One of the best shanty sessions I've attended.

Oddly most of us this time were from out of state, six from neighboring Maine, two from Long Island, NY, and one from Ottawa, Canada, only 5 from NH, not including Dave who was there for 5 minutes but made good use of his time by purchasing one of my CD's.

Nor led a series of Cyril Tawney related songs "Chicken on a Raft," "Gosport Nancy" along with a couple of fragments that he collected and published in his songbook Gray Funnel Line. Jacqui led "Gray Funnel Line" itself.

Tom Hall began things with "Paddy West," continuing with "Shoals of Herring," "Haul Away Me Rosie-O" and two others. Rich Gatto from Kennebunk led a traditional whaling song he had recently collected in the West Indies. Al Cuenin led "Randy Dandy-O," a New Zealand sealing song, and a rousing version of "Wavertree" in which an old sailor describes his experience after joining ship on the west coast of South America. Al's wife Barbara led at least two fisherman shipwreck songs whose titles have escaped my foggy memory. Jeri led "Ten Stone," "Fire Down Below," "Deep the Water, Shallow the Shore" among others. Edmund led "Yangtse River Shanty," "Sally Free & Easy," "Haul Away Joe" and several others. Bruce was there and I'm totally blanking on the two songs he beautifully led. Jacqui also led a wicked parody of "Lady Franklin's Lament" among other songs. Sinsull treated us to "It's All Part of Being a Pirate." Linn will have to fill in what she sang; foggy brain strikes again. JudyB led "Roll the Old Chariot," "The Bunyip Song" by Australia's John Warner, and "Keep on Fishing" by the illustrious Jon Campbell. Jane arrived late but added at least two shanties, "Black Bird Get Up" is the only one that surfaces in my mind.

I led "West Indies Blues," "Captain Bailey's Mistake," "The Old Fiddle" by C. Fox Smith, "Fire Maringo" and "Outward Bound" by C. Fox Smith. I'm pleased with how my new musical arrangement of "The Old Fiddle" is working and it will be interesting to hear how it sounds when there are supporting vocals and a fiddle accompaniment to the banjo.

I'm unfortunately going to miss the June gathering at the Press Room but I hope to sing with many of these folks at the Mystic Sea Music Festival after concert gathering the 2nd weekend of June.

Additions and corrections are welcome!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble