The CD begins with Protection 91原创ion skipper Bruce Boyd telling passengers: "Folks the boat returns to town every hour on the hour until 10 o'clock tonight, that's the last scheduled trip. . . ."
Eighteen tracks later, Boyd sings the Protection Island Ferry Song -- a folk ditty, which again outlines the 91原创ion's schedule.
In between Boyd's contributions to The Protection Island Collection is an eclectic mix of songs and prose, all with some links to Protection Island.
Anthony Maki, who owns Etched in Sound Mobile Studio, recorded and produced all but one of the tracks on the CD. He said The Protection Island Collection was the brainchild of island resident Peter Frewin.
"It was really his inspiration and idea," said Maki, who has been living on Protection for about a year and a half.
"He asked me if I would record and produce it and I was more than happy to. It was a great way for me to meet a lot of people on the island here, who have similar interests that I do -- namely music," said Maki.
Frewin, who will be out of the country until later this month, hopes to use proceeds from the sale of the CD to fund community initiatives, Maki said.
"I think the money we raise is going to help fund more cultural events on Protection," he said.
"Words and music of the folk, by the folk for the folk," is how Valley Hennell, the project's creative consultant put it.
The Protection Island Collection is "a vibrant array of songs, stories and local colour portrayed in folk, country, trance, punk and spoken word," she said.
See Lament, Page C2
Forty-three Protection Island performers from toddlers to seniors appear on the CD. They range from recording stars like Rick Scott -- whose haunting lament of the sinking of the steamship Oscar is worth the price of the CD alone -- to a posthumous contribution from Tabacca Jack, his telephone answering machine message.
Maki said it took about five months to lay down all the tracks on the CD.
"We knew better than to set a rigid time for when it would be finished."
It's a good thing Maki and Frewin didn't set a firm deadline because the project grew and evolved from conception to implementation.
"Initially, it was going to be a much smaller project but the quality of the pieces convinced us to make it what it is," Maki said.
The Protection Collection showcases "a real kind of slice of the personalities on the Island," he said.
And there are some characters among the approximate 400 residents of Protection Island.
Characters like Carol and Mike Matthews who almost have listeners believing "The actual and true story of the steamship Oscar" -- it immediately follows, Scott's lament.
Maki chuckled when asked about the Matthews's contribution and the hero of the piece a dog named Victor.
"That's their dog," Maki said.
From traditional folk songs like Froggie Went a 'Courtin' to Irish and Spanish folk melodies, trance music, and a bagpipe medley there's something for just about everyone to enjoy on this collection.
Anyone wishing to purchase the Protection Island Collection can do so at the Dinghy Dock Pub, Javawocky, Tina's Diner or by mail order from www.etchedinsound.com.