I think Fred might have forgotten the two excellent DVDs released by RTÉ featuring selections from its long-standing 'Come West Along the Road' TV series which draw upon RTÉ's vast output and seemingly well-kept archives as well as programmes from Ulster TV and other broadcasters. Certainly, some of the extracts featured in the programmes and DVDs, especially those from news and topical programmes, may seem 'stilted' and many wear their age (in terms of production values), but RTÉ has so far only tapped the top of the iceberg and there's apparently much more to come.

In answer to Dick's point, in anybody's terms $18 is a hell of a lot to ask for a CD-R copied from usually poorly recorded original material (and some of Kennedy's tapes actually feature the clicks from scratches on the vinyl discs from which he transferred them), with shoddily reproduced liner notes [if Dick has improved these in his own editions then I take my hat off to him and withdraw the comment].

I understand that Dick's prices were influenced by the ridiculous licensing fees which Kennedy would demand (and, before anyone starts, I know this from personal experience) and fully appreciate his desire to get good music and singing out there. However, I am absolutely confident that Topic will do a far better job than Kennedy in terms of production values, packaging and, above all, honesty in representing the enduring virtues of the singers and musicians which he recorded.

Though I know that Tony's surname has often been assumed to be that of Marx's major collaborator, it's actually Engle.