First there was Mallory & McCall, a duo who have been performing together for over twenty years. They became a fixture at many events throughout California and they developed quite a following. Always gracious, they invited performer after performer to share the stage with them. Thus was born the Skeleton Crew Pirate Band. The band has developed from a guest musician of the moment sort of an affair into a solid group featuring Patch Patterson and Dennis Gilmore (plus the guest musician of the moment).

That said, there are numerous pirate groups releasing music on a regular basis so one might wonder what makes this CD so special. The answer can only be found by listening to the album, and yes, this is certainly a special disc. Just listening to the opening assures the user that these aren't some kids playing at pirates, the Skeleton Crew Pirate Band is the real deal.

The album begins with a tribute to the days when Mallory & McCall were producing a weekly radio drama. The opening, "Prelude for Cannon and Steel" gives one a feeling of nostalgia for the days of the radio serial. That feeling of nostalgia for days gone by sets the album up well.

Most pirate albums these days suffer from the same taint, being too modern. The albums are often wonderful, but they still miss the true 'pirate' feel. This CD captures several styles, but all of them with an authentic pirate feel. Whether it is the steel drum music in "Fishy Mermaid" or the sweeping grandeur of Gilbert & Sullivan's "Pirate King", this disc just feels 'real'.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Mallory & McCall CD without a rich assortment of original music. "Kings of the Sea" harkens back to musicals of a century back, rich in both lyrical and musical content, this track certainly doesn't disappoint.

The album is also filled, thanks to the kindness of the people at Disney, with classic favorites that the Skeleton Crew Pirate Band is so well known for.  "Shiver me Timbers", from Muppet Treasure Island is a real favorite. Not satisfied to record the song as is, the Skeleton Crew Pirate Band tacks on new verses (perhaps inspired by their time on the red carpet for the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) and the song stands out as a true joy.

The true highlight of the album though, is "the Derelict". The classic, and rather clunky, minor key tune discarded for an original arrangement that is still THE definitive version of this song. While this song was also released on Mallory & McCall's Rough Draft Sampler (reviewed here) this cut so far surpasses that original offering as to wipe all vestiges of the original version from the listener's mind.

The Rough Cut Sampler had a few technical issues, and one might wonder if this album might suffer from the same annoyances. No. Band member Dennis Gilmore did a wonderful job engineering and mixing this CD. There are no technical issues with this CD, the sound quality is sharp and crisp, and the sound levels are consistently rich and steady. 

The CD is available from Mallory & McCall's website for $15 and is worth every penny. If you're an old salt or you've recently gone on the account...this is an album you can't afford to miss.