Ewan MacColl was one of Britain's foremonst singers of folk songs. And not a singer only - Ewan MacColl was also a composer of countless new songs in the folk idiom and one of the main originators of the folk song revivals from its earliest days. This Ewan MacColl collection is drawn from his 'Topic' recordings between 1959 and 1966. The first 5 tracks are from his Jacobite Rebellions album. Track 6, Hamish Henderson's powerful  "Farewell to Sicily"  is from his 1958 Barrack room songs and ballads recording 'Bundook Ballads'. Thorough examples from his 'Chorus from the Gallows' , The Manchester Angel'  and the 'Steam Whistle Ballads' albums, the CD ends with a simple and poignant version of  'Dirty Old Town' from his 'Streets of Song' album.