Here in jolly old Britain we have been granted a day off to celibrate 60 years of the Queen (Gawd bless her) reigning this septered isle. I have used the time constructively and have recorded my first bit of banjo. I'm using an M-Audio fast-track with a cheap Peavey dynamic mic (probably my weak link). I've spent all day experimenting with levels and mic positions and I'd be interested in feedback on the quality, am I clipping, are there transients etc. I don't really understand that last bit but I believe they're bad.
This is The Leaving of Liverpool. The song appears to date from around 1860 to 1874 based on the lyrics which mention Captain Burgess of the clipper ship David Crockett. The David Crockett was a medium clipper ship built in 1853. She was know for being fast, making the trip between New York and San Fransisco in an average of 101 days. Two verses of "The Leaving of Liverpool'' mention the clipper ship and her captain: Captain John A. Burgess of Somerset, MA was the captain of the David Crockett from 1860 to 1874. He apparently had a reputation as a tough master. On his last voyage the ship's departure from San Francisco for Liverpool with a cargo of wheat was delayed for five days when the crew mutinied over working conditions.