Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends

The discovery by a record producer of this group singing in a local venue is i guess, for them, what dreams are made of.
Thinking back many moons to my younger school days, i remember being taught one or two sea shanty's......guess it was just joyous music then as it is again now.
This is really foot-tapping stuff , maybe a little different to what you might normaly buy, but in this day and age, we all need some 'feel-good' music in our lives......don't we ?
Great album, great songs, really good harmony's.

Well, what do you know? An album of shanties and sea songs on a major record label and about time too I say. As a regular performer myself on board HMS Warrior in Portsmouth along with ex sailor Shep Woolley manys the time weve sung Tom Lewis A Sailor Aint A Sailor and what a pleasure to see it appearing here in all its lusty glory. Conjuring images of bonhomie and yo, ho, ho in a Cornish pub, warmed by a roaring fire and good natured banter this is exactly what the recording conveys whilst brushing aside blinkered attitudes of commercial selling out from the folk scene. Featuring established favourites such as South Australia, Bully In The Alley and the melancholic Shenandoah these lads obviously know how to have a good time without going overboard (sorry about that). Although I suppose there could be a danger of swamping what are essentially regarded as acapella renderings the instrumental contributions by the session musicians havent detracted from the heart of the performance and in utilising Andy Findon (he played the whistle on the Youngs sea food adverts) to great effect the target audience (far exceeding the confines of the folk music tag) have been treated to a fine showcase of the genre. The inclusion of the timely No Hopers, Jokers And Rogues certainly gets my vote and could give The Wurzels a run for their money. Finally congratulations to the graphic designers on bringing those old seafaring posters so vividly back to life whilst giving it a modern twist. Hearty congratulations all round.

PETE FYFE

I ordered this cd as soon as it was mentioned,
Real genuine fishermen
Started off great Then in my opinion (rtd Mariner) " ONE BIG PILE OF RUBBISH" with The Union of Dfferent Kinds. Not a sea shanty, just a politically correct song.
The along came a wonderful song "Shenandoah" This was ruined, the worst rendition I have ever heard.
Other than that I enjoyed the cd, and would buy their next one.
The best sea shanties to ever come out as far as I am concerned
are on a cd by UFFA FOX. Thank you

Received my cd 2days ago and have been listening to it ever since!!!
The voices and harmonys are just beautiful, the instruments sound fantastic, and there is a song for everyone!!
This is a cd for you if you enjoy REAL music, which warms your heart Brings back memories of being in Port Isaac and makes me want to go back!!
I will definitely be buying their next album!

this is a must have and very different cd ! No hopers, jokers and rouges is an excellent, catchy single. and its great that the older sea shanties on this album are being kept alive by these guys.