Specially selected 18 track compilation / Introduction notes and Discography / Track by track information. / Loved by Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart!
Ewan MacColl was a true driving force and historically one of the most important figureheads of the Folk revival of the mid twentieth century. As a youngster he was surrounded by a huge repertoire of songs and stories his parents brought from Scotland when they moved, these along with their strong political views helped shape the then young Jimmie Miller. Ewan gained an interest in politics, then the theatre as he became an actor and playright with strong left-wing beliefs to his true calling as a singer, songwriter within the folk movement. The latter change in direction came from being inspired by the work of one Alan Lomax. Realising the importance of Folk music and the folk music club scene he was able to use this as a platform for his beliefs. In 1953 with Bert Lloyd, Alan Lomax and Seamus Ennis and a few others formed the Ballads and Blues Club in London which was later to become the famous Singers Club.
Ewan MacColl’s recording career took off in 1950 with his first record for Topic Records club. TRC39 ‘The Asphalter’s Song; I’m Champion at Keeping em’ Rolling’ but we start off this introduction To’ release with his most well-known track ‘Dirty Old Town’ released in 1952, again a Topic Records Club release TRC56