Radio ballads

The Radio Ballads tell a story and explore issues using song and music. They are concerned with ordinary people, and their lives as related to the work they do. The original radio ballads were conceived and implemented by Ewan MacColl and Charles Parker in the late 1950s and early 60s, and broadcast on the BBC Home Service (now Radio 4).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/radioballads/original/

They covered mining, fishing, roadbuilding, train driving, but also explored social issues like psychological breakdown, juvenile delinquency, and travelling people.

Recently, the concept has been revisited with great sucess by John Tams and John Leonard, this time for BBC Radio 2.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/radioballads/2006/

Set into Song : Ewan MacColl, Charles Parker and the Radio Ballads is a comprehensive account of the making of the Radio Ballads. It was written and researched by Peter Cox, published by Labatie Books ISBN 978-095518771-1, and can be obtained via http://www.setintosong.co.uk . This extensive website carries the first two pages of each chapter, the complete transcripts and cast lists for each programme, bibliography, footnotes and reviews.