I know that Ewan MacColl recorded at least 2 versions of Barbara Allen (probably more). My favourite is on his LP of English trad. songs, 'The Manchester Angel'(Topic 12T147, 1966). MacColl states, in the sleeve notes, that "The version given here was learned from [the Dorset Gypsy]Caroline Hughes in 1964". This version is to a fine tune and has a fairly concise text.