You do want to turn this thread into such a discussion...

Well, into a discussion anyway - just responding to something MtheGM said, who was responding to something I said, and so these things go on... Process, you see.

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Otherwise, at this distance from such processes in respect of The Ballad Tradition, can we approach them with pure heart & soul - much as we might EastEnders (which is more soap ballad than soap opera)? And to what extent does heart & soul inspire our academic passions anyway? And vice-versa? Whatever, I reckon Brian had the balance about right at his show at the Fylde last year - invigorating the audience with his authority in both respects.