Forgive me if this has been discussed before! I've included a link to some Youtube footage of a famous - in the UK - 50s pop/rock tv show "Oh Boy". In this particular episode UK pop singer Mike Preston sings "Dirty Old Town" ( it starts at about 2mins in the clip). This was also Preston's first single and it was produced by the "legendary"
British record producer Joe Meek. I assume this must be one of the earliest recordings of this song. Listen that heavenly choir! - and I notice - even back then - how the lyrics stray from Ewan's original at various points.

Dirty Old Town 1959