- Audio CD (10 May 2002)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: City Hall Records
- ASIN: B0002B64UW
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Product Description
CD Description
Ewan MacColl was one of the architects of the first folksong revival. Whether as an interpreter of ancient ballads or as a writer of new songs, he influenced almost everyone involved in folk music in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. He brought the same skill and understanding to songs of Britain's industrial cities, ballads of Scots history and lyrics from the English countryside. Many of his own compositions have passed into the common currency of folk music, including “Dirty Old Town”, included here, which has been covered by everyone from Rod Stewart to The Pogues. Selected from his many Topic recordings, this compilation presents 20 of his best performances. Now at mid price, it is a must for all fans of folk music, new and old Tracks: Ye Jabobites By Name / Johnny Cope / Cam Ye O’er Fra France / Haughs / Cromdale / Such A Parcel o’ Rogues In A Nation / Farewell To Sicily / Derek Bentley / Johnny O’Breadiesley / Go Down Ye Murderers / Van Diemen’s Land / Minorie / Sheep Crook And Black Dog / The Bramble Briar / One Night As I Lay On My Bed / The Grey Cock / The Blantyre Explosion / The Gresford Disaster / Four Loom Weaver / Song Of The Iron Road / Dirty Old Town.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ewan Macall is one of the foremost singers of folk singers. He is also one of the originators of the folk song revival from its earliest days. He was born in Scotland and his parents were singers and this is where he learnt his first songs. He also learnt how to write his own songs. "Dirty old town" is one example, and it was inspired by his home town of Salford. The Dubliners later made it popular and it has become absorbed into the folk song tradition. He became a playwright, actor, director and singer. And through these years became increasingly interested in folk music. Then after meeting folk song collector Alan Lomax he decided to become more involved in the revival of British Folk music.
During the 1950s and 1960s he was at the forefront of the revival and was prolific in the folk world performing and educating traditional folk music of Britain and writing his own material in a traditional style that reflected the times and environments of the day.
He collaborated with many other famous folk performers including Peggy segar. He also made a wealth of recordings.
This release is a great compilation that represents some of the songs that he had learned during his life up to this point and the cream of his recordings of these songs. This release collects together tracks from many albums originally recorded on Topic records between 1959 to 1966.
The first five songs come from the album "Jacobite rebellions. And these selections illustrate the historical and social emotions within these songs. They also represent the strong connection to MacColl`s home country of Scotland.
But there are also songs on this compilation that crossed both ways over the boarders of Scotland and England. This is illustrated in some songs from an album called "The Manchester angel".
There is a barrack room ballad, then some tracks from an album called "the gallows". These songs deal with crime and punishment. And there are some industrial songs from another album called "Steam Whistle ballads".
Most of the songs on this compilation are from Traditional source but there are some that are written by MacColl himself. And if you don't want to collect shelves of his albums then this compilation is a great cross section of his career during the folk song revival. It is an excellent and very interesting album indeed.
During the 1950s and 1960s he was at the forefront of the revival and was prolific in the folk world performing and educating traditional folk music of Britain and writing his own material in a traditional style that reflected the times and environments of the day.
He collaborated with many other famous folk performers including Peggy segar. He also made a wealth of recordings.
This release is a great compilation that represents some of the songs that he had learned during his life up to this point and the cream of his recordings of these songs. This release collects together tracks from many albums originally recorded on Topic records between 1959 to 1966.
The first five songs come from the album "Jacobite rebellions. And these selections illustrate the historical and social emotions within these songs. They also represent the strong connection to MacColl`s home country of Scotland.
But there are also songs on this compilation that crossed both ways over the boarders of Scotland and England. This is illustrated in some songs from an album called "The Manchester angel".
There is a barrack room ballad, then some tracks from an album called "the gallows". These songs deal with crime and punishment. And there are some industrial songs from another album called "Steam Whistle ballads".
Most of the songs on this compilation are from Traditional source but there are some that are written by MacColl himself. And if you don't want to collect shelves of his albums then this compilation is a great cross section of his career during the folk song revival. It is an excellent and very interesting album indeed.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Before there was Dylan, Bragg or Thompson, there was MacColl
3 Sep 2002
Format:Audio CD
Here is MacColl unfettered by the sapiness of '60s folk music that sent the likes of Bob Dylan running for the dark side. Though you might not know it, MacColl had a huge influence on Dylan, Billy Bragg, not to mention more traditionally oriented artists like Richard Thompson, Mick Hanley, Andy M. Stewart and Dick Gaughin. Timeless stuff here, fetched from most of MacColl's recordings, making it a representative collection of the many themes of MacColl's career. You will find the best renditions of historical songs as well as radical, labor-politics influenced songs. Of the latter, "Dirty Old Town" is probably the best known.
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