At the Press Room we often get a table full of folks that come down to the end of the room where the session's being held so they can hear the music better while they talk & joke & carryy on very loudly. Well, just 2 nights ago I happen to be singing unaccompanied & this table started carrying on very loudly, I was singing only a few feet away, so I had to stand up to sing "over" them, they continued to carry on, they got so loud I did it, I stuck my finger in my ear, so I couldn't hear them, not so I could hear my self, there's a difference. It may be that many people sing with a finger in the ear rather than cupping the ear? If I had had enough fingers I would've stuck everyone at that table in the ears but alas if I had that many fingers I wouldn't be singing unaccompanied.

As to 97 verse ballads, I haven't heard one since the late 60's, I expect never to hear one again. But I could sing you two.

Barry