Across The Western Ocean by John Roberts & Tony Barrand - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

Originally released on LP in the early '70s, this charming collection of English shanties, forebitters, and recitations was long overdue for reissue when it finally emerged on the Swallowtail label in 2000. Shanties were work songs used by sailors to pass the time and establish a regular rhythm while performing the many repetitive physical tasks required on board, whereas forebitters were songs reserved for leisure time. The songs chosen for this album are meant to be representative of those that would have been heard and sung on the American packet ships that carried people and goods between America and Europe during the mid-1800s, and they include such relatively familiar fare as "Blow the Man Down" and (in a surprisingly bloodless arrangement) "New York Girls," as well as earthier obscurities like the naughty "Crayfish Song" and the drinking song "Get Up Jack John Sit Down." The spoken-word interludes, which include diary entries from ships' captains and passengers, as well as news reports of sinkings and other tragedies, are by turns amusing and harrowing, and may prove distracting to those primarily interested in a musical experience rather than an historical one. Recommended.
© Rick Anderson /TiVo

1. Introduction/ New York Girls

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

2. Captain Samuels on his sailors

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

3. Blow The Man Down

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

4. Impressions of a first voyage/ The Crayfish

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

5. The Black Cook

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

6. The Lime Juice Ship

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

7. The wreck of the Staffordshire

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

8. The Flying Dutchman

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

9. Get Up Jack, John Sit Down

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

10. The Flying Cloud

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

11. Immigration Conditions

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

12. Heave Away My Johnnies

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

13. Perils of transatlantic dalliance

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

14. Maggie May

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

15. Peter Street

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

16. The Seamen's Hymn

by John Roberts & Tony Barrand

Primary Artist: John Roberts & Tony Barrand
John Roberts; Main Performer
Composer: Old Traditional; Composer

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

16 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

43 minutes and 59 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 600x600 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

No lyrics found

Synchronized Lyrics

No synced lyrics found

Genres

Folk, Americana, Singer & Songwriter, Worldwide, Celtic, Traditional Folk, Holiday Music, Celtic Pop

Label

Swallowtail Records

Music Distribution Service

CD Baby

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Dec 31, 1999

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

780607000428