KGB - Sail On Sailor

[Melt Away]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYBoYdc17Tw

While reading about guitarist, Mike Bloomfield, I came across this..
 
"In 1974 Bloomfield hooked up with a failed supergroup called KGB, from the initials of Ray Kennedy (co-writer of "Sail On, Sailor"), Barry Goldberg on keyboards and Bloomfield on guitar. The band had a rhythm section of Rick Grech on bass and Carmine Appice on drums. Grech and Bloomfield immediately quit after its release, stating they never had faith in the project. The album was not well received, but it did contain the standout track "Sail On, Sailor". Its authorship was credited only to "Wilson-Kennedy", and had a bluesy, darker feel, along with Ray Kennedy's original cocaine related lyrics."

Thoughts and/or preferences?

[Rocky Raccoon]

Interesting, I like the bluesy arrangement, it has a Three Dog Night kind of feel but I don't really know if I like these lyrics, maybe I'm just biased towards the Beach Boys version.  Is Van Dyke's version available somewhere, I mean his lyrics?  I know he's credited as a co-writer on the Beach Boys version but I think it's been said that not much of his contribution is left on the released version.

[Andrew G. Doe]

There's also a Ray Kennedy solo version that sits kinda halfway between the two.

[phirnis]

Lord it's frightening when you're coked-out

[NHC]

Mike Bloomfield is my favorite blues guitarist* of all, particularly for his work with the Paul Butterfield Band and Electric Flag, and of course side one of Super Session, but I never really was familiar with KGB.  A good listen is Live at the Fillmore West 1969 with Nick Gravenites and friends.  "It Takes Time", "Blues On A Westside" and "Carmelita Skiffle" (he lived on Carmelita Drive in Mill Valley, CA) are among the standout tracks.  Taj Mahal comes on to sing one as well.

* Overall, probably have to cite Toy Caldwell,  Brian Setzer and Carlos Santana.