Picking up another point in this discussion: some web sites do refer to MacColl as the 'founder' of the folk revival, and I don't think this is true. First, it downplays the role of Peggy, who I think was vital, and secondly, as Hootenanny suggests, there were other aspects of it. Some aspects of it were less political than others. At least some of the political aspect may have come from the states (via Blues, Lomax etc).

Speaking personally, I remember Hall and MacGregor being on TV (The White Heather Club?) when I was a kid. Until a couple of years ago, more or less all I could have told you about MacColl was that he wrote The Manchester Rambler (which you still hear sung) and Dirty Old Town (which I play, badly of course, and in a rather Poguesish manner). I didn't even know Joan Littlewood had been married to him.

Just giving my views, happy to be corrected if wrong.