“Trouble” is the second album by the British pop group Sailor.
Sailor were formed by Norwegian-born multi-instrumentalist/vocalist/songwriter Georg Kajanus (12-string guitars, charango, Veracruzana harp and lead vocals) and three Brits, songwriter and musician Phil Pickett (bass Nickelodeon, guitarron, piano and vocals), keyboard player Henry Marsh (Nickelodeon, accordion, piano, marimbas and vocals), and drummer Grant Serpell (drums, percussion and vocals) in 1973.
The album “Trouble” was recorded at CBS Studios, London in 1975 and released by Epic Records in the same year. It reached number 45 in the UK album charts.
The album is an excellent pop album. It is generally considered Sailor’s greatest work.
It is characterized by its songs with catchy melodies by Kajanus, beautiful chorus harmony like the Beach Boys, the unique instrumentation excluding rock instruments such as electric guitar and electric bass and using 12-string guitars, charango, guitarron, accordion, marimbas, and synthesizer bass, the usage of an original instrument which Kajanus invented, called “Nickelodeon” (consisting of two upright pianos, two synthesizers, mini organs and a glockenspiel), theatrical elements like a vaudeville showa, and exoticism with the motifs of voyage and harbor town.
All the ten tracks were written and composed by Georg Kajanus.
“A Glass of Champagne” was released as a single in 1975 and reached number 2 in the UK charts.
“Girls, Girls, Girls” was released as a single in 1976 and reached number 7 in the UK charts.
“Trouble in Hong Kong” is a song in a fake Chinese style.
“People in Love” is a beautiful ballad.
“Panama” is a song in the Latin style featuring charango.
The album was produced by Jeffrey Lesser. The associate producer was Rupert Holmes.
In 2008, 7ts Records released the digitally remastered edition of their first two original albums, “Sailor” (1974) and “Trouble” on one CD as “Sailor & Trouble” with one bonus track.
