The Sault Antlers (1992)

The Drinking Songs in this album, while certainly rasty in part, are in no way rastier than the modern "R" rated movie. They have been handed down from generations of Singing Drinkers, and many come from the very origins of our language. The Sault Antlers consider this music to be an Endangered Species, and it is our intent to preserve and promote it for future generations of Singing Drinkers. Our world would probably survive without these drinking songs, but our survival would be, in a small way, perhaps, void of much roguish jest and history. Seamus Garrahy

The Sault Antler's Men's Chorus
- The Sault Antler's Rasty Drinking Songs
  - The Bastard King of England Time: 3:30
  - Blow the Man Down Time: 3:09
  - English Nobilio [aka The Gay Caballero] Time: 1:39
  - Walk A Little Way Time: 0:53
  - Cats on the Rooftops Time: 2:47
  - Hedge Hog Time: 0:47
  - That Short Word Time: 1:20
  - Daisy Time: 0:46
  - Ring Dang Do Time: 2:13
  - All About Turds [aka Blinded By Shit] Time: 2:52
  - Fireship Time: 3:02
  - Farter Mine Time: 2:13
  - What Color? [aka The Mayor of Bayswater] Time: 2:52
  - With Me Hand Time: 1:19
  - None is Bigger than Mine [aka Four Old Whores from Baltimore] Time: 1:41
  - All for me Grog Time: 2:46
  - With Baited Breath Time: 1:02
  - Rastus Time: 2:45
  - Hitler Time: 1:28
  - Virgin Sturgeon Time: 1:56
  - Man on Top of Woman Time: 0:48
  - Suzanne Time: 1:48
  - Maid from Amsterdam Time: 1:54
  - Kafusalem Time: 2:11
  - Sexual Life of the Camel Time: 0:51
  - Daffney Time: 0:33
  - Winnipeg Whore Time: 1:48
  - I'm Looking Under Time: 1:02
  - The Chandler Shop Time: 1:45
  - Four Letter Words Time: 3:05
  - Queen's Marines [aka I Don't Want to Join the Army] Time: 2:18
  - O'Reily's Daughter Time: 3:28

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE SAULT ANTLER'S MEN'S CHORUS SINGING RASTY DRINKIN' HYMNS

I tended bar at the Antler's Bar in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in 1970. A Coast Guard 4 striper (Captain) was a regular in the bar. He said he would help me fulfill a fantasy I had since living in Niagara Fall, Ontario.

I lived in a cottage on the Canadian side of Lake Erie, near Niagara Falls, from 1965 to 1968, and I was the only American living with a large group from around the world. On weekends, we would travel all over the Niagara Frontier, singing our way into the hearts and beer of all we met. The songs we sang were aptly described as Rasty Drinkin' Hymns, and we were welcomed where ever we went.

Now back to my fantasy. I thought if my Coast Guard Captain friend could get me an Able Body Seaman license, I could ship on a lake freighter going through the Sault Locks, and teach a captive crew an hour or so of Drinkin' Hymns. We would jump ship in Detroit or Cleveland, find a recording studio, and make an album of Rasty Drinkin' Hymns. Alas! This never came to be.

Fast forward to 1977 in Gettysburg, Pa. I was in the Springhouse Tavern, in the Dobbin House on Steinwehr Ave in Gettysburg, and there were two guys playing a guitar and a piano. During a break in their act, and still carrying my fantasy where ever I went, I asked them if they would like to make an album of Drinkin' Songs. Sean Tschop and Ray Owen took about 1 1/2 to 2 seconds and shouted YES! The Sault Antler's Men's Chorus was born.

The name is, of course, from the Antler's Bar in the Sault, where I first had the fantasy. We gradually added members, and our membership in the Antler's had absolutely no requirement of talent or ability. We did and do have musicians in the group, and they do know who they are. It's just that no one has ever cared.

During one of our practices, early in our career, there was a young lady in my basement making homemade beer for the group. One of our songs requires a very high, seductive voice, to sing "what color." We asked Jose Swisher Pelc to come up and sing this part for the song. From this moment on, Josie has certainly been the exception to the "Men's Chorus" aspect of the Antler's.

Our first album was recorded in 1979, at the Antler's Bar in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. We flew from Baltimore to Detroit to Pelston, Mi, and onto the Sault. This was not a sobering event in our lives. One of our stalwarts claimed he was drunk and sober 3 times before we got on the first airplane. Ray Owen put his finger in a blood pressure machine at Detroit Airport, and the machine told him he was dead. This album was done on virgin vinyl, and the vinyl was the only virginal thing about the entire album.

For 27 years the Sault Antler's Men's Chorus has been singing to Standing Room Only crowds every St. Patrick's Day in Gettysburg, and occasionally we have been known to sing on the 17th of September, which is half way before or after St. Pat's day.

For 27 years we have preserved and protected the Drinkin' Hymn for future generations of singing drinkers or drinking singers.

Seamus Garrahy

Josie Pelc, Kent Barnds, Jeff Cook, Basil Crapster, Col Truman Crawford,
Dan Diviney, Joe Ewers, Fred Ewers, Seamus Garrahy, Tom Henninger,
Paul Lenig, Steve O'Donnell, Terry Goose Overly, Ray Owen, Dud Sherwood,
Kevin Trostle, Sean Tschop