The Watersons, based in Hull on the British coast, have been singing authentic folk songs together since 1964. The word 'Genuine' comes to mind listening to the Watersons, not just because of the blue-collar feel of their singing and their English working-class dress and appearance, but that in combination with the incredible old folk songs they uncover like treasures in an attic, and record for us. In the extensive liner notes we can read about the history of a song, for instance, 'The Greenland Whale Fishery,' and learn the various times the music appeared in print from 1725 to 1864, while listening to 'one of the great sea songs' very much as it must have sounded at the time. There are 27 relatively short all a cappella songs here, from 'Boston Harbour' to 'The Whitby Lad.' Some of our favorites would be: 'Three Score and Ten,' 'The North Country Maid,' 'The Jolly Waggoners,' 'I Am A Rover,' 'The Poacher's Fate,' 'The Ploughboy,' and 'The Wanton Wife of Castlegate.' This is the real thing, rich-textured English folk that we certainly would have heard no other way, sung beautifully and with feeling!