In the 50's & 60's the BBC put out a ground-breaking series of programs called the Radio Ballads, written by Ewan MacColl and directed by Charles Parker. These were a sort of documentary, supported by trad and ad-hoc songs performed by the MacColls, Bert Lloyd, and other greats. They were original in that, for the first time, the 'actuality' - the voices of real people being interviewed, instead of actors reading from a script - was broadcast. Songs from the series have now passed into the Tradition, even gaining extra verses in the good old manner.

They include 'I'm a freeborn man', 'With our nets and gear we're faring', 'I am an old-timer, I travel the road', and tons more too numerous to mention. They were issued on vinyl, but I don't think they're still available. If anyone has any of them and would like to spread them around a wider audience, or wants to pester the Beeb to re-release them, I for one would be very pleased, and all you folks who haven't had the pleasure will be too.

Over to you!

Steve