"So what is it's relevance to this thread?"
I'm doing this seperately so it doesn't get buried in the above ramblings.
I was never a big fan of Campbell as a singer - that's about it as far as that side of things go.
I was somewhat taken aback when I heard him taking up time in a discussion on the future of the revival by complaining about young singers being paid the same fees as he was (dating the remarks, this would have included new singers such as Carthy and The Watersons) - not directly relevant to this.
I am fully aware of Campbell's generosity towards Peggy - it was me who pointed it out in my quote from 'Class Act'
The only real gripe I have with Alex Campbell's attitude,which I believe touches on every discussion about MacColl, was his persistant "near enough for folk" comment which I heard every time I saw him perform in public.
Even here, I'm prepared to accept, as has been argued, that it was a joke, but it is a philosophy which I believe has been taken seriously by others and has come to dominate certain sections of the revival to its detriment - open up threads such as "Are standards necessary" if you dispute this.
I have no strong opinions of Campbell one way or the other beyond this influence, which runs totally counter to my own feelings on the singing of folk songs.
Jim Carroll