|
"Travelling
Man" provides a timely reminder of Ralph McTell's earlier work,
and - even more importantly - the fact that the quality of his writing
is still improving"
Robin
Denselow
London
_______________

Welcome to this
Ralph McTell Site
On
this site you will find articles, reviews and interviews on Ralph McTell and other bits of info. I try to keep up to date on Tour info
where possible.
I try to add to the site as often as possible, so if you have any
articles, interviews or reviews perhaps you could let me know. I am
particularly looking for articles from 70s publications, like Melody
Maker, Sounds, New Musical Express and Folk Roots, along with any
articles from the national and local press.
If you would like to add a Concert review from the most recent tour or
other Ralph McTell concerts you have attended, then visit the
appropriate Concert
Reviews page.
I plan to send short email updates out from time to time, with any
current news – Radio appearances, Tour amendments etc. If you would
like an update, please let me know. You don’t have to be in the UK for
this – it will just keep you up to date with what Ralph is up to.
Stan and Ollie dance on this page, because I know Ralph is a big
fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andy Langran
Email

RALPH
McTELL
June 2009 UK tour
Mon 1 Jun
Exmouth Pavillion
tix £18.50
www.ledleisure.co.uk/index/Exmouth_Pavilion/index.asp
01395 222 477
Thu 4 Jun
Birmingham Town Hall
tix £18.50adv
www.thsh.co.uk
0121 780 3333
Fri 5 Jun
Durham Gala Theatre
tix £18.50adv
www.galadurham.co.uk
0191 332 4041
Sat 6 Jun
Stamford, Lincs - 10th Stamford Guitar Festival
Tix £20 adv
www.stamfordartscentre.com
01780 763 203
Sun 7 Jun
London, Chelsea Cadogon Hall
Tix £22.50 adv
www.cadoganhall.com
0207 730 4500
Thu 11 Jun
Aylesbury Aylesbury Civic Centre in The Maxwell
Hall
Tix £18.50 adv
www.aylesburycivic.org
01296 486009
Fri 12 Jun
Chatham, Kent Central Theatre
tix £18.50
www.medway.gov.uk/index/leisure/theatres.htm
01634 338 338
back
to top
Benny Gallagher - Live Album

I recently purchased a live album by Ralph's mate Benny Gallagher,
One Stage. The album is terrific and includes, amongst other
things, some well known songs from Benny's collaborations with Graham
Lyle ....

1 We
2 I'll Be There
3 15 Summers
4 Brushin Up on my Blues
5 Keep The Candle Burnin
6 Mrs Canatellis
7 The Rooster
8 The First Leaves of Autumn
9 How Come
10 The Salt Of Her Tears
11 I Wanna Stay with you
12 Malt And Barley Blues
13 Heart On My Sleeve
14 Stay Young
The album is available from Benny's My Space web site and also via ITunes, which is how I got it ....
While on the subject, can I also mention the solo album by Benny's other 'alf, Graham Lyle, Something Beautiful Remains ....
Of the the Ralph Christmas Shows I attended, the best surprise was the appearance one year of Gallagher and Lyle, who reunited for the show. It was great ... Ralph
wasn't bad either that night if I remember right .... ONLY JOKING!!
back
to top
__________________________________________________________
Ralph McTell
26th of October 2008,
Memorial Hall Sheffield
a review by Karen Wood
If I had to choose one quality that sums up all Ralph McTell’s work, it
would be compassion. The subjects are wide ranging from drug addicts,
the homeless, mentally ill, unemployed, victims of war, society's
rejects, all kinds of sad individuals, through to fulfilled and happy
ones whose happiness is universal - parents and children, lovers,
friends. But always our heart is touched, moved, enlarged, always we are
more loving people by the end of a Ralph McTell song. The playwright
Willy Russell is indeed right when he calls him "big, big hearted" - and
it is fitting too as he notes, that Ralph is physically a "big, big
man".
A concert is a more light-hearted affair in many ways than listening to
his albums, or a dip into his - naturally - "big" book of song lyrics
(he's written about four hundred, he told us at this gig), which are so
finely written that most stand up as poems in their own right. And
because Ralph is, as we'd expect, a friendly warm-hearted man, he often
talks to his audience as friends (indeed many are - those attending
concerts for over thirty years include a couple who book holidays to
follow his tour itinerary, taking their children before their schooldays
and another who turned down a Mediterranean holiday when it clashed with
his tour dates). His talk is not "patter" but warm anecdotes - over the
years I've learnt about his parents, brother, wife, children, uncles,
teachers, animals, as well as direct details about his songs and guitars
- famously his beloved "Miss Gibson" (reminding me of The Commitments'
Joey The Lips Fagan's advice on how to blow a saxophone). And as you'd
expect there's self-deprecating humour, "You can now get my old numbers
on those cheap CDs you see in petrol stations - I know because I saw
them" and how an interviewer once criticised him for mauling "that great
Roger Whitaker song Streets of London" - which we regulars have always
known, but BBC’s known recently, was really about the streets of Paris.
A delight too is his superlative guitar playing, a gift as surprisingly
well developed as his songwriting. But even the predominantly
instrumentals in all their fast technical dexterity are shot through
with compassion, they are sad stories of the downtrodden and
dispossessed. His heroes were Woody Guthrie with his tales of the
exploited dustbowlers, and to whom he dedicates his lyrics book "Time’s
Poems", or black guitar pickers whose ragtime and blues pieces he played
a couple of including Blind Willy McTell - "a relative of a while back",
he joked.
So get to a McTell concert for your emotional health's sake! On my night
- and he plans this tour to dip into "more than his usual hundred" songs
he tends to play - there were narrative songs dense as short stories and
chock-a-block with atmosphere, about a mentally disabled child whose
reality was partly more sane and beautiful than ours, a more than
normally melancholic circus clown, lovers whose relationship had been
truly deep even when they were young, a lad about to go to the first
world war, an "eco warriror" long before the term had been coined, a
perceptive insight about the young Dylan Thomas, and a song inspired by
a remark by Kenneth Williams - oh, as well as of course the unhappy
characters who still roam the streets of London. If you are feeling
sorry for yourself before a gig you won't be afterwards, and if you were
cheerful you'll be even more so. But also grateful. Mellow. Thankyou
Ralph. "Life's rich tapestry" as the saying goes, is made even more
rich by you. If a song like "Jesus Wept" with Christ doubting his
divinity, or "Mrs Adlam's Angels" with a now disbelieving adult, didn't
show me your agnosticism, I'd say God bless you. And to quote from one
of your tender songs "I'll say it anyway" yes, God bless you Ralph.
Hugely.
back
to top
Click Here

News From Leola
Dear Friends,
As some of you may have been aware, we have had some problems with the
website over the last month or so. We are pleased to confirm that the
site is now back up and running. We have now changed some of the
technical procedures to improve reliability but hopefully you will not
notice any difference to the functioning of the site.
Ralph’s autobiography is now available in paperback containing both
Angel Laughter and Summer Lightning (volumes 1&2) in a combined volume
entitled As Far As I Can Tell.
Click Here
There is reduced price for anybody buying the 3CD audiobook version at
the same time as the new autobiography.
Click Here
More dates are being added to the Autumn tour. At the moment the
following venues have been confirmed, but more dates will be added over
the next few months.
24-Oct The Brindley, Runcorn 0151 907 8360
29-Oct The Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon 0208 603 3981
30-Oct The Elgiva, Chesham 01494 582900
31-Oct The Gulbenkian, Canterbury 01227 769075
6&7-Nov The Acorn, Penzance 01736 365520
8-Nov The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe 01271 324242
9-Nov St Georges Hall, Bristol 0845 402 4001
13-Nov Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne Minster 01202 885566
15-Nov The Stables, Milton Keynes* 01908 280800
21-22 Nov The Guildhall, Derby 01332 255800
25-Nov The Opera House, Buxton 0845 127 2190
26-Nov The Guildhall, Preston 01772 258858
28-Nov The Playhouse, Alnwick 01665 510785
Remember to check the
tour
page at the website.
back
to top
As part of the promotion of Ralph's forthcoming
DVD and book, an article was pubished in Properganda (sic), the free
music magazine published by Proper Music Distribution and circulated
through record shops and at gigs

Ralph McTell has been busy of
late and this autumn sees the fruits of his recent burst of creativity.
Not many artists are able to
issue three items simultaneously in three different media but that is
exactly what Ralph has done with a concert DVD, a book and a triple CD.
'McTell on The Mall' is a
full-length DVD featuring highlights from three concerts performed on
consecutive evenings at London's prestigious Institute of Contemporary
Arts. The videotapes were believed lost but have recently resurfaced and
both footage and soundtrack have been painstakingly prepared for
release. The result is a high-quality permanent record of Ralph at his
best. 'McTell on The Mall' is in widescreen format and includes a choice
of stereo and surround sound.
'As Far As I Can Tell' is the
title of both a book and a triple CD, the culminations of a major
project. Originally published in two hardback volumes, Ralph's
autobiography is now available in paperback. This new edition features
additional chapters illustrated by photos from the McTell family album.
The book is much more than a
run-of-the-mill rock star biog – anyone expecting an exposé of 1970s
excess will be disappointed. Rather, Ralph's sharp recall of his early
life and his keen observation provide a fascinating glimpse of working
class life between VE Day and The Beatles, as well as intriguing
insights into the stories behind many of his songs.
Described by dramatist Willy
Russell as "a council house Cider With Rosie", 'As Far As I Can Tell'
has been acclaimed by Louis de Bernieres, Francis Wheen, Roger McGough,
and Billy Connolly among others. At 600-odd pages, it is a richly
rewarding read not only for McTell fans but for any reader interested in
Britain's recent social history.
'As Far As I Can Tell' is also
the title of the complementary three-CD set of spoken word and song.
Five years in the making, the set features Ralph reading extracts from
his autobiography interspersed with songs new and old.
The readings and songs have
been carefully chosen to illustrate how much of Ralph's life is
reflected in his songwriting. In a wideranging journey through his
extensive repertoire, over a dozen songs have been specially re-recorded
for this triple CD together with three brand new compositions.
"Recording the songs anew was
a discovery for me," says Ralph. "Several are nearly forty years old and
I seldom sing them these days. It was like meeting an old friend you
haven't seen for years – still young, the future still uncertain."
With 76 individual tracks, the
mix of re-recordings, readings and rarities make 'As Far As I Can Tell'
an album to treasure and return to again and again.
back
to top
________________________________________________________________
this is
Croydon Today.co.uk
Review: Ralph Mctell,
Fairfield, Croydon
Friday, November 07, 2008, 07:00
5 stars
Ralph McTell strolled on stage at Fairfield, shirtsleeves rolled up and
ready for business entertaining his home crowd.
This man is so relaxed: despite the chasm of the concert hall he
conjured an intimately friendly atmosphere just like the folk clubs must
have been when he started his musical career more than 40 years ago.
This was, he told us, the official launch of his autobiography As Far As
I Can Tell, which relates stories of his childhood in Croydon and is
linked to a CD with songs inspired by them.
Although his dad left Ralph's mum to bring up him and his brother in a
damp flat in The Waldrons, he remembers it fondly as "a wonderful
childhood" and his songs certainly make those days seem idyllic. The
gentle, warm, rosy glow of nostalgia made me feel as if I was being
snuggled up in a favourite cosy cardigan.
We heard tales and songs about the Sunday School teacher who taught her
classes in a tin hut in Mint Walk; about Ralph's granddad who drove a
steam train and was promoted to The Pretty Brighton Belle; about the
long-departed Whitgift Arms pub where he first dared to play his guitar
in public and about the coalman Old Puggy Mearns.
This poem, which Ralph recited to a skipping rhyme beat, was one of the
funniest things I've heard in ages and reduced me to tears of laughter.
Google it and you'll see why.
The Craig and Bentley tragedy was retold: two Croydon teenagers who, in
1952, set out to commit a robbery in Tamworth Road. It went wrong and a
policeman was shot dead. Because he was old enough Bentley went to the
gallows. Craig, who fired the fatal shot, was under age so escaped the
death penalty.
Derek Bentley's sister Iris campaigned tirelessly to win him a pardon –
and succeeded, although it was not granted until after her own death.
The song was dedicated "to the inspirational Iris".
And of course the icing on the cake was the classic Streets of London,
Croydon's own Surrey Street Market having planted the idea for a song
about the dispossessed which is still so very relevant today.
Long may Ralph McTell write brilliant songs and come back home to sing
them to us. A simply wonderful evening.
Diana Eccleston
back
to top
________________________________________________________________
Bridge
of Sighs Review
by Mike Cohen
Bridge of Sighs/Ralph McTell
Leola Music TPGCD27

Mike with Ralph - Swindon 2005
As
I listen to Jerry Donahue’s silky smooth Knopfler-like
guitar riffs in “Throw Out a Line and Dream” my mind wanders to where
I was and what I was doing 21 years ago in 1986. I was living in Brighton
with my then girlfriend, later to be my wife, and working as a GP Trainee.
We looked after an elderly population and there were many home visits. It
wasn’t too bad as I listened endlessly to my cassette recording of the
vinyl copy of Bridge of Sighs as
I went about them. I think it was interspersed with a recording of Ralph
on the then excellent Jim Lloyd’s Folk on 2. I wonder where that
cassette is now and remind myself to check whether it is in the loft. I
shall have to dig it out again.
So
it was with much delight that last night I bought a copy of the last of
Ralph’s vinyl backlog, now finally CD, at his concert in Bristol.
Incidentally, Ralph played a belter of a gig to a full and appreciative
house at the beautiful St George’s at Brandon Hill.
This
phase in my life heralded a return to some sort of stability as in the
preceding years I had spent relatively short periods working in various
hospitals. I had lost touch for a while with Ralph’s music and his live
work. It also coincided with a period in Ralph’s professional life when
he was emerging from his career on children’s television and returning
to writing and performing for a more mature audience. Well, we were sort
of adults I guess!
I
love this album. It contains some of his strongest work. Songs such as Mr.
Connaughton, The Girl From The Hiring Fair, and The Setting have stood the
test of time and still regularly appear as part of Ralph’s live set. I
remember the early evenings as I ran through the Old Steine in Brighton
just as you approach the Palace Pier. Hundreds of starlings used to roost
in the trees….just like apples.
Musically
Ralph is accompanied by his old best mates from Fairport Convention as
well as long time associates such as Graham Preskett, Alun Davies, Jerry
Donahue, Maartin Allcock, Richard Thompson and Danny Thompson. Backing
vocals are performed by Benny Gallagher and, as with all of Ralph’s
albums, there are some lovely strong harmonies. Ralph is responsible for
the overall production.
There
is an insightful critique of the songs written by Paul.O.Jenkins who is
somewhat of an authority regarding Ralph’s work. He explains that “the
songs serve to highlight McTell’s keen understanding of the human
condition and his ability to translate it into song”. Peter Thaine
again is responsible for the lovely cover illustration and overall design
which is as tasteful as ever.
A
few years ago I remember Ralph in is his usual self deprecating way tell a
story about this album when it was out of production and the fact that
some of his older albums were appearing at car boot sales for only a few
quid. He quipped about someone asking if the album was still available and
it being requested as “Bridget’s Thighs”!
Last
night at the concert’s conclusion I gazed at the merchandise desk and
pondered at the man’s artistic output laid out in front of me. I was
speechless and quite moved. The sheer quality of his work is astonishing.
And though the years have flown, the
years have gone we are indeed blessed to still have him around writing
and performing as strongly as ever.
So
why not buy yourself a copy of this timeless album and turn back the
clock?
Mike Cohen
Bristol Thursday, April 19, 2007
back
to top
Backstage
with James Taylor
Brighton Centre March 31st 2003
My thanks to Iconic Music for sharing this image with me.
From left to right the shot features Ralph, Jacqui McShee (Pentangle),
James Taylor, Dave Pegg (Fairport) and Gerry Conway (Fairport and
Pentangle).

Please
note this picture is © Rob Beattie
please do not reproduce this image anywhere else
without permission from Rob
Check out Rob's Web
Site
back
to top
Hit Counter
|