"As for 'intimacy with area', you can't get much more intimate than with one's own family."
Sorry – haven't got a clue what this has to do with who made the songs, which is the subject here.
Not talking about our intimacy with area, but that of the composer.
"I could just as easily turn this back on you".
No you can't Steve, I challenge your claims by reason of their lack of logic – you choose not to answer those challenges other than to dismiss them out of hand; I have never at any time done that.
Thumbing through Child last night to find how many of his first texts were broadsides (as I said, very few) I noticed how many examples of Peter Buchan's he used. Inspired by this, I re-read what Hunsvedt wrote about Child's attitude, and was surprised at exactly what he said about the controversy – I suggest you read it.
In the past you have made ridiculously definitive statements on Buchan which you cannot possibly verify – could it be that accounts of the findings of this 'collector', packman, Blind Jamie Rankin, undermines your theory of 'broadside origins' I wonder?
" I only attack daft romantic theories without any substance. "
Don't know whose, in particular you were referring to here, but it has been a running theme of yours throughout all our arguments, here and elsewhere and specifically aimed at me.
Want me to dig out your "do you honestly believe that guff" – paraphrased again I'm afraid.
"Surely both methods have their pluses."
Not taken individually they don't – I wouldn't dream of discussing folk song transmission without taking into consideration the effect of broadsides, yet by attributing 90+% of or songs to broadside hacks you all but exclude them as having been based on personal experience by the communities from which the singers came – utter nonsense.
" We would have lost a great deal of songs recorded by the likes of Sharp had they stopped to record "the life histories of every singer they came across. "
I am in no way attempting to blame the collectors – simply stating why we know so little.
"Despite that at least 2 singers we visited on numerous occasions and recorded their life histories along with the sources of their songs and what they thought about them."
Then use this information in your arguments – I have, including that recorded from a sogsheet seller.
But this in no way alters the state of the tradition in Britain when you/we were recording.
Walter Pardon was exceptional as he gave us his own memories as a singer (he didn't sing until he was found by the revival), but also that of his Uncle Billy, his main source, who also gave him information from his forbears – three generations of information.
Walter said he knew nothing of broadsides until he read about them in Folk Review, he certainly never saw one.
"Not my decision."
Not trying to lay blame – just pointing to the facts.
"reverted back to being serious songs".
This is no evidence that they ever abandoned the form they "reverted back to" – you seem very fond of dealing in either/ors - why can't Jeannie Robertson's approach have always existed alongside Sam Cowell's?
"I have not seen anything of his that even pretends to know anything about the 'country' songs themselves"
It really doesn't take a PHD in folksong to know that these were generally referred to as "country songs" – Walton was doing it in the 17th century, and he spent a great deal of time in the country, including in the company of country singers.
He did know a lot about the hacks who made them and the social history behind the town songs. (See his 'Life and Times of James Catnach')
Have got 'Life and Times of James Catnach' in front of me, he may have known a lot about hack, but he hardly ever mentions them; not here anyway.
"Gummere was he was trying to convince people that even ballads were composed in this way"
Not advocating for Gummere's theory – just emphasising the dangers of throwing the baby out with the bathwater and – in your case – making definitive statements.
"I'd say my CD collection is about 80% traditional singers"
From a moribund, if not long dead tradition that now has very little to offer other than name, rank and serial number.
Jim Carroll.