" ... you could go into any club in Britain and find Carthy copiers, Waterson wailers, Rose remakes and Bellamy bleaters..... and Killen sinuses."

And you still can, Jim! I've lost count of the times I've heard poor copies of leading revival singers or people who say things like, "this is X by Steeleye Span" - and then sing a traditional song that Steeleye Span happen to have recorded.

I also agree that MacColl was a remarkably versatile singer whose song interpretation was matchless. One of the first folk LPs I ever bought was 'A Sailor's Alphabet' by MacColl and Lloyd (I think that was the title - because I can't seem to find it at the moment). On that album, MacColl sang 'The Leaving of Liverpool'. Up to that time I had only heard that particular song belted out by The Spinners (and their inevitable imitators). Suddenly, in MacColl's interpretation, the song made sense - it's about a world-weary sailor who is not welcoming the prospect of going to sea again - but has no choice. MacColl brought that degree of authenticity and insight to all of his song interpretations.