Jerry Bryant, Starboard Mess - Roast Beef of Old England (Traditional Sailor Songs)

If Roast Beef of Old England isn't enough to spawn a dose of contact scurvy, many other of these two dozen salty tunes will set the boat a-rocking. Treasures such as "A Jolly Sailor's True Description of a Man-of-War" and "Drops of Brandy" detail life among British seamen of the early 1800s without dredging up too much of the usual pirates, shipwrecks, or mutiny. It's an historical document of the regular life at sea, inspired by the British Navy novels of Patrick O'Brian, with intentions to anchor the writing in the ordinary sounds and stories of those fictionalized seafaring times. Glad fiddle, fife, and Jerry Bryant's humble six-man choral crew Starboard Mess spill the beans in suitable fashion without a sailor's colorful vocabulary. They supply the "yo ho ho" and annotations, you bring the rum and black powder. --Ian Christe Amazon.com

This CD has all the spirit anyone can handle

I bought this CD as the 'display copy' at the Frauncis Tavern Museum in New York about 4 years ago. I am from the UK and, although I live in New York, I had been looking for something like this for years.

The earlier reviewer who said that this CD had no spirit is at best confused. Perhaps he is an American who understands 'Spirit' to be the same as 'Loudness'. There is a ton of spirit in all of these songs, and they are sung with the strength and understated passion of the REAL British Navy Spirit.

Long live that enthusiasm and passion! August 2, 2008

Set Sail With These Great Songs

Jerry Bryant and his Starboard Mess offer up to the listener some wonderful performances of traditional British sailor tunes. They are all performed acapella, and despite other reviewers saying that these songs lack spirit, I find that there's plenty in store. Pennywhistle and fiddle songs are also thrown in and do nothing but add to the enjoyment of this album. Read your favorite Jack Aubrey novel or other seafaring tales such as "Treasure Island" while listening to this album to truly enhance your literary experience. My personal favorites include "Spanish Ladies" and "Bay of Biscay-o."

You should see the looks I get from the little wannabe thugs in their tricked out Hondas listening to hip-hop when I pull up next to them in my conservative white Toyota Camry and I'm belting out lines like "We'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors...." Jay-Z can't even hold a candle to these wonderful old tunes.

Highly recommended. January 28, 2007

Jack Aubrey would have loved it...

This is the real thing! It takes some time to get into these songs...but then I started to join in. For someone reading O'Brian its a MUST. January 9, 2007

Good traditional stuff

Just what I was looking for, some traditional British songs from the age of sail. I recomend this for anyone with an interest in British maritime and naval history. January 4, 2007

Continuing Enjoyment

I've owned this CD for a few years now, and it hasn't become stale yet.

Being a 'younger' person with generally 'younger' preferences in music, and yet still a person thoroughly devoted to Patrick O'Brian and all his works, on first listening I was doubtful.

Another two or three spins around the CD player, though, and I was hooked. Crisp, clear and obviously as historically accurate as they can be, these songs give delight even now.

Best use? Volume dialled up to eleven for the morning drive to work, bellowing along at the top of my voice - and often the bottom of my range! Heart of Oak, Roast Beef of Old England, The Shannon and the Chesapeake - uproarious. Sailor's Jacket is the foot-tappingest instrumental; it still sets my toes a-jumping. And the sweeter songs? Give them plenty of wellie .. Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy is fabulous.

Other big numbers: A Jolly Sailor's True Description of a Man-of-War, A New Sea Song (Sweethearts & Wives) - which has some fabulously 'historically accurate' narrative within (POB readers will know whereof I speak! ;-} - and Distressed Men-of-War - another song referred to within the POB Canon.

Heartily recommended. May 5, 2006

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