When we think of songs connected with the sea, our thoughts are likely to turn to sea shanties, and indeed, shanties are well-represented in this collection. However, there are plenty of traditional folk songs where the sea forms the backdrop of the story. England, Scotland, the Bahamas, America and Brazil all contribute to this compilation. The shanties (from the French chanter – meaning ‘to sing’) deserve special mention. They were work songs for male voices once commonly sung on board large merchant sailing vessels and associated with the hard labour of setting sails, raising the anchor, etc., invariably requiring co-ordinated effort. In the 19th century, its heyday, shanties were historically sung only in work-based contexts and were never designed for entertainment. The switch to steam-powered ships and the use of machinery for shipboard tasks more and more meant that shanties gradually ceased to serve a practical function. However, recordings by veteran sailors and commercial artists have ensured a continuing popularity. It is for male voice choirs to sustain the tradition!