David Atkinson: 'The English Traditional Ballad'

MacColl & Seeger's 'Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland' is a song book really, but has a lot of interesting information about the singers and their communities. As does Frank & Anne Warner's 'Traditional American Folk Songs'.

Surely someone must have mentioned Joe Boyd's 'White Bicycles'? But I don't see it on on your list, Les.

And can I add to the chorus of acclamation for Carson's 'Last Night's Fun'. Informative, funny, gets under the skin of musical culture like few others.