I remember hearing a story about Francis McPeake, who wrote 'Will ye go lassie go'. Joan Baez recorded it, and every year after that he got a royalty cheque. Then one year the cheques stopped. When he queried this, he was told that someone had found an old recording of the McPeakes sinigin the song, which was credited to 'Trad', so - no royalties. (At least they didn't ask for their money back!) He had to explain that he wrote it at a time when it wasn't fashionable to write your own folk songs.

Dave Campbell(Ian Campbell's father) had a similar tale. Alex Campbell (no relation!) heard him sing 'The Dark' and asked him for the words. After Alex recorded the song, Dave got a cheque every year. He said he always meant to tell Alex it was a Trad song and he hadn't actually written it himself, but could never seem to get around to it!

Then there was Al Jolson, who claimed that his performance was just as much a part of the creative process as writing and composing: he always insisted on being included in the credits (and the royalties!). Sounds suspiciously like the folk process to me ...

Steve (just the once)