Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All

Subject: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: GUEST,tic
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 12:44 AM

I am trying to locate a recording of Ewan MacColl's "Bless 'Em All and other British Soldiers' Songs". The very badly damaged LP I have is on Riverside Records (USA). Any clues?

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: IanC
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 04:50 AM

You might PM Dick Greenhaus and ask him if he can track you down a copy. There were, by the way, 2 Topic LPs he recorded that song on (both soldiers' ballads)

12T130 Bundook Ballads
10T26 Barrack Room Ballads

At least one of these was, I think also re-recorded in the Riverside label in the USA.

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: CET
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 10:08 PM

Apparently it has never been re-released, which puzzles me. There is a definite, if small, market for folk music, and some other fine older folk LPs have been released on CD, including several of Ewan MacColl's.

Any theories on why Bless 'em All hasn't been so fortunate, or if there is any way to make it happen?

Edmund

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: Abby Sale
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 11:24 PM

The three records are somewhat different. The Riverside was reissued (with most of Riverside's records) on Washington as WLP 711 "British Army Songs." There are a number of LP resale websites. You might get lucky.

On the other hand, quite a few have been reissued on CD. Maybe they just haven't gotten around to these yet. John Ross keeps as up to date as one can... see http://www.well.com/user/johnross/discographies/ewanmaccoll.htm

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: theballadeer
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 09:26 AM

Hello,

Does anyone have any more information on either the Riverside or Washington LPs. I'd like to know the track lists and what (if any other) musicians play on these. I am trying to find out if these are re-releases of the above mentioned Barrack Room Ballads and Bundook Ballads. In particular if Jimmie Macgregor plays on these albums, as I am trying update the Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor discography on my website...

Thanks for any help,
Nick

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 09:36 AM

I have a cassette reissue of Bundook Ballads which was put out as a fundraiser (undated) for Ex-Services CND. Accompanists are listed as 'John Cole, Jimmy MacGregor, Peggy Seeger'. Track listing is as given in the Topic Records discography at the Musical Traditions website:

http://www.mustrad.org.uk/discos/dis_txt1.htm

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: theballadeer
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 09:49 AM

Thanks for the quick reply. I have the info on Barrack Room Ballads and Bundook Ballads. I am looking for information on:

Bless 'Em All and other British Army Songs
Riverside RLP 12-642

British Army Songs
Washington WLP 711

Nick

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: johnross
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 05:11 PM

Heere's the track list from Washington WLP 711, "British Army Songs":

Side 1
1. Bless 'Em All
2. Tell Me Boys Have You Any Complaints
3. The Dying Soldier
4. The Ballad of Wadi Maktilla
5. The Trooper Cut Down in His Prime
6. Hand Me Down My Pettycoat
7. All You Maidens Sweet and Kind
8. Columbo
9. Seven Years In the Sand

Side 2
1. Join the British Army
2. When This Ruddy War is Over
3. The Second Front Song
4. Browned Off
5. McKaffery
6. The Fortress Song
7. The D Day Dodgers
8. On the Move
9. The Ghost Army of Korea

I'd have to do more digging to confirm that Riverside 12-642 is identical, but in general the Washington reisssues had the same tracks and liner notes as the original Riversides.

The tracks on the Topic LPs are not quite the same -- Both Topic albums included "Farewell to Sicily" but neither contains "All You Maidens," "Columbo," "McKaffery," or "D Day Dodgers." However, it's likely that recordings from the same sessions were used for both.

Backup musicians were Peggy Seeger, guitar and banjo; Jimmie Macgregor, guitar; and Johhny Cole, harmonica.

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: theballadeer
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 05:37 PM

Thank you John Ross!!!!

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: Joe_F
Date: 07 Nov 08 - 08:33 PM

I have a tape of WLP711, made for me by the estimable Abby Sale in 1994. He noted "Presumably a reissue of Bless 'Em All Riverside 12-642". I can duplicate it for you if you like.

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 03:41 AM

Joe F
Will happily swap anything we have of MacColl (private recordings or otherwise - or anybody else) from our extensive collection, for a copy of WLP711, and will willingly throw in my right arm if you have a copy of the e.p. of Alan Lomax and The Ramblers, including MacColl, Seeger and Shirley Collins.
If this is an inconvenience or an impertinence - please ignore it.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: Joe_F
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 09:08 PM

Jim Carroll: I probably have most of MacColl by now, but tapes are cheap, so you may as well await the opportunity (according to R. A. Heinlein's advice) to pay it forward instead of back. Send your snailmail address to me at [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: GUEST,petcoo
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 10:09 PM

I have a copy of "Bless 'Em All" I am Willing to sell.

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 08:29 AM

What condition - how much - where are you?
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 08:15 PM

Jim Carroll re Ewan MacColl Bless 'Em All for sale.

I amin Montreal, QC Canada. $20 plus shipping. Condition is very good to excellent, but obviously not mint. It is the Washington version.

Peter Cook

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 07:46 AM

Peter - interested - e-mail riddlesjimatgmaildotcom (please translate into sendable form)
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: GUEST,big head records
Date: 17 May 10 - 11:11 PM

I have a copy of bless 'em all and other british army songs sung by ewan maccoll edited by kenneth s. goldstein on riverside RLP 12-642. The tracks are the same as Washington WLP 711. The record is near mint plus condition. The cover is in great condition with a little rub ring.

Side 1
1. Bless 'Em All
2. Tell Me Boys Have You Any Complaints
3. The Dying Soldier
4. The Ballad of Wadi Maktilla
5. The Trooper Cut Down in His Prime
6. Hand Me Down My Pettycoat
7. All You Maidens Sweet and Kind
8. Columbo
9. Seven Years In the Sand

Side 2
1. Join the British Army
2. When This Ruddy War is Over
3. The Second Front Song
4. Browned Off
5. McKaffery
6. The Fortress Song
7. The D Day Dodgers
8. On the Move
9. The Ghost Army of Korea

Hope this helps clear up some of the questions.

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: Anglo
Date: 18 May 10 - 03:10 AM

Well, I'll bite. What do you want for it? Send an email to angloatnycapdotrrdotcom, translate for yourself.

What questions?

Subject: RE: Help: Ewan MacColl: Bless 'Em All
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 18 May 10 - 08:58 AM