Sailor

Sailor was an experimental music concept group formed in the early seventies by acoustic guitarist Georg Kajanus. He recruited two keyboard players, Phil Pickett and Henry Marsh, and drummer Grant Serpell. No bass or electric guitar were used. Their concept LP "Sailor" did well in Europe and their stage act was always entertainingly inventive, with two back-to-back keyboards and theatrical red-light district backdrop augmented by a mood y street lamp, often playing accordion-led tributes to chanteuses such as Josephine Baker. UK hits began in 1975 with the LP "Trouble", and subsequentely the ebullient "A Glass Of Champagne" (UK:2) and follow-up "Girls Girls Girls" (UK:7).

It was about spring in the year 1976. A song from a new band called SAILOR was played again an again on all radio stations: "Girls, Girls, Girls - Girls, Girls, Girls - Girls, Girls, Girls - Girls, Girls, Girls - Well - Yellow Red - Black Or White - Add A Little Bit Of M oonlight - For Thhis Intercontinental Romance - Shy Girl - Sexy Girl - They All Like That Fancy World - Champagne - A Gentle Song - And A Slow Dance - Who Makes It Fun To Spend Your Money - Who Calls You Honey - Most Every Day ....." Several times I saw the boys (wearing Sailor outfits / Georg with an "anchor" tatoo on his cheek) on TV carrying along a strange new instrument I hadn't seen before (the so called "Nickeloedon" - a double sided (back-to-back) piano being operated by two musicians standing on the stage). That sound generated by an accordian, harmonium, drums, percussion, 12-string guitar, marimbas, charangos, veracruz harp and the nickelodeon was unique and fascinating. A friend of mine lended me his three Sailor albums (74, 75, 76) which I copied on audio cassettes. A year later "Checkpoint" was released. To my great regret the band split in the late seventies, with Kajanus forming DATA (Henry Marsh on keyboards), and Pickett joining Culture Club, co-writing "Karma Chameleon".

Eleven years later : I was sitting on the sofa, reading a magazin and watching "Formel 1" (the very first german music-video show). Suddenly I recognized that familiar voice - the voice of Georg Kajanus! There was that very sound again I had been waiting for so long. Sailor reunited - I couldn't believe my eyes. The next day I ran to the record shop and bought the single "The Secretary". I enjoyed their new LPs, but was shocked as I heard Kajnaus had left the band in 1995. In 1996 I saw Peter Lincoln for the first time on lead vocals during "Oldie-Parade" I was somewhat sceptical if he could take the place of Kajanus but as time passed by I realized Lincoln wasn't merely a replacement: He is indeed a fantastic musician. In 2000 I took notice of an incredible Sailor - fan - homepage. Since then I am in constant contact with Karin and Karsten Wagner - not only the creators of that homepage, but two huge Sailor fans too. On the 18 May 2001 I saw the band (in the line-up Peter Lincoln - Phil Pickett - Rob Alderton - Grant Serpell) for the first time at an Oldie-Night (Harpo, Dozy Beaky Mick and Tich, and the Equals also performed there) in Rotenburg / Fulda. After their performance I managed to get their four autographs. Harpo ("Movie Star" - "Motorcycle Mama" - Horoscope") performed first, dancing barefooted in front of approximately 400 people. And only one hour later Grant Serpell appeared on the stage in order to check his drums, while other people worked on the Nickelodeon. Together with Karsten and Katrin Wagner and the other SAILOR fans I waited for the SAILORs right in front of the stage, and then they finally started their show in front of an excited crowd ("A Glass Of Champagne" followed by "La Cumbia"). The audience didn't want to let SAILOR leave without an encore, so the "Fab Four" returned for a strip (to the playback of "In The Navy" - Village People) in SAILOR-outfits. My subjective impression was that the audience enjoyed SAILOR more than the other bands. But the performance of Dozy Beaky Mick and Tich (without Dave Dee!) was a great experience too ("Bend It" - "Xanadu").