1966 Top Ten: Sloop John B. (#2)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (85570)
United States
April 29, 2026 11:21am CST
Maybe you didn’t believe me when I made those 100 favorites lists. Yeah, I really love these songs. Both of today’s songs are on that list. They were released ten years apart, but that doesn’t matter to me. The fact that this one is now 60 years old also doesn’t matter to me. Here’s today’s classic.
#2: Sloop John B. - The Beach Boys
Actually, this recording is 60 years old. The song is much older. The covers database says the lyrics of this first appeared in a magazine in 1916, and it was old then. The Weavers had recorded this in 1950, and that was still “new.” The covers database has the first recording dated in 1935, in something that sounds like one of those John Lomax field recordings.
But most of us know this song because of the Beach Boys’ version. And that is just fine with me. It’s certainly the version I go to for enjoyment. The rest? Historical references only. When I want the frisson (the goosebumps you get when you hear a song), I head straight for this one.
Sloop John B.
Traditional, arranged by Brian Wilson
Recorded by The Beach Boys
From Pet Sounds, 1966
He ate up all of my corn:
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14 people like this
13 responses
@RasmaSandra (96780)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13h
Of course, love the guys and this is great music,
2 people like this
@FourWalls (85570)
• United States
9h
It’s the definitive version. I’m listening to Rex Allen’s version from the early 50s. It’s a fun rabbit hole for me, to listen to millions of different versions of the same song.
Anyway, you’re displaying that marvelous taste of yours again. 
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254637)
• United States
9h
@FourWalls At least you have an enjoyable rabbit hole!
Thank you and keep enjoying the music. It warms the soul.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (85570)
• United States
9h
Timeless classic. “Golden oldie” makes us sound old.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (378836)
• Rockingham, Australia
2h
@FourWalls People sometimes ask if I remember whatever and I'll say 'my mother told me about it'!!
@LooeyVille (49)
• United States
16h
Yes hubby and I both knew both song and artist. Good song.
2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (8116)
• United Kingdom
12h
This is another song that Lonnie Donegan covered, before The Beach Boys, I think? Lonnie’s is a slower version and good, but no one sings it like The Beach Boys. They had some fantastic songs of their own, but this is my favourite of theirs. Great choice!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (85570)
• United States
9h
Yes, Lonnie recorded it in 1960. It’s fun to spend a couple of hours listening to all the different versions of that song.
@xFiacre (14654)
• Ireland
18h
@fourwalls I love the raucous version by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Great song.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (85570)
• United States
7h
“Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “God Only Knows,” and “Caroline No” are also classics from that album.
