Robert Shaw Chorale

1 Ring De Banjo 2:11
2 Beautiful Dreamer
Tenor Vocals – Grant Williams
2:57
3 Gentle Annie 2:42
4 Way Down In Ca-i-ro 2:54
5 My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night 3:54
6 Old Black Joe 3:03
7 Dolcy Jones
Tenor Vocals – Grant Williams
1:56
8 Thou Art The Queen Of My Song
Baritone Vocals – Thomas Pyle
3:39
9 Old Folks At Home
Tenor Vocals – Grant Williams
4:32
10 Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming
Soprano Vocals – Louise Natale
3:58
11 Oh! Susanna 1:35
12 Gentle Lena Clare
Tenor Vocals – James Wainner
2:32
13 Nelly Bly 2:42
14 Some Folks 1:52
15 Laura Lee
Tenor Vocals – Grant Williams
2:56
16 Camptown Races
Baritone Vocals – Thomas Pyle
1:40
17 Steal Away 4:14
18 Nobody Knows (Duh Trouble I See)
Contralto Vocals – Florence Kopleff
4:18
19 I Want To Die Easy
Tenor Vocals – Clayton Krehbiel
3:06
20 Dere's No Hidin' Place
Tenor Vocals – Grant Williams
1:30
credits:
Guitar, Banjo – John Cali (tracks: 1 to 16)… (mais)

My father and I used to listen to this back in the days of vinyl LPs. We weren't listening to hear an authentic reproduction of sea shanties; we were listening to a well-trained male chorus performing sea shanties. He was interested in the history behind the songs and we talked about that. Eventually I inherited the LP and replaced the worn-out LP with a CD.

The harmonies are brought out in these arrangements as the great male voices in the Robert Shaw Chorale perform the songs. The soloists are perfect for the selections. I never have trouble understanding the lyrics. Most of the songs are a capella; some have minimal accompaniment.

My favorites are hard to choose because I love them all from rollicking Blow the Man Down to the parting strains of Spanish Ladies. Ask me on a quiet day and I'd pick Lowlands; Goodbye, Fare Thee Well; Stormalong, John; and Shenandoah. Ask me on a bouncy day and I'd pick Whup! Jamboree; the sly A-Roving; the classic What Shall We do with the Drunken Sailor; and The Drummer and the Cook.

If you are looking for a more traditional performance of sea shanties, then you need to look elsewhere. If you love male vocal harmony, then check this recording out.… (mais)