| Details / Tracklist: |
1.1 Ratcliffe Highway1.2 Rio Grande1.3 Haul on the Bowline1.4 Maggie May1.5 Haul Away Joe1.6 Do My Johnny Booker1.7 Roll the Cotton Down1.8 Haul Boys Haul1.9 Leave Her Johnny1.10 Paddy Lay Back1.11 Fire Down Below1.12 A Hundred Years Ago1.13 Santy Anno1.14 Captain Nipper1.15 Hanging Johnny1.16 Banks of the Sacramento1.17 Won't You Go My Way1.18 Good Bye Fare Thee Well1.19 All Bound to Go1.20 The Black Ball Line |
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| Description: | Shanties and foc'sle (forecastle) songs lightened the burden of work aboard ship and provided entertainment to off-duty sailors. This recording features Massachusetts singer Paul Clayton and the Foc'Sle Singers: Dave Van Ronk, Bob Brill, Roger Abrahams, and Bob Yellin. Most of their repertoire comes from BBC field recordings of English shantymen.© 1959 Folkway Recordings & Service Corp
?© 2007 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Front cover lithograph is American Clipper 'The Sovereign of the Seas'.
Packaged in a cardboard gatefold sleeve with liner notes included on the CDr.
Foc'sle (pronounced forecastle) are a type of shanty that takes it's name from the top deck of a sailing ship.
"Foc'sle Songs And Shanties" on CD by the Foc Sle Singers is a lovingly curated collection dedicated to the rich tradition of sea songs and work shanties. With powerful ensemble vocals, call-and-response passages and unadorned arrangements, this album captures the rough charm of life at sea and the camaraderie of sailors on long voyages. The focus lies on authenticity: the Foc Sle Singers present classic foc'sle songs and rhythmic shanties in a way that feels immediate and alive, as if they were being sung on deck rather than in a studio. The recording is ideal both for folk enthusiasts and for listeners who want to discover historical maritime music in a vivid, accessible form.
The Foc Sle Singers are a vocal ensemble devoted to maritime folk traditions. Their interpretations are characterized by strong unison singing, earthy harmonies and a clear respect for the original songs, making them a staple recommendation among fans of sea shanties and nautical folklore. Instead of modernizing the material aggressively, they focus on preserving the narrative power and communal spirit of the songs, which has earned them a loyal niche audience within the broader folk community.
The CD format underlines the collector's character of this release: it offers solid audio quality, a tangible physical edition and, where available, liner notes that may provide background information on the origins and functions of the individual shanties (for example as work songs for hoisting sails or hauling ropes). "Foc'sle Songs And Shanties" thus works both as an atmospheric listening experience and as a small cultural document of maritime working life.
The release is manufactured by FOWY, a producer known for focusing on carefully assembled catalogue and niche titles. FOWY tends to specialize in bringing traditional, folk and heritage recordings to a wider audience in durable physical editions, often emphasizing clarity of sound and straightforward, no-frills packaging. With this production, FOWY continues its approach of preserving musically and historically interesting recordings beyond the mainstream and making them easily accessible to collectors, educators and lovers of traditional song. |
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| No. of tracks: |
20 |
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| Manufacturer No.: |
FOWY2429.2 |
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Product Safety
Responsible Person for the EU:
Ten Dance Media GmbH
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gpsr@tendance.de |
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Folk
20.285
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