One of the few cotton-screwing songs for which notation exists was sung by James Scott and published by Natalie Curtis Burlin (Hampton Series: Negro Folk Songs. New York and Boston: G. Schirmer, 1918 Vol 3 (of 4) pp 28-32). Please include the claps at the beginning of your recording, it makes assembling the final a lot easier.…

Here is the guide track for Dave Webber’s May Song. Pop on your headphones and sing along with this then email me an mp3 of your lovely voice. Please include the claps at the beginning – they make the mixdown easier, then just sing the choruses including the double chorus at the end. Melody .…

Years ago when I first heard this song on a recording at the Library of Congress my mind was blown: a whole world of shanties opened that I never knew existed! This opened the door for me to net hauling, cargo loading and other maritime worksong traditions that continued long past the age of sail…

Way back in 1935 “Long Summer Day” was sung by a group of men from Andros Island in the Bahamas for Alan Lomax, Zora Neale Hurston and Mary Elizabeth Barnicle (what a great name for someone collecting shanties!) and deposited in the Library of Congress’ Archive of American Folksong, now the American Folklife Center. (AFS…

William Fender sang this song for James Madison Carpenter in Barry Dock near Cardiff, Wales back in 1929. You can hear the field recording at the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library. Mr. Fender remains a mystery – other than his address “16 Sydenham Street” Carpenter didn’t record any other information. But this song is a gem!…

This version of Reuben Ranzo comes from the James Madison Carpenter Collection (surprise!). It was sung by Walter Ede in Edinburgh, Scotland. You can see Carpenter’s transcription and hear the field recording at the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library website here. Ede also sang Away Rio, Blow Ye Winds, Barbara Allen (Child 84) and The Baffled…