Folks, this is my own idea. I really like this and want you to know about it. I just wrote this letter to George...

ALL OUR BRAVE TARS (British and American Songs From The Days Of Fighting Sail) sung by George Ward

Saturday, March 11, 2000

Dear George,

Congratulations ! That's a fine CD. It sure ain't background music. You've got to truly listen seriously. It reminded me that these songs were made to be listened to. It's strange that the l7th century and earlier produced ballads that were so "different" to our 20th century ears than even the cowboy songs and the lumberjack ballads of the 19th century. No wonder that the "new folkie" songs don't sound like folksongs to my early 20th century ears. All that said, you've taken songs I had previously only heard done passably well by the likes of Hermes Nye etc. on old Folkways ten-inch LPs (o.k. as source material for ear musicians) and given them wonderful and TOTALLY APPROPRIATE instrumental showcasing---as well as the great tunes you composed for those that needed that.

Jeez, I had no idea I was gonna go on like that, but I'm just trying to tell you it's a fine piece of important work.

Way to go.

All the best,

Art Thieme

P.S.----Can I have your permission to post this at Mudcat Cafe as a sort of "review"? I really think the CD is that good.
THE SONGS:Here's The Tender Coming, The Gallant Yankee Ship, Constitution and Guerriere, The Flash Frigate, Ballad Of The Shannon And The Chesapeake, The Tacking Of A Full-Rigged Ship Offshore, Shipboard tunes: Nancy Dawson --Off She Goes -- Drops Of Brandy, The Port Admiral, Perry's Victory, The Dartmoor Prison Break, The Wasp And The Reindeer, The Constellation and L'Insurgente/Hull's Victory