Customer Reviews

Shanties & Songs of the Sea

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have well over a dozen CDs of sea shanties, and this is my hands-down favorite. Containing numerous shanties and songs of all types, they are delivered with a rough gusto and an edgy harmony that could scrape the barnacles off a copper bottom. Two principal singers lead the songs, one in an irresistible, robust voice that snaps right into your nerves and muscles, the other in a lyrical Celtic tenor evoking the wistful, more gentle side of things. The selection is just unbeatable, and each shanty is sung with attention to detail, nuance, and flavor -- you can hear each song touched with the appropriate amount of urgency, melancholy, bitterness, cheer, weariness, mockery, pride, and so on. While no recordings of sea shanties may be truly considered "authentic," Johnny Collins and the lads seem displaced from another time, tumbled up from the forecastle and into the studio with the salt still in their beards.

Music: 5 stars.
Packaging: Not so much.

I was disappointed when the CD insert didn't have the lyrics to the songs. The lyrics and an explanation of some of the sailing terms would have been ideal (raise your hand if you know what "jubeju" means). Even looking them up online is tricky since there seems to be a lot of variations on these songs.

But the songs are great. I especially like the fact that there is no musical accompaniment, it really gives it a feel of sailors singing as it would have been. I've bought some other CD's similar to this and they all use instruments that makes them sound less like sailing songs and more like folk music.

This type of thing is totally out of character for the types of stuff I normally like, but it's hard NOT to like Blow the Man Down as sung here. I confess to singing some of these songs myself when nobody is looking and I'm doing the dishes or something else noisy. :)

So it's a shame about the missed opportunity to turn this into something special by giving us a good CD insert, but the CD itself is fantastic.

I've been compiling a database of recorded sea shanties, and listening to hundreds of songs. This is easily my favorite collection. An amazing set of songs, some rarely heard, and all beautifully performed. The best versions of many shanties are scattered about (eg Dead Horse by the Albion Band), and collections tend towards the commercial, or the croakingly 'authentic'. But there are no field recordings of these uncensored worksongs, so nothing is really authentic. This CD is a fine compromise.

100% Pure sea shanty sung with true feeling in a traditional manner! A bunch of familiar halyard, pump, capstan, hauling shanties (`Blow the Man Down', `South Australia', `The Bulgine Run', `Blood Red Roses', `The Wild Goose' and more) along with a well-performed selection of some other sea songs like `Old Maui', `Dogger Bank', `Sailor's Prayer', etc.

This CD offers good, pleasing harmony and solo male vocals throughout, all well recorded and engineered. If you're expecting any instrumental accompaniment you won't find it here but it doesn't detract a whit from these recordings.

If you like traditional sea shanties, add this to your collection.

Okay here's what's up. I love pirate movies and themes and I bought this because of that flavor. I was a little disappointed because the songs were accapello (spelling?) but then my dad pointed out that those songs would've been sung without music anyway because they were work songs to make sailors' jobs pass easier. It's really more authentic. I just thought anyone considering buying this might consider that.

This is a wonderful collection of Sea Shanties. All acapella, and very enjoyable to listen to. I'm using it to teach myself sea shanties, with the intent of performing at local 'pirate days' celebrations.

A great collection of sea chanteys sung in an appropriate rough roar and rowdy beat by men who work for a living. Great in their own right, and for singing along with on long drives to keep yourself awake.

They picked a good selection of shanties for this CD. The recording is crisp and clear, and sounds decently authentic, if a bit too structured. The lack of instruments such as the concertina is an interesting touch, but the tracks sounds good without it. If you're looking to get into shanties, this is a great place to start. Highly recommended.

If you like the sailing music of the clipper ships of old, then this music brings you on board today. You feel as if you are actually sailing with the old sailors lugging heavy ropes, etc.
Thanks for a great CD.

This is one of the best I've purchased. It's a fun listen. I especially enjoy Shanties performed as work songs and am constantly looking for more.