2007 Ewan MacColl Bio - Class Act

Subject: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 04:33 AM

The publication of a new biography of Ewan MacColl has just been announced:

'Class Act: The Political and Cultural Life of Ewan MacColl' by Ben Harker (pub. Pluto Press). Publication is scheduled for 25th October 2007.

I can't wait to read it!

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Dreadnought
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 04:51 AM

That does look interesting.

Here's a bit more info from the University of Michigan Press website:

Ewan MacColl is one of the outstanding British singers and songwriters of the mid to late 20th century, and his work has been covered by artists including Roberta Flack, Johnny Cash and the Pogues. He was also a committed political activist. For sixty years he was at the cultural forefront of numerous political struggles, producing plays, songs and radio programs on subjects ranging from the Spanish Civil War to the Poll Tax. A founder-member of Theatre Workshop, MacColl as the famous company's resident dramatist, and his plays earned the admiration of contemporaries including George Bernard Shaw, Sean O'Casey and Hugh MacDiarmid. MacColl lived an energetic and colorful life.

This is the first biography of MacColl, and was prepared with the authorization of his collaborator and widow, Peggy Seeger. It charts MacColl's early years, his involvement in the Communist Party, in radical theatre, his pioneering radio programs, as well as his extensive work in the British folk-revival. Exhaustively researched and energetically written, this is an illuminating account of a major and controversial twentieth-century political artist.

Ben Harker is a lecturer in English and Sociology at the University of Salford.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST,MIKE
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 07:46 AM

WAIT FOR IT....................M

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 09:30 AM

Yes ....... 4 and counting

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: bubblyrat
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 09:50 AM

I only discovered yesterday that his real name was Jimmy Miller, as was mentioned elsewhere on this site. Is it really true ??

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 09:50 AM

what are you waiting for?

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 09:56 AM

I jut looked on Amazon - the hardcover version is £45.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 10:03 AM

He was initially an actor / playwright, actors sometimes have "actor names". John Wayne etc.

Oh yes warming up now

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: curmudgeon
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 10:14 AM

I just pre-ordered the paperback edition for $20.00 USD.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 12:20 PM

"I only discovered yesterday that his real name was Jimmy Miller, as was mentioned elsewhere on this site. Is it really true ??"

Yes. And it's also true that Bob Dylan's real name was Robert Zimmerman ... so what's your point?

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: greg stephens
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 01:57 PM

And John Wayne's was Marian Montgomery. Dian Dors on the other hand, was Felicity Fluck.Neither of those two wrote any songs worth speakinbg of about Joe Stalin.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 02:01 PM

Marian Montgomery the jazz singer...my god that woman could act, I never suspected for a moment. although he did walk funny - come to think of it.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Roberto
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 02:13 PM

Ewan MacColl: always many sharp comments on him. But if you consider his overall work you can't ignore the importance, and often the beauty, of it. The song in praise of Stalin: most intellectuals failed to do their duty in the age of totalitarianisms. But Ewan MacColl was not only the song to Stalin. R

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Folkiedave
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 03:00 PM

And Lois Maxwell (Jane Moneypenny of the Bond movies) who just passed away - was Lois Hooker. Now why did she change her name?

I will put forward my theory as to the name change which I always reckon he got wrong.

Many early twentieth Scottish writers took their (pen) names from earlier Scots poets, Christopher Grieve (Hugh Mc Diarmid) being the best known example. There never was a poet called Ewan MacColl - but there was one called Evan MacColl. I just wonder if he got it wrong.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 03:13 PM

I have changed my name to AX04 UJE
for obvious reasons

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 03:33 PM

Right! That's got all the tiresome (and oh so boringly predictable) stuff about MacColl's name out of the way. Can we now have a discussion about his achievments as a playwright, songwriter, ballad singer etc., etc.? Pretty please!!

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST,Jim Carroll
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 03:38 PM

Simros,
Wanna bet
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 03:43 PM

I heartily agree. Just for the record, I have been told that the hardback edition has been delayed until the end of October and the paperback will be issued at the end of February next year. I need to confirm these dates with Pluto. So if there's any change I'll report back.

In the meantime could people who feel like indulging in juvenalia, about Ewan MaColl's name, or any one else's, please confine their thoughts to another thread.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST,Jim Carroll
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 03:51 PM

Simros - did I type Simros - were's me pills, sorry Spindoc
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 04:15 PM

Ch-ch-ch-changes, turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-ch-changes, pretty soon now you're gonna get a little older.
Time may change me, But I can't trace time

(David 'Bowie' Jones)

What's in a name?
Look at the content.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: curmudgeon
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 04:18 PM

You were right, Jim.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Folkiedave
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 07:23 PM

Juvenalia? Trivia possibly. Of interest? - possibly to some.

Sorry Fred, I will make sure everything I write is well-researched and full of interesting content in future. Just like you do.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: curmudgeon
Date: 01 Oct 07 - 07:31 PM

The seller I ordered from still gives the release date as the end of October for the paperback. I hope I'm not paying five months in advance - Tom

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 03:46 AM

I had measureless respect for Ewan and Peggy, but I still want to buy it as cheap as possible.

I got the Bert Jansch book Dazzling stranger for about three quid on e-bay. I'd recommend that to anybody - a lot of chit chat about the early days of the great folk scare and all the personalities.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 04:16 AM

Dick of CAMSCO - got a price yet? I'm sure you'll sell dozens!

Jon Bartlett

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 05:31 AM

I've just rung Pluto Press, who tell me that the paperback and hardback editions are out now and can be ordered from their website at http://www.plutobooks.com/shtml/aboutpluto.shtml

Bibliographical/pricing info listed on the site is;

CLASS ACT. Ben Harker

Paperback. 9780745321653. £15.99. $24.95. €23.00
Hardback. 9780745321660. £55.00. $75.00. €80.00

I mentioned the fact that it is shown as not yet available on Amazon, and am told that delays of this kind are fairly normal normal with them.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Folkiedave
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 05:53 AM

Comes to £18.95 including postage - for the paperback.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 06:49 AM

It will be on Amazon before the weeks out, new and used.

eric

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 06:52 AM

Just looked, it already is.

eric

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Folkiedave
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 06:53 AM

Class Act: The Cultural and Political Life of Ewan MacColl         
        
Class Act: The Cultural and Political Life of Ewan MacColl by Ben Harker (Hardcover - 1 Aug 2007)
Buy new: £46.99    2 Used & new from £46.99
Usually dispatched within 4 to 6 weeks
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 08:57 AM

I'll wait for the paperback.

eric

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 10:52 AM

The only thing is, you're only allowed to read the bits about where you come from.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: greg stephens
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 11:20 AM

Nice one!

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 01:37 PM

Shimrod.
I think his most important contribution was his songwriting.Ihave never seen any of his play so cant comment on that.Dick Miles

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Greg B
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 02:07 PM

Do you have to read it with your finger in yer ear?

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 02:31 PM

No, please no, irony, sarcasm,wit, clever understatement yes?

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 02:32 PM

"I think his most important contribution was his songwriting.Ihave never seen any of his play so cant comment on that."

There is no doubt that MacColl was a great songwriter, Cap'n - no-one would dispute that. But, through his magnificent singing, he introduced me to the great ballad repertoire of these islands, and I am forever in his debt for that. He also made an LP called 'The Manchester Angel' which is my favourite recording of all time - and a wonderful 'showcase' of English traditional song.

Finally, nearly 40 years ago now, I attended one of the weekend singers' workshop sessions which he and Peggy Seeger used to run and that was a truly life-changing experience.

There are few artists who have had such a positive impact on my life as Ewan MacColl.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 02:49 PM

Ah,
But did you ever meet Robert Zimmerman?
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 04:42 PM

I think Maccoll was a better songwriter than Dylan.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: curmudgeon
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 04:59 PM

Discussing Ewan MacColl and Bob Dylan in the same thread is akin to contemplating Thomas Jefferson and George W. Bush at the same time.

When I recived for my 15th birthday the LP "Bad Lads and Hard Cases" my life changed. I had, from my earliest years, an interest in British folk song, but had been completely unaware of the reality of that music. And the fact that I was also given "English Street Song" by Lloyd assured the transition.

I am eagerly awaiting this new tome - Tom Hall

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 05:47 PM

"I think Maccoll was a better songwriter than Dylan."

I thought that there was no answer to that, Cap'n - but 'curmudgeon' proved me wrong!

"But did you ever meet Robert Zimmerman?"

As it happens, Jim, no. But then if I'd had a choice (which I didn't have - but let's just imagine) I'd have chosen to meet Ewan - worked out quite well, really, didn't it?

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 05:07 AM

Then there's Ronnie Hazelhurst - Ewan MacColl's name stood for absolutely nothing in the world of Blankety Blank, and indeed the whole world of popular quiz games themes.

Can you imagine Terry Wogan trying to get a bit of atmosphere going for the Supermatch Game to the Thirty Foot Trailer or Shoals of Herring?

The whole history of the world might have been different without Ronnie and the light hearted magic and gentle comedy of his work.
Blanketty blank!
need I say more...?

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 06:43 AM

WLD - was your last post intended to be read as irony or sarcasm?

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Folkiedave
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 07:01 AM

Probably not really intended to be read.

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 10:13 AM

well seriously, does it matter who could piss furthest up the wall: Ewan, Bobby, or Ronnie?

The post was intended as a biting satire on the naive empiricism that attempts to quantify and compare the merits of two great songwriters.

Okay?

Subject: RE: Folklore: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 10:26 AM

I couldn't agree more, enough of this - I ask friends to refer to the earlier thread concerning the nature of Ewan's trousers. Search on Ewan McColl's Trousers or there abouts.The sooner we get to the bottom of this issue the better!

I am yours fraternally

Les, but sometimes moor

Subject: RE: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 12:03 AM

It's odd to see this described as the first biography of MacColl - doesn't his autobiography count?

Subject: RE: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 03:53 AM

well as one of his boyhood friends remarked in the tv documentaries about him wasn't totally to be trusted with the facts. In particular the friend said that EM had told a previous documentary maker that as a boy he had roamed around Manchester with a head ful of lyrical thoughts about Engels. the friend said this was in fact rubbish.

one of the main problems of the revival is that we haven't attracted critics of any great note. Literature had Leavis, Tillyard and Wilson Knight - we had Karl Dallas and Colin Irwin. Both nice guys apparently - but neither of them inclined to challenge whatever load of balls singers were talking that week - at least not in print.

Its okay, but there is no account - and it becomes very difficult in retrospect to understand just how some of these unique talents did develop.

Subject: RE: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 07:22 AM

If you are talking about Eddie Frow, he went on to say that in general Ewan MacColl was accurate but in the particular [ ie detail ] inaccurate.

eric

Subject: RE: New Ewan MacColl Biography
From: GUEST,Jim Carroll
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 07:31 AM

Eric and WD40,
The friend was not Eddie Frow, but a young Jewish man whose name escapes me, but can be found on the obituary film (Ballad of Ewan MacColl).
Eddie however did tell me that he remembered MacColl's father as a fine singer - a claim which is often challenged.
Both Eddie and Ruth had/have an enormous respect and a pride in Ewan as "a Salford lad who never gave up the fight".
Jim Carroll