Ewan MacColl's guest appearances

Ewan MacColl

Great Lives

UnionDues

Tell Me a Story Podcast

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Ian McKellen

Paul Simon

Michael Young

Yanis Varoufakis

Lucy Porter

Alfred Hitchcock

Elie Wiesel

Toni Morrison

Sammy Davis Jr

Ben Miller

Oliver Sacks

Richard Feynman

Kurt Vonnegut

Orson Welles

OwlTail

Peggy Seeger

Ewan MacColl sang "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" to Peggy Seeger down the phone. When they met, Peggy says, he was in the grip of his midlife crisis. "I'm fond of saying the poor boy didn't stand a chance," she tells Matthew Parris. This programme is her attempt to set the record straight. "I'd like to do a bit of justice to him, because there's an awful lot of myths, an awful lot of bad talk, misunderstandings."Ewan MacColl was born Jimmy Miller in Salford, which he wrote about in 1949 in his song, "Dirty Old Town." He made his name in theatre, was married to Joan Littlewood, and after the Second World War he was a powerful force behind the folk revival. He also with Peggy Seeger and Charles Parker created the famous Radio Ballads. Peggy is joined in discussion by Peter Cox, author of Set Into Song. The programme is heavily illustrated with MacColl's music and his voice.The producer for BBC audio in Bristol is Miles Warde

Ewan MacColl sang "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" to Peggy Seeger down the phone. When they met, Peggy says, he was in the grip of his midlife crisis. "I'm fond of saying the poor boy didn't stand a chance," she tells Matthew Parris. This programme is her attempt to set the record straight. "I'd like to do a bit of justice to him, because there's an awful lot of myths, an awful lot of bad talk, misunderstandings." Ewan MacColl was born Jimmy Miller in Salford, which he wrote about in 1949 in his song, "Dirty Old Town." He made his name in theatre, was married to Joan Littlewood, and after the Second World War he was a powerful force behind the folk revival. He also with Peggy Seeger and Charles Parker created the famous Radio Ballads. Peggy is joined in discussion by Peter Cox, author of Set Into Song. The programme is heavily illustrated with MacColl's music and his voice. The producer for BBC audio in Bristol is Miles Warde

Peggy Seeger on her husband Ewan MacColl

The latest UnionDues episode goes behind the scenes at the General Federation of Trade Unions – the GFTU is 120 years old, has nearly 50 affiliates and a great track record of building and supporting unions and activists. (Our podcast with Rebecca Winson last series is also relevant here). The report by Karon Monaghan QC into sexual discrimination and sexism concerns in the GMB is a distressing and deeply disappointing read.  It is publicly available on the union’s website and an apology has been promptly issued by the union’s President.  We ask what happens next?  Finally, we look back to  a union recruitment drive from 60 years ago when the then National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers commissioned legendary singer, songwriter and activist Ewan MacColl to record a song for them.  Hear the tune and the background to it on the show. Email us at uniondues@makes-you-think.com or tweet us @DuesUnion.   Part of the Labor Radio Podcast Network.  A Makes-You-Think production

The latest UnionDues episode goes behind the scenes at the <a href="https://gftu.org.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">General Federation of Trade Unions</a> – the GFTU is 120 years old, has nearly 50 affiliates and a great track record of building and supporting unions and activists. (Our <a href="https://uniondues.podbean.com/e/why-we-organise-plus-roadmap-for-a-better-recovery/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">podcast with Rebecca Winson</a> last series is also relevant here). The <a href="https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/independent-investigation" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">report by Karon Monaghan QC</a> into sexual discrimination and sexism concerns in the GMB is a distressing and deeply disappointing read.  It is publicly available on the union’s website and an apology has been promptly issued by the union’s President.  We ask what happens next?  Finally, we look back to  a union recruitment drive from 60 years ago when the then <a href="https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/2cb6ac85-cbad-3aa8-b65d-38d62da7f58a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers</a> commissioned legendary singer, songwriter and activist <a href="http://www.ewanmaccoll.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ewan MacColl</a> to record a song for them.  Hear the tune and the background to it on the show. Email us at <a href="mailto:uniondues@makes-you-think.com">uniondues@makes-you-think.com</a> or tweet us <a href="https://twitter.com/DuesUnion" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@DuesUnion</a>.   Part of the <a href="https://www.laborradionetwork.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Labor Radio Podcast Network</a>.  A <a href="http://www.makes-you-think.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Makes-You-Think</a> production

Inside the GFTU, What next for GMB, and Ewan MacColl too

This song was written in 1957 by Ewan MacColl. The best performance of the song, in my mind, was by Roberta Flack (when it was featured in Clint Eastwood’s movie, Play Misty for Me.The first time ever I saw your face,I thought the sun rose in your eyesAnd the moon and the starsWere the gifts you gaveTo the dark and the endless sky, my love.The first time ever I kissed your mouth,I felt the earth move in my handLike the trembling heartOf a captive birdThat was there at my command, my love.And the first time ever I lay with you,I felt your heart so close to mineAnd I knew our joyWould fill the earthAnd last till the end of time, my love.Here is one of many performances by Roberta Flack singing The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tellmeastory.substack.com/subscribe

This song was written in 1957 by Ewan MacColl. The best performance of the song, in my mind, was by Roberta Flack (when it was featured in Clint Eastwood’s movie, Play Misty for Me.The first time ever I saw your face,I thought the sun rose in your eyesAnd the moon and the starsWere the gifts you gaveTo the dark and the endless sky, my love.The first time ever I kissed your mouth,I felt the earth move in my handLike the trembling heartOf a captive birdThat was there at my command, my love.And the first time ever I lay with you,I felt your heart so close to mineAnd I knew our joyWould fill the earthAnd last till the end of time, my love.Here is one of many performances by Roberta Flack singing The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://tellmeastory.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=CTA_2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tellmeastory.substack.com/subscribe</a>

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Ewan MacColl