When the band reconvened to record the album in November 2003, original guitarist Andy Stamets chose not to rejoin the group. Singer/bassist John Reis took over the guitar position and his brother Dean Reis joined the band on bass, taking the stage name "Black Velvet." And on drums Tony Brown Diprima. As well as backing vocals.
According to the album's liner notes, Shipwrecked was recorded using borrowed instruments, previously owned VHS tapes as a master source, and live in front of a studio audience between the hours of 3:00am and 6:00am. However, Reis has a propensity for exaggeration and fabrication when describing his musical endeavors, often "dressing up" the truth in favor of telling an interesting story. That said, it is well known that the Sultans preferred a much more stripped-down, raw and direct approach to recording and playing than most of Reis' other projects, opting for a "live" feel to their recordings with minimal effects, studio tweaking or mixing adjustments.
Promotion
In April 2004 the band toured in support of Shipwrecked on the Swami Southwest Seance tour of southern California, featuring other acts also signed to the Swami label. Afterwards Reis returned to work with Hot Snakes, one of his other musical projects. Over the next year the Sultans would perform sporadically around the San Diego area as Reis' schedule permitted. Both Hot Snakes and Reis' main band Rocket From the Crypt disbanded in the Summer and Fall of 2005. The Sultans continued to perform infrequently in the San Diego area until disbanding in January 2007, reforming with Tony Brown Diprima in 2008-2019.
