Maybe I missed this newly released CD being mentioned on another thread. If not, let's start a discussion here since it's the best traditional style shanty CD I've heard in years, comparing well with the best of A. L. Lloyd, Ewan MacColl, Louis Killen, and The Boarding Party. All of these songs were collected by Cecil Sharp from John Short, aka Yankee Jack, in 1914.

The track list of Short Sharp Shanties: Sea Songs of a Watchet Sailor, Vol. 1includes:

Sing Fare Ye Well led by Keith Kendrick
The Black Ball Line led by Roger Watson
Mr. Tapscott led by Sam Lee
A Hundred Years on the Eastern Shore led by Jeff Warner
Fire! Fire! led by Jackie Oates
Hanging Johnny led by Tom Brown
Rio Grande led by Roger Watson
Cheerly Man led by Barbara Brown
Poor Old Man (Johnny Come Down to Hilo) led by Keith Kendrick
The Bully Boat (Ranzo Ray) led by Tom Brown
Stormalong John led by Jim Mageen
Blow Boys Blow (Banks of Sacramento) led by Tom Brown
Carry Him to the Burying Ground (General Taylor) led by Sam Lee
Bulgine Run led by Barbara Brown
Shallow Brown led by Jim Mageen
Won't You Go My Way led by Jeff Warner
Blow Boys, Come Blow Together led by Keith Kendrick
Tommy's Gone (Tommy's Gone Away) led by Jackie Oates

The recording is produced by Wild Goose Studios, © 2011

I was able to hear Jeff Warner lead "Won't You Go My Way" at the Press Room, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, last weekend and was quite taken with his interpretation, a Southern Appalachian treatment backed up with 5-string banjo; the damn song is still ringing through my head. I was also able to purchase the CD from Jeff and have been listening to it with pleasure ever since.

One of the things that is quite apparent is that some of these shanties are not exactly what we heard revived in the 1960's, which is not entirely surprising. It's the differences, however, which add interest to the CD, coming as they do from a real shantyman with over 50 years at sea. At the same time each performer is interpreting what Sharp transcribed in his own personal way.

Additional notes should be found at: www.umbermusic.co.uk/SSSnotes.htm

but the above link provided with the CD doesn't work for me.

Volume 2 and 3 are planned for the future.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

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CD Notes