Search - Jerry Bryant, Starboard Mess :: Roast Beef of Old England (Traditional Sailor Songs)

"Light along the toasted cheese there Killick"

rick spencer | Mystic, CT USA | 11/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Great collection but lacking spirit

The Admiral | New Smyrna Beach, FL | 01/22/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"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.

"

Some Pudding with that Roast Beef!

Christopher Cline | Coos Bay, Oregon | 09/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!!!"