"Argument isn't browbeating, it's the exchange of ideas."

Exactly right. When someone is made to feel that their opinion is unwanted or invalid, then we have roadblocks that quickly block others from enjoying the prize.

Perhaps things are different in the U.S., but if "thousands" of people stopped going to clubs for the simple reason that they weren't offering the music these folks were interested in - someone would have come along and opened a venue that caters to this audience. On the other hand, if it only caters to a small minority - why bother?

In the U.S., our interest in folk music was not tied as closely to the clubs which is perhaps there seems to be less of a perceived threat. Traditional music was always more of an "underground" taste.

It seems the media and commercial interests are easy targets to blame, but I happen to feel that people have more sense than they are given credit for. Just as YOU discovered music that spoke to you through the clubs in YOUR day, people today discover their own style.   In effect, the clubs were taking traditional music out of a natural environment and having the songs "covered" by other individuals. While the style of music has changed, it seems that the "tradition" of going to a club to hear and make music has simply evolved with the time.

Jim, if I am not mistaken I am sure you are the same Jim Carroll who was responsible for collecting so many wonderful songs and source singers in Ireland and Great Britain. I am very grateful for the work you did (and probably still do) and I have played some of the recordings that you made that were commercially released.   I am curious about something, and I am not asking this to stir up an disagreement - this is a sincere question that I am about to ask.

The songs you collected from Walter Pardon were, I believe, learned largely from an oral tranmission from his uncle. My understanding is that Pardon's songs were not being sung elsewhere and he sang a number of Music Hall songs. I understand that he also knew the difference between true traditional folk songs and these oher styles. My question is, if you recorded Walter singing both styles, what would you label the record as?