The radio-ballad is an audio documentary format created by Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger, and Charles Parker in 1958. It combines four elements of sound: songs, instrumental music, sound effects, and, most importantly, the recorded
voices of those who are the subjects of the documentary. The latter element was revolutionary, for previous radio documentaries
used professional voice actors.
The radio-ballads were originally recorded for the BBC. MacColl wrote a variety of songs especially for them, many of
which have become folk classics. The trio together made eight radio-ballads between 1958 and 1964.
BBC HOME SERVICE ORIGINAL BROADCAST DATES
The Ballad of John Axon - 2 July 1958 Song Of A Road - 5 November 1959 Singing The Fishing
- 16 August 1960 The Big Hewer - 18 August 1961 The Body Blow - 27 March 1962 On The Edge
- 13 February 1963 The Fight Game - 3 July 1963 The Travelling People - 17 April 1964
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