Scrump,
I agree entirely - if I listen to a traditional song I want to hear the singer's interpretation of it, not their source's - be they Harry Cox, Martin Carthy or Kiri Te Kanewa.
While I believe that it is possible to learn from most singers (in some cases how not to sing) everbody should develop their own styles and interpretations otherwise you may as well go out and buy the record of the source singer and listen to it at home.
My remarks to the girl - it wasn't really unkind to point out that Harry Cox also sang Barley Straw; the conversation did develop further and we all went down to the bar and drank to the eternal damnation of Thatcher - so it wasn't too bad an evening after all.
Cap'n learning/socialising - of course you make time for both, but you try to make sure one doesn't interfere with the other. Don't you find it very irritating when some bloody singer keeps interrupting your chat with a song - though I have been in clubs where some audiences don't let trifles like that get in the way of the talk and just plough on with the talk .
There is a theory that learning something new, far from being dull, is actually fun!
Jim Carroll