Amos [[Man, drawing a comparison between the Weavers doing "Irene" and the smarmy artifice of early PPM or Debbie Reynolds is downright myopic. With all due respect, myopic!]]

Not sure whom you were addressing, Amos, but for my part I'd say the Weavers' "Irene" (especially the record with the orchestral backing) isn't that far removed from early PP&M -- but neither of those (or the KT or Rooftop Singers, etc.) should be compared to that gawdawful Debbie Reynolds version of "Blowing In the Wind" (which, if I didn't know better, I'd think was done as a spoof on Las Vegas or The Lawrence Welk show).



Mary G, I think you said it well (re the video linked to in the first post):
"It sounded nice to me. I don't care if perky blond ever picked apples or drove a steam engine..she has a nice voice. And dresses like Nice Catholic Girls of the era. I like hearing music by pretty voices. "

How many of our wonderful shanty singers have ever crewed a big ship on the raging main (especially the kind of vessels of the 19th C)?