Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger: Singing The Fishing

Taken from the album Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger & Charles Parker 'Singing The Fishing’ 1966 on Argo Records. Written by Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger. First transmitted on August 16th 1960 for the BBC Home Service, this compelling recording of radio-ballads (the third 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’. This part is in essence a trilogy, and tells of the three generations in the lifetime of British fishermen in the early 1900's, sail, steam & diesel. 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 (producer of these recordings) 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.

[@martinpope4565]

The Radio Ballads are as amazing now as they were innovative 60 years ago.

[@thebrownshadowrecords7966]

I find them to be fascinating!

[@michaelhutchison8159]

Amazing to hear my mum and her sister Jane singing ❤

[@dominiclewington]

Ahhh, I’m very pleased to hear that! They have beautiful voices, and I know that for every note sung on this timeless recording is a thing of beauty!!!

[@theadamgardener]

How lovely Michael. And is that the two sisters singing the beautiful 'All the weeks your man's away' at 51.10?

[@michaelhutchison8159]

@@theadamgardener I think it is. Ive not looked into it but it definitely sounds like them. Mam has been gone just over a year now and listening to this still cuts deep. God bless you mam

[@vicmills4404]

I heard Euan and Peggy singing in the "Lamb and flag" in London in the sixties sometime. Now, I just cry to hear this wonderful music.

[@markhumphry1819]

I think this record of my father's started my lifetime of musical appreciation. My dad is long dead and I have the record cover but the actual record has been lost... Thanks for uploading...

[@dominiclewington]

I’m sorry to hear of the sad news about your father, but very thankful this brings back memories of the music you shared!

[@Lee-70ish]

One of the truly great great radio documentaries that the BBC made . Shame it's now churning out biased rubbish in comparison.

[@dominiclewington]

I have tried listening to bbc radio over the last few years and find it hard to be interested, whereas when I first purchased this collection I was looking forward to hearing it, before being further stunned by it’s obvious brilliance in every way, from soundtrack, to narrative and story…sadly, it’s a while since I’ve heard it, which is something I must rectify soon!

[@davidwright7193]

Within 20 years of this being broadcast the whole industry was gone with a 10-15 year halt to herring fishing as the North Sea and the Atlantic waters of NW Scotland were fished out and the stocks needed to recover. Even now the quotas are 1/10th or less of what was taken then.

[@dewexdewex]

I bought a CD copy of The Big Hewer in the early nineties on recommendation of a colleague, after I'd told him that I was considering making music/stories myself. I enjoyed it greatly, but did not have the money for the others at the time. It's great to have them all to listen to here. Many thanks for posting.

[@thebrownshadowrecords7966]

luckily, I wandered in to my favourite record store at the time, and they had all of the cd copies except one, and at £4 each too (they can be considerably more 2nd hand elsewhere). I bought them, and just searched out the one I was missing and hey presto! lucky boy!!!

[@Sunflowers159]

I really enjoyed this. I was listening to a programme on BBC Radio 4 this afternoon and they were talking about a newly published book of photographs depicting modern day "fishwives" who still carry on the long-standing tradition of gutting and boning the fish that the men bring back to shore and this was part of the accompanying soundtrack. I remember this when it was originally broadcast in the 60s. I think there were also similar ones about coal miners and other industries.

[@thebrownshadowrecords7966]

They really are something special, here's the rest... kzbin.info/aero/PLPDCrD_igZmvsd7bvrZSWm4V9BIg2qrUH

[@barttheanorak]

Real shame they've deleted all these - thanks for sharing with us in the meantime.

[@thebrownshadowrecords7966]

The odd radio ballad actually has video footage along with the audio, some of which are available on KZbin!!!

[@lurker-mq4fp]

This is an amazing find. Thank you for uploading this.

[@thebrownshadowrecords7966]

It’s a pleasure...they’re all fascinating! A shame radio no longer appears to use this format!!!

[@themekonlordofthetreens6983]

just Brilliant.

[@thebrownshadowrecords7966]

Glad you like! I believe there’s versions of the series with video footage knocking around on youtube!

[@nicholashill8685]

The transcripts are very funny at times.

[@dave4gee]

A great recording depicting a tough trade. Thanks for uploading. Do you have the other Radio Ballads? All a good listen.

[@thebrownshadowrecords7966]

Thanks for your comment, and yes...a very tough trade to be in! You'll find the other seven equally compelling, thoughtful and descriptive Radio Ballads in this playlist! All the best, and i hope you enjoy them!!! kzbin.info/aero/PLPDCrD_igZmvsd7bvrZSWm4V9BIg2qrUH

[@dougchristie2041]

Try radioballadsfilms on youtube. An old film with same music but with a film. Its prob 30 years since I listened to this record. WooooW. I'm Fraserburgh. I wemt to sea when I was a boy in school holidays. Seine Net. Apart from what these old boys went through its would be one of the hardest jobs out there. The crew decided if you gpt paid. After you left school it was usually the crew that told the Skipper its time to go from a pay to 1/4 share. Half share. 3/4 share. If you went on a Boat that made no money you might get full share when you're 18. Full share of nothing is nothings. It was a bastardo of a job. Been in Oil and Gas for 20+ Years. Occasionally I meet an old Fisher. You just nod and you know. If you know you know. You've got a straight up truthful individual.

[@thebrownshadowrecords7966]

And if you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose! Thanks for your excellent insights!

[@mikelisacarb]

@@dougchristie2041 Thank you for the link to the films. Great stuff!

[@ianbeddowes5362]

Wonderful. wonderful. Any chance of the other Radio Ballads? Especially the Song of a Road?

[@aketheanarchist]

I mind o' listening to this when it was first broadcast on an old Ekco wireless.......brilliant piece of work ...sad how the BBC has been taken over by brainless "intellectuals"

[@thebrownshadowrecords7966]

Tis' a sad thing indeed!

[@michaelhutchison8159]

34.00 mam and Jane singing at age 16

[@dominiclewington]

Thanks for your lovely comments!