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Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks!
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Subject: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: GUEST Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:01 AM Hi everyone, I'm compiling a list of recommendations for the gift store where I work. They'd like to stock 10 excellent all-around 'starter' type sea music CDs. I would like to steer them toward high-quality, well-researched pieces by seriously regarded performers ; of course, the store would also like ones with strong popular appeal that will attract attention when played over the sound system. I've volunteered to do this because they were stocking some awful schlock! Of course, I've got my own list, but I thought I would put it out there to see what other cream may rise to the surface. Thanks in advance for your picks! |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Dave Hanson Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:08 AM 1. The Keelers, Farewell to the Master. 2. Kimbers Men, See You When The Sun Goes Down 3. Monkey's Orphan, Sea Songs and Shanty's 4. Ewan MacColl and AL Lloyd, Farewell Nancy 5. ditto , Thar She Blows all brilliant eric |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: JohnB Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:09 AM Anything by Johnny Collins. Also Cyril Tawney, Tom Lewis way over ten already. JohnB |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: GUEST Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:14 AM Tom Lewis; Pint and Dale; |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: GUEST,Allen Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:24 AM I don't know how well regarded they are, but there is a fun group from Bristol called the Harry Brown Shantymen. |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: pdq Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:30 AM Country Joe and the Fish |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: open mike Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:30 AM anything with Fiddler's Green on it.. |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: GUEST,Lighter at work Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:43 AM A. L. Lloyd & Ewan MacColl, "Blow Boys Blow" and "Sailors' Songs and Sea Shanties." These may be the most influential recordings and remain among the very best. Various, "Sea Songs & Shanties...from the Last Days of Sail." Outstanding collection with many trad singers. Various, "Classic Maritime Music." Fine sampler of singers and styles. Any CDs by Stan Hugill: one of the few real old-time sailors who recorded commercially. (Warning: for real enthusiasts - like me -only!) Louis Killen, "Sailors, Ships & Chanteys." |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Charley Noble Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:45 AM Assuming you have a serious interest: All three of The Boarding Party recordings available from Folk Legacy. (US) Ewan MacColl and A.L. Lloyd - Blow, Boys, Blow (UK) Louie Killen (UK/US) Jeff Warner (US) Forebitters from Mystic Sea Port Museum (US) The Shanty Crew (UK) Roaring Forties (AU) Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: JedMarum Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:52 AM Gotta have Pint and Dale! Great stuff, great albums, good history and research - great folks! He's a serious and refined guitar player, she plays the hurdy-gurdy - both sing well and they do a good job with their uncomplicated arrangements. Audiences of all kinds respond quite well to them. A "must have" for your shop! IMHO |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Nancy King Date: 24 Mar 05 - 11:05 AM Johnny Collins has already been mentioned; don't forget Jim Mageean, and the several excellent recordings the two have made together. Can't go wrong with The Boarding Party -- definitely well researched and well performed! And for a change of pace (i.e., women's voices) try the Johnson Girls. Let us know what you finally come up with! Nancy |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 24 Mar 05 - 11:31 AM "Herrings In The Bay" by Gordon Bok. Not necessarily about the life on the open sea, but some excellent songs and performances about folk who depend upon the water for livlihood. Gordon has other recordings that might be appropriate as well and so does Stan Rogers. If you want recordings that are more traditional rather than traditional sounding, look at the Smithsonian-Folkways catalog. |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 24 Mar 05 - 11:44 AM "Songs Of The Sea" by Alan Mills is on the Smithsonian-Folkways label and was the album that was on my mind when I suggested this label earler. It takes a while for my brain to work these days. Also you might check into Bob Zentz's recordings. |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: JudyB Date: 24 Mar 05 - 01:38 PM Where are you located, Guest-of-original-post? If there's a good local or regional singer or group that fits the bill, I'd consider including one of their CDs even if they aren't quite as seriously researched or whatever - they can send business your way and if one of their fans wanders in while their CD is on, they're likely to look for the music section to see what else you have. |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: frogprince Date: 24 Mar 05 - 01:57 PM Are you sticking to collected trad, or are you open to really good modern stuff in the tradition? If the latter, by all means check out Stan Roger's album "Home in Halifax". |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: GUEST Date: 24 Mar 05 - 02:10 PM Ooops, nobody seems to have mentioned the Young Tradition's EP Chicken on a Raft. Heather Wood wanted to call it Just Add Water! |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Celtaddict Date: 24 Mar 05 - 02:42 PM I see you have mentioned "sea music" rather than specifically shanties, which opens up wonderful vistas of diversity. Many great picks mentioned. Of Gordon Bok's mass of brilliant work, I would suggest "Schooners." Of Forbitter/Mystic shantymen, I would suggest "Unmooring." Wherever you are, both regional and distant sources are worth considering. Consider Danny Spooner, of Australia. He has an album of shanty-type songs "We'll Either Bend or Break Her" and one of more ballad types, "Away Out on the Deep." Dick Holdstock and Alan MacLeod likewise have "Deepwater Shanties" and "Deepwater Ballads." Also look at Warp Four's "A Hundred Years Ago" which presents shanties in traditional style with great voices and vigor (and production values too, more "listenable" to contemporary ears than some of the earlier historic recordings), and the sister album of Clancy, O'Connell, and Clancy, which is more lyrically oriented with the inimitable Liam Clancy. |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Lighter Date: 24 Mar 05 - 02:49 PM "The Shanty Crew," already mentioned, is indeed an excellent group. |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Celtaddict Date: 24 Mar 05 - 03:30 PM Sorry, don't mean to be cryptic. Clancy, O'Connell, & Clancy's CD is "The Wild and Wasteful Ocean" (from Ewan MacColl's "Shoals of Herring" on "Singing the Fishing") (I wish this work computer would let me underline where indicated.) Most of these performers have sites of the "performersname.com" type. Boarding Party unfortunately no longer exists as a group but the recordings are at Folk-Legacy. Mystic Seaport Museum is |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Celtaddict Date: 24 Mar 05 - 03:57 PM So where did the address go? Brackets must make it a failed blicky. I have tried and tried but from work cannot make link. Address of Mystic Seaport Museum is www.mysticseaport.org You can order from them; try "Shop" then "books" then "sight and sound" then "music." Only a small proportion, however, list tracks or other information; for most, it is just a list, but if you know what you want you can order. Mystic Sea Music Festival is June 9-12 2005 but there is no information on the site yet except dates. |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Big Al Whittle Date: 24 Mar 05 - 04:06 PM I find that old sailors tend to request Red Sails in the sunset, sometimes Sailing. but are we talking folk music here? Shep Wooley has given most of his professional life to writing songs for and about sailors. can't help feeling that his work should not be neglected. Ask RN types and they have all heard of Shep. While you can't argue with Cyril Tawney's inclusion, a folk clubbers view of sea songs will of necessity, be somewhat inauthentic. After all they have spent nearly thirty years erecting a stylistic barrier between themselves and the general public. The people for whom the sea is their living are generally working class as opposed to the middle classes that frequent folk clubs. perhaps its time for someone to go out with a microphone and find out what ordinary people are singing. Who knows perhaps they are still dancing hornpipes! best of luck with your project Big Al Whittle |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Wincing Devil Date: 24 Mar 05 - 04:37 PM Here are some of my favorites from East Coast of the US
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Peter Kasin Date: 24 Mar 05 - 11:26 PM It's easy to list some great sea music recordings, as there's a wealth of them out there, but hard to bring the list down to 10. Assuming you're looking for traditional sea chanteys and forebitters, and ones that give you a firm foundation for beginning a collection, here are some picks, with several already mentioned: Stan Hugill, "A Salty Fore Topman," "Sailing Days," "Chants des Marins Anglais," "Aboard The Cutty Sark" and any others of his you can get a hold of. Should be in everyone's collection of sea music! Holdstock and MacLeod: "Deepwater Shanties" MacColl and Lloyd, "Blow Boys Blow" Mystic Seaport Forebitter, "American Sea Chanteys" Mystic Seaport Chanteymen, "Songs of the Sailor" (CD and book) Library of Congress collection of American chanteymen, on Rounder Records. Killen, Warner, Warner, and Benson, "Steady As She Goes" Louis Killen, "A Sailor's Garland," and "Sailors, Ships, and Shanties." Johnny Collins, "Shanties & Songs Of The Sea" "Round Cape Horn" (Topic records compilation of forebitters) A.L. lloyd, "Leviathan!" (mostly forebitters) Roberts and Barrand, "Across The Western Ocean" "The Johnson Girls" Dan Milner, et al: "Irish Ballads and Songs of the Sea" Anything by Liverpool's chantey group "Stormalong John" (who also sing the choruses on some of Hugill's recordings). and for a really salty take on this music, bringing to disc traditional lyrics where other recording artists have not trodded...Richard "Salty Dick" Docker, "Salty Dick's Uncensored Sailor Songs" See, can't bring it down to 10. There's also great singer/songwriter material by Tom Lewis, Cyril Tawney, Gordon Bok, Cindy Kallet, Richard Grainger, if that's also what you're looking for. To delve deeper into the African American and Caribbean roots: Alan Lomax's field recordings: "Bahamas: 1935. Chanteys and Anthems From Andros and Cat Island," "Southern Journey, Georgia Sea Islands: Songs For Everyday living," and "Caribbean Voyage: St. Nevis and Kitts." Tough listening for the uninitiated, but stick with them and these field recordings may captivate you, and they are very informative. Even a basic beginning is hard to in down to ten, as I've left out some of the UK traditional collections of coastal and fishing songs, plus the two nautical CDs from the "voice of the people" series, the Chasse Maree series of French chanteys.....ah, there's just so much! At least, you can't go wrong with any of these you pick. Beyond these basics, there's a world of great sea music out there (the aforementioned Pint and Dale), and so many others bringing fresh approaches to this music. Chanteyranger |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Charley Noble Date: 25 Mar 05 - 09:33 AM I really like the range of sea music suggested by Chantyranger, which overlaps and amplifies what I suggested. Basically, these were the singers who largely inspired my own interest and singing. There are many more that I could add at this point, some quite contemporary, some almost lost in the archives. But I would start with Chantyranger's list. As for sea music groups such as my own, we'll see if anyone remembers anything we've contributed to this fine tradition in another 20 years or so. That's one of our goals but there is little reason other than self-promotion for including us on such a list. However, I would like to mention one of my mentors, Bill Bonyun, who played a direct role in provoking my interest in this archane music. I'm not sure where one can access his recordings now, other than through his family. As far as what contemporary sailors sing, that's an interesting question and I'd like to think that at least some of our song collectors or songwriters are addressing that. I don't think that's what the original poster of this thread was asking for, however. It would be nice if he/she would provide us some feedback. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: GUEST,Chanteyranger Date: 25 Mar 05 - 06:34 PM ...and I second Charley's and Nancy King's motion on The Boarding Party, and of course under the singer/songwriter category, the already mentioned Stan Rogers. Can't go wrong there, either. I think whatever ten recordings from this thread you come with, balancing traditional chanteys and contemporary singer/songwriters mentioned, or all trad if that's your focus, you can't go wrong with these. Chanteyranger |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Naemanson Date: 26 Mar 05 - 02:41 AM OK, Let's take a look at the criteria. *gift store (i.e., not a music store) *excellent all-around 'starter' type sea music CDs *high-quality *well-researched pieces *seriously regarded performers *strong popular appeal that will attract attention when played over the sound system. That list is a little self limiting but there are some great open spaces too. There are some loopholes. The lists above largely fit the bill. The Guest is not just interested in shanties but in "sea music". That means he can also work with the modern singer/songwriters of sea music. To this end he should consider Stan Rogers and Gordon Bok. Both are high quality and well researched, well, Stan might not be but... I would add Jerry Bryant's Roast Beef Of Old England, Larry Kaplan's Worth All The Telling, and Pirate Songs by Mary Malloy and Stuart Frank. |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Severn Date: 26 Mar 05 - 05:57 PM Here's a few Harder ones to find-a little raw either on the vocals or the subject material, maybe not for easy listening in-store play, but great in their own way, nonetheless. For The Hard Core. Traditional singers-(on Topic) "Now Is The Time For Fishing"-Sam Larner (Topic TSCD511)Possibly available through Folkways as well. "My Ship Shall Sail The Ocean-Songs Of Tempest & Seabattles, Sailor Lads & Fishermen" (Topic TSCD 652) We've Recieved Orders To Sail-Jackie Tar At Sea & On Shore" (Topic TSCD662) Volumes 2 & 12 of Topic's excellent Voice Of The People series W/the likes of Sam Larner, Harry Cox, Paddy Tunney, Cyril Poacher, Walter Bulwer, Phil Tanner and more of the traditional singers that that tend to be cited (and not heard) that all your favorite Brittish singers name in their (ocean?)liner notes. Raw voices. Ballads predominate. From Folkways- "Whaler Out Of New Bedford"-A.L. Lloyd, Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger- (Folkways FS 3850) "Foc'sle Songs and Shanties"-Paul Clayton & the Foc'sle Singers (Folkways FA 2429). The Foc'sle Singers included Dave Van Ronk and noted folklorist Roger Abrahams. Stay away from the Clayton sea song album on Tradition, though-boring!. "Classic Maritime Music From Smithsonian Folkways Recordings"-(Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40053)-32 song sampler from the Folkways Catalog W/LLoyd, MacColl, Hugill, X-Seamen's Institute and many more, including Leadbelly?!?!? Folkways will custom make anything from its catalog(as specified in Moe Asch's will) Smithsonian Folkways is readily available. "Every Inch A Sailor"-Oscar Brand (Out of print on Elektra, but custom cassettes on request from Oscar himself atwww.oscarbrand.com)- WWII Navy songs, many on the bawdy side-not for instore play, but some great stuff in there. And, alas, the great one that got away and will probably never see CD release because the masters disappeared, but one of my favorites, if not my all-time favorite, "50 South By 50 South- Louis Killen Sings On The Cape Horn Road"-(South Street Seaport Museum 102), an LP formerly available through mail order or at the museum but now extinct except in the vinyl collections of the extremely fortunate. Severn |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Rabbi-Sol Date: 27 Mar 05 - 01:15 AM My picks are as follows: 1. Bernie Klay & The X Seaman's Institute 2. Schooner Fare 3. Jeff Kaufman & Forebitter 4. Cindy Kallet - Ellen Epstein - Michael Cicone 5. John Townley 6. Cliff Haslam 7. Gordon Bok - Ed Trickett - Anna May Muir 8. Woods Tea Company 9. The Johnson Girls 10.Tom Lewis SOL ZELLER |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Peter Kasin Date: 27 Mar 05 - 01:35 AM Yeah, Brett, Jerry Bryant's Roast Beef of Old England. I never think about all the really good stuff at once. Great collection of forebitters. Actually, my reading of the initial post leaves it unclear whether guest means sea music as in mainly chanteys and other trad material, or the wider net of "sea music" as you and I would interpret it. Guest, please let us know, eh? Chanteyranger |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Rasener Date: 27 Mar 05 - 01:14 PM Fiddlers Green John Conolly I have listened to Ranters Wharf CD from John Conolly a lot and still do not get fed up of it. Click on the link below. http://www.chanteycabin.co.uk/John%20Connolly/Connolly.htm It has Fiddlers Green on it, and John added another three new verses to it. And in case you are not aware John wrote this song and it is not traditional as many people think. |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: sharyn Date: 17 Oct 05 - 02:53 PM Don't forget about Richard Adrianowicz' and Peter Kasin's "Boldly from the Westward" and Richard's "Time Ashore is Over," which they have been too modest to mention in this format. Also check out the CD by the VFSS Shanty Crew: "Blow the Man Down!: Tall Ships in the Fraser." Cindy Kallet writes beautiful songs, often with maritime themes (and a fake chantey or two) and is a wonderful singer and guitar-player. I'll do a "Top Ten" list later, when I have time to dig through my whole collection. |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Ken Schatz Date: 17 Oct 05 - 04:34 PM Still looking? Yay Boarding Party, Lloyd and MacColl, Roberts and Barrand, Killen, Forebitter, Johnny Collins, X-Seamen's, and all and some more. For this purpose, though, the Steady As She Goes album (Louis Killen, Jeff Warner, Gerrett Warner, Fud Benson) is absolutely tops. When I was a kid (sorry, guys), I remember hearing it played as you walked through the maritime exhibit at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History - then the Museum of History and Technology. Fantastic. |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: Juan P-B Date: 18 Oct 05 - 11:32 AM Shep Woolley (ex sailor) of Portsmouth (UK) has been writing and singing 'songs of oars & scrubbers' for nigh on 40 years - Among his own songs are; Roll On My Time, Overboard, Ram It (I'm RDP), D-Day Boating, Down By The Dockyard Wall and loads more - Cyril T rated him as highly as Tom Lewis |
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Subject: RE: Need Your Top Ten Sea Music Picks! From: yrlancslad Date: 19 Oct 05 - 01:35 AM All these sound good and I'll second Radrianos Time ashore is over and his (with Chanteyranger)Boldly from the westward. Both have some unusual stuff and are well researched especially if you're from the Great Lakes region. |
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