Music hall enjoyed far greater longevity across Britain than it did in America, sustained through summer-season performances at seaside resorts and sending ripples of influence all the way to punk, notably Ian Dury & the Blockheads, as well as into the Two Tone movement via Madness. Sailor embodied the finest qualities of that lineage, evident in their nautical headwear, flared trousers, harbor-themed stage design, and participatory choruses. The band’s self-titled first album appeared in 1974, after which their single “Glass of Champagne” climbed to number two on the British singles chart the next year. “Girls Girls Girls” brought them back into the Top Five during 1976, while “One Drink Too Many” reached number 35 in 1977. That the group could still score even this modest success underscored the steadfast devotion of their audience at a time when punk had dismantled most other veteran acts. Nevertheless, Sailor disbanded in 1978. Twelve years afterward the original four members reunited and resumed touring, though Georg Kajanus exited in 1995 and Henry Marsh followed later in the decade. Peter Lincoln and, in due course, Rob Alderton joined the lineup, allowing Sailor to maintain a schedule of live shows that included a two-CD recording captured at The Swan in High Wycombe, England, during November 2002.
