Don't overlook the fact that his parents were low-income working class (even if he himself didn't do very much work himself before his political activism, theatre and music).

I'm not a fan of his own songs either. My favourite MacColl recordings are:

Still I Love Him (1958) with Isla Cameron

Broadside Ballads, vols 1 and 2 (1962)

Two Way Trip (1961) with Peggy Seeger

and of course the Radio Ballads.