The Ballad of John Axon

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Taken from the album Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger & Charles Parker ‘The Ballad Of John Axon’ 1965 on Argo Records. Written by Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger. First transmitted on July 2nd 1958 for the BBC Home Service, this compelling recording of radio-ballads (the first 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 particular part gave birth to the medium of Radio Ballad after the BBC commissioned a documentary in the autumn of 1957 on the life of railwayman John Axon, following his death in February of the same year. 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 enjoy 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.

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