B-side "Pay My Dues" Format 7" 45 RPM Length 3:45
3:07 (7" version) | Released April 1970 Genre Rock Label Atco / Atlantic | |
"Ride Captain Ride" is a song recorded by the American rock band Blues Image. The song was co-written by the band's singer-guitarist Mike Pinera and keyboardist Frank "Skip" Konte. It was included on the group's 1970 album, Open. Released as a slightly shortened single in the spring of 1970, it shot up the charts, eventually reaching No. 4 in the USA and Canadian charts, making it Blues Image's first (and only) Top 40 chart hit. The guitar fills and main solo were performed by Kent Henry. Pinera plays the guitar solo at the end of the song.
The song was inspired by the number of keys on Pinera's Rhodes piano. Pinera said, "Okay, I need a first word. And what came into my head was '73.' I liked the rhythm, and I went, '73 men sailed up, from the San Francisco Bay.' ... The song sort of just wrote itself from there."
The song was eventually remixed as a "psychedelic space version".
Popular culture
"Ride Captain Ride" was covered by Blood, Sweat & Tears on their 1975 album New City and was the lead track on Side One. It is also notable as an early effort by producer Jimmy Ienner. Live versions can be found on their albums In Concert and Live and Improvised.
"Ride Captain Ride" can be heard in the beginning of the episode "The Serpent's Egg" (Season 1, Episode 5) from the TV series DEFIANCE. Played on Raider Radio, broadcast from the top of The Arch, by Alak Tarr (Jesse Rath).
"Ride Captain Ride" was the surfing song in the indie game Tales of The Drunken Paladin.
"Ride Captain Ride" can be heard in both of the films Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Diggers.
The rock band Phish has covered the song in live concerts on a few occasions.
"Ride Captain Ride" can also be heard in the episode "Namaste" from the TV series LOST.
The Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner used "Ride Captain Ride" as the entrance theme for Shatner.
"Ride Captain Ride" plays at the beginning of the TV series Scorpion (Season 2, Episode 2: Cuba Libre) aired September 28, 2015.