...And Here is the Shipping Forecast

[Johnny Robbo]

There is a curious institution in Britain called "The Shipping Forecast". Basically it's a weather forecast for sea-farers broadcast every evening on BBC Radio 4. It's full of terms like...

"North Utsera, South Utsera, German Bight... backing westerly four or five – occasionally six, moderate or good with warnings of gales in Shannon..."

Totally incomprehensible to anyone not well versed in nautical terminology, but it gets listening figures in the millions! Something about the way it's read gives it a sort of comforting cadence, even though 99% or those tuning in (me included) haven't a clue what's being said.

Another part of the attraction, for me anyway, is the piece of music that's used to introduce it. It's called "Sailing By" by the composer Ronald Binge. I've always thought it's a really pretty & charming little tune so I decided to have a stab at it. Here's the original for comparison:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFdas-kMF74

Two rhythm guitar tracks panned L/R – tele
Slide guitar – tele
Cakewalk SI drums
Cakewalk SI Rhodes piano & 4front Piano VST panned L/R
No-name bass
Vox Tonelab

Thanks for listening, chaps!

[ODH]

Nice one John, great slide.

The shipping forecast brings back my student days in Salford when I had no tv and listened to Radio 4 a lot.

 

[heg577]

..and the memories come flooding back...
What a delightful idea to cover this tune.
Great post.

[fenderbender]

Excellent version John
once again you are a master
top class recording.


Tommy

[Pete C]

Brings back memories for me - as a teenager I'd often listen to the radio in bed and remember dozing off to this many a time.

The slide guitar gives it a country feel - well played as usual !

Pete

[Hook]

That is a nice composition and you've done a splendid job with it.
Rock on!

[bruno]

Damn - I've been found out. A bit of a radio head myself, I always knew it was time for sleep when this came on the radio. Love this, brought back memories. I still listen to radio 4 regularly, but not the shipping forecast these days, fast asleep :-) Great take on this classic tune.
B

[Groundy]

Brilliant John, Just brilliant,
Brings back memories of when I first started work my Dad would wake me up at 6.0 clock and the first thing I would hear was,, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, on the radio, it wont have been called radio 4 then I think it was called The Light Programme,
Getting back to the music, as ever top class playing and recording,
Well done and thanks for the memories.....


Alex

[Johnny Robbo]

Thanks chaps! I'm on a bit of a news boycott at the moment as I'm sick to death of hearing about the impending referendum (let's not go there!) So on a morning now, instead of Radio 4, I'm tuning into Classic FM for some soothing sounds to accompany my first cuppa. Guess what tune they played at 6am today? Yup... Sailing By. Never really thought of it as a "classical" piece but there it was... lovely coincidence

[Farrell Jackson]

I'm not familiar with this song Johnny but I did enjoy your version with the great slide work!

Farrell