Rocking Out About Water – Part Two

The earth is primarily made up of water, and rockers paid homage to the element by using it in many songs. Let’s honor those songs and remember that water is good for music as well.

“Smoke on the Water” consists of the classic 7 guitar beats from Deep Purple. The unmistakable Ritchie Blackmore riffs took the band to new heights, enabling them to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. Most rock critics recognize the riffs of this song to be in the To 10 of any countdown.

“Sail on Sailor” and “Sloop John B” by the Beach Boys were great songs from the staple of Beach Boy songs that reflected the California beach sound, particularly those of Dennis Wilson an ardent sailor. Sadly it was the water that cost Dennis his life as he fell of his boat in Marina Del Ray. Dennis had been homeless a month before his death, having checked himself into rehab for his addition to alcohol. He left rehab, went on a drinking binge, and fell off into the water on December 28, 1983 a few days after his 39th birthday.

“Sailing” by Christopher Cross from 1980 was a Hugh hit for Chris (he earned five Grammys during his career) that was never intended to be a single. The record label needed another radio hit following “Ride like the Wind,” so they pulled the song from his album – a good decision, as the song won Grammys for Song and Arrangement of the Year.

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Photo credit: Jonas Rogowski