Earlier in this thread there is a comment about Ewan McColl taking from the tradition and doing what he liked with it, like Cecil Sharp.(Wich is not illegal, by the way, it's free to all). Keen watchers of the programme will have noticed Peggy Seeger coming out with some very ancient McColl-think: I havent got a recording, so I cant quote her exist words, but qas I recall it she made much of the fact that(at that time, 50/60s) English traditional culture had dried up to such an extent that there was nobody left to pass on the true style to the youngsters.
   Now, you might think this is a statement that,even if true, the average folkie would avoid making publicly: you would expect her more to be praising and admiring such vestiges as could still be found. But you'd be wrong: this is the authentic bit of McColl's plan, preserved by Peggy Seeger lovingly down to the present day. What he was saying was simple: folk music is wonderful. But unfortunately, the poor old folk have forgotten how to do it properly. So I, Ewan McColl(plus a few youngsters who I have trained in the True Path) will Show the Poor Sods How to Do It. Which is why you got sounds and sights like McColl with that rather bizarre band doing his best at a Geordie accent for a bit of Hewing Ma Coal type "North East folksong". Sure the man was a genius, and the Radio Ballads were stunning, but some of his doings, sayings, and singings, were just laughable. And damagingly bullying to more sensitive souls.