“Thunder Island” (Jay Ferguson)

Today’s classic song of the day was suggested by old friend Brad Koch. It’s “Thunder Island” by Jay Ferguson, and it hit #9 on the Billboard 100 back in April of 1978.

Brad wondered how “Thunder Island” ranked on the old Yacht or Nyacht? list. (That website is no longer active, which saddens us all.) Well, “Thunder Island” isn’t really Yacht Rock, garnering only a 45.0 Yachtski rating, which puts in in the bottom half of all songs listed. I can see that; it’s a little harder edged rock than most YR tunes with no shimmery keyboards and no Michael McDonald on background vocals. Just because it’s about an island doesn’t make it Yacht Rock.

Nonetheless, I’ve always thought “Thunder Island” was a fairly good single. It was big during the spring of 1978, which was my sophomore year of college. I particularly liked the erotic imagery in the lyrics:

So, sha la, la, la, la, la, my lady
In the sun with your dress undone
Now every mile away and every day
Cuts a little bit deeper
I’ll remember the nights in the cool sand
Makin’ love out on Thunder Island

Fun fact: Joe Walsh is the guy playing the slide guitar throughout the song. Joe always adds a little something special to a track.

“Thunder Island” was written by the guy who sang it, Jay Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson had previous success as a member of both Spirit (famous for their psychedelic album 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus—one of my all-time favorites) and Jo Jo Gunne (with their 1972 hit, “Run, Run, Run”). He later became a fairly well-known soundtrack composer for TV shows and movies, writing the themes for The Office and NCIS: Los Angeles, among others. (If you recall those episodes of The Office that featured Kevin’s band, Scrantonicity, that’s Jay playing guitar.)

Still, I most remember Jay Ferguson for the song “Thunder Island” and for its vivid imagery. When I was 20 years old, I wanted to be on Thunder Island with a lady the color of Indian summer, in the sun with her dress undone. Who wouldn’t?