By Ralph Greco, Jr.
To say Blondie Chaplin is a journeyman musician would be akin to saying The Rolling Stones are a rock band that’s had a few hits. Beginning his career at age 12 playing in clubs in Johannesburg, South Africa, then making waves with his first real commercial musical outing the Flames from the mid to late 60s, Chaplin would go on to join the Beach Boys before appearing on the 1977 self-titled debut album of Rick Danko of The Band, as well as touring with The Band.
He produced, co-wrote, and performed on David Johansen’s third solo record, 1981’s Here Comes The Night. From there, Chaplin went on to work with Paul Butterfield, Anton Fig, and Brian Wilson. His most high-profile gig though might be his 15 years as backing vocalist, percussionist, and, at times, backing guitarist for the aforementioned Rolling Stones.
His most recent stint is appearing on The Tasty Kings With Blondie Chaplin record, which features producer and guitarist Andrew Morse, guitarist Charlie Sexton, and Stones associates like bassist Darryl Jones and keyboardist Ian McLagan. Based on the following conversation, Chaplin seems to be still enjoying his nearly 60 years in the business with no signs of stopping anytime soon.
~
Hi Mr. Chaplin, thanks for taking the time to speak to Vintage Rock today.
Thank you, mate. How are you?
Great. I know there is so much to cover with someone who has enjoyed the career you have, but I was thinking we’d jump around a bit, maybe we could tackle the new Tasty Kings album first. How did this come about?
Andrew (Morse) contacted me to come and do this and I thought great, put your music out, and let people know you’re ok, getting back into the studio was a godsend after the shutdown of the pandemic.
Is this generally the way it works with someone of your caliber and reputation? A buddy just calls you up and you got work with him?
Yeah, well, in this case, I knew Andrew through a friend, somebody I’ve known for years, and he just threw my name in the hat; I was contacted to try a couple of songs. It’s just another instance of what I have been doing since I was twelve, what I do not to go nuts really.
I have to assume someone with the pedigree you have, who can and does play with pretty much everybody, you must still be doing this cause you love it, right?
Yes, it’s the thrill, the buzz of playing. I remember starting at twelve, doing gigs in Johannesburg but I was underage in those clubs so to make sure they didn’t lose their liquor license I’d come in and they’d hide me near the drummer. And I recall seeing some of my teachers from school come in, dancing, getting drunk, having a good old time. The next day in school they’d give me a smile, say ‘You were good Chaplin,’ knowing I’d never bust them for being out, having a good time. We had a good understanding, and they’d always ask when I’d be playing again. It was fun providing that for people, even at so young an age, and it is still fun.
If the thrill isn’t very different, I have to assume the business of music is, right?
Yeah, the whole internet thing, you have to play that game, that’s the way the things have come down. So, you do what you always did, just in the way it’s done now…get the music out there as well as you can, enjoy it, hope it catches on. Sure, sometimes there’s so much barrage coming at you, left, right, and center. But how people view me I don’t know. I’m just trying to survive playing because this is my profession, all I know really.
Let’s switch gears for a second. You sing lead on one of my all-time favorite songs and certainly a highlight of the later Beach Boys years to anyone’s thinking, “Sail On, Sailor.” Can you tell us how you got to sing lead on a Beach Boys tune?
The whole record had been recorded, in Holland (for the Beach Boys Holland record), but without “Sail On, Sailor” on it. When they presented the album to the record company, nobody was much excited to put it out. They said they didn’t hear a single for radio. So, we came back over here, went into Village Recorders in West LA. Carl (Wilson) played electric piano, I was on bass, Ricky Fataar on drums, and Dennis (Wilson) came in to sing lead. But Dennis soon said, ‘I’ve got to go, my surfboard is in the truck,’ so he left. Then Carl gave it a try, but didn’t like it, so he said he liked my timbre, and we tried it with me singing lead a couple of times and that was it.
Actually, I wanted to do it more than the two times, there are many words in there and I was tongue-tied singing it. But Carl said it was good, and it was nice to do the track with just him, Ricky, and myself; they sweetened it a little more with voices added later.
It’s amazing how fast and easy you guys put it down and how classic it ended up being.
Well, it was considered a turntable hit, it didn’t go screaming up charts, but yeah, since that time it’s had amazing legs. Everybody knows the song. Many people have come up to me and said it’s one of their favorites. Actually, when I met Stevie Nicks, not only did she say it was so nice to meet me after all this time but that “Sail On, Sailor” was one of her favorites.
I could talk to you forever about the folks you played with. How about your opinion on David Johansen, who unfortunately just passed.
Yes, dear David — sweet, sweet man. I worked with him on his 1981 record, Here Comes The Night. I really enjoyed myself working with a really educated New Yorker. He took me everywhere in the city, even out to Staten Island to meet his folks and family. We hung out at his apartment on 17th Street, wrote songs, had a great time. What a wonderful man.
Now, I don’t want to put you on the spot, but…I read Bobby Keys’ book (longtime Stones sax player’s Every Night’s A Saturday Night: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Life Of Legendary Sax Man Bobby Keys, published in 2013) and he claims that when it comes to the Stones, there are two distinct camps within that band, the Mick camp and the Keith camp. I don’t want you dishing dirt, but do you find this above distinction to be the case?
Well, I came to the Stones because I knew Keith, I did some backing vocals on his Wingless Angels project. So, that might tell you a little something about what I think about the two camps thing. I mean, Bobby knows them better than me, so his views are surely right for what he knows. But all I can say is that I came to the Stones via Keith, so whatever that tells you.
Beyond Tasty Kings, what’s happening for you musically when it comes to stuff you are hoping to get done and out?
I got something in the can now that I am trying to get out, find the right people that would be passionate about it, as opposed to just chucking it out there. It’s good to have people behind you who have a feeling for what you are doing, will make the effort. It’s good to find people who share that passion with you. Hopefully, that will be out soon. My old band the Flames are gonna get something out there soon as well. So, there’s lots happening.
There always seems to be lots happening musically with you sir.
Yes, yes.
Well, thanks so much for taking the time today to talk to us, it was a pleasure Mr. Chaplin, really.
Thank you so much. This was very enjoyable.
