Great to see this thread. I have a number of the original field recordings released by Caedmon, which my father bought as a grad student in the late 50s(?)/early 60's(?). Listening to them as a young teen was what got me started with the ballad tradition. The procedure was to pick a ballad, record a verse or three of a version, or in some cases several versions by different singers, usually an Irish a Scots and an English or Welsh version. Many of the well-known singers were featured (Jeannie Robertson for instance), but also some of the more obscure singers.

It's worth going to one of the better music libraries at a University with a good folklore department, and listening to, or better yet,recording directly from, the old first issues if you can. (Is it infringement of copyright if you are using the material for scholarly purposes?-- I guess one of those other companies holds it now?-- and if you're copying the old recordings is it the same?) Most of them have intact liner notes, and of course the library should have collections of Child.in the stacks so you can go look up more info.

Good hunting!