive.org/details/beachboysdefinit0000badm/page/130 130]–31}}</ref>

The single, [[backed with]] the song "[[You're So Good to Me]]", was released on March 21, 1966 in the US and on April 15, 1966 in the UK. It entered the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart on April 2, and peaked at {{Numero|3}} on May 7, remaining on the chart, in total, for 11 weeks. It charted highly throughout the world, remaining as one of the Beach Boys' most popular and memorable hits. It was {{Numero|1}} in Germany, Austria, and Norway—all for five weeks each—as well as Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, South Africa, and New Zealand. It placed {{Numero|2}} in the UK, Ireland (where it was the group's highest charting single at the time), Canada, and in ''Record World''. It was the fastest Beach Boys seller to date, moving more than half a million copies in less than two weeks after release.<ref>{{cite book |last=Murrels |first=Joseph |title=The Book of Golden Disks |year=1978 |publisher=Barrie & Jenkins |isbn=978-0214205125 |url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr }}</ref> It had a three-week stay at number 1 in the Netherlands, making it the "Hit of the Year".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Beach Boys – Sloop John B |url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beach+Boys&titel=Sloop+John+B&cat=s |publisher=[[Single Top 100]] |access-date=July 29, 2017}}</ref>

''[[Cash Box]]'' described the single as a "topflight adaptation" that treats "the folk oldie in a rhythmic, effectively-building warm-hearted rousing style."<ref name=cb>{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=March 26, 1966 |page=18 |access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-03-26.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}}</ref> ''[[Record World]]'' said that "The Beach Boys have taken a tune from the folk books and given it an intriguing rock backing."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Single Picks of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=March 26, 1966|page=1|accessdate=2023-07-17|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/66/RW-1966-03-26.pdf}}</ref>

===Other releases===
In 1968, the recording's instrumental was released on ''[[Stack-O-Tracks]]''. Along with sessions highlights, the box set ''[[The Pet Sounds Sessions]]'' includes two alternate takes, one with Carl Wilson singing lead on the first verse, and one with Brian singing all parts.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

In 2012, [[Al Jardine]] released his own version as a bonus track on the reissue of his solo album ''[[A Postcard from California]].

In 2011, the song was sung by [[Fisherman's Friends]] at [[Cambridge Folk Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-fishermans-friends/2011/cherry-hinton-hall-grounds-cambridge-england-73e78649.html|title= Fisherman's Friends|website= www.setlist.fm|accessdate= 8 October 2022}}</ref> and released on ''Suck'em and Sea''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.last.fm/music/The+Fisherman%27s+Friends/Suck%27em+and+Sea/Sloop+John+B|website= www.last.fm|accessdate= 8 October 2022|title=Sloop John B}}</ref> It was featured in the compilation album ''Cambridge Folk Festival 2011'' <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.propermusic.com/delph015-cambridge-folk-festival-2011.html|website= www.propermusic.com|accessdate= 8 October 2022|title= Cambridge Folk Festival}}</ref>
In 2016, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of ''Pet Sounds'', Brian Wilson and his touring band (including Al Jardine) performed ''Sloop John B'' live at [[Capitol Studios]].<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/gx5PVjsRamk Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170528075851/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx5PVjsRamk Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx5PVjsRamk&ab| title = Brian Wilson & Al Jardine - Sloop John B (Official Video) | website=[[YouTube]]| date = 10 June 2016 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2021, another UK based group, Isle 'Ave A Shanty sang the song at the 2021 [[Harwich]] Sea Shanty Festival and included the song on their 2022 debut album ''Swinging the Lamp''.<ref>{{cite journal|title= The Port of Wisbech|journal= The Fens|page= 20|last= Monger|first= Garry|year= 2022|issue= 51}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://isleaveashanty.com|title= Swinging the Lamp|website= www.isleaveashanty|accessdate= 9 October 2022}}</ref>

===Personnel===

Per band archivist Craig Slowinski.<ref name="PS2016">{{cite web |last1=Slowinski |first1=Craig |title=Pet Sounds LP |url=http://www.beachboysarchives.com/page10 |website=beachboysarchives.com |publisher=Endless Summer Quarterly |access-date=September 24, 2018}}</ref>

'''The Beach Boys'''
*[[Bruce Johnston]] — backing vocals
*[[Mike Love]] – lead (2nd verse) and backing vocals
*[[Al Jardine]] – backing vocals
*[[Brian Wilson]] – lead (1st and 3rd verses) and backing vocals
*[[Carl Wilson]] – backing vocals
*[[Dennis Wilson]] – backing vocals

'''Additional musicians and production staff'''
{{div col}}
* [[Hal Blaine]] – [[Drum kit|drums]]
* [[Chuck Britz]] – engineer
* [[Frank Capp]] – [[glockenspiel]]
* [[Al Casey (rock guitarist)|Al Casey]] – acoustic rhythm guitar
* [[Jerry Cole]] – 12-string lead guitar
* [[Steve Douglas (saxophonist)|Steve Douglas]] – temple blocks
* [[Carol Kaye]] – [[Bass guitar|electric bass]]
* [[Al De Lory]] – [[tack piano]]
* [[Jay Migliori]] – flute
* [[Jim Horn]] – flute
* [[Jack Nimitz]] – [[bass saxophone]]
* [[Lyle Ritz]] – [[Double bass|string bass]]
* [[Billy Strange]] – [[12-string guitar|12-string lead guitar]], overdubbed 12-string lead guitars
* Tony (surname unknown) – tambourine
{{div col end}}

===Certifications===
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Beach Boys|title=Sloop John B|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|accessdate=December 13, 2024|id=20598-1917-1}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

==Sylvie Vartan version (in French)==
{{Infobox song
| name          = Mister John B
| type          = single
| image         =
| alt           = 
| language      = French
| artist        = [[Sylvie Vartan]]
| album         = 
| B-side        = La chanson
| released      = July 1966
| recorded      = Summer 1966
| genre         = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| length        = 2:45
| label         = [[RCA Records|RCA Victor]]
| writer        = Traditional, [[Brian Wilson]], Giles Thibaut, [[Georges Aber]], [[Eddie Vartan]]
| producer      = 
| prev_title    = ll y a 2 filles en moi
| prev_year     = 1966
| next_title    = Ballade pour un sourire
| next_year     = 1966
}}

In 1966, the song was adapted into [[French language|French]] by Giles Thibaut, [[Georges Aber]], and [[Eddie Vartan]] as "''Mister John B''" and performed by Vartan's sister [[Sylvie Vartan|Sylvie]] and released as a single in July 1966 as a non-album single, based on the Beach Boys version from earlier that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EP 60 – Site officiel de Sylvie Vartan |url=https://www.sylvie-vartan.com/singles/ |access-date=2024-06-21 |language=fr-FR}}</ref> The song had on-and-off chart success from mid-to-late 1966 on the French Belgian charts, peaking at Number 35 on the French Belgian charts on November 19, 1966.<ref name="ultratop.be">{{Cite web |title=Sylvie Vartan - Mister John B. - ultratop.be |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/55a91/Sylvie-Vartan-Mister-John-B. |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=www.ultratop.be}}</ref> Vartan would go on to re-record the song for her 2013 album "''Sylvie In Nashville''" but failed to chart unlike the former version.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Albums 2010 – Site officiel de Sylvie Vartan |url=https://www.sylvie-vartan.com/france-albums-2010/ |access-date=2024-06-21 |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sylvie Vartan - Mr John B. [2013] - ultratop.be |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/125d95/Sylvie-Vartan-Mr-John-B.-%5B2013%5D |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=www.ultratop.be}}</ref>

===Charts===
{|class="wikitable"
!align="left"|Chart (1966)
!align="center"|Peak<br />position
|-
|align="left"|Belgium ([[Ultratop 50]] Wallonia)
|align="center"|35<ref name="ultratop.be"/>
|}

==In popular culture==
{{multiple issues|section=yes|
{{more citations needed|section|date=April 2022}}
{{in popular culture|section|date=August 2022}}
}}

===English football===
It has been popular amongst English football fans since the mid-2000s when Liverpool adapted the song to sing about their [[2005 UEFA Champions League final|2005 Champions League final]] triumph in Istanbul.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} It was subsequently adopted by the supporters of English non-league team [[F.C. United of Manchester]] as a club anthem in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2007/may/09/fcunitedriseandshineona | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=David | last=Conn | title=FC United rise and shine on a sense of community | date=May 9, 2007}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3yWyJVQBmU FC United of Manchester - ''Sloop John B''] Retrieved 09-21-11</ref>

Since then more high-profile teams have followed suit, usually with different lyrics for their own teams, including Watford, with Newcastle, Blackpool, Middlesbrough and Hull also adopting the song as their own. It was sung by Phil Brown, the manager of [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City FC]], shortly after Hull had avoided [[Promotion and relegation|relegation]] from the [[Premier League]] in 2009.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

===Scottish football===
The melody of "Sloop John B" has been used as the basis for the "[[Famine Song]]", a [[Sectarianism in Glasgow|sectarian]] [[Anti-Catholicism in the United Kingdom|anti-Irish Catholic]] song which refers to [[Irish migration to Great Britain]] in the context of the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Irish Famine]] and contains the line "the famine's over, why don't you go home?". The song has been sung by fans of [[Rangers F.C.]] in reference to rival club [[Celtic F.C.]], which was established by Irish Catholic migrants in Glasgow and retains a large Irish supporter base.<ref name=indy>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/reid-refers-racist-rangers-song-to-police-965113.html |title=Reid refers 'racist' Rangers song to police |last=Gray |first=Lisa |date=17 October 2008 |website=[[independent.co.uk]]|access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref><ref name=herald>{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19546350.charities-condemn-racist-anti-irish-march-rangers-v-celtic-game/ |title=Charities condemn 'racist anti-Irish' march before Rangers v Celtic game |last=Williams |first=Martin |date=30 August 2021 |website=[[HeraldScotland.com]] |access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref> The song was first sung publicly by Rangers fans at a match at [[Celtic Park]] in April 2008.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bradley |first1=Joseph M. |date=2013 |title=When the Past Meets the Present: The Great Irish Famine and Scottish Football |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/510694 |journal=Éire-Ireland |volume=48 |issue=1–2 |pages=230–245| doi=10.1353/eir.2013.0002 |s2cid=162271495 |access-date=25 December 2021|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Rangers have repeatedly asked their fans not to sing the song. In 2009 Scotland's Justiciary Appeal Court ruled that the song was racist, with judge [[Colin Sutherland, Lord Carloway|Lord Carloway]] stating that its lyrics "are racist in calling upon people native to Scotland to leave the country because of their racial origins".<ref name=herald />

==List of recordings==
{{more citations needed|section|date=August 2022}}
All versions titled "Sloop John B", except where noted.
{{columns-list|colwidth=50em|
* 1935 - Cleveland Simmons Group - "John B. Sails" (a [[Bahamas]] [[field recording]] collected by [[Alan Lomax]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/05/09/152341534/major-us-folk-music-archive-makes-online-debut |title=Major US Folk Music Archive Makes Online Debut |last=Martin |first=Michel |date=May 9, 2012 |website=NPR.org |publisher=NPR |access-date=May 28, 2024 |quote=}}</ref>
'''1950s'''
* 1950 – [[The Weavers]] - "(The Wreck of the) John B" <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/19791|title=Original versions of (The Wreck of the) John B by the Weavers &#124; SecondHandSongs|website=SecondHandSongs}}</ref>
* 1952 – Blind Blake ([[Blake Alphonso Higgs]]) – "John B. Sails" 
* 1958 – [[The Kingston Trio]] – "(The Wreck of the) John B" 
* 1959 – [[Johnny Cash]] – "I Want To Go Home" 
'''1960s'''
* 1960 – [[Bud & Travis]]  (''Bud and Travis in Concert 1960'')
* 1960 – [[Lonnie Donegan]] – "I Wanna Go Home (Wreck of the John B)" UK No. 5<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/2950/lonnie-donegan/ |title=Lonnie Donegan |work=The Official Charts Company }}</ref>
* 1960 – [[Jimmie Rodgers (pop singer)|Jimmie Rodgers]] - "Wreck of the John B" US No. 64<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/jimmie-rodgers/ |title=Jimmie Rodgers |magazine=Billboard }}</ref> Can. No. 1 <small>(3 weeks)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chumtribute.com/60-09-12-chart.jpg| title=CHUM Hit Parade - September 12, 1960}}</ref>
* 1961 – [[Jerry Butler (singer)|Jerry Butler]] - "John B" from LP "Folk Songs" ([[Vee-Jay Records|Vee-Jay records]])
* 1962 – [[Arthur Lyman]] Group - "(The Sloop) John B." 
* 1962 – [[Dick Dale and his Del-Tones]]
* 1962 – Keith and Enid - "Wreck of the John B"
* 1963 – [[The Brothers Four]] - "The John B. Sails" 
* 1963 – [[Jon Mark|Jon]] & [[Alun Davies (musician)|Alun]] -  "John B" (''[[Relax Your Mind (album)|Relax Your Mind]]'')
* 1965 – [[Barry McGuire]]
* 1966 – [[The Beach Boys]] ("Sloop John B") Can. #2<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Vol+5%2C+No.+12+-+Week+of+May+16th%2C+1966.pdf| title=RPM Magazine - May 16, 1966 - page 5}}</ref>
* 1966 – [[The Vibrators (Jamaica)]] Featuring Raymond Harper, [[Bobby Aitken]] & The Carib Beats - "Sloop John B" ([[Doctor Bird Records]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3601112-Raymond-Harper-The-Vibrators-2-With-Bobby-Aitken-s-Carib-Beats-Amour-John-B?srsltid=AfmBOop6CLj3X40IfoSa-bhk7GcCqjjeTbNf8xy6SH0B_-fFc4q6htX9|title=Discogs Raymond Harper / The Vibrators (2) With Bobby Aitken's Carib Beats – Amour / John B|website=[[Discogs]] |date=1966 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/6542798-The-Vibrators-2-Raymond-Harper-The-Carib-Beats-Sloop-John-B-Amour?srsltid=AfmBOooMG2yIzLGN6LFXqf5yF4gZN8jVhkxi3An1zg68TjvziJsZs6nW|title=Discogs The Vibrators (2) / Raymond Harper & The Carib Beats – Sloop John B / Amour|website=[[Discogs]] |date=1966 }}</ref>
* 1966 - [[The Merrymen]] featuring [[Emile Straker]] - "Wreck of the John B" (''Caribbean Treasure Chest'')
* 1966 – [[Cornelis Vreeswijk]] and Ann-Louise Hansson - "Jag hade en gång en båt" ("Once I Had A Boat") 
* 1966 – [[The Ventures]]
* 1967 – [[Gary Lewis & The Playboys]] - “Down on the Sloop John B.”
* 1967 – [[Marta Kristen]] and [[Billy Mumy]] sing a version in [[Lost in Space]] (S3E14 Castles In Space)
* 1969 – [[Laurel Aitken]] - released as (Sloop) John B
'''1970s'''
* 1970 – [[Chet Atkins]] and [[Jerry Reed]] - "Wreck of the John B" on album ''[[Me & Jerry]]''
* 1972 – [[Joseph Spence (musician)|Joseph Spence]] (''Good Morning Mr. Walker'')
* 1973 – London Welsh Male Voice Choir <ref>{{cite web|url= http://londonwelshmvc.org/about/history-of-the-boy-band|website= www.londonwelshmvc.org|title= History of the Original Boy Band|accessdate= 24 October 2023}}</ref>
* 1979 – Bill Sharkey
* 1979 – [[The Irish Rovers]] (''[[Tall Ships and Salty Dogs]]'')
'''1980s'''
* 1981 – [[David Thomas (musician)|David Thomas & the Pedestrians]]
* 1984 – [[Rainy Day (band)|Rainy Day]], featuring members of [[Rain Parade]], [[The Dream Syndicate]], and [[The Three O'Clock]] (''Rainy Day'')
'''1990s'''
* 1997 – [[Arjen Anthony Lucassen]] ''[[Strange Hobby]]''
* 1998 – [[Jerry Jeff Walker]]
* 1999 – [[Tom Fogerty]] (''The Very Best of Tom Fogerty'')
'''2000s'''
* 2000 - [[Fisherman's Friends]] (''Suck'em and Sea'').<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.last.fm/music/The+Fisherman%27s+Friends/Suck%27em+and+Sea/Sloop+John+B|website= www.last.fm|title= Suck'em and Sea|accessdate= 8 October 2022}}</ref>
* 2000 – [[Catch 22 (band)|Catch 22]] - "Wreck of the Sloop John B"
* 2001 – [[Me First and the Gimme Gimmes]]
* 2002 – [[Si Begg|Culture Cruncher (Si Begg)]] - "Sloop Dee J"
* 2003 – [[Ulfuls]] - "Sleep John B" (Japanese)
* 2004 – [[Dan Zanes]] & Festival Five Folk (''Sea Music'')
* 2004 – [[The Dicey Doh Singers]] (''Classic Maritime Music from [[Smithsonian Folkways]]'')
* 2007 – [[Relient K]]
* 2007 – [[Okkervil River (band)|Okkervil River]] - "John Allyn Smith Sails"
* 2009 – [[Simple Minds]] (''[[Graffiti Soul]]'', deluxe edition)
'''2010s'''
* 2010 – [[Westminster Chorus]] (''It Only Takes a Moment'')
* 2011 – [[Bounding Main]] (''[[Kraken Up (album)|Kraken Up]]'')
* 2012 – [[Tom McRae]] (''[[From The Lowlands (album)|From The Lowlands]]'')
* 2012 – Al Jardine (''[[A Postcard from California]]'')
* 2012 – [[Dwight Yoakam]] (at The Live Room)
* 2012 – [[Aurelio Voltaire]] - "Screw the Ocampa" (''[[BiTrektual]]'')
* 2015 – [[AJR]] – "Call My Dad"
* 2016 – [[Triángulo de Amor Bizarro]] - "A cantiga de Juan C"
'''2020s'''
* 2022 - Isle 'Ave a Shanty - ''Swinging the Lamp'' album.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://elyfolkfestival.co.uk/isle-ave-a-shanty/|website= www.elyfolkfestival.co.uk|title= Isle 'Ave a Shanty|accessdate= 8 October 2022|archive-date= 9 October 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221009131237/https://elyfolkfestival.co.uk/isle-ave-a-shanty/|url-status= dead}}</ref>
}}

==Chart history==
{{more citations needed|section|date=October 2020}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Weekly singles charts'''
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Beach Boys version
|-
!Charts (1966)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|align="left"|Australian Singles Chart{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
| style="text-align:center;"|17
|-
{{single chart|Austria|1|artist=The Beach Boys|song=Sloop John B}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|5|artist=The Beach Boys|song=Sloop John B}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|39|artist=The Beach Boys|song=Sloop John B}}
|-
|align="left"|Canada [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'' Singles Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5733.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - May 16, 1966}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
|Finland ([[The Official Finnish Charts|''Suomen Virallinen'']])<ref>{{cite book |last=Nyman |first=Jake |title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja |publisher=Tammi |year=2005 |isbn=951-31-2503-3 |edition=1st |location=Helsinki |page=96|language=fi}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|39
|-
{{single chart|Germany|1|artist=The Beach Boys|song=Sloop John B|songid=67792}}
|-
|{{single chart|Ireland2|2|song=Sloop John B|access-date=July 11, 2017}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|1|artist=The Beach Boys|song=Sloop John B}}
|-
|New Zealand (''[[New Zealand Listener|Listener]]''){{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{single chart|Norway|1|artist=The Beach Boys|song=Sloop John B}}
|-
|South Africa ([[Springbok Radio|Springbok]])<ref>{{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(B).html|access-date=5 September 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|Sweden{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|align="left"|[[UK Singles Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/God+Only+Knows|title=The Official Charts Company - God Only Knows by The Beach Boys Search|date=4 April 2014|publisher=The Official Charts Company}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|3|artist=The Beach Boys}}
|-
|U.S. [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19660514.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, May 14, 1966 |access-date=December 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530053318/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19660514.html |archive-date=May 30, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|align="center"|5
|-
|}
{{col-2}}

'''Year-end charts'''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Beach Boys version
|-
!Chart (1966)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|UK <ref>[http://www.sixtiescity.net/charts/66chart.htm#top100 The 100 Best-Selling Singles of 1966]</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|21
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>[http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1966.htm Musicoutfitters.com]</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|61
|-
|U.S. ''Cash Box'' <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1966YESP.html |title=Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 24, 1966 |access-date=December 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217030153/http://www.tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1966YESP.html |archive-date=February 17, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|53
|-
|}
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikisource|The John B. Sails}}

* {{IMDb title|5949558|The Beach Boys: Sloop John B}}

{{Pet Sounds}}
{{The Beach Boys singles}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1966 singles]]
[[Category:1966 songs]]
[[Category:Folk rock songs]]
[[Category:The Beach Boys songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Brian Wilson]]
[[Category:Capitol Records singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Austria]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Germany]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Norway]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Sweden]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in South Africa]]
[[Category:Chamber pop songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings with Wall of Sound arrangements]]
[[Category:Tom Fogerty songs]]
[[Category:Roger Whittaker songs]]
[[Category:Jerry Jeff Walker songs]]
[[Category:Dick Dale songs]]
[[Category:The Ventures songs]]
[[Category:Relient K songs]]
[[Category:Barry McGuire songs]]
[[Category:Gary Lewis & the Playboys songs]]
[[Category:Jerry Butler songs]]
[[Category:Simple Minds songs]]
[[Category:Association football songs and chants]]
[[Category:The Kingston Trio songs]]
[[Category:The Brothers Four songs]]
[[Category:Me First and the Gimme Gimmes songs]]
[[Category:Songs about boats]]
[[Category:Sea shanties]]
[[Category:Year of song unknown]]
[[Category:Songs with unknown songwriters]]
[[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:Bahamian songs]]
[[Category:Folk songs]]