Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger: The Big Hewer

Taken from the album Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger & Charles Parker ‘The Big Hewer’ 1967 on Argo Records. Written by Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger. First transmitted on August 18th 1961 for the BBC Home Service, this compelling recording of radio-ballads (the fourth of 8 recorded between 1958-1964) proved so popular that the BBC were inundated with letters of praise and requests for repeat airings. 6 parts of the series became available on LP via Argo Records between 1965-1970, until the brilliant Topic Records released all 8 parts on cd direct from the original masters between 1999 & 2008. The radio-ballads were described by Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger as 'the work of a team of singers (Inc. A.L. Lloyd, Ian Campbell, Isla Cameron, John Faulkner & Joe Heaney), songwriters (MacColl & Seeger), technicians (Charles Parker), instrumentalists (Inc. Dave Swarbrick & Alf Edwards) and others who were consciously attempting to apply the techniques of folk creation to one part of the mass media...radio’. Charles Parker (producer of these recordings) described his experience with the miners as a revelation, and went on to say that this was the beginning of his real education, not only due to his pre-ordained idea of a miner, but due to the intelligence of the miners themselves. The BBC eventually got rid of radio-ballads and their unit dedicated to it shortly after these recordings were made, even going as far as to sack Charles Parker in 1972, however over 5000 hours of recordings made by Parker are now available on the internet. MacColl & Seeger's history speaks for itself and their contribution to British folk is only strengthened by this excellent collection. These recordings have been put up for the enjoyment and education of others unable to hear them at the time. Any requests for them to be taken down from youtube will result in their immediate removal. I do not own or claim to own any copywrite with regards to this recording. All rights to the owners.