Songs
The name of the title track is a reference to a Nantucket sleighride, the dragging of a whaleboat by a harpooned whale. Owen Coffin, to whom the song is dedicated, was a young seaman on the Nantucket whaler Essex, which was rammed and sunk by a sperm whale in 1820. In the aftermath of the wreck, Coffin was shot and eaten by his shipmates. The story of the Essex was recorded by its First Mate Owen Chase, one of eight survivors, in his 1821 Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-Ship Essex.[3] The instrumental break in the second half of the track uses the melody of the traditional Scottish song "The Parting Glass". The closing section of the song was used as the theme to the long-running British political television show Weekend World (1972–1988). A cover version of the song was recorded by British heavy metal band Quartz in 1980.
The song "Tired Angels" was dedicated to Jimi Hendrix, and "Travellin' In The Dark" was for Pappalardi's mother, Elia.[4] "Taunta (Sammy's Tune)" was named after Pappalardi's pet poodle.[5] "Don't Look Around" was featured on the soundtrack of Pineapple Express (2008).
Bonus tracks
The bonus tracks on the 2004 edition include the Chuck Berry cover "Roll Over Beethoven" and the original song "Crossroader", which were released as the A- and B-sides of a promotional single in 1971. The latter was later released on Flowers of Evil (1971). Live versions of both tracks appeared on subsequent live releases, such as Mountain Live: The Road Goes Ever On (1972) and Twin Peaks (1974).
