Plain Sailing (song)

"Plain Sailing"
Single by Tracey Thorn
from the album A Distant Shore
Released	October 1982 (UK)
Recorded	1982
Label	Cherry Red
Songwriter(s)	Tracey Thorn
Tracey Thorn singles chronology
"Plain Sailing" (1982) "It's All True" (2007)

"Plain Sailing" is the debut solo single by English singer-songwriter Tracey Thorn.

Overview

The original version appeared on Thorn's first solo album A Distant Shore in 1982. It was re-recorded and released as Thorn's first single on 7" vinyl later that year. The B-side "Goodbye Joe" is a cover version of a song by fellow Cherry Red Records recording artists Monochrome Set.

The re-recorded version of "Plain Sailing" was included on the Cherry Red Pillows & Prayers compilation album.

The single sleeve featured the Robert Doisneau photograph Le baiser de l'hôtel de ville (Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville) and hand-lettering by Thorn herself.

Thorn did not release another solo single until "It's All True" 25 years later.

In June 2010, Thorn performed "Plain Sailing" live for the first time in nearly 30 years, during an appearance on the NPR programme World Cafe . ^[1]

Critical reception

In May 1984, George Michael stated that "Plain Sailing" was his favourite Tracey Thorn track during a review of the Eden album on the BBC2 programme, 8 Days a Week. ^{[2] [3]}

Track listing

7 inch single

1. "Plain Sailing"
2. "Goodbye Joe"

References

1. Thorn, Tracey. "Tracey Thorn On World Cafe : World Cafe". NPR. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
2. "8 Days a Week, TV Series 1983–1984". IMDb . Retrieved 2024-10-13.
3. "George Michael, Tony Blackburn, Morrissey on 8 Days A Week, BBC Two - 25 May 1984" . Retrieved 2025-01-27.