Sean:

Now you mention it, it is the first and not the second volume I was talking about. So we are talking about the same thing.
Purpose of the posting was primarily to call attention to the series rather than start an argument. Nonetheless, I believe I own each of the discs you mention (except Wexford Espress) and have listened to them many times. And I've been a Hyde Street Pier regular for maybe 12-15 years. And I'll stand by what I said. With the exception of "Blow Boys Blow," (Lloyd & McColl), there is nothing out there that is even in a class with Chants des Marins.

Also, the French tradition has the advantage, that the french do not appear compelled to bowdlerize their songs, so that they really do sound like songs real, live sailors just might sing. For example:

LE CAPITAINE DE SAINT-MALO

Traditional

Le Capitaine de Saint Malo
Ali alo
Qui fait la pèche au cachelot
ali ali ali alo
Ali alo.

Il donne la goutte à ses matelots
A grands coups de barres de guindeau!

Il mange la viand nous laisse les os
Il boit du vin et nous de l'eau!

Et son second qui est un salaud
Il fume les cigarres et nous laisse les mégots!

Il a trois filles qui font la peau
A Nantes au Havre et á Frisco.

Dans leur con grand comme un seillau
Le foutre coule á plein tonneau!

De foutre rouge des Angelo
Du foutre vert des Portugo!

Du foutre froid du foutre chaud
Des Norvegiens, des Italo!

Celui-la qu'elles en jouissent plutot
C'est celui du Français faraud!

Le foutre blanc le foutre chaud
Des baleiniers de Saint-Malo!

Pique leur ton vit fier matelot
Comme ton harpon au cachelot!

Published by Comendant Hayet Chansons de la voile sans voilein 1935; Led, on the disk above cited, by Christian Desnos.
Now, that was never cleaned up to satisfy the "village elders," as Stan Hugil used to say. I further maintain that the Killen number on this disk is the best chantey he ever did, and one of the most beautiful chanteys in any language.