4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing blend of actuality and song, June 4, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Ballad of John Axon (Audio CD)
This is where a new genre of recording began. The record tells the story of how John Axon kept on the footplate of his locomotive when it was going out of control in order to prevent a major disaster. He was killed in the attempt, and was given a bravery award.
The actuality in the recording was collected from railwaymen in Cheshire. Perhaps the technical details tend to get in the way a bit, but the editing of the recording is a joy, a montage of song and words. Some of the songs are better than others, some seem to be chosen merely to fill out the time - there is even room for Ewan MacColls "Manchester Rambler". The real gem is "The Iron Road".
As the first of the radio ballads, this had many features which were developed later on in the series, most notably in "Singing the Fishing".
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