With all due respect Mandotim, can I say i think you miss the point? I sincerely congratulate you for being useful and productive - my own life is neither at this point. MGM has confided to us (as his cyber friends) that his own life and circumstances are somewhat limited by age and infirmity.

This is a guy who has paid his dues many times over. At one time, he tells us he played piano in a night club for the late ruth ellis - how Anglo film noir is that. Presumably he could do 'lift' music if he wanted to. (Personally i have always dreamed of making into the lifts!)

now I wouldn't be caught dead singing an unaccompanied traditional song. And I had to leave Mudcat for a while - because I really do detest the direction the folk revival has taken. When I first noticed folk music in the 1950's - it was an exciting aristic movement like Rock and roll and Surrealism. It came at you through the radio - bands like the Kingston Trio and The Limeliters and Lonnie Donnegan really bit you on the bum - so different was it from the bland pop stuff.

To me, it lost its way when it lost its two geniuses (Dylan and donovan) at the start of the 70's and became a dreary curator and revitalizer of all the rubbish in Cecil sharp house. However , horses for courses. the traddy thing captured a lot of peoples imaginations and an awful lot of folk poured lifetimes of artistic effort into that vision. And artistic effort should always be respected.

What got me to leave and made things unbearable for me on Mudcat was a bloke called Folkiedave - who kept saying - name names - who are you criticising. And I am not criticising individuals - Ithink the whole movement took a wrong turn into a blind alley. But it doesn't mean I don't respect the people who have made that committment to trad music. I respect their effort. I like many of the people on a personal level.

You have criticised and disrespected a valued Mudcatter, and the music it has taken him a lifetime to create. His waspish, sharp as a tack witticisms are something that dozens of magazines have had to pay good money for, and now we get it for free. And we are privileged that its what he brings to the table.

Now, be nice to him.