Up the Foc-sle: Origins?

Subject: RE: Up the Foc-sle: Origins?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:34 AM

Maybe so, Snuffy. Guess I better e-mail Cyril and see if he has any clues about this. Clearly, this one is beyond the regular Mudcat sleuths.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Up the Foc-sle: Origins?
From: Snuffy
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 05:26 PM

Sounds like it could be the same gang who did a Rugby songs LP as the "Jock Strapp Ensemble" about the same time.

Subject: Up the Foc-sle: Origins?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Jan 03 - 10:53 AM

Up the Foc-sle: Origins?

Another mystery album in my rack is this LP nautical wonder subtitled "A selection of naval shanties and recitations performed by the Lower Messdeck Choral Ensemble" produced by Summit-Combined Record Sales, © 1966, evidently of British extraction.

The recording was done in a live setting, with party or pub sounds in the background, and includes the following selections:

1. She'll be Coming Round the Mountain
2. The Old Red Flannel Drawers that Maggie Wore
3. Poor Blind Nell
4. John Brown's Body
5. Poor Little Angeline
6. The Sailor Coming Home on leave
7. The Sailor's Prayer
8. Harry My Boy (recitation)
9. Jenny Wren Bride
10. Roll Your Leg Over
11. The Good Ship Venus
12. Eskimo Nell (recitation)

Sounds like something that Cyril Tawney might have had something to do with but no direct clue about performers or little else for that matter. Great cover art of British sailors in HMS embroidered caps and tattoos by Maddocks.

Anyone run across this remarkable record before or have a good guess at its origin?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble