The Riverboat Song
Encyclopedia
"The Riverboat Song" is a rock
song
by Ocean Colour Scene
.
The song is heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin
's 'Four Sticks
', from which it takes its main riff and a number of lyrics.
The song is notable in that it is in 6/8 swing
, like Zeppelin's 'Four Sticks', time
, and not the more common 4/4 time normally used in rock music. The song was popularised by Radio 1
DJ Chris Evans, who played it frequently on his radio shows and to introduce guests on his television programme TFI Friday
.
As a result, having been released in February 1996, it reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart
, paving the way for the success of the next two singles, "You've Got It Bad
" (7) and "The Day We Caught the Train
" (4) and the album Moseley Shoals
.
Recently, OCS guitarist Steve Cradock
has joined Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald
on stage to perform the song live with her performing the vocal track.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
by Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
.
The song is heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's 'Four Sticks
Four Sticks
Not to be confused with Four Kicks."Four Sticks" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin from their fourth album, released in 1971. The title came from the fact that drummer John Bonham played with two sets of two drumsticks, totalling four...
', from which it takes its main riff and a number of lyrics.
The song is notable in that it is in 6/8 swing
Swing Time
Swing Time is a 1936 RKO musical comedy film set mainly in New York City and stars Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Helen Broderick, Victor Moore, Eric Blore and Georges Metaxa, with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Dorothy Fields...
, like Zeppelin's 'Four Sticks', time
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
, and not the more common 4/4 time normally used in rock music. The song was popularised by Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Chris Evans, who played it frequently on his radio shows and to introduce guests on his television programme TFI Friday
TFI Friday
TFI Friday is an entertainment show broadcast on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2000. The show produced by Ginger Productions, written by Danny Baker and hosted by Chris Evans, for the first 5 series. The final series was hosted by a number of Guest Presenters. It was broadcast on...
.
As a result, having been released in February 1996, it reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, paving the way for the success of the next two singles, "You've Got It Bad
You've Got It Bad
"You've Got It Bad" is a rock song by Ocean Colour Scene .The song was released in 1996 and reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. It is taken from their 1996 album Moseley Shoals and was the second single to be released from this album, following "The Riverboat Song"...
" (7) and "The Day We Caught the Train
The Day We Caught the Train
"The Day We Caught the Train" is a rock song by Ocean Colour Scene .The song was released in 1996 and reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart. It is taken from their 1996 album Moseley Shoals and was the third single to be released from this album, following "The Riverboat Song" and "You've Got It...
" (4) and the album Moseley Shoals
Moseley Shoals
Moseley Shoals is a 1996 album by the British rock group Ocean Colour Scene, that was released during the Britpop era. The album reached #2 in the UK charts, selling over 600,000 copies....
.
Recently, OCS guitarist Steve Cradock
Steve Cradock
Steve Cradock is an English guitarist, most notable for playing in the rock group Ocean Colour Scene. Cradock is also the second guitarist in Paul Weller's band, having appeared on all of Weller's solo records following Weller's self titled debut album.He is a distinctive guitarist, who has a...
has joined Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald
Amy MacDonald
Amy MacDonald is an American author of children's books. Her works include Little Beaver and the Echo, which has been translated into 28 languages around the world, and Rachel Fister's Blister. Her first book, a satire of Jill Krementz's children's books, was A Very Young Housewife.Amy MacDonald...
on stage to perform the song live with her performing the vocal track.