Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]

Subject: Folklore: Ewan MacColl
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 05:13 AM

From Wiki:

James Henry Miller (25 January 1915 – 22 October 1989), better known by his stage name Ewan MacColl, was a British folk singer, songwriter, communist, labour activist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was thrice married: to theatre director Joan Littlewood, to Jean Newlove, with whom he had two children, and to American folksinger Peggy Seeger, by whom he had three children, Kitty, Calum and Niall. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music. He was also the father of singer/songwriter Kirsty MacColl, from his second marriage.

A year next January will be the centenary of his birth. Is it time for a reassesment of his contribution to whatever 'folk song' is or has become?

How will his life be celebrated?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ewan MacColl
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 05:53 AM

This is pointless Les, it will just bring out the MacColl bashers as usual.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ewan MacColl
From: Vic Smith
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 06:00 AM

Agreed, Dave.
I really would have thought that this subject has been worked to death on Mudcat with the usual suspects arguing from entrenched positions.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ewan MacColl
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 06:10 AM

Hang on Les. We're talking about something which is almost 18 months away. If someone's planning a festival or big memorial concert, or maybe a CD retrospective then they probably need to think that far ahead. The rest of us can treat it as a bridge to be considered when it hoves in sight.

Between then and now I shall continue to honour MacColl's memory by singing political songs wherever and whenever the opportunity presents itself, and by engaging in the political struggle in any way that I can.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ewan MacColl
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 06:20 AM

I can't google up any proposals for a commemoration in Salford, and there ought to be one. Anybody local know of anything?

Maybe a thread title change to "Ewan MacColl centenary" might help.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ewan MacColl
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 06:49 AM

Their are many critics of MacColl - and some of them are his greatest followers - no problem with that.

I know that people will join in and say all the crits that have been posted a thousand times, but for those who will want to 'celebrate' - not sure that is the right word - it's must be worth giving it some thought

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ewan MacColl
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 07:09 AM

Celebrate is perfectly acceptable. Amongst other things it means to honour.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ewan MacColl
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 08:47 AM

I think he was a very good song writer, and a good singer.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Ewan MacColl
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 09:07 AM

Did he 'event' the folk club - or was he just around when it happened?

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 10:09 AM

I've never come across the word event used as a verb, so I don't understand the question. If you can clarify the meaning I'll see whether I can answer the question.

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 10:40 AM

Sorry Fred, sloppy typo

Did he 'invent' the folk club - or was he just around when it happened?

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 11:03 AM

Right then. I am going to organise a 100 Years of Ewan MacColl Night in London in 2015.

Ideally at the Princess Louise pub. Maybe by then Samuel Smith breweries will have stopped their penny-pinching ban on music in their pubs. (And the Princess Louise is a truly beautiful pub, loverly Victorian tiles, would be a perfect music venue...)

All performers will be asked, although not required, to perform seated on a chair positioned back-to-front, with finger in ear and ideally sporting a pair of Wayfarer sunglasses.

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 11:14 AM

Invent. Event. What the heck. Not exactly. The idea of the folk club seems to have been born in New York as part of the folk revival which was beginning to burgeon in the 1930s.

I don't off the top of my head remember even whether the Ballads and Blues was the first folk club in Britain. In fact I've a feeling the Topic in Bradford predated it, but doubtless there's someone out there who knows.

In any event, the idea of starting a folk club in London didn't originate solely with MacColl. Lloyd and Lomax were both involved and probably a few other characters who were around then.

Matt. Great idea, organising a centenary weekend, that is. Personally, I've never sung back to front, don't own a pair of Wayfarer specs and gave up the hand over the ear business a long time ago. With those reservations, do please put me down for a ticket.

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 11:59 AM

The finger was not in the ear. The hand was cupped over the ear.

This dire solecism should feature in one of those lists of popular misconceptions that people are always publishing...

~M~

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 12:06 PM

True enough M, I am glad you have shot it down early on - let's hope so anyway

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 01:42 PM

I always think of Ewan as one of my greatest formative influences. I recall, on a couple of occasions, getting the chance to go down to the Singers' Club and hear Ewan sing ballads. On another occasion I attended a MacColl & Seeger singers' workshop - a complete revelation!

For the centenary, I hope that there'll be a re-evaluation of the great man's work - preferably as free as possible from all the callow sniping! One thing that I'd like to see is some sort of re-issue and re-evaluation of the ballad set, 'The Long Harvest' - in my opinion, one of the MacColl & Seeger team's greatest achievements (I've got all the records - but, sadly, nothing to play them on!).

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 03:58 PM

The Long Harvest, Blood & Roses, The Paper Stage, and Freeborn Man have all been re-issued as CDs and are available from CAMSCO Music. You can order from [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 04:15 PM

Shimrod ~~ I had nothing to play mine on for a long time: but just a couple of years ago I found they had started manufacturing 33/45 players again. I found one in Ken Stevens in Cambridge. Have you looked for one lately, or tried online?

~M~

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 07:31 PM

Les, personally I think a centenary commemoration and celebration in Salford and Manchester of Ewan MacColl/Jimmie Miller in 2015 is an excellent idea. If you and Shimrod and Fred want to start the ball rolling I'm happy to come on board.

The late Terry Whelan used to organise some very enjoyable and interesting memorial events, and it might be possible to build on some of his achievements. Obviously the most important person to discuss plans with is Peggy, who quite possibly is already thinking on these lines.

Following Ben Harker's biography 'Class Act' I think it is certainly a good time to examine what MacColl achieved, as well as what he didn't achieve. So although a celebration is appropriate I think you'd have to include some critical responses too.

Given that he is still capable of stirring up controversy I'd expect that some people would refuse to attend any celebration of his life, while others would happily do their best to disrupt it. Some people might not come if certain others are invited, while others might not participate if some topics are to be discussed (such as his wartime record).

It would be worth approaching the Working Class Memorial Library and the People's History Museum for support, but I wonder about approaching the BBC too. Given that Archie Harding at BBC Northern Region was one of the first to give Jimmie Miller an opportunity, now that the BBC has "returned" to Salford they might consider a look back at his radio career as part of their own history.

These are just some thoughts, but I agree with Fred that MacColl is someone worth celebrating, not just for his songs and his politics but also for his theatre and radio work and for his championing of the travelling community.

Matthew

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: GUEST,philippa
Date: 23 Jul 13 - 07:42 PM

he wrote many memorable songs and produced radio ballads at a time when voice of the people was rare on bbc I read that they used to interview prople and then get actors to read the lines with bbc accent

like matthew, i am aware of the criticism of maccoll but think his achievements over-ride his faults, and commemoration is deserved

i have a few naccoll songs - not his best known ones - i often sing in singing circles

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jul 13 - 02:54 AM

Which songs would they be?

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Jul 13 - 03:39 AM

He wrote one or two mystery guest. Here are those that begin with A:

'A' is for Aden, where we've got a base (Politician's Alphabet) [1965] © 1968
A' the week your man's awa' (Fisherman's Wife) [1959] [39] [44] © 1963
After the Fight see 'The Battle Is Done With' [1963] [21] [24] [51] © 1968
After the Weekend It's Monday [1966] © 1968
Ahmed Timol and Matthew Mabelone (Great Conspiracy, The) [1986] [27] [49] © 1968
All On The American Shore [1954] © 1994
All the Week see "Fisherman's Wife" [1959] [39] [44] © 1963
Alone [1962] [34][51] © 1968
And now the job is ended and the road is all complete (Road Is Done, The) [1958] [45A] © 1994
Androids, The [1980] [27] © 1980
Angel Lane see "Down the Lane" [1966] [24] © 1968
Angela Davis see "Love for Love" [1977] [5] [19] © 1971
As I was a-walking down by (Lament for the Death of a Nobody) [1968] [45] [26] © 1994
As I went out through Camden Town, up came a Murphy truck (Indeed I Would) [1966] © 1968
At Ascot they're wearing grey toppers (Tatty Underpants) [1970] © 1994


Songs of Ewan MacColl

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Felipa
Date: 24 Jul 13 - 04:31 AM

guest was asking me which songs are in my performance repetoire i think. Les
go down you murderers go down, lags song, ballad of the carpenter
is what comes to mind now
i sing freeborn man but that's fairly well known

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Jul 13 - 04:47 AM

Oh, sorry didn't see that

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 06:28 AM

I guess in the spirit of the 50s/60s/70s Revival small-ish collections of people singing folk songs and songs written by Ewan & Peggy would be appropriate.

The EFDSS / CSH could easily mount something a bit bigger. How about some of the Festivals staging something? Shrewsbury has staged major events around Cecil Sharp and Charles Darwin - how about something along those lines?

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: sciencegeek
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 08:41 AM

Many of us in the states had to rely on records to hear any kind of traditional/folk music and MacColl recorded great songs. In the documentary Grateful Dawg, Jerry Garcia told of the two albums that influenced him... Blow Boys Blow & Leviathan... wow.. mine too who'd have thunk it

Manchester Angel is finally on CD, possibly because a few of us made a point of mentioning to Peggy Seeger at a small, local folk festival that this oversight desperately needed fixing.   ;)

Can't make it across the pond any time soon, but maybe we can get something going over here.

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 10:04 AM

Well, what a great idea -

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Gazza2
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 02:19 PM

I think that there's a folk club in The Star Inn in Salford. Perhaps they could be approached to celebrate the local boy?

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Barb'ry
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 04:29 PM

I'd be interested in being involved in a Manchester/Salford celebration. I took part in the Terry Whelan ones Matthew mentioned above Keep me informed.

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 04:33 PM

" I took part in the Terry Whelan ones Matthew mentioned above Keep me informed."
Likewise - we gave talks at two of them - would appreciate being kept informed too.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 05:23 PM

Hi Jim, I well remember the talks you and Pat gave on Walter Pardon and about your own collecting from the Irish Traveller community in London. It was inspiring to listen to such in-depth explorations of song traditions.

At the moment there don't seem to be any definite plans for what form a commemoration might take, but Les's post has obviously stirred some interest upon which something worthwhile could be built.

Matthew

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 07:26 PM

Peggy Seeger's The Essential Ewan MacColl Songbook is also back in print, in a revised edition from CAMSCO. It contains, in addition to
the words and music of virtually all of MacColl's songs, notes and information on MacColl and his songs that make it, IMO, the best biography of the man that I've ever read.

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Leadfingers
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 07:32 PM

I would be prepared to offer my services as a performer for any event celebrating his life and services to Folk Music .

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 07:33 PM

I wish they wouldn't keep doing this - it makes me feel really old.

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Jul 13 - 03:52 AM

Well Al, let's just celebrate the fact that although we are old - we are actually still around?

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Sep 13 - 04:52 AM

Ok Folks, One year in January the Centenary Year of Ewan begins.

It seems appropriate that we should celebrate his life by singing songs, as he and Peggy and thousands of others did, by singing songs in small places.

I am searching round for a model - no Central Committees, no commercial marketing strategies. Just people who recognise his contribution to whatever it is we still do with old songs and tunes - by singing some of his songs, some he collected and some he simply sang quite well. Oh and any other songs we sing because we like them.

Oxjam have an interesting model, or did have, Oxfam declared an Oxjam Week (?) then asked musicians to organise something to raise money of Oxfam. A website was provided and signing up gave you a space to promote your event.

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 04:16 AM

Maybe some Festivals would be interested in putting EMc event on?

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 07:19 AM

We have a large amount of material gathered on Ewan's work in the shape of recordings of lectures, seminars, workshops... along with articles and unpublished material we have long wished to be made public.
As a gesture towards his centenary we have thought of attempting to have the Ewan MacColl Archive in Salford expanded with ours and other such material and made accessible - this would of course require the agreement and co-operation of the Working Class Library and the assistance of some of those nearer home than we are - some feelers have already been put out we understand.
When Irish piper Willie Clancy died, the local people in his home in West Clare set up an annual summer school to his memory - the fact that this has nowbeen in existence for over 40 years has had a major influence in the much improved fortunes of Irish traditional music throughout the country.
Would welcome any thoughts or suggestions.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 09:03 AM

Sounds very ambitious but no more than he deserves.

Any more ideas?

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 02:51 PM

"Sounds very ambitious but no more than he deserves."
Not sure Les.
There is already a small archive in The Salford Library; we would be more than happy to add ours - mostly digitised and indexed and I have little doubt that Peggy would give her blessing, which would probably give access to the Ruskin College material.
There is far more goodwill than is immediately obvious from some of the responses on forums such as these.
It would be great to find somebody who would help co-ordinate such a project
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: GUEST,concerendly formerly known as concerened
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 01:38 PM

Ewan Macoll(Jimmy Miller)(L.H.R.I.P)

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 03:49 AM

Thanks Guest and thanks again Jim. What kind of skills would be needed by someone doing the kind achive work you have suggested?

Les

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: GUEST,Iain
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 05:11 AM

If Cecil Sharpe is regarded as the founder of the english folk scene, it cannot be denied that Ewan Macoll did a huge amount to bring it to a wider audience and also wrote many songs in the folk idiom.
   For that reason alone a centenary celebration is worthy of support.
Other aspects of his life do not sit easily with some, but this is a celebration of his achievements for folk music and should be treated accordingly.

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 05:20 AM

Couldn't agree more Ian. Ticky customer all round with a dodgy past but he really did do such a lot in the second revival.

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 05:35 AM

"What kind of skills would be needed by someone doing the kind archive work you have suggested?"
I'm sure the library in Salford, Ruskin, The Charles Parker Archive, the VWML, the BL and others would be ready with advice on this.
We have little training but most of our stuff is listed and catergorised.
We have a massive archive of material which we hope one day to make fully available - Ewan's stuff is a small part and would be a start
We've found that once you start a project like this it tends to 'find its own feet' so to speak.
The initial job is to gather, list, if not already done, and caterogorise
Whoever takes on such a job would have to start with what is already in Salford and fit in with what they already have.
We'd be more than happy to help and there are others who I'm sure would be prepared to do the same.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Ewan MacColl [2015 Centenary]
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 06:50 AM

Of course, the very first thing would be to establish that the Salford Working Class Library would be prepared to facilitate the material and what facilities they would offer in the shape of storage and access
Jim Carroll