"The trouble with that is that you have then abandoned all rules and the choice is purely subjective."
o I have not Bryan (sorry about previous mis-spelling)
We came into the revival back in the early sixties to a mixture of new songs and traditional songs - CND, political songs mainly - no conflict, no attempt to claim one was the other.
MacColl always argued that folk clubs might as well be museums if they didn't present newly composed songs using traditional forms - that's what we did, that's what we believed - nothing new, no opening doors to pop songs, just a recognised practice in most cubs.
The few clubs that banned new songs and instrumental accompaniment were generally singled out as being 'antiquarian'.
This is not what clowns like Al are arguing for (still no specific description Al - must accept that you believe that anything not sung by a horse is a folk song - how quaintly out-of-date).
He is not only abandoning any description to what goes on in his club (they were singled out as anything-goes clubs way back when), but he is claiming that whatever goes on in his club, or any club which terms themselves as 'folk' must be folk song - stupid or what?
Once again I must bow to Howard's skill with words - he puts it far more articulately than I do.
"I don't: I agree with Bert Lloyd"
Didn't think Bert supported the singing horse idea.
Somebody pointed out that the original statement, whoever said it, what a witty remark that got out of hand when it was taken seriously - am inclined to agree
Jim Carroll