Three years ago, my roommate had to do community service in a thrift store. One day he brought home a box of cassettes. All the familiar stuff was quickly pilfered and what was left was soundtracks, classical, and folk. Tapes were my best friends in my truck, and I remember grabbing the Clockwork Orange soundtrack (which had tacked on the end a cover of 'Land of Hope and Glory' by the Ex-Pistols), a Rachmaninov b/w Schubert's Unfinished Symphony mix, and most serendipitously, a dubbing of Black and White: The Definitive Collection by Ewan MacColl.
Ewan MacColl was not at all what I expected. I thought it might have something to do with Michael Jackson or something. I took a long drive in the night, burdened by sadness, and that tape mesmerized me. It was one of those rare moments when music comes to the rescue and transcends your problems despite the world.
His voice is beautiful like Hemingway is beautiful. The songs are simple but well crafted, and when he sings with Peggy Seeger on some songs, the duet reminds me of Bogart and Bergman.
But the only other record I've heard is Chorus from the Gallows, which is just as great but more focused on his Scottish dialect. Black and White has mostly English songs.
Are there any other Ewan MacColl fans here? I want to find some more of the best recordings. What to look for?
I've uploaded Black and White for anyone interested. Here 'tis: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IV98E535
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLnvwPk7-u0
― Captain Ahab, Tuesday, 6 April 2010 19:40 (fifteen years ago)
nine years pass...