The Chamber Journal (1869)

“Sailors’ Shanties And Sea-Songs” – Chambers Journal, Saturday, December 11, 1869

I must admit that The Chamber Journal (1869); is one of the most valuable items in my collection of books on the subject of my research on shanties. There are many reasons why I think so; the first is the publication date of this wonderful article; it is dated before the publication of the first great collection of shanties by Alexandrine Smith (“The Music of The Waters”); in 1888, thus 19 years earlier, it is also a time when the shanties were truly in the golden age. The second reason is that, despite the fact that the content is relatively small, the enormity of the content is really overwhelming, it is important to list the types of shanties and confirm their usefulness, I highly recommend it. (For those interested, I will be happy to send you pictures of the entire article).

Do you want to be more involved?

You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.

Related to The Chamber Journal (1869)

Simon Spalding – Food At Sea (2014)

Michael Watson – The Powder Monkey (1885)

The Atlantic Monthly – July (1858)

Michael Watson – The Powder Monkey (1885)

Michael Watson – The Powder Monkey

First about Michael Watson – The Powder Monkey; I read about this beautiful song of the sea from Stan Hugill’s greatest book “Shanties from the Seven Seas”. In his book; Stan Hugill on page 148 of the first edition; only gives us the chorus of this song; it seems to be based on the chant of “Donkey Riding”; he did not remember the source or composer of this song; the song according to Stan Hugill’s description points to this song at the time on the 1850s. Unfortunately, in “Shanties from the Seven Seas” we can only find the chorus. Here is the oldest source of this beautiful song I could get.

This is the 59th edition written and composed by Michael Watson “The Powder-Monkey” (An Old Salt’s Story), published by London: Patey & Willis, [n / a]. Interesting information on the cover says that “this song may be sung in public free of charge”. However, two things are most important to me, the first one – this is the first song in Stan Hugill’s book, which is not a shanty or a forebitter, it is a full-blooded “shore sea-song”, two – the melody of the verses changes the whole song in a spectacular way, the refrain itself sounds like a shanty.

Do you want to be more involved? …

You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.

Related to The Powder Monkey

Halina Stefanowska – Rozspiewane Morze (1975)

Jim Mageean – Sail Away (2021)

Gibb Schreffler – Boxing The Compass (2018)

Gibb Schreffler – Boxing The Compass (2018)

Gibb Schreffler – Boxing The Compass

I have already read a few books on shanties, and the life and work of Tars from the period when the sails dominated seas and oceans. Each of the items I read brings something to my knowledge; but I must admit that this time; I was really positively surprised by the Gibb Schreffler’s – Boxing The Compass.

Although the author, Gibb Schreffler; surprised me more than once; I will only mention that he was the first (channel name on YT: Hultonclint); to do the almost impossible: he recorded on YouTube all the shanties and forebitters from Stan Hugill’s work – “Shanties From the Seven Seas” ( well, maybe almost all of them; but of course, it’s just a matter of approach; whether each version of the shanty from this book can be treated separately). His articles helps me a lot, and really extended my knowledge, which he publishes on the world’s largest forum of folk music; “Mudcat Caffe” (on the Mudcat Caffe forum, uses the nick Gibb Sahib). In addition, he is a musicologist lecturer, closely associated with the Mystic Seaport Museum.

his book, as I have already mentioned, surprises with its professionalism

This book, as I have already mentioned, surprises with its professionalism, is a great scientific compendium, showing the activity over the centuries concerning, finding, acquiring, shanties collection, and describes each source perfectly, showing its influence, but also the approach to the subject of individual collectors, I try to show the value of each of these works, in an academic manner. There are little guesswork and a lot of reliable and proven information on the subject.

This book is enriched; by a huge list of source texts; which are a great place for the list of the greatest works dealing with shanties. One more note, this book does not contain shanties, but contains the knowledge about people and works describing shanties, does not even describe the shanties themselves “per sé”. For all shanties enthusiasts who wish to have a general view of the history of shanties learning, this is a must-have position.

Do you want to be more involved?

You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.

Related to Gibb Schreffler – “Boxing the Compass”

The Atlantic Monthly – July (1858)

Robert C. Leslie – A Waterbiography (1894)

Stan Hugill – Shanties and Sailors’ Songs (1969)

Halina Stefanowska – Rozspiewane Morze (1975)

Description of Halina Stefanowska – Rozspiewane Morze (1975)

Halina Stefanowska – Rozspiewane Morza (1975), is one of three Polish-language books about sea shanties (another two: Along with the book “Szanty I Szantymeni” – Marek Szurawski and “Songs from under the sails” – Jerzy Wadowski). However, sea shanties are not the main topic of this book. Also, I discovered that only the first 66 pages contain shanties with their descriptions.

As mentioned previously the first chapter “Boys, Ahoj”, contains a set of sea shanties, is very interesting, and has a lot of important information about shanties. It is worth mentioning, that the shanties in this chapter are also translated into Polish.

I also found that this book is big, it contains almost 400 pages. Most of the time, the book keeps a patriotic tone, starting with the description of the maritime school in Tczew, through the often dramatic circumstances of the creation of certain sea songs (written during World War II and the post-war period). I Halina Stefanowska’s songs also have chords for guitar. To finish my review, I can confirm, that this book is a really great source of knowledge about sea shanties and Polish sea songs.

Do you want to be more involved?

You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book; or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.

Related to Rozspiewane Morze (1975)

Additional Stan Hugill’s books Sailortown (1967)Sea Shanties (1977)Shanties and Sailor’ Songs (1969).

Cicely Fox Smith – Sea Songs and Ballads 1917 – 1922 (1930)

Description of the Cicely Fox Smith – Sea Songs and Ballads 1917 – 1922 (1930)

It is a great joy to present to all of you this amazing book. When I saw it in the online store, I thought it was a sea shanty book. Also, I thought this book contained a collection of shanties and songs of the sea. I knew that Miss Smith was great in the field of shanties books.

You can’t even imagine my surprise when I discovered, that the Sea Songs and Ballads 1917 – 1922 do not contain any notes and are a collection of poetry. However, this poetry surprised me even more, reading this book. At the time when I read this book, I felt like a person who gets to know the marine world. The realism of this poetry related to a certain period when sailing ships were undoubtedly still at sea.
The introduction on the inside cover says:
Miss C.Fox Smith is the ‘C.F.S’ whose initials are so well known to the readers of Punch where many of these delightful salt-water poems first appeared. Miss Fox Smith’s knowledge of ships and of those that go down to the sea in them is so remarkable as to be almost clairvoyant, and with that understanding goes a mastery of rhythm and melody.
I confirm that this book is a great source of authentic seafaring poetry of the golden age of the sails. some poems can boldly be used as lyrics; coded songs about the sea, in an authentic atmosphere at the beginning of the 20th century.

Do you want to be more involved?

You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.

Related to Cicely Fox Smith – Sea Songs and Ballads 1917 – 1922 (1930)

Additional Stan Hugill’s books Shanties and Sailor’ Songs (1969)Sea Shanties (1977)Songs Of The Sea (1977).

Bjorn Landstrom – The Ship (1961)

Description of the Bjorn Landstrom – The Ship (1961)

The book that I want to present to you is a very special book by Bjorn Landstrom – The Ship (1961). It can be very useful for all who are passionate about Shanties. This book has been recommended to me by an expert on maritime and shanties, my friend Simon Spalding. This book is for someone who wants to not only listen to songs but also want to understand the shanties. The nautical dictionary, the construction of sailing ships, and the names of individual elements about which shantymen sing. A flagship example may be, for example, an attempt to understand what the word “halyard” means.

The knowledge necessary to answer this question is: what is a “yard”? Knowing that some yards were movable (and why they were movable), and how they were raised and lowered.
This book brings us significantly closer to the answers to these questions. It is not book very detailed, but about the history of our planet’s watercraft, from prehistoric times to the present. It tells about Egyptian ships, Vikings, Galleys, Tall Ships, Warships, etc. This book describes the influence of sails, on the amazing history of the development of the seas and oceans.
About the graphics: the book is beautifully illustrated with over 700 color illustrations, long out of print, but you can buy it in virtual stores for really little money.

Do you want to be more involved?

You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.

Related to Bjorn Landstrom – The Ship (1961)

Additional Stan Hugill’s books Shanties and Sailor’ Songs (1969)Sea Shanties (1977)Songs Of The Sea (1977).

Jim Mageean – Heave Away (2020)

Jim Mageean – Heave Away (2020) – A Collection of Hauling Shanties

After spending more than 50 years gathering all the information on maritime songs. Particularly the shanties or work songs used by sailors. He finally decided to share some of what he learned. This book is a great gift to the other lovers of these songs in the Jim Mageean – Haul Away (2020).
Jim Mageen sang with all the greatest shanty singers of our world, through his old friend Stan Hugill and others such as Louis Killen, Johnny Collins, Pat Sheridan, Marek Szurawski; and many more that cannot be listed. Also, he is one of not too many shantymen left who sing and learn, traditional as it is, shanties and forebitters.
Jim Mageean – Heave Away (2020), the collection includes 26 very special favored Jim songs (this time are Heaving Shanties). Some of them were published and recorded for the first time. Every song contains a description with essential information about work that needs to be done when using a particular shanty. You can sing shanty smartly, knowing in your imagination when you have to haul the rope or push the bar. And the last thing that I can tell before I read the book though, is that book contains CD with all songs from the book.

Do you want to be more involved?

You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.

Related to Jim Mageean – Heave Away (2020)

Additional Stan Hugill’s books Jim Mageean – Haul Away (2020)Sea Shanties (1977)Songs Of The Sea (1977).

Jim Mageean – Haul Away (2020)

Jim Mageean – Haul Away (2020) – A Collection of Hauling Shanties.

After spending more than 50 years gathering all the information on maritime songs. Particularly the shanties or work songs used by sailors. He finally decided to share some of what he learned. This book is a great gift to the other lovers of these songs in the Jim Mageean – Haul Away (2020).
Jim Mageen sang with all the greatest shanty singers of our world, through his old friend Stan Hugill and others such as Louis Killen, Johnny Collins, Pat Sheridan, Marek Szurawski; and many more that cannot be listed. Also, he is one of not too many shantymen left who sing and learn, traditional as it is, shanties and forebitters.
The collection includes 34 very special favored Jim songs, some of them published and recorded for the first time. Every song contains a description with essential information about work that needs to be done when using a particular shanty. Therefore you can sing shanty smartly. Knowing in your imagination when you have to haul the rope or push the bar. And the last thing that I can tell, is that the book contains a CD with all the songs from the book.

Do you want to be more involved?

You will find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.

Related to this book

Additional Stan Hugill’s books Shanties and Sailor’ Songs (1969)Sea Shanties (1977)Songs Of The Sea (1977).

Stan Hugill – Sea Shanties (1977)

Stan Hugill – Sea Shanties (1977), published in 1977, opens up …

This book opens up for us a fantastic world of shanties and forebitters. Stan Hugill – Sea Shanties (1977) It is a unique book in which, we can find in a simple way what the shanties were. We can learn about shanties types, and most importantly, the works that were performed with the use of shanties. Each type of work is described in great detail. The book allowed me to understand what the work is about and when are its hardest moments, when and how sailors pulled the ropes, what for them, and where the pulling effect occurred.

The item also has a fairly large collection of shanties, about forty shanties, and free time songs; each shanty has a separate, extensive description of where from and other interesting information.

From myself, I can add that: taking into account the knowledge and knowledge of the history of not only shanties but the golden age of sails, the knowledge I found in this book would not be possible to obtain by trying to find people who could explain certain activities that a sailor of those times was commonplace. The book is quite an easy source of knowledge about that life and works onboard. I would highly recommend it.

Do you want to be more involved?

You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.

Related to this book

Sailortown (1967)

Sea Shanties (1977)

Shanties and Sailor’ Songs (1969)

Jerzy Wadowski – Piesni Spod żagli (1989)

Just today I finished reading Jerzy Wadowski – Piesni Spod żagli (1989)

Jerzy Wadowski – Piesni Spod żagli (1989) is a fantastic book, about the sea shanties and maritime songs tradition. An author who definitely understood sailor’s work songs and the folklore of the golden age of sails. This book (as Stan Hugill claims in the preface (!)), Is a unique, reliable attempt at understanding the sailor’s work songs, the knowledge of an author about the case is really remarkable. Worth noting in the preface of Stan Hugill’s proviso; is that the recommendation concerns only fragments (for recommendation and review, for Stan Hugill, some of the chapters, have been translated into English, to make possible his feedback).

From Jerzy Wadowski – Piesni Spod żagli (1989) book, I learned about

Many important aspects of the shanties as such and the forebitters as well. Of course, for me, as a person who also uses English-language resources, many facts I read I’ve seen before, but this is a good thing because only testifies to the author, who proves his knowledge of the subject. I think the Polish enthusiasts of the sea shanties are lucky to have this book written in the Polish Language.

Of course, there are also disadvantages, the biggest for me is dry scientific language and too extensive descriptions of some examples of shanties. I think it takes a little effort; to get used to it. This effort in the end well paid for me.
I really recommend this book, especially for all Shanty enthusiasts and lovers of sea songs.

Do you want to be more involved?

You can find excellent records of sea shanties here. If you want to discuss this book or share your opinion you can do it in my Facebook forum here, or below post in the comment section.

Related to this book

Sailortown (1967)

Sea Shanties (1977)

Shanties and Sailor’ Songs (1969)