Robert Shaw (5) (1916–1999)

1 Ring De Banjo 2:11
2 Beautiful Dreamer
Tenor Vocals – Grant Williams
2:57
3 Gentle Annie 2:42
4 Way Down In Ca-i-ro 2:54
5 My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night 3:54
6 Old Black Joe 3:03
7 Dolcy Jones
Tenor Vocals – Grant Williams
1:56
8 Thou Art The Queen Of My Song
Baritone Vocals – Thomas Pyle
3:39
9 Old Folks At Home
Tenor Vocals – Grant Williams
4:32
10 Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming
Soprano Vocals – Louise Natale
3:58
11 Oh! Susanna 1:35
12 Gentle Lena Clare
Tenor Vocals – James Wainner
2:32
13 Nelly Bly 2:42
14 Some Folks 1:52
15 Laura Lee
Tenor Vocals – Grant Williams
2:56
16 Camptown Races
Baritone Vocals – Thomas Pyle
1:40
17 Steal Away 4:14
18 Nobody Knows (Duh Trouble I See)
Contralto Vocals – Florence Kopleff
4:18
19 I Want To Die Easy
Tenor Vocals – Clayton Krehbiel
3:06
20 Dere's No Hidin' Place
Tenor Vocals – Grant Williams
1:30
credits:
Guitar, Banjo – John Cali (tracks: 1 to 16)… (mehr)

When I sang in a church choir, I loved singing hymns and spirituals arranged by Robert Shaw/Alice Parker. Those arrangements were always perfect for the voice ranges and each section usually had something interesting to do vocally. I expected to love this CD when I ordered it and I do.

I love the harmonies among the voices and excellent diction of singers. You don't have to know the words to understand what is being sung. Some of these songs were new to me; others I had sung. My favorites are Wondrous Love, Bright Canaan, Ride on King Jesus, I Got Shoes, and Lord If I Got My Ticket.

If you enjoy choral music, I think you will like this CD. If you enjoy religious music, I think you would like it, too. If you like both, you may well love this recording.… (mehr)

My father and I used to listen to this back in the days of vinyl LPs. We weren't listening to hear an authentic reproduction of sea shanties; we were listening to a well-trained male chorus performing sea shanties. He was interested in the history behind the songs and we talked about that. Eventually I inherited the LP and replaced the worn-out LP with a CD.

The harmonies are brought out in these arrangements as the great male voices in the Robert Shaw Chorale perform the songs. The soloists are perfect for the selections. I never have trouble understanding the lyrics. Most of the songs are a capella; some have minimal accompaniment.

My favorites are hard to choose because I love them all from rollicking Blow the Man Down to the parting strains of Spanish Ladies. Ask me on a quiet day and I'd pick Lowlands; Goodbye, Fare Thee Well; Stormalong, John; and Shenandoah. Ask me on a bouncy day and I'd pick Whup! Jamboree; the sly A-Roving; the classic What Shall We do with the Drunken Sailor; and The Drummer and the Cook.

If you are looking for a more traditional performance of sea shanties, then you need to look elsewhere. If you love male vocal harmony, then check this recording out.… (mehr)