Tour News
2012 Oz Tour Dates announced
Songs for Six Strings
New 6-CD box set
Launched 27 September 2011
"Don't Think Twice It's Alright"
Bob Dylan tribute album
Released 24 May 2011
Ralph's New Tenor Guitar
David Oddy's gift to Ralph at Exeter gig
CD Review
'Somewhere Down the Road'
Reviewed by Jenny Melmoth
CD Review
'Affairs of the Heart'
Reviewed by Keith Littlechild
Backstage with James Taylor 2003
To Visit the
OFFICIAL
Ralph McTell
WEB SITE
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A Ralph McTell Site
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"To pick guitar is a gracious thing" (John Steinbeck).
Welcome to this Ralph McTell Site
Please use the menu at the top of each page to find your way around.
On this site you will find articles, reviews and interviews on Ralph McTell and his music, including a comprehensive Discography.
Andy Langran and John Beresford
We try to keep up to date on Tour News where possible.
If you have any articles, interviews or reviews, perhaps you could let us know. We are particularly looking for articles from publications such as Melody Maker, Sounds, New Musical Express and Folk Roots, along with any stories from the national and local press.
If you would like to add a Review of a Ralph McTell concert you have attended, or of a favourite McTell album, then email it to us and we will add it to the appropriate page.
We 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 us 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.
Please feel free to leave a message on the Guestbook. You can also use this to ask any questions on Ralph's music or recordings - if we don't know the answer we probably know a man who does!
Stan and Ollie dance on this page, because we know Ralph is a big fan!
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Ralph's New Tenor Guitar
John Renbourn wrote the foreword to the first edition of Roger Brown’s tablature book of Ralph’s songs, entitled 'Songs for Six Strings'. He mentioned that Ralph owned “Martins and Gibsons through to guitars by some of the best contemporary makers - Tony Zemaitis, Tom Mates and David Oddy.” Indeed, Roger Brown illustrated the art of string tying à la Ralph McTell using photographs of his own Oddy guitar. Alas, Ralph did not in fact own an Oddy guitar.
In 1993, I saw Show of Hands at the Limelight in Aylesbury when they supported Ralph on a massive UK tour. I had never before heard a mandocello nor a cuatro and was fascinated by these instruments and the way Steve and Phil used them for both contemporary and traditional songs. These instruments were made by a certain David Oddy in Exeter.
David acquired his wood work skills from his father and made furniture when he worked for British Telecom. His first effort at making a guitar came from a magazine article. He says the result was awful! He was soon commissioned to build a mandocello and has gone on to make guitars, mandolins and cuatros. He has made instruments for Steve Knightley and Phil Beer, as well as other well known musicians such as Mike Silver and Chris Wood.
David has always loved Ralph’s music and guitar playing. So, when I heard that Ralph was playing in Exeter this year, I invited David and his wife Myra to join me. David kindly made me a guitar in 2001. My parents had just died and I wanted a guitar to mark the passing of this time. David has subsequently made me a beautiful cuatro which is always much admired in our folk club - that is, before I play it!
David decided it was time to put the record straight and ensure Ralph got his Oddy guitar. So, a beautiful David Oddy tenor guitar was presented to Ralph before the Exeter gig.
It was, as always, a fabulous evening and Ralph acknowledged his generous gift and the presence of the master luthier in the audience.
I have no doubt that in a while a new McTell composition will ring from the strings of this guitar and we will marvel at the genius which is David Oddy and Ralph McTell.
Mike Cohen __________________________________________________________ "Songs for Six Six Strings"
Ralph launched his new "Songs For Six Strings" boxed set on the first night of his Somewhere Down the Road (continued) tour. Eventually there will be six CDs, one for each guitar string, and each with live recordings of six McTell songs. The first CD, representing the '1st - E' string, is on sale for £6 at the concerts and from
Ralph's website. It is not available in the shops.
Track list:
Walk into the morning __________________________________________________________ "Don't Think Twice It's Alright"
Ralph has compiled a download only album in celebration of Bob Dylan's 70th Birthday. "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" is available from
iTunes, Amazon and other dowload sites. Three of the songs were newly-recorded for this release. The title track featured on BBC Radio 2's "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - A Folk Tribute".
Track list:
Don't Think Twice (It's Alright) - New recording When you download the tracks, you will find that three of them have the wrong name. Track 2 is labelled 'Ramona', track 3 'Gates of Eden' and track 4 'Girl From The North Country Fair'. You can safely rename them in your iTunes or music folder.
__________________________________________________________ Ralph's current studio CD is on sale in Ralph's webshop.
Track list:
The London Apprentice __________________________________________________________ 'Tickle on the Tum' Series One is available from Ralph's website.
Episode guide:
1. Susan Wooldridge as Miss Marker - Ralph sings The Counting Song __________________________________________________________ Ralph McTell "meets and greets" after the gig at Bury on 6 November 2010
Standing, from left: Angie, Kevin, Ralph, John. David, Liz, Mike, Keith, Joan. __________________________________________________________ Ralph McTell - Backstage with James Taylor at the 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. __________________________________________________________
November 2011.
The London apprentice
Small voice calling
A feather fell
Cannabis Creek
When they were young
Gates of Eden - From 'Gates of Eden' CD
Girl From the North Country - From 'Travelling Man' CD (Live recording)
To Ramona - From 'Gates of Eden' CD
I Want You - New recording
One Too Many Mornings - New recording
Reverend Thunder (Blind Faith)
Walk into the Morning
Around the Wild Cape Horn
The Ghost of Robert Johnson
Rosalinda
The Break of the Union
Cannabis Creek
One Sunny Day (Aujourd'hui le Ciel est Bleu)
Moon June and a Cajun Tune
A Kiss in the Rain
The Girl on the Jersey Ferry
Lantern Slides
Somewhere Down the Road
2. Susan Wooldridge as Miss Marker - Teacher's Lost Voice
3. Kenny Lynch as Mike the Milkman - Mike the Milkman
4. Kenny Lynch as Mike the Milkman - How do You Make a Cow Laugh?
5. Bill Oddie as Dr Dimple - Freckles and Spots
6. Kenny Lynch as Mike the Milkman - Mike the Milkman
7. Kenny Lynch as Mike the Milkman - When Santa Got Stuck up the Chimney
8. Bill Oddie as Dr Dimple - Freckles and Spots #2
9. Bill Oddie as Dr Dimple - Cat in the Well
10. Susan Wooldridge as Miss Marker - Edna the Elephant
11. Susan Wooldridge as Miss Marker - The Money Tree
12. Bill Oddie as Dr Dimple - Freckles and Spots #3
13. Billy Dainty as Roland Crust - Roland Crust
14. Penelope Keith as Dora the Driver - Dora the Driver
15. Penelope Keith as Dora the Driver - Dora the Driver #2
16. Penelope Keith as Dora the Driver - Feathers in Your Pillow
17. Penelope Keith as Dora the Driver - Dora the Driver #3
Sitting: Jenny, Michaela.
