The veiled attack on Bellowhead, and by extension any other contemporary folk expression is based on the potent revival myth of an ultimate performance, some backroom gold standard set in the early days of the observer's attention, be it the 50s or 90s and to which each subsequent performance necessarily falls short. A similar flexible measure obtains for trad singer. I'd suggest if Mike Yarwood ever finished his Saturday night mimetic extravaganza with a rendition of Tam Lin, replete with winks, leg kicks and the full supportive attentions of the Mick Samme's singers, he would indeed have become a folk singer

Talking of RVW I wonder whether his Fantasia on 'Why Fum'th in Fight?' is a form of folk process, rehabilitating a rousing hymn into an easy listening gem for aspirant media producers?