Hang on a minute of course Dick is going to defend singers he likes, weather they are dead or alive. How is that wrong?
McColl was as described above (very eloquently). If some of the traditional singers I have known over the years were to have witnessed him singing in a non existent Scots accent sitting back to front on his chair with his hand clamped over one ear, they would have thought he had serious mental problems. I have worked with and been taught by Traditional singers from the Gypsy community from the Southern counties and from Lancashire, and I never met one singer who did not know how to enjoy themselves when singing. It's supposed to be a pleasure, not a political platform, not a search for fame, not a springboard to 'better' things in show business, not about moneymaking and not about winning Grammy awards, not about getting MBE's, but making people laugh, cry, and empathise but above all sing Traditional songs in Traditional style, weather on a gig or in a sing around. Yes! Traditional songs in Traditional style, not a very popular mission statement nowadays, but it seems to be working for me. (and dare I say Dick)