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Rating: "Holland", 1973, is considered by many as a sort of boundary between the true Beach Boys and the subsequent ones, characterized by a production with modest artistic and commercial results negatively affected by Brian Wilson's mental illness, which led him to come in and out of the band without leaving a trace. In 1972, the group left California to seek better inspiration in the Netherlands. As in the previous album, "Carl And The Passions-So Tough," replacing an injured Dennis Wilson on drums is Ricky Faatar, and new member Blondie Chaplin is recruited on guitar and vocals.
The final result of the Dutch sessions is an enjoyable product, put together with great mastery, but it was rejected by the record company due to the clear lack of a launch single. In fact, Mike Love and Al Jardine engaged in writing an ecological suite, "California Saga", which is well-rendered as a whole but impossible to split even though the parts are distinct enough, the best being the first sung by Love, "Big Sur", a beautiful waltz. Carl Wilson ventures into "Trader" and with his brother Dennis in "Steamboat", the former more in their typical sunshine-pop style. "Only With You" is Dennis's contribution, a track with an intense performance like the drummer's best production. The single was pulled from a leftover by Brian, "Sail On Sailor", initially tried with Dennis's voice and then entrusted to the more soulful tones of guitarist Blondie Chaplin, who also composes "Leaving This Town". It is "Sail On Sailor", a blues tinged with surf, that sells "Holland" thanks to an easy and immediate melody adorned with a fine vocal performance by Chaplin accompanied by the typical Beach Boys harmonies.
"Holland" is among the pleasant listening experiences, fast and tantalizing, definitely worth a spin.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Sail On, Sailor (03:19)
I sailed an ocean, unsettled ocean
Through restful waters and deep commotion
Often frightened, unenlightened
Sail on, sail on sailor
I wrest the waters, fight Neptune's waters
Sail through the sorrows of life's marauders
Unrepenting, often empty
Sail on, sail on sailor
Caught like a sewer rat alone but I sail
Bought like a crust of bread, but oh do I wail
Seldom stumble, never crumble
Try to tumble, life's a rumble
Feel the stinging I've been given
Never ending, unrelenting
Heartbreak searing, always fearing
Never caring, persevering
Sail on, sail on, sailor
I work the seaways, the gale-swept seaways
Past shipwrecked daughters of wicked waters
Uninspired, drenched and tired
Wail on, wail on, sailor
Always needing, even bleeding
Never feeding all my feelings
Damn the thunder, must I blunder
There's no wonder all I'm under
Stop the crying and the lying
And the sighing and my dying
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
Sail on, sail on sailor
02 Steamboat (04:33)
The river's a bed of sweet berries and flowers
Banks of thirsty lies
(Please be careful)
The stream is an eyeglass of heroes
Bridged with bright replies
The creek is a funnel of forgiveness
Winning every prize
Steamboat of living ever faithfully ride.
The river's a dream in a waltz time
Banks of jasper glaze
(Have a ball and sing)
The stream is a timepiece of children
Bridged with crystal haze
The creek is a trumpet of hard times
Blowing tasty days
Steamboat of living ever faithfully glide.
Don't worry mister Fulton
We'll get your steamboat rollin'.
06 The Trader (05:04)
[Jonah:] Hi
Trader
Trader sailed a jeweled crown
Humanity rowed the way
Exploring to command more land
Scheming how to rule the waves.
Trader spied a virgin plain
And named it for velvet robes
Wrote home declaring there's a place
Where totally folks are free
(Happily completely)
Nourishment fills the prairies and the hillsides
And animals stalk the mountains and the seaside
And fish abound the lakes and birds the skies
Signed sincerely
Trader found the jeweled land
Was occupied before he came
By humans of a second look
Who couldn't even write their names, shame
Trader said they're not as good
As folks who wear velvet robes
Wrote home again and asked, Please help
Their breasts I see; they're not like me
Banish them from our prairies and our hillsides
Clear them from our mountains and our seaside
I want them off our lakes so please reply
Signed sincerely
Trader he got the crown okay
Cleared humanity from his way
He civilized all he saw
Making changes every single day say
Shops sprang over the prairies and the hillsides
Then roads cut through the mountains to the seaside
The other kind fled to hide, by and by,
And so sincerely cried
Making it softly
Like the evening sea, trying to be
Making it go
Creating it gently
Like a morning breeze, a life of ease
Eyes that see
Beyond tomorrow, through to the time without hours
Passing the Eden of Flowers
Reason to live
Embracing together
Like the merging streams, crying dreams
Making it full
Begging intently
For a slight reprieve, a night of ease
Hands to touch
Beyond the sorrow, on to the force without power
Piercing the crust of the tower
Reason to live
Hoping
Like a budding rose, humbling shows
Making it
Struggling lonely
Like a desert field, break the seal, make it real
Ears to hear
Beyond the showers, on to the suns of tomorrows
Burning the flesh of all sorrows
Reason to live
Reason to continue
Reason to go on
Reason to live
Reason to live
Reason to live
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