Musicians

A.L. Lloyd, Ewan MacColl, and Harry H. Corbett with chorus;
Alf Edwards: concertina [2, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16];
Brian Daly: guitar

Tracks

Side 1

1. [ALL] The Ship in Distress (Roud 807)
2. [EM] Johnny Todd (Roud 1102; G/D 8:1583)
3. [ALL & chorus] Haul on the Bowline (Roud 652; G/D 1:1)
4. [ALL] The Cruel Ship’s Captain (Roud 835)
5. [EM] The Dreadnought (Roud 924; Laws D13; Henry H194)
6. [ALL & chorus] Santy Anna (Roud 207; Henry H496)
7. [ALL] The Coast of Peru (Roud 1997; Laws D26)
8. [EM] Row Bullies Row (Roud 928)
9. [ALL & chorus] Blood Red Roses (Roud 931)

Side 2

10. [ALL] Off to Sea Once More (Roud 644; Laws D7)
11. [HHC & chorus] Blow the Man Down (Roud 2624)
12. [EM] The Flying Cloud (Roud 1802; Laws K28; G/D 1:44)
13. [ALL] Lord Franklin (Roud 487; Laws K9; G/D 1:16; Henry H815)
14. [ALL, EM] Paddy Doyle (Roud 4695; Henry H53c)
15. [EM] Van Diemen’s Land (Roud 519; Laws L18; G/D 2:252)
16. [ALL] The Greenland Whale Fishery (Roud 347)

Tracks 2-3, 5, 9, 12-16 were included in 1957 on the Wattle album Singing Sailors;
Tracks 1, 4, 6-8, 10-11 were included in 1957 on the Wattle album Shanties & Fo’c’sle Songs;
Tracks 1, 3, 6-8, 11-12 were included in 1958 on the Stinson album Haul on the Bowlin’;
Tracks 2, 4-5, 9-10, 13-16 were included in 1958 on the Stinson album Off to Sea Once More;
Tracks 2, 5-7, 9, 11 were reissued in 1963 on the three EPs Blow the Man Down, A Hundred Years Ago, and The Coast of Peru;
Track 11 was included in 2004 on the CD Blow the Man Down;
Tracks 1, 3-9, 12-14 were included in 2004 on the CD Sailors’ Songs and Sea Shanties;
Tracks 7, 13 were included in 2008 on the A.L. Lloyd anthology Ten Thousand Miles Away.

Review

This review by W.A. Chislett is from Gramophone, April 1955:

The Singing Sailor is the most interesting Topic record yet issued (TRL3), more for its content than its performance. A. L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl are the soloists; sometimes unaccompanied, sometimes with a concertina played by Alf Edwards, and sometimes with a chorus. Brian Daly (guitar) is also mentioned on the record label and sleeve but succeeds in remaining remarkably unobtrusive. Here are sixteen sea shanties and sailor songs and many of them will be quite unfamiliar to the vast majority of people. That the songs from this selection, which have been recorded before, have been better sung than is the case here is undeniable but as against this very few are otherwise available and those that are, are the least interesting. Technically this record is not, or at any rate my copy is not, very good. The surface is only mediocre and the tape editing could have been better.

Musicians

A.L. Lloyd, Ewan MacColl, and Harry H. Corbett with chorus;
Alf Edwards: concertina [2, 4, 7, 9]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [ALL & chorus] Haul on the Bowline (Roud 652; G/D 1:1)
2. [EM] Row Bullies Row (Roud 928)
3. [ALL] The Cruel Ship’s Captain (Roud 835)
4. [EM] The Dreadnought (Roud 924; Laws D13; Henry H194)
5. [ALL, EM] Paddy Doyle (Roud 4695; Henry H53c)

Side 2

6. [ALL & chorus] Santy Anna (Roud 207; Henry H496)
7. [EM] Johnny Todd (Roud 1102; G/D 8:1583)
8. [ALL & chorus] Blood Red Roses (Roud 931)
9. [ALL] Lord Franklin (Roud 487; Laws K9; G/D 1:16; Henry H815)
10. [HHC & chorus] Blow the Man Down (Roud 2624)

All tracks are from The Singing Sailor;
Tracks 4, 6-8, and 10 were reissued in 1963 on the three EPs Blow the Man Down, A Hundred Years Ago, and The Coast of Peru;
Tracks 1-6, 8-9 were included in 2004 on the CD Sailors’ Songs and Sea Shanties.

See also The Black Ball Line at the Working Class Movement Library.

Musicians

A.L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl with chorus;
Alf Edwards: concertina [2, 4, 8]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [EM & chorus] The Black Ball Line (Roud 2623) (1.15)
2. [ALL] Do Me Ama (Roud 511; Laws K40) (3.20)
3. [ALL & chorus] Reuben Ranzo (Roud 3282) (1.25)
4. [EM] The Handsome Cabin Boy (Roud 239; Laws N13; G/D 1:181) (2.35)
5. [ALL & chorus] A Hundred Years Ago (Roud 926) (1.02)

Side 2

6. [EM & chorus] Stormalong (Roud 216) (1.30)
7. [ALL] The Coast of Peru (Roud 1997; Laws D26) (2.20)
8. [EM] The Gauger (Roud 2343; G/D 5:1015) (2.20)
9. [ALL & chorus] Sally Racket (Roud 395) (1.00)

Track 7 is from The Singing Sailor;
Tracks 1, 6, 8 were included in 1957 on the Wattle album Singing Sailors;
Tracks 2-5, 7, 9 were included in 1957 on the Wattle album Shanties & Fo’c’sle Songs;
Tracks 1-2, 5, 7-8 were included in 1958 on the Stinson album Haul on the Bowlin’;
Tracks 3-4, 6, 9 were included in 1958 on the Stinson album Off to Sea Once More;
Tracks 1-5, 7-8 were reissued in 1963 on the three EPs Blow the Man Down, A Hundred Years Ago, and The Coast of Peru;
Track 1 was included in 2004 on the CD Blow the Man Down;
Tracks 2-6, 8-9 were included in 2004 on the CD Sailors’ Songs and Sea Shanties.

This is a French partial reissue of Row Bullies Row with 8 instead of 10 tracks and a different track order.

Musicians

A.L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl with chorus;
Alf Edwards: concertina [2, 6]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [ALL & chorus] Haul on the Bowline (Roud 652; G/D 1:1) (0.48)
2. [EM] The Dreadnought (Roud 924; Laws D13; Henry H194) (2.37)
3. [ALL] The Cruel Ship’s Captain (Roud 835) (1.56)
4. [HHC & chorus] Blow the Man Down (Roud 2624) (2.31)

Side 2

5. [ALL & chorus] Blood Red Roses (Roud 931) (2.07)
6. [EM] Row Bullies Row (Roud 928) (3.44)
7. [ALL & chorus] Santy Anna (Roud 207; Henry H496) (1.34)
8. [ALL, EM] Paddy Doyle (Roud 4695; Henry H53c) (0.49)

This is a French reissue of The Black Ball Line with different track order.

Musicians

A.L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl with chorus;
Alf Edwards: concertina [4, 6, 8]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [EM & chorus] Stormalong (Roud 216) (1.30)
2. [ALL] The Coast of Peru (Roud 1997; Laws D26) (2.20)
3. [ALL & chorus] Sally Racket (Roud 395) (1.00)
4. [EM] The Gauger (Roud 2343; G/D 5:1015) (2.20)
5. [EM & chorus] The Black Ball Line (Roud 2623) (1.15)

Side 2

6. [ALL] Do Me Ama (Roud 511; Laws K40) (3.20)
7. [ALL & chorus] Reuben Ranzo (Roud 3282) (1.25)
8. [EM] The Handsome Cabin Boy (Roud 239; Laws N13; G/D 1:181) (2.35)
9. [ALL & chorus] A Hundred Years Ago (Roud 926) (1.02)

Cover illustration by Gordon Grant from the chapter “Short-Drag Shanties” of Joanna C. Colcord’s Songs of American Sailormen, New York 1938;
Record notes by Edgar Waters

Musicians

Ewan MacColl and A.L. Lloyd with chorus;
Alf Edwards: concertina [3-4, 7, 10]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [EM & chorus] Stormalong (Roud 216) (1.30)
2. [EM] The Gauger (Roud 2343; G/D 5:1015) (3.04)
3. [EM] Van Diemen’s Land (Roud 519; Laws L18; G/D 2:252) (3.59)
4. [EM] The Dreadnought (Roud 924; Laws D13; Henry H194) (2.29)
5. [ALL] Lord Franklin (Roud 487; Laws K9; G/D 1:16; Henry H815) (3.05)
6. [ALL, EM] Paddy Doyle (Roud 4695; Henry H53c) (0.46)

Side 2

7. [EM & chorus] The Black Ball Line (Roud 2623) (1.15)
8. [ALL] The Greenland Whale Fishery (Roud 347) (2.53)
9. [ALL & chorus] Haul on the Bowline (Roud 652; G/D 1:1) (0.44)
10. [EM] The Flying Cloud (Roud 1802; Laws K28; G/D 1:44) (5.50)
11. [ALL & chorus] Blood Red Roses (Roud 931) (2.01)
12. [EM] Johnny Todd (Roud 1102; G/D 8:1583) (2.22)

Tracks 3-6, 8-12 are from The Singing Sailor;
Tracks 4-6, 9, 11-12 are from Row Bullies Row;
Tracks 1-2, 7 are from The Black Ball Line

Cover illustration by Gordon Grant from the chapter “Forecastle Songs” of Joanna C. Colcord’s Songs of American Sailormen, New York 1938;
Record notes by Edgar Waters

Musicians

A.L. Lloyd, Ewan MacColl, and Harry H. Corbett with chorus;
Alf Edwards: concertina [2, 5, 7, 11]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [HHC & chorus] Blow the Man Down (Roud 2624) (2.56)
2. [ALL] Do Me Ama (Roud 511; Laws K40) (3.52)
3. [ALL & chorus] Santy Anna (Roud 207; Henry H496) (1.24)
4. [ALL] The Ship in Distress (Roud 807) (3.13)
5. [EM] The Handsome Cabin Boy (Roud 239; Laws N13; G/D 1:181) (3.03)
6. [ALL & chorus] A Hundred Years Ago (Roud 926) (1.16)

Side 2

7. [EM] Row Bullies Row (Roud 928) (3.28)
8. [ALL] The Cruel Ship’s Captain (Roud 835) (1.49)
9. [ALL & chorus] Reuben Ranzo (Roud 3282) (1.29)
10. [ALL] The Coast of Peru (Roud 1997; Laws D26) (3.20)
11. [ALL] Off to Sea Once More (Roud 644; Laws D7) (3.30)
12. [ALL & chorus] Sally Racket (Roud 395) (1.02)

Tracks 1, 3-4, 7-8, 10-11 are from The Singing Sailor;
Tracks 1, 3, 7-8 are from Row Bullies Row;
Tracks 2, 5-6, 9-10, 12 are from The Black Ball Line

Notes

Alistair Banfield commented on the source of these recordings:

I think we are fairly safe in asserting that the Wattle recordings and the Topic recordings and the Chant du Monde recordings and the Stinson recordings are all from the same source.

I believe that it happened when Topic were short of money and were finding ways of licensing material that they recorded themselves so that the session and tape costs were paid for. Kenneth Goldstein had backing from Riverside and Stinson and helped with the finances of the session for The Singing Sailor. Wattle paid for the Outback Ballads session but licensed the recordings to Topic which made little difference to Topic, they still had the music to release and Wattle then put the music out in Australia. All of these recordings though, were made in England.

This is a reissue of material from Topic (UK) originals.
The record is made of transparent red vinyl instead of the usual black.

Edited by Kenneth S. Goldstein;
Notes by A.L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl

Musicians

A.L. Lloyd, Ewan MacColl, and Harry H. Corbett with chorus;
Alf Edwards: concertina [2, 6, 8]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [ALL & chorus] Haul on the Bowlin (Roud 652; G/D 1:1)
2. [EM] Row Bullies Row (Roud 928)
3. [ALL] The Coast of Peru (Roud 1997; Laws D26)
4. [EM & chorus] The Black Ball Line (Roud 2623)
5. [ALL] The Ship in Distress (Roud 807)
6. [EM] The Gauger (Roud 2343; G/D 5:1015)

Side 2

7. [HHC & chorus] Blow the Man Down (Roud 2624)
8. [ALL] Do Me Ama (Roud 511; Laws K40)
9. [ALL & chorus] Santy Anna (Roud 207; Henry H496)
10. [EM] The Flying Cloud (Roud 1802; Laws K28; G/D 1:44)
11. [ALL & chorus] A Hundred Years Ago (Roud 926)

Tracks 1-3, 5, 7, 9-10 are from The Singing Sailor;
Tracks 1-2, 7, 9 are from Row Bullies Row;
Tracks 3-4, 6, 8, 11 are from The Black Ball Line

Musicians

A.L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl with chorus;
Alf Edwards: concertina [3, 5-6, 9, 11-12]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [ALL & chorus] Blood Red Roses (Roud 931) (2.06)
2. [EM] Van Diemen’s Land (Roud 519; Laws L18; G/D 2:252) (3.58)
3. [ALL] The Greenland Whale Fishery (Roud 347) (2.52)
4. [ALL, EM] Paddy Doyle (Roud 4695; Henry H53c) (0.47)
5. [EM] Johnny Todd (Roud 1102; G/D 8:1583) (2.28)
6. [ALL] Lord Franklin (Roud 487; Laws K9; G/D 1:16; Henry H815) (3.11)

Side 2

7. [ALL & chorus] Reuben Ranzo (Roud 3282) (1.29)
8. [ALL] The Cruel Ship’s Captain (Roud 835) (1.53)
9. [EM] The Handsome Cabin Boy (Roud 239; Laws N13; G/D 1:181) (3.01)
10. [ALL & chorus] Sally Racket (Roud 395) (1.02)
11. [EM] The Dreadnought (Roud 924; Laws D13; Henry H194) (2.34)
12. [ALL] Off to Sea Once More (Roud 644; Laws D7) (3.29)
13. [EM & chorus] Stormalong (Roud 216) (1.29)

Tracks 1-6, 8, 11-12 are from The Singing Sailor;
Tracks 1, 4-6, 8, 11 are from Row Bullies Row;
Tracks 7, 9-10, 13 are from The Black Ball Line

Note: My 12" copies of the two Stinson LPs are dated © 1962 and 1963 respectively. Lighter on Mudcat argues that from the catalogue numbers the original 10" records must have appeared in 1958.

The three EPs TOP98-100 are reissues of the sea shanties formerly released on the albums Row Bullies Row and The Black Ball Line.

Musicians

A.L. Lloyd, Ewan MacColl, and Harry H. Corbett with chorus;
Alf Edwards: concertina [2]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [EM & chorus] The Black Ball Line (Roud 2623) (1.11)
2. [ALL] Do Me Ama (Roud 511; Laws K40) (3.50)

Side 2

3. [ALL & chorus] Reuben Ranzo (Roud 3282) (1.26)
4. [HHC & chorus] Blow the Man Down (Roud 2624) (2.58)

Track 4 is from The Singing Sailor and Row Bullies Row;
Tracks 1-3 are from The Black Ball Line

The three EPs TOP98-100 are reissues of the sea shanties formerly released on the albums Row Bullies Row and The Black Ball Line.

Musicians

A.L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl with chorus;
Alf Edwards: concertina [2, 4]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [ALL & chorus] Blood Red Roses (Roud 931)
2. [EM] The Handsome Cabin Boy (Roud 239; Laws N13; G/D 1:181)

Side 2

3. [ALL & chorus] A Hundred Years Ago (Roud 926)
4. [EM] Johnny Todd (Roud 1102; G/D 8:1583)

Tracks 1, 4 are from The Singing Sailor and Row Bullies Row;
Tracks 2-3 are from The Black Ball Line

The three EPs TOP98-100 are reissues of the sea shanties formerly released on the albums Row Bullies Row and The Black Ball Line.

Musicians

A.L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl with chorus;
Alf Edwards: concertina [2, 3]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [ALL & chorus] Santy Anna (Roud 207; Henry H496)
2. [EM] The Gauger (Roud 2343; G/D 5:1015)

Side 2

3. [EM] The Dreadnought (Roud 924; Laws D13; Henry H194)
4. [ALL] The Coast of Peru (Roud 1997; Laws D26)

Tracks 1, 3-4 are from The Singing Sailor;
Tracks 1, 3 are from Row Bullies Row;
Tracks 2, 4 are from The Black Ball Line

Note: The sleeve notes of TOP98–TOP100 state “Recorded by Bill Leader” (and the record labels say “First published 1956”) but according to his own comments to Mike Butler’s Bill Leader discography, “My only input to T7&T8 [and thus TOP98–TOP100 too, ed.] was to supervise the reissue. The recording had been done before I joined Topic, and had been released as two 10" LPs on Stinson in the US.”