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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Vol. 1: F.J. Child Ballads

Ewan MacColl
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Vol. 1: F.J. Child Ballads

The “Child Ballads” are a large collection of 305 songs from England and Scotland compiled by Francis James Child in the late 19th century. Here, Ewan MacColl presents 13 of these songs, sung without accompaniment. MacColl explains the notion of the ballad: “Defined in its simplest terms, the ballad is a folksong that tells a story…is always narrative, and is always learned from the lips of others rather than by reading.” The songs presented here all detail historical events from Scotland and England. It is appropriate then that they are sung by MacColl who himself played a role in English history through his affiliation to the communist parties of the 1930’s which hindered his musical career at the time. His roots in the laboring class add authenticity to the concept of the ballad which grew out of the “popular” lower classes. Liner notes include some song information and lyrics.

Track Listing

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101
Johnnie O'Breadisley (Johnie Cock) - Child 114 Ewan MacColl 04:11
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102
The Dowie Dens o' Yarrow (Child 214) Ewan MacColl 03:34
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103
Lord Randall (Child 12) Ewan MacColl 03:41
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104
Sir Patrick Spens (Child 58) Ewan MacColl 05:33
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105
The Burning o' Auchendoun (Willie MacIntosh) - Child 183 Ewan MacColl 00:53
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106
Our Goodman (Child 274) Ewan MacColl 02:55
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107
The Rantin' Laddie (Child 240) Ewan MacColl 03:35
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201
Bawbee Allan (Barbara Allan) - Child 84 Ewan MacColl 04:15
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202
The Brown Girl (Lord Thomas and Fair Annie) - Child 73 Ewan MacColl 06:29
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203
The Three Ravens (Child 26) Ewan MacColl 01:43
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204
The Bonnie Earl o' Murray (Child 181) Ewan MacColl 02:47
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205
The Battle of Harlaw (Child 163) Ewan MacColl 03:18
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206
Thomas Rhymer (Child 37) Ewan MacColl 06:52