John Townley Chesapeake Sailor's Companion CD

A robust, fun album of sailing songs drawn from a number of quarters (the set even includes a song about the Titanic), performed by John Townley and a motley musical crew working under the name of the Press Gang. The twin hooks for the record are the Chesapeake Bay and the Mariner's Museum, and Townley's ambition here seems to be to help revive the tradition of maritime music from all periods -- there is even a ragtime tune, "Sailing Down the Chesapeake Day," certainly not the usual thing one finds on an album of sailing songs. Beautiful work. ~ Steven E. McDonald

Folk singer Towney presents a variety of tunes including favorites composed during the reigns of Elizabeth & James I, when tobacco was king, to Tin Pan Alley numbers of the early 20th Century, when hydraulics began to replace muscle, and more. Like this

Recorded in Yorktown, Virginia. Includes liner notes by John Townley.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

This is part of The Adelphi Records series.

Personnel: John Townley (tenor, guitar, banjo, mandolin, concertina, anglo concertina, recorder, crumhorn, harmonium); Bill Henry (baritone); Christine Townley (hurdy-gurdy); John Turner (violin); Mark Shrode (clarinet).

Liner Note Author: John Townley.

Recording information: Wistaria Studio, Yorktown, VA; Wistaria, Inc. Yorktown, VA.

Personnel includes: John Townley (various instruments).