One of the greatest sea-shanty recordings ever made, and probably the only one ever to get endorsements from the likes of Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart. A.L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl, backed by Alf Edwards (concertina), Ralph Rinzler (guitar, banjo, mandolin), and Steve Benbow (guitar), perform 16 sea shanties, including "Row Bullies Row," "Old Billy Riley," "Handsome Cabin Boy," "South Australia," "Do Me Ama," and "Jack Tar," in their most honest, authentic forms, rich, robust, rough, tough, and delightful, with no compromises to middle-class sensibilities. The sound has held up remarkably well on this classic recording, which constitutes virtually a genuine trip through time. ~ Bruce Eder