Today while I was searching for lyrics to a song that had a bunch of unfamiliar words that I couldn't quite make out (Old Fid), after the link to here, MudcatCafe, was the intriguing link to

mainsailcafe.com

It consists of quite an index (400+) of lyrics of shanties, whaling songs, sailing songs, sailor on shore songs... Most of the sets of lyrics have a reference to a recording(s) of the song, and the source(s), some variations, suggestions of songs of similar style/plot, and in some cases, melody in ABC format. (Mudcat is referenced as a source in a few places)

*** Alongside the lyric section is one of reference books being used, with pictures of the book cover, title, author.
*** Next is a section of recordings - again, views of the covers.
*** There's a section to try out inputting melody in ABC for the database.
*** There are articles on maritime history relating to the songs
*** What is available on the site showed up much differently (more extensively) on my PC laptop at home than the iMac at work.

I found this vastly entertaining, distracting, and illuminating. Most of the references, singers and songs are UK based, and the albums were mostly of groups I had heard OF, but had never heard THEM; many of you who have been at this longer than I have will know more of the singers/groups & books - I've only a few of the recordings, and 2 or 3 of the books. (My interest started with Great Lakes songs, then American based songs & singers, and this goes into new areas for me.) I like the idea of another "cafe" that is a song source dedicated to a particular subject.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Joanne in Cleveland (near where Lake Erie can't make up it's mind to be iced over or not)