Ralph McTell box set for October release

Leola Music Ltd will release Ralph McTell's long-awaited 4-CD box set on 2 October 2006. The Journey – Recordings 1965-2006, distributed by Proper Music Distribution, will be available in all major record shops from early October.

Researched and compiled by David Suff (known for his acclaimed box sets of music by Sandy Denny, June Tabor, and The Watersons), the collection's sixty-plus tracks will be presented in a deluxe package. A full-colour book featuring a foreword by Rory McGrath, an essay on Ralph's work, highly-detailed notes and many previously unpublished photographs will be included.

It is the sheer scope and versatility of the collection which impresses most. As well as rare demo and studio out-takes, performances from grand concert halls contrast with semi-bootleg live recordings from smoky clubs. Many of the live tracks were recorded by Ralph's tour engineers whereas much of the studio work features renowned producers such as Gus Dudgeon, Tony Visconti and Shel Talmy (of The Who and The Kinks fame). But whether playing in a bar, a studio or a concert hall, McTell's strong baritone voice and deft finger-picking guitar never falter.

McTell is far more than a great singer and virtuoso guitarist, of course – it is his writing that captures hearts. The Guardian newspaper described his songs as "...hitting the spot by telling your personal story: yours and everyone's" and Ralph's insight and humanity infuse everything he pens. His work has won him the Ivor Novello Award and a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting. 

So it is Ralph's own compositions that take pride of place here – everything from the sombre grandeur of The Ferryman to the light-hearted I Like Rubbish, from the political anger of Peppers And Tomatoes to the lyrical romance of Nanna's Song. And, yes, McTell's world-renowned Streets Of London is included in a version previously unreleased in the UK which pre-dates the song's chart success.

However, this collection also pays homage to McTell's musical heroes (people like Blind Blake, Reverend Gary Davies and Jessie Fuller) with arrangements of guitar blues and traditional songs – there are a dozen 'trad arr McTell' numbers on this collection – as well as songs from writers as diverse as Hoagy Carmichael and Bob Dylan, Randy Newman and Lennon/McCartney.

Many of the tracks feature Ralph accompanying himself on guitar: others, however, see him recording with life-long musical collaborators. Again, there is tremendous variety in the backing ensembles – The London Symphony Orchestra keeps company with the T Rex and Formerly Fat Harry rhythm sections – and Radio 2 presenter Nick Barraclough even puts in an appearance on backing vocals! In fact, well-respected names abound: Billy Connolly, Richard Thompson, Dave Pegg, Bruce Barthol, Clive Palmer, Danny Thompson, John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee... the list goes on.

With sixty-six tracks (nearly half of which are previously unreleased in the UK),
The Journey – Recordings 1965-2006 is far more than a 'best of' set. It is a comprehensive documentary built on rare and archive material tracing Ralph McTell's musical journey through his forty-year career.

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