Recordings of Ewan MacColl?

Subject: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: Bearheart
Date: 13 Nov 03 - 08:53 PM

Perhaps not the best time to enquire since I am quite busy through the weekend, but it's on my mind now and I'll get back to the 'Cat next week.

My sister was recently given a collection of Ewan MacColl for her birthday. I do like the traditional stuff that he recorded but I was dismayed that none of the songs he penned himself seemed to be included. I especially like the social/political comment ones, but I have only heard other peoples' versions. Have these been recorded by him anywhere? more importantly have they been brought together in one collection?

Thanks,

Bekki

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 13 Nov 03 - 09:57 PM

G'day Bekki,

How large a CD rack were you intending to buy ... ? There are scores of recordings, most re-released as CDs of Ewan MacColl ... probably most of the better releases via Topic Records, although strange compilations do seem to have been licensed.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 11:38 AM

I've always been dissapointed that the LP series Ewan made with Peggy Seeger The Long Harvest with contrasting American and British versions of some of the Child ballads has never made it to CD.

When Topic records started releasing some of the Decca/Argo back catalogue (Shirley Collins/Davey Graham and The Radio Ballads etc) I was hoping they'd be part of the deal.

They may well be possibles, I suppose I should try to bend Tony Engle's ear.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 02:54 PM

I for one would buy CDs of "The Long Harvest" in a twinkling.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: Eugene Judge
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 04:45 PM

I have heard that all the Ewan MacColl songs from the BBC Radio Ballads have recently been re-issued on CDs but by whom I don't know -may be the BBC.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: Willa
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 04:58 PM

Bearheart. take a look here.http://www.topicrecords.co.uk/ewan_maccoll_topic_records.html

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: Willa
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 05:02 PM

And here http://music.onino.co.uk/music-shrink/218208.html

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 07:15 PM

I spoke to Ewan MacColl about his recordings many (16-17?) years ago, and he asked me if I HAD managed to get the "Long Harvest" series, as he considered it one of his most important.

Many of the songs he wrote are just scattered among various recordings, by himself and others.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: GUEST,Southerner
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 07:41 PM

Northern bloke called Billy Miller, sticks finger in earhole, then changes name to sound like he's a Sweaty.

Sad!

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 09:02 PM

The 'Black and White' collection (Topic, I think) has several of his own songs, like My Old Man, Manchester Rambler, Shoals of Herring, Moving-On Song, Kilroy Was Here, Joy of Living. Then there's the cassette 'Daddy What Did You Do in the Strike', with six songs on the 1984 miners' strike, issued by MacColl's and Seeger's own label.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 09:18 PM

"...bloke called Billy Miller"

yes, I have a tape of "Betsy Miller & Son"..(I think that was her name...

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: johnross
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 11:19 PM

Ewan's original name Jimmy Miller, not Billy.

You can find a reasonably complete Ewan MacColl discography at http://www.well.com/~johnross/discographies/ewanmaccoll.htm


In general, the best bets for finding stuff in print are the titles on Folkways, Topic and Rounder.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 15 Nov 03 - 05:03 AM

Of course Ewan MacColl was an actor and there was probably alreay an equity registered Jimmy Miller so a professional change would have been required.

As with Jo (fraser) Freya.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Ewan MacColl?
From: zanderfish3 (inactive)
Date: 15 Nov 03 - 10:41 AM

There is a great compilation double CD ' ANTIQUITIES 'really great
Ewan and Peggy stuff.
Dave