This thread no longer does exactly what is says on the tin (if it ever really did).
After a token nod towards field singers, it now seems to have settled comfortably into the 'Fair play for folkies' mode.
I Have to say that whenever the subject of Bulmer comes up I have to ask myself a number of questions:
1.        How much sleep do I lose by no longer being able to purchase albums of Bill Leader's revival singers? - Answer; as I didn't buy them first time round, very little really.
2.        Do I believe that by releasing them, the revival will be nudged back on course? - Answer; as I tend towards the school of thought that suggests that it was the idiosyncratic, hiccoughy, over-accompanied style of singing that Bill seemed to favour which nudged it off course in the first place, no I don't. (Light blue touch paper and retire rapidly)!
3.        Do I believe that the re-issuing of the Walter Pardon, John Maguire, George Dunne, Cecilia Costello, Charlie Wills and Lincolnshire albums et al will help the present revival come to terms with the tradition? – Answer; would it were that simple.
I have come to the conclusion, particularly after participating in a number of these threads, that most singers today share the Cap'n's somewhat Philistine (as I understand it) preference of revival singers over traditional ones, to which I can only respond 'chacun son goút'. It seems to me that if we haven't learned anything from our older singers, then we've learned nothing and have lost out on a golden opportunity. I can't help but notice that nobody has responded to my question 'is there a queue out there clamouring to get their hands on some of those wonderful records'. I still have all the vinyl versions and wouldn't part with them for all of Michael Flatley's money.                                                I have no idea why Dave Bulmer is behaving as he is towards the Leader albums. Perhaps he is the shit many people seem to believe he is. Perhaps he is a shrewd businessman who thinks that if he hangs onto them long enough, they will come back into fashion. Whatever his reasons, I am certain of one thing; if he isn't open to reason and logic, and if he isn't worried by threats of law suits and blacklists, all the abuse and slagging-off he gets of threads like this isn't going to change his mind.

If anybody wishes to send me a letter-bomb I'll be in Bon Secour Hospital for a couple of days having another piece cut off my face.
Blessums Possums.
Jim Carroll