Like A Ship (Without A Sail)

Trust me #62
Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

I discovered this wonderful gospel soul song last year after leaving a Spotify playlist playing on. When that happens, algorithms kick in and play recommended songs based on your taste. I totally get the criticism that Spotify receives, but (in a sign of age) this is largely how I discover music these days!

Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir came on and it absolutely blew me away. I played it 3 times in a row and made a mental note to feature it in my Trust Me series.

Actually, I did more than that. I opened a draft blog, stuck the title in and left it. I didn't want to forget about this gem! 

And now I have finally got round to writing about it!

Thomas Lee Barrett is a preacher in Chicago and during the 1970's he recorded a number of gospel albums. Barrett was extremely fortunate that this congregation included top drawer musicians like Richard Evans (of Rotary Connection), Phil Upchurch, Charles Pittman and Philip Bailey (of Earth Wind and Fire). Many played on his records.

Barrett released the album Like A Ship (Wihtout A Sail) in 1971. I really do recommend checking it out. 

The title song is astonishing. The piano riff, the bass, the beats and heavy percussion create a real cool funk groove from the off. Then the choir kicks in, their voices soar heavenly. Pastor TL Barrett sings in between them, with a deep, rich and soulful voice.

The contrast in the call and response between Barrett and his choir is what makes this song and recording so memorable. The feel and the mood created by the choir really is spine tingling

I sail for pleasure, (I sail for pleasure)

But I found pain (but I found pain)

I look for sunshine, yes i did (I look for sunshine)

But I found rain (but I found rain)

And then I look for my friends

(I look for my friends)

They all walked away

(But they walked away)

The little shift in gear towards the choir singing on their own at 2-minutes 45 seconds creates goosebumps every time I hear it. Wow! And then it slows and the groove kicks back in as the call and response vocals return.

Like A Ship (Without A Sail) is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify , or CLICK HERE Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell