An amazing collection of English sea shanties taken on open-reel tape in the early '50s for a BBC program recorded by Peter Kennedy. Most vocalists are old men who were on the ships, a couple are younger (& better) singers who heard it first hand from the old-timers. Recording quality varies greatly. You want this CD, not because it's slick & polished, but because it's a cast in amber of the rhythm, style, and grace of these old songs that just can't be carried forward on paper.