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Alvar Smith:A Sailor and His True Love

Alvar Smith: A Sailor and His True Love (Veteran VT164CD)

A Sailor and His True Love
Traditional singing from the Blaxhall Ship
Alvar Smith

Veteran VT164CD (CD, UK, 24 May 2026)

Local and family songs from the Blaxhall Ship. A selection of ballads, old songs and comic songs learnt from Alvar’s grandfather Arthur Smith (featured on the 1955 recording of singing in the Ship), his uncle Bob Scarce, Cyril Poacher, Bob Hart and others.

Produced by Mossy Christian;
Recorded by Albert Hansell with a live audience at Sheffield’s New Musical Traditions Club on 9 November 2025

Singers

Alvar Smith: vocals;
Mussy Christian: anglo concertina [3, 5];
Katie Howson: melodeon [1, 7];
Albert Hansell: step dancing [1];
The audience of the New Musical Traditions Club, Sheffield: chorus

Tracks

  1. Step Dance
  2. The Nutting Girl (Roud 509; G/D 7:1475)
  3. Slap Dab (Whitewash)
  4. Bold General Wolfe (Roud 624)
  5. Underneath Her Apron (Roud 899; G/D 7:1493)
  6. Wheel Your Perambulator, John (Roud 1496)
  7. Running Up and Down Our Stairs (Roud 13305)
  8. The Chickens in the Garden (Roud 2552)
  9. May I Come Home Again (Roud 21988)
  10. A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother (Roud 1756)
  11. Faithful Sailor Boy (Roud 376; Laws K13; G/D 1:66; Henry H543, H678)
  12. A Sailor and His True Love (Roud 660; Laws O30; TYG 51)
  13. Flash Company (Roud 954)
  14. The Handsome Cabin Boy (Roud 239; Laws N13; G/D 1:181)
  15. I Wish I Was Single Again (Roud 437)
  16. The Little Ball of Yarn (Roud 1404)
  17. To Ra Loo (Roud 1407)

All tracks trad. except
Track 8 James Allan Bland;
Track 12 Thomas Payne Westendorf, G.W. Persley;