Customer Reviews

Roast Beef of Old England (Traditional Sailor Songs)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Patrick O'Brian would have been proud to know that such a well researched and presented musical companion piece to his Aubrey/Maturin novels had been produced. He may have been distressed at first to discover that it was the Americans who had done it, but certainly would have forgiven them. This recording is wonderful, whether or not the listener is a fan of O'Brian's series. A familiarity with the characters aboard Jack Aubrey's ships makes it all the more enjoyable. This is not the high blown music of Stephen Maturin and his captain or of the High Lords of the Admiralty, but rather the songs and tunes so dear to the hearts of the common sailors the likes of Killick and Bonden. This is the music of the lower decks, the forecastle and the pubs of Portsmouth, Plymouth and London. The songs are well researched, arranged and presented to please the ear of scholar and casual listener alike. A truly authentic sound of the Royal Navy as it did battle with "Boney." A marvelous insight into the history of the songs that gave voice to the fighting sailor of the day. I recommend this recording highly.

I've owned this CD for a few years now, and it hasn't become stale yet.

Being a 'younger' person with generally 'younger' preferences in music, and yet still a person thoroughly devoted to Patrick O'Brian and all his works, on first listening I was doubtful.

Another two or three spins around the CD player, though, and I was hooked. Crisp, clear and obviously as historically accurate as they can be, these songs give delight even now.

Best use? Volume dialled up to eleven for the morning drive to work, bellowing along at the top of my voice - and often the bottom of my range! Heart of Oak, Roast Beef of Old England, The Shannon and the Chesapeake - uproarious. Sailor's Jacket is the foot-tappingest instrumental; it still sets my toes a-jumping. And the sweeter songs? Give them plenty of wellie .. Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy is fabulous.

Other big numbers: A Jolly Sailor's True Description of a Man-of-War, A New Sea Song (Sweethearts & Wives) - which has some fabulously 'historically accurate' narrative within (POB readers will know whereof I speak! ;-} - and Distressed Men-of-War - another song referred to within the POB Canon.

Heartily recommended.

I'm trying hard to really like this CD as there are many good shanties, all of them well-performed and apparently well-researched. The vocals are very clear and the harmony quite good throughout. Alas, most of this offering leaves me flat. Nearly all the songs feel as if they are being sung without spirit. It's almost as if the performers were given the lyrics and just read them all to a pre-defined "shanty" style. For example, you just don't sing a line like "we'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors" without emphasizing any of the words, especially the words rant, roar and true, as I believe the real sailors would have done. (Note: I did find that using a surround sound setting as opposed to regular stereo added some depth I felt was missing from the vocals).

All the songs are presented acapella (historically correct for the era) and several very fine fiddle and pennywhistle instrumentals punctuate the 24 tracks (`St. Patrick's Day', `Drops of Brandy', `Nancy Dawson', `Sailor's Hornpipe'/'Rickett's Hornpipe', `Nelson's Victory'/'Hull's Victory', `The Banks of the Nile'/'Sailor's Cravat', `Chevy Chase', `Sailor's Jacket'). If you are looking for the old standards like `Drunken Sailor', `Rio Grande', `Blow the Man Down', etc., they aren't here (except for `Spanish Ladies'). This is by design as Bryant's whole point was to offer a collection of authentic early 1800's shanties sung aboard the ships of the Royal Navy. In that respect, the CD is a gold mine for fans of the genre.

If you really enjoy your sea shanties authentically performed, you probably won't be disappointed as there are many here you won't find elsewhere. But if you are looking for a rousing performance of the same, you may be left wanting.

I bought this for my wife, a huge fan of Patrick O'Brian (she's read the books twice in the past two years alone). Ironically, it now sits in my car's CD shuffler where it undoubtedly gets the most airtime.

I love this music! As another reviewer mentioned, with some cofee (Killick, there!), this music and Desolation Island in your hand, you feel transported to a life of long ago. When men sang to rouse the soul, brighten the spirit, damn the enemy and win the heart of their Colleen (sorry...Nancy) - all with spine, mind and muscle fully intact. The harmonies are rich, the voices deep.

And yet, the last reviewer's questions have the faint ring of truth. My first hearing rang a bit flat, the music sounding just this side of stale. But, in the end, it just don't signify. Even on that first run, by the end of the CD I was clumsily, but merrily joining in with the crew. I suppose I have come to imbue the songs with a life of my own, belting them out at full volume down the highway. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Jerry Bryant and his Starboard Mess offer up to the listener some wonderful performances of traditional British sailor tunes. They are all performed acapella, and despite other reviewers saying that these songs lack spirit, I find that there's plenty in store. Pennywhistle and fiddle songs are also thrown in and do nothing but add to the enjoyment of this album. Read your favorite Jack Aubrey novel or other seafaring tales such as "Treasure Island" while listening to this album to truly enhance your literary experience. My personal favorites include "Spanish Ladies" and "Bay of Biscay-o."

You should see the looks I get from the little wannabe thugs in their tricked out Hondas listening to hip-hop when I pull up next to them in my conservative white Toyota Camry and I'm belting out lines like "We'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors...." Jay-Z can't even hold a candle to these wonderful old tunes.

Highly recommended.

My first exposure to the songs of the age of sail was when I was 9 years old when I was given a good old fashioned LP Record produced by National Geographic called "Songs and Sounds of the Sea". I immediately fell in love with this odd, sometimes happy, sometimes melancholy style of music. Every song is a story and a glimpse into the life of the sailor of ages past. Telling of the joy of sailing and comradeship (and saucy women!)but also the brutal discipline and harshness of the life.

For years I had looked for more of this type of music of the quality found on the old National Geographic record, especially on CD, but was unsuccessful.

Finally, EUREKA! "Roast Beef of Old England" is right on the mark! Unlike most of the other CD's I have listened to of this type of music, this CD is the most accurate to the way the music should sound and be performed. In most other CD's, the performance of this music is done in a way which makes it sound like it belongs in a Disney cartoon instead of the historic musical treasures they are.

"Roast Beef of Old England" is wonderful! It is a great accompanyment to listen to while reading the classic books of 18th Century naval warfare by Patrick O'Brian and others. You are transported to the deck of a big 77 at action stations with Captain Jack Aubrey commanding from the quarterdeck!

If you have any interest in this era of sail or of good historical folk music, you will love this CD. Full Stars!!!

This is the real thing! It takes some time to get into these songs...but then I started to join in. For someone reading O'Brian its a MUST.

I am very impressed with the quality of this CD. The sound is clear and the tones perfect. It was a surprise just how familiar all the song is! They are very vivid and worldly. I bought this CD with out knowing what was on it; I was truly surprised and happy with it. My 6th graders will enjoy learning to this CD, and as well as singing the songs to complement our reading of Treasure Island.
Lisa

I bought this CD as the 'display copy' at the Frauncis Tavern Museum in New York about 4 years ago. I am from the UK and, although I live in New York, I had been looking for something like this for years.

The earlier reviewer who said that this CD had no spirit is at best confused. Perhaps he is an American who understands 'Spirit' to be the same as 'Loudness'. There is a ton of spirit in all of these songs, and they are sung with the strength and understated passion of the REAL British Navy Spirit.

Long live that enthusiasm and passion!

Just what I was looking for, some traditional British songs from the age of sail. I recomend this for anyone with an interest in British maritime and naval history.