The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Vol. 3: 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 7 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

101	The Broom of Cowdenknowes (Child 217)	Ewan MacColl	10:33
102	Captain Wedderburn's Courtship (Child 46)	Ewan MacColl	08:48
103	Fair Ellen (Child 63)	Ewan MacColl	06:00
201	Sweet William (The Famous Flower of Serving-Men) - Child 106	Ewan MacColl	06:30
202	The Elfin Knight (Child 2)	Ewan MacColl	04:40
203	Glenlogie (Child 238)	Ewan MacColl	05:13
204	Henry Martin (Child 250)	Ewan MacColl	00:21