vote for Best Scottish Balladeer

Subject: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 08:10 AM

I ran a poll earlier in the year for best Irish balladeer, Patsy Watchorn won.

Vote for best Scottish Balladeer

Nick

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: curmudgeon
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 08:44 AM

Nick -- I tried to vote, but not having Outlook Express I was unable to do so. Please register my write in vote for Norman Kennedy. Thanks -- Tom

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 10:17 AM

You can just email me at [e-mail] with your votes.

Tom...I've added your vote.

Nick

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,boab d
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 11:03 AM

Gordon Menzies with out a question. A really nice guy and a fantastic lyricist and medly maker second to none.
Dylan

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 11:05 AM

andy m. stewart

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 05:37 PM

Brian McNeill

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 06:08 PM

I could be terribly pedantic and ask for a definition of 'Balladeer'
but I ont and will simply vote for Moira who does Ballads SO well

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: toadfrog
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 06:46 PM

That would be Jeannie Robertson, although I'm not sure she's still alive.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 06:53 PM

Sadly, she's not, toadfrog. She'd be over a hundred years old, I think. But it's a valid question: Do we include deceased balladeers?

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 02:01 AM

I know Eric Bogle is now an Aussie citizen, but he still carries the auld Lallans tongue o' Broughton, Peebles--shire around with him------

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 02:27 AM

Including deceased: Jeannie Robertson
Not including deceased:
English language: Dick Gaughan.
Gaelic: Christine Primrose, Catherine-Ann MacPhee.


-Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,Sloop
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 05:36 AM

Isla StClare when she's in her traditional mode; Rory MacEwan who dies young.
Sloop

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Sliding Down The Bannister At My Auntie's House
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 05:42 AM

Andy Stewart

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,Zany Mouse
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 05:49 AM

I would like to register my vote for Moira Craig.

If you are including deceased then I would put in a second vote for Lizzie Higgins (I presume she is dead as I haven't heard anything of her for years).

ZM

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Shonagh
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 10:06 AM

Jock Duncan, Jeannie Robertson, Stanley Robertson, the list goes on.....

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: paulo
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 12:19 PM

No longer doing folk - Barbara Dickson

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Rara Avis
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 01:23 PM

Andy M Stewart

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Art Thieme
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 01:31 PM

Jeannie Robertson

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: mg
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 03:05 PM

Kenneth McKellar

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 03:26 PM

Robin Laing

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Folkiedave
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 04:00 PM

The incomparable Jeannie Robertson and her daughter.
Willie Scott also deceased.
Dick Gaughan.

Dave

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 04:34 PM

Impossible to believe that no one's nominated the late Ewan MacColl. His politics aside, an amazing and influential collector, scholar, and performer. Just listen sometime.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 11:21 PM

Ed Miller

Seamus

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Little Robyn
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 01:59 AM

He may have sounded Scottish on some recordings but Ewan MacColl was born in Salford, Manchester (and his real name was Jimmy Miller).
So does he still qualify?
My vote goes to the Fisher family - all of them.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,Roberto
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 10:26 AM

Little Robyn wrote that Ewan MacColl may have sounded Scottish on some recordings... I wouldn't have voted, but I can't accept such an opinion, so I vote for Ewan MacColl among the revival singers. And John Strachan and Jeannie Robertson among the traditional singers. Roberto

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 10:52 AM

My God, Kenneth MacKellar. I have not heard him in years..ah I loved Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill. Is any of his stuff available. However, I would vote fro Mary Jane Lammond..but she is Nova Scotian and not Scottish.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 11:56 AM

Kenneth MacKellar's unaccompanied recording of "She moved through the Fair" is a joy to the ears, and the soul. Apart from that I too would vote for, 1 Archie Fisher,2 Michael Marra,3 Dick Gaughan.
Giok
PS Ewan McColl does not qualify, "The Dirty old Town" is not in Scotland.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,Roberto
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 12:19 PM

Giok, as well as Little Robyn, maybe never heard recordings by Ewan MacColl of Scots traditional songs, such as the ones he made for Topic, among which The Jacobite Rebellion; for Folkways (the three with the Child Ballads; Scottish Popular Songs; Bothy Ballads of Scotland, etc); for Tradition (Classic Scots Ballads), for Argo (the 10 Lps of The Long Harvest, with many Scots ballads), and many, many more. I think maybe they know Ewan MacColl for his own compositions, or for recordings with English Folk Songs, for example The Manchester Angel, but not for recordings of Scots songs, because I just can't understand their scornful comments about Ewan MacColl as a Scots balladeer. For sure, Archie Fisher and Dick Gaughan wouldn't agree with them. Roberto

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Little Robyn
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 02:06 PM

I have heard Ewan MacColl's Scottish recordings and really love them, but the fact that he was born in England, is not a Scot, that is what I am questioning. Can you be Scots by adoption? Does that make Eric Bogle Australian by adoption? And if so, does he still qualify?
Or does simply being a singer of Scottish songs put you in the running for this award?

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 02:46 PM

His parents were Scottish. Let's not quibble too much.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 02:35 AM

Ed Miller

Seamus

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Micca
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 03:46 AM

Moira Craig

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 06:29 AM

I have heard Ewan McColl's Scottish stuff, I have his books, and I named my son Ewan in his honour, so I'm not exactly anti him, just his inclusion as a Scottish/Scots Balladeer. He was a very complex character, and I find his need to be accepted as a Scot under an assumed name, as opposed to using his own equally Scottish, birth name curious. It should be possible to establish ones credentials through ones talent, and he undoubtedly had plenty of that. Anyway I digress, for my way of thinking, the term Scots balladeer in this instance, should mean native born.
Slainthe....Giok

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: JedMarum
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 08:53 AM

Ed Miller

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Fay
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 09:01 AM

Alyth McCormack aint bad.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,John Barden
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 09:38 AM

Ian Bruce - of course

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 11:17 AM

*sigh*...another silly popularity poll, with no categories or distinctions. These are usually 'won' by the most famous or the current 'hot' recording artist, which tells you nothing.

Does "balladeer" = "singer"? Putting Ed Miller and Andy Stewart and Jeanie Robertson in the same list is like comparing beer & wine & whisky and voting on "best alcoholic drink"...all can be good, but they are simply too different.

(what, me opinionated?? nawwwwww)

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Little Robyn
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 05:05 PM

OK, I vote for Jimmy Miller, singer of Scots songs.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 05:24 PM

Has no-one ever heard Ellen Mitchell sing? She has the most wonderful anc compelling version of 'The Mother's Malison' ( Clyde's Waters). And Moria Craig definitely deserves another mention. A hauntingly beautiful voice. I am torn between the two of them.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 05:27 PM

Ed Miller

Seamus

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Celtaddict
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 11:42 PM

For heaven's sake, listen to Seamus. Ed Miller.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 11:45 PM

Thanks, Jed and Celtaddict.

Ed Miller

Seamus

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 02:40 AM

Ok, he didn't get my #1 vote, but I like that rambling lowlander alot, myself. His rendition of "A Man's A Man For A' That" at a concert in California a few years ago was the best I ever heard.





Ed Miller, that is.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 04:28 AM

Who's Ed Miller?
Giok

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 01:15 PM

Never heard of him.


Seamus

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Abby Sale
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 01:53 PM

There are a huge number of superb Scottish ballad-singers (or do you just mean "singer?" I think 'balladeer' could mean either. The tradition is remarkable.   Re MacColl, I strongly recommend a visit to the wonderful comments Gaughan makes in his "Links in the Chain section: Clicky. Actually, Gaughan (and you must see him at the top of this "best" topic) has wonderful comments about a bunch of "best singers" there. And he ought to know. You could add not only Jeanie and her daughter and son but many of her kith & kin - Higgins, Stewart.

I was raised on MacColl and have over 60 of his records but hearing the 'gentle' singers like Enoch Kent, Gaughan, Norman Kennedy raised it to a new height for me.

I find I have no favorite - I might prefer one singer on one song and another on another song. I think it's a big mistake to suggest a possible favorite. Six or ten votes for a Hall of Fame, maybe. A favorite is absurdly limiting. How about Gaelic singers? Bothy singers? The styles vary too much to restrict to a single person.

But I voted anyway. For Ann Neilson (erstwhile of 'Stramash'). Based, sadly, on hearing only a single song, "The Banks o Skene" on one CD, Folk Songs of North-East Scotland. It's an utter knockout of a rendition (and a CD full of superb ballad singing.) I'd love to hear more of her.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 01:57 PM

ed miller is a mate of Seamus'...LOL.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 02:36 PM

No;really??!!!! Life's full of surprises.
Giok
{Who is he though?]

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 02:37 PM

http://www.songsofscotland.com/

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 03:52 PM

The question is very subjective but I would first vote for Flora MacNeil
If a Scot by heritage rather than birth would qualify, my second choice would be John Allan Cameron. ( He even appeared on the Grand Ole Opry wearing a kilt. In any case one that was celtic long before celtic was cool)
          Slainte,
               Sandy

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: JedMarum
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 04:58 PM

I like many of the others, but Ed Miller still gets my vote.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 05:04 PM

yeah, Jed... but if you DON'T vote for Ed, you have to face him down thar in Texas..*wink*

I like most of the choices that I see listed....I just like Scots songs, but I still don't like 'best' lists...when the question is phrased differently, I may name names...

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: John Routledge
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 07:54 PM

Heather Heywood - an intensely involving singer who is also a lovely person. This alone should put her well up any "list"

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 07:55 PM

what about karen mathieson?

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 11:07 PM

Changed my mind...Alex Beaton.

Seamus

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 08:50 PM

Geordie MacIntyre

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Celtaddict
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 09:46 PM

Seamus. I don't love you anymore.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 10:54 PM

OK, Celtaddict. back to Ed Miller.

Seamus

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 11:13 PM

Well, I have to say I was very impressed by Janet Russell who proves you don't have to be old to sing ballads.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Marje
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 08:50 AM

I'd agree with the choices of Moira Craig and Ellen Mitchell, but I really need to have three votes, because Sylvia Barnes (a Scot now living in England) is simply stunning. Anyone else heard her?

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: trayton
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 09:39 AM

I also agree with the choices of Moira Craig (but I would be accused of bias), Ellen Mitchell and I would add Ray Fisher but my vote would have to go to because Sylvia Barnes (a Scot who was living in England now returned to Scotland). Her singing at the Sussex singers weekend the other year was indeed stunning (she even made moira cry)

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 04:02 AM

Seamus is that an S.T.V. you've got there??
Giok

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 05:17 AM

Isla St Clair *sigh*

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 05:22 PM

If we're really talking traditional ballads I'd like to change my mind, too - Jean Redpath hasn't got a mention yet!

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 09:58 PM

It says something about "the depth of the well" when so many different names are suggested.

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Jock Morris
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 04:54 AM

Ian F. Benzie, formally of Old Blind Dogs.
Karine Polwart of Malinky.
Chris Miles
Fiona and Anne of The Sangsters
Brian McNeil

Hell the list is too long!

Scott

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: Murrey
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 12:18 AM

Though he left far too soon, Davy Steele,and definitely those crazy,fine singers Ray & Cilla Fisher and Ed Miller and Jack Beck and Karine Polwart too-
murrey

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,Diva
Date: 08 Apr 03 - 07:33 AM

Heather Heywood,Cy Laurie, Gordeanna McCulloch............I could go on

Subject: RE: vote for Best Scottish Balladeer
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 04:35 AM

up and coming watch out for John Davidson of Tarneybackle. Doing some good stuff.