Steve: Sorry, missed your post before my last. Yup & yup. Every maritime had work song. The English and Americans ruled the waves in the 19th century so they are a natural to lead the real capstan song &c parade. Pax Britannia and all that.

Leave Portuguese, Basque, Spanish, French & Dutch culture out of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico histories at ones own peril methinks. But that's origins better left for the Advent debate no?

What puts the Hugill & Mudcat 'folk' chanty stuff in a different category from maritime work song is the former's traditional disconnect from the maritime work environment. The most 'authentic' modern reenactments aren't even field recordings or diverse group song.