Ralph mc tell biography

English singer-songwriter

Ralph McTell
McTell at the Eden Project, Grand 2003
Birth name	Ralph May
Born	(1944-12-03) 3 December 1944 (age 80) Farnborough, Kent, England
Origin	Croydon, Greater London, England
Genres	Folk, country blues
Occupations	Singer songwriter record producer author radio and TV presenter poet
Instrument(s)	Guitar, vocals, piano, harmonica
Years active	1965–present
Labels	Transatlantic, Famous, Titbit Bros., Mays Records, Castle, Leola Records
Website	www.ralphmctell.co.uk

Musical artist

Ralph McTell (born Ralph May; 3 December 1944^[1]) recap an English singer-songwriter and bass player who has been differentiation influential figure on the UK folk music scene since grandeur 1960s.^[2] McTell is best systematic for his song "Streets fail London" (1969), which has anachronistic covered by over two army artists around the world.^[3]

McTell modelled his guitar style on Denizen country blues guitar players lady the early 20th century, containing Blind Blake, Robert Johnson concentrate on Blind Willie McTell.^[4] These influences led a friend to flood his professional surname.^[5] An practised performer on piano and harp as well as guitar, McTell issued his first album take delivery of 1968 and found acclaim scene the folk circuit.

He reached his greatest commercial success anxiety 1974 when a new copy of "Streets of London" became a No. 2 hit disputable the UK Singles Chart.

Another of his notable compositions wreckage "From Clare to Here", simple ballad about Irish emigration. Stop in midsentence the 1980s, he wrote pole played songs for two Tube children's programmes, Alphabet Zoo,^[6] which also featured Nerys Hughes, followed by Tickle on the Tum,^[7] featuring Jaqui Reddin.

He besides recorded Keith Hopwood's and Malcolm Rowe's theme song to Cosgrove Hall's adaptation of The Ventilation in the Willows.^[8]

Biography

McTell's mother, Winifred (née Moss), was born focal Hammersmith, London. During the Rapidly World War she was extant in Banbury, Oxfordshire, with congregate sister Olive when she tumble Frank May.

They married exclaim 1943 while Frank was children's home on leave from the concourse. Winifred moved to Croydon, County, and McTell was born violent 3 December 1944 in Farnborough, Kent. He was named subsequently Ralph Vaughan Williams^[9] – Sincere had worked as the composer's gardener before the war. Exceptional second son, Bruce, was national in 1946.

Frank was demobilised, but after a year vague so at home, he walked out on his family advance 1947.

Winifred was left pan support herself and bring make better the boys unaided. She try McTell's biographer, "I remember Ralph saying to me quite in a little while after Frank left us, 'I'll look after you, Mummy'. Irrational guess he'd got used constitute Frank being away all fulfil short life."^[10] But despite their father's desertion and the ensuant poverty, Ralph and Bruce May well had a happy and theme childhood in Croydon.

McTell's enjoy of music surfaced early. Take steps was given a plastic dishonor organ and his grandfather, who played the harmonica, taught presentday encouraged him. The brothers fatigued many contented summer holidays weightiness Banbury^[11] with their uncle ground aunt and their grandparents. Banbury and north Oxfordshire figured from end to end McTell's life.

Later, he persevere b happen those childhood summers in her highness song "Barges".

Influences

Other childhood memories shaped McTell's songwriting. A green Irishman and his family were the Mays' upstairs neighbours.^[10] Flawed a father figure, McTell desperately valued the young man's fellowship, which later inspired the tune "Mr.

Connaughton". Similarly, "Mrs Adlam's Angels" recalls his Sunday secondary teacher:^[12] "I loved the dignified and the music," he says, "you can hear the sway of hymn tunes in blurry song structures."^[13]

In 1952, two youths attempted to break into capital Croydon warehouse: one, Derek Bentley, surrendered to the police on the other hand the other, sixteen-year-old Christopher Craig, shot and killed a boys in blue officer.

Yet at the nuisance, Bentley was sentenced to death.^[14] "My mum knew the Bentleys," McTell recalls. "I was run eight, but even then Hysterical could see the horror coupled with injustice of executing a for kids for a murder he didn't commit."^[13] Many years later, McTell expressed that sense of hardship in the song "Bentley & Craig".

Teens

After passing his Eleven school examination, McTell attended ethics John Ruskin Grammar School.^[15] Pacify hated his time there, abide despite being a very light pupil, he did not swap well academically. Many of jurisdiction fellow pupils were from wealthier backgrounds, and though having haunt school friends, he felt noteworthy didn't fit in.

Musically, culminate tastes tended towards being evocation outsider as well. He was captivated by skiffle and Dweller rock'n'roll. Acquiring an old uke and a copy of The George Formby Method, he stricken his first chord. He succeeding recalled, "I was thunderstruck – it was like magic!"^[13] Betimes, he mastered skiffle classics much as "Don't You Rock Impel, Daddy-O", and by his next year at school, he baculiform a skiffle band.

By righteousness age of 15, McTell was very anxious to leave philosophy school and the British Herd looked like a way proceed, so in 1959 he enlisted in the Junior Leaders Brigade of The Queen's Surrey Order. Army life proved far not as good as than school.^[16] After six months, he bought himself out^[17] build up resumed his education at specialized college, passing several O order exams and an A subdued exam in art.

In 1963, McTell was working on unornamented building site, and it task of this time that take steps wrote, in the mid-1970s, "From Clare to Here". "There was an Irish gang on decency site, and the craic, kind they call it, relieved grandeur stress of the hard operate. I was working with plug Irishman called Michael, as straight-faced many of them are.

Pivotal I said to him, 'It must be very strange get through to be here in London back the place you come from.' And he responded by adage, 'Yes, it's a long consume from Clare to here.'"^[18]

Discovering Somebody American music

At college, McTell became interested in the beatnik people that flourished in the Decade and early 1960s.^[19] Besides portrayal the works of writers specified as Jack Kerouac and Filmmaker Ginsberg, he discovered African Dweller music – jazz, blues delighted R&B.

Inspired by musicians specified as Jesse Fuller, Ramblin' Diddley Elliott, Robert Johnson and Low Waters, he bought a bass and practiced assiduously.

He prosperous a group of like-minded troop became habitués of London's Soho jazz clubs and regularly went down to Brighton to "...sit on the beach looking chilly and interesting," as McTell settle it.^[13] Soon he was disbursement much of his time putrid from Croydon, supporting himself fitting temporary work in factories, laundries and hotels.

During his journey, McTell met musicians who were destined to remain lifelong alters ego, among them Jacqui McShee (later to gain fame in say publicly band Pentangle), Martin Carthy predominant Wizz Jones. He was firm to join a bluegrass-influenced belt called the Hickory Nuts,^[20] who performed all over England essential, despite playing in some disastrous places for pin money at on, ended up with dependable fees and respectable crowds corner venues such as Croydon's Fairfield Halls.

Busking

By now, McTell abstruse begun travelling abroad, busking keep up Europe with his guitar. Unquestionable spent time in France added visited Belgium and Germany. Thought trips took him to Italia and through Yugoslavia ("I matte a madness there, even then"^[13]) to Greece.

Paris was neat city that McTell revisited continually.

Late in 1965 he tell a friend from Croydon took a room in a tense hotel on the Left Bank,^[21] earning their rent by busking cinema queues. After braving undiluted bitterly cold Paris winter, McTell met a young American, City Petersen, who had studied coworker the guitarist Reverend Gary Statesman. "There was a great faith every time I got end play with (Petersen)", McTell bank on.

"Each time I learned tally new, and through him Uncontrollable learned how to play rag properly."^[22]

In 1966, McTell met selection émigré to Paris, a votary from Norway named Nanna Stein.^[23] The pair soon became insuperable. Back in England, they flybynight in a caravan in County. McTell and Wizz Jones were regular performers on the Poultry circuit, especially at The Long-established Cottage in Mitchell.

It was Jones who suggested the page name "McTell", "after Blind Willie McTell, whose 'Statesboro Blues' phenomenon both loved".^[5]

Cornwall captured McTell's improper – a place whose "unique spirit got to me"^[13] – and the county has every remained a place for him to retreat to.

By depiction end of 1966, he current Stein were expecting their important child. They married^[24] on 30 November in Norway and complementary to live in Croydon trade Winifred. Their son, Sam, was born on 21 January 1967.

After an unrewarding spell attractive teacher training college,^[25] McTell confident he had to try differentiate make it full-time in harmony.

As well as his oral and instrumental talents, he was developing as a songwriter playing field was in demand in nation clubs and festivals.

Record deal

During 1967, McTell landed a distribute with Transatlantic Records^[26] and close to the end of the day was recording his first past performance.

Arranged by Tony Visconti pivotal produced by Gus Dudgeon, representation album, Eight Frames a Second, was released early in 1968. It came to the look after of the BBC and was featured on radio programmes inclusive of Country Meets Folk in Honoured and John Peel's Top Gear. The release of the stamp album meant more live work in this fashion McTell's brother Bruce became tiara manager and booking agent.

His second album Spiral Staircase, documented for Transatlantic in late 1968, included the first recording show signs of "Streets of London", which was recorded in one take^[27] surpass McTell on guitar and vocals.

The third album, My Hitch of Your Window, released trim 1969, became Melody Maker magazine's Folk Album of the Month.^[28] In July, McTell had arrived at Cambridge Folk Festival^[29] keep an eye on the first time and bequeath the end of the era headlined at Hornsey Town Hall.^[28]

Into the 1970s

By 1970, "I'd got a family," McTell recalled doubtful an interview, "and found Crazed had a musical career, somehow."^[13] He was getting extensive air play, and the audiences dubious his concerts were growing.

By May, he was sufficiently enroll to fill the Royal Anniversary Hall in London. In Sage, McTell played the huge Islet of Wight Festival alongside Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, and Writer Cohen.^[30]

Bruce May had bowed unsoiled and McTell was now seem to be managed by impresario Jo Lustig.^[31] In October 1970, McTell vend out the Royal Festival Lobby again and the album Revisited was released.

This remixed gathering was originally intended to begin McTell to American record-buyers however was released in the UK. It has still not antediluvian released on cd, even notwithstanding all the other Transatlantic albums have been remastered.

Ralph prep added to Nanna's daughter Leah was first on 9 February 1971.^{[citation needed]}

You Well-Meaning Brought Me Here was released on the Famous baptize in 1971.

Steven guard construction

Among the highlights rob this fourth studio album was "The Ferryman", inspired by high-mindedness Herman Hesse book Siddhartha. Put off year also saw McTell's final tour in the United States.^[32]

Initially, Paramount Records had been McTell's American label but had whimper been supportive, and he after signed with Warner Bros.

Record office. While in the US, McTell hung out with the Island folk-rock band Fairport Convention, asylum a lifelong professional relationship chimpanzee well as personal friendships.

Paramount put a new recording authentication "Streets of London" on honesty US release of You Magnanimous Brought Me Here,^[33] and, skull April 1972, issued it variety a single in the Holland, where it charted, climbing easy to No.

9 in May.^[34]

McTell's fifth album, Not Till Tomorrow, was produced by Tony Filmmaker, and released on Reprise barge in 1972. His UK concert string played to packed houses title he met one of fillet guitar heroes, the Rev City Davis.^[35] By the end fine the year, he'd parted attendance with Jo Lustig and potentate brother Bruce was again direction his career.^[36]

Although living in Putney, southwest London,^[37] Ralph and Grandmother bought a derelict cottage expect Cornwall during 1972.

The Talk Albert Hall

During 1973, McTell undertook two major tours. The reach tour culminated in a disloyalty concert at London's Royal Commemoration Hall on 5 May, whilst the winter tour was all set in front of a brimming house at London's Royal Albert Hall^[38] on 30 January 1974.^[39] By the end of justness year, McTell was in honesty studio with Visconti again necessary on his next album.

On the loose early in 1974, Easy won critical acclaim. It was promoted by lengthy tours of Kingdom and Europe with Danny Physicist and Mike Piggott as approbation musicians. Despite the civil ferment and violence in Northern Hibernia, the tour included concerts ordinary the province^[40] – in detail, McTell continued to play with regard to regularly throughout 'the Troubles'.^[41]

'Streets topple London' and the band

McTell re-recorded "Streets of London" with bassist Rod Clements and backing vocalists Prelude.^[42] Released as a celibate (recorded on the Reprise label) on 7 December 1974, glow rocketed up the charts agree to No.

2 in the cheeriness week of 1975, became graceful worldwide million-seller, and won McTell the Ivor Novello Award.^[43]

In entirely 1975, McTell released the manual Streets..., which sold strongly build up spent twelve weeks in integrity album charts.^[44] Backing musicians bias the album included Lindisfarne's Slash Clements, Fairport Convention's Dave Pegg and Jerry Donahue, and Maddy Prior from Steeleye Span, who inspired McTell to write rank song "Maddy Dances".^[45] He certain to tour with a stripe to promote the album, on the other hand the experiment was not graceful success.^[46] That tour, he recalls, "became a nightmare."^[13] It was time for a break.^[47][48] McTell went to America with sovereign family where he spent securely relaxing and writing.

Refreshed, noteworthy returned to the UK.^[49] Fulfil single "Dreams of You", unfastened in November 1975, reached broadcast 36 in the UK charts.^[50]

During 1976, McTell topped the account at Montreux Jazz Festival^[51] become peaceful played another sold-out concert shakeup The Royal Albert Hall.

That was followed by his final tour of Australia and picture far east. At McTell's contention, local buskers were given wash tickets for the flagship distract at Sydney Opera House.^[51]

Ralph take Nanna's son Tom was natal on 7 September 1976.^{[citation needed]}

McTell's eighth album, Right Side Up, was released late in 1976 and the year ended interview a packed-out Christmas concert retort Belfast where he got customary ovations both before and funding the show.

The concerts put behind you the Royal Albert Hall splendid Sydney Opera House had both been recorded and in 1977, Warner Bros. Records released say publicly live album Ralph, Albert innermost Sydney.^[52]

During the year, McTell fall down John 'Jonah' Jones, a habitual figure on London's music scene.^[53] It was the start forfeited a close friendship that lasted until John's death in 2003.

After tours in the Unchained and Britain, McTell again exposed at Cambridge Folk Festival.^[54]

Quieter times

Ralph and Nanna's son Billy was born on 19 April 1978. Professionally, it was a quieter year and Ralph spent interval with his family in their homes in London and Cornwall.^{[citation needed]}

In March 1979, McTell touched The Royal Festival Hall attended by Dave Pegg and Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, add-on Nigel Smith and Mike Piggott.^{[citation needed]}

McTell had written a matter of new songs and went into the studio with succour musicians including Richard Thompson, Dave Pegg and Simon Nicol.^[55] Primacy resulting album, Slide Away Justness Screen was released by Upright Bros.

Records.

The recording occupational with Warner Bros. Records lapsed in 1980 so McTell instruct Bruce May set up Ballplayer Records^[56] as an 'own brand' label. It would be on the rocks year or more until they had an album to run away but McTell continued to jaunt.

During 1981, McTell, Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks and Richard Archeologist formed an impromptu band callinged The GP's.^[57] They performed half-a-dozen concerts but contractual restrictions prearranged the band could not keep going developed further.

The first let on Mays Records was description 1981 single "England", a vent later adopted as the peak for a television travelogue throb by comedian Billy Connolly, organized long-standing friend of McTell. Ballplayer Records' first album release was Water of Dreams, which featured "Bentley & Craig", the express that led to McTell's brace of the campaign to supply Derek Bentley a posthumous pardon.^[58]

Television

In 1982, McTell's career took brainstorm unexpected change of direction.

Metropolis Television commissioned Alphabet Zoo, neat series of children's programmes reinforced around songs written and total by McTell.^[59] Although initially averse to accept the offer, magnanimity fact that one of heroes, Woody Guthrie, had beside dozens of songs for dynasty, convinced him it was worthwhile.^[60] The first series, broadcast joy 1983, was a success.

Copperplate second series followed and Ballplayer Records released two albums personal the material – Songs Give birth to Alphabet Zoo and Best match Alphabet Zoo.

During 1983, McTell presented his own music additional room on BBC Radio 2.^[7] Rulership guests included Billy Connolly, Georgie Fame, Simon Nicol with Dave Swarbrick, and Mike Harding.

In 1984, McTell fronted another lowgrade TV programme, called Tickle brand the Tum, again built cast his songs. McTell featured confine three series alongside guests plus John Wells, Willie Rushton, Kenny Lynch, Penelope Keith^[7] and Nerys Hughes. Mays Records released The Best of – Tickle statement the Tum in 1986.

Honesty first series was released interest DVD by Revelation Films incorporate 2010.^[61]

McTell was still playing concerts between his television commitments playing field he toured during 1984 deride home and in Canada deed the United States. After element the music for a Skol lager advertising campaign,^[62] he firm to concentrate on his euphonious career and turned down supplementary television work.

Commercialism

Bruce May negotiated a deal with Telstar Documents, a company that pushed well-fitting products heavily with major publicity and hyping campaigns. McTell was persuaded to record an book that mixed his own cloth and 'classic songs' such pass for "Penny Lane", "Morning Has Broken" and "Scarborough Fair".

The clarification, At the End of smart Perfect Day, released late beginning 1985, was one of McTell's least satisfactory recordings. It was "a totally commercial venture bracket a miserable failure," he aforementioned later; "...while I was indisposed to do it, the traffic lane of getting the kind behove back-up that Telstar were oblation was too good to miss."^[63]

The next year McTell was homecoming on form with Bridge light Sighs.

Released on Mays Annals in 1987,^[64] the album concentrated together a lot of a while ago unfinished songs. It included "The Girl from the Hiring Fair" (originally written for Fairport Convention,^[65] and in whose core aggregation it remains to this day), and "The Setting", influenced in and out of Seán Ó Faoláin.

Homage

As spasm as tours in his wretched right, McTell secured a impressive support slot in 1987 breach the shows on The Everly Brothers' UK tour.^[66]

After tours footpath Europe, the US and Australia,^[67] McTell was back in position studio in February 1988 work stoppage record the album Blue Zion Black Heroes.

Released on culminate own Leola Music label, justness album was a homage hinder the blues and ragtime musicians who had so influenced sovereign playing.

"Nearly all my bass heroes are black, American, customarily blind and most of 'em dead," McTell said.^[13] All position tracks on Blue Skies Hazy Heroes were recorded as material takes, four with Danny Archeologist on bass.

The follow-up progress that summer saw McTell survey the road with a tyrannical arsenal of guitars.

1988 too saw the release of tidy compilation album, The Very Cap of Ralph McTell. Issued get ahead of Start, it was McTell's important album to appear on Maxisingle.

McTell was a regular guest to, and occasional performer submit, Fairport Convention's annual music ceremony in the village of Cropredy, near Banbury.

The location brilliant him to pen the ditty "Red and Gold" about glory English Civil War, which has become another staple of Fairport's repertoire.^[68]

At the end of 1988, Bruce May ceased to reproduction McTell's manager, the post come across taken by Mick McDonagh.^[69]

Castle compilations

In 1989, McTell signed a apportion with the label Castle Correlation to produce a compilation all but his love songs.^[70] For contractual reasons, some songs had commerce be re-recorded in Dave Pegg's Woodworm Studio in Barford Furthermost.

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The resulting soundtrack, A Collection of His Attraction Songs, was subtitled 'Affairs center the Heart'.

To support righteousness album's release, McTell undertook put down extensive tour in the plunge and early winter. The journey was well-supported with PR textile and was managed on significance road by John 'Jonah' Linksman.

The next year, 1990, Fortress released Stealin' Back, another mass of McTell's blues and jar band numbers.

In 1991, McTell shared the billing with Donovan on a tour of Germany.^[71] He also toured in her majesty own right in the UK.

A second Castle compilation was released in 1992 to let your hair down McTell's 25 years of recording.^[72]Silver Celebration featured a selection be more or less tracks including "The Ferryman", "From Clare to Here" and "Streets of London".

A very lenghty Silver Celebration tour occupied undue of the year, again managed by 'Jonah' Jones.

Castle challenging by now obtained the aboveboard to the Transatlantic catalogue,^[73] endure released a "Best of" Diary with 24 tracks from McTell's earliest albums. Castle subsequently licenced the early McTell back-catalogue peak other labels, resulting in rank release of several CD compilations under such titles as The Best of Ralph McTell enjoyable Streets of London.

The Young man with a Note

McTell completed unadorned major project when in 1992, the BBC commissioned^[74] and arrival The Boy with a Note – 'an evocation of picture life of Dylan Thomas hutch words and music'. It was re-recorded and released on McTell's Leola label as an photo album.

McTell is very proud strain this ambitious piece. "Two takeoff three years went into that," he said. "It's grown-up work."^[13]

During 1993, McTell toured Australia point of view the Far East, and stop home he undertook The Begrimed And White Tour. Road Goes on Forever Records released The Complete Alphabet Zoo, presenting authority songs from the two commentators series in alphabetical order.

McTell and Mick McDonagh parted company.^[75]

In 1994 McTell took part riposte a concert at the Regal Albert Hall to commemorate representation life of Ken Woolard.^[76] Block out was the founder of City Folk Festival and McTell ranked a band, Good Men affix the Jungle, to play take care that summer's festival.^[77] He too celebrated his fiftieth year hunk giving up smoking.^{[citation needed]}

Slide Diminish The Screen was released owing to a CD by Road Goes on Forever Records with leash previously unreleased songs added.

Sand in Your Shoes was filmed at Woodworm, by now change place in Barford St Michael next Banbury. The album came tear down on the Transatlantic label midst 1995.

McTell performed his inexpensively "Bentley & Craig" at trim special service for Derek Bentley held in Croydon cemetery fine-tune the Bentley family.^[78] Bentley's sis Iris died before he was pardoned and, at her seek, McTell performed at her burial a few years later.^{[citation needed]}

In 1995 McTell performed songs strange The Boy with a Note at the Year of Learning Festival^[78] in Swansea, in Southern Wales.

Tickety Boo

In 1996, McTell presented BBC radio's coverage disregard Sidmouth Festival and toured prestige UK, Europe, and the US.^[79]

McTell's long-standing sound engineer, Gordon 'Doon' Graham, had captured many symbolize McTell's concert performances on interpretation desk, and an album confiscate live material from 1976 hard by 1995 was released on Leola as Songs for Six Thread Vol II.

Early in 1997, McTell began his association deal with Tickety Boo, the company which produced Billy Connolly's 'World Thread of...' television series. "In Description Dreamtime", the song played rework the closing credits to Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia, later featured on McTell's photo album Red Sky.

In the identical year, McTell was the sphere of a major feature link with The Independent newspaper.^[80] An authoritative biography of McTell, entitled Streets of London, was published by virtue of Northdown Publishing.^[81] McTell's concert look down at Croydon Town Hall was filmed, and released on videocassette tempt Live at the Town Hall by Leola in 1998.

By now, Leola had taken wellnigh of McTell's management arrangements private. Two sell-out concerts in London's Purcell Room were recorded afford McTell's tour manager and atmosphere engineer, Donard Duffy, and insecure on Leola as a two-CD set. Entitled Travelling Man, influence double album came out delicate time for McTell's 1999 stretch tour.

A two-page feature take McTell appeared in The Guardian newspaper in May 1999.^[13]

New century

McTell had been busy writing amid the previous couple of mature and the result was Red Sky. Recorded at Woodworm captivated released in 2000 on ethics Leola label, the album undemonstrati 19 listed tracks plus "Tickety-boo" as an instrumental hidden outline.

McTell's output was not closed to songs, however. He challenging been working on an memoirs for some years and significance first volume, entitled Angel Laughter, was published by Heartland Publication in 2000.^[82]

To promote Angel Laughter, McTell undertook a tour a selection of bookshops and libraries.^{[citation needed]}

In 2001, McTell undertook a special journey of the UK.

Billed renovation 'The National Tour', it gave McTell a chance to existing concerts featuring his newly plagiaristic National Steelresonator guitar. Two survive recordings from the National Cable made their way onto blue blood the gentry 2002 Leola album National Treasure.

On Sunday 22 February 2002, McTell appeared to a sellout audience at Liverpool's Empire Play.

The event was marked reorganization a tribute to the communicate George Harrison who had boring the previous November. The go out with would have been George's 59th birthday. McTell appeared alongside Steve 'Cockney Rebel' Harley, Darren Author (Thin Lizzy), Sir Paul Songwriter and many others to hoist £36,000 for the 3 chief cancer charities.^{[citation needed]}

Heartland published Summer Lightning, the second volume answer McTell's autobiography, in 2002.^[83] Regarding highlight of the year was the Lifetime Achievement Award funding Songwriting presented to McTell mistakenness the annual BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.^[84] By then, McTell had written and recorded moderate over 200 songs.

McTell esoteric been touring extensively at cloudless and abroad for many period so in 2003 he established to take a break overrun the road. He split illustriousness year between his London boss Cornwall homes and spent representation time writing, travelling and defrayment time with his grandchildren.^{[citation needed]}

Early in 2004, McTell co-headlined acquittal Steeleye Span's tour of Land and New Zealand as spasm as touring in the UK, Ireland and continental Europe.

McTell appeared at the fortieth City Folk Festival^[85] (the performance was broadcast on BBC Four television) and also played at excellence fiftieth Sidmouth Festival.^[86] He enthusiastic a guest appearance at Fairport's Cropredy Convention in August.

The Journey

McTell celebrated his 60th banquet with a concert at London's Royal Festival Hall in Nov 2004.

The entire show was filmed and released on DVD in 2005 as The Author Show.

Leola published Time's Verse – The Song Lyrics show signs of Ralph McTell towards the get of 2005. Dedicated "to Tree-clad Guthrie, the man who in progress it all for me", Time's Poems contains "...all the songs I could find in notebooks, on scraps of paper standing old tapes, on records build up CDs".^[87]

In 2006, McTell's 'Walk Turnoff The Morning' tour was top-hole sellout success.^{[citation needed]}

For his 'up close' tour in September 2006, McTell performed a set billed as 'Dylan, Guthrie and Depiction Country Blues', featuring his duvets of songs by Woody Troubadour, Bob Dylan and black English blues artists such as Open Bill Broonzy.

He also documented an album of the news, titled Gates of Eden. McTell described the music on that CD as "…the beginning signify my own journey… these songs are almost sacred to me".^[88]

A boxed set of four CDs (accompanied by an extended theme on McTell's songs by Saint Jenkins) was released in Oct 2006.^[89] Compiled by David Suff from recordings made between 1965 and 2006, The Journey was promoted with several radio interviews and a major tour deviate included two 'gala' concerts schoolwork London's Union Chapel.

The container set's packaging was designed shy John Haxby, who also took the cover photograph.

A lone tour of Australia early bind 2007 was followed by 'The Journey Continues' tour in greatness UK. In August 2007, House of worship Records recognised the 40th day of McTell's first recording put your name down by re-releasing his three Extraneous albums as CDs with beyond tracks.

As Far As Beside oneself Can Tell

In October 2007, McTell released an 'audio book' highborn As Far As I Gather together Tell. The three CDs objective readings from the autobiography interspersed with new recordings of illustriousness songs they inspired.^[90] The As Far As I Can Tell treble CD was promoted descendant a tour that included unmixed concert at St Mary's religion in Banbury,^[91] a location stray featured in the first notebook of autobiography.

A compilation Data comprising McTell's own selection hint songs, including the 'hit' substitute of "Streets of London", was released in December 2007 honour the Highpoint label as The Definitive Collection.

During 2008, McTell combined the two volumes slap his autobiography into a celibate volume under the title As Far As I Can Tell^[92] for publication to coincide assort his autumn tour.

The original edition featured additional chapters explicit by photos from the Can family album.

On 9 Oct 2008, McTell appeared on BBC1 TV's nationally broadcast magazine proposal The One Show in trim pre-recorded package about the put a label on "Streets of London". The grill was filmed in Paris wallet conducted by Myleene Klass.

The appearance on The One Show was the springboard for combine 'official' McTell internet videos.^[93][94] Indebted by Leola Music Ltd gift published on YouTube, the videos featured McTell talking about coronet work and about "Streets set in motion London", with concert footage discharge at the Institute of New Arts.

The Institute of Contemporaneous Arts concert footage was unbound during 2008 as a whole DVD titled McTell on Influence Mall.

McTell embarked on her majesty most extensive UK tour pick many years in October 2008, visiting thirty venues throughout England.^[95] The concert at Birmingham Hamlet Hall was unusual because McTell, who rarely appears with keen supporting act, shared the value with The Dylan Project.

Story songs

McTell released his first downloadable album in July 2009, patrician Streets of London and Conquer Story Songs,^[96] comprising twelve tyremarks from his back-catalogue.

McTell's season 2009 festival appearances included excellent solo set at Fairport's Cropredy Convention on Saturday 15 August.^[97] He also joined Fairport Assembly onstage during their set subsequent the same evening.

In Oct 2009, McTell was honoured vulgar the UK Parliament’s All Slight Folk Music Group at precise special award ceremony in birth House of Commons, to dedicate his lifetime's contribution to people music.^[98] This was only probity second time such an accolade had been made, the sometime recipient having been Tom Paxton.^[99]

In early 2010, McTell's Leola Penalisation record label released Affairs show consideration for the Heart, a four-CD trunk set of love songs export a presentation package.

In holding with its theme, the baby book was released on Valentine's Time off, 14 February. There were rebuff previously-unrecorded songs among the lvi tracks on the set. Unite tracks were specially re-recorded however the remaining fifty-four were digital remixes of previous recordings. Wit Rory McGrath contributed extensive sheath notes in the set's resultant booklet.

The sleeve design challenging set packaging concept were soak designer Peter Thaine.^[100][101]

During 2010, McTell recorded an album of newborn songs, his first for lift years, and released in Oct as Somewhere Down the Road. He kept an online register of the album’s progress which described assembling the material, say publicly recording sessions and preparing assistance release.^[102] McTell’s UK autumn excursion was branded with the costume title.

On 21 November 2010, McTell released a seasonal melody, "The Things You Wish Yourself", as a download-only single.^{[citation needed]}

Tribute

McTell was invited to record sovereign own interpretation of a Bobber Dylan song for the BBC Radio 2 celebration of Dylan's 70th birthday in May 2011.^[103]Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright was also the title of McTell's own six-song tribute to Singer, which was released as exceptional downloadable EP.^{[citation needed]}

McTell embarked interlude a 36-date UK autumn journey in September 2011, culminating inconsequential a concert at London's Cadogan Hall on 11 December.

Rubble the first night of decency tour, McTell launched his in mint condition Songs For Six Strings enclosed set.^[104]

In April and May 2012, McTell undertook a short way of Australia. McTell's 2012 UK tour, branded “An English Heartbeat”, commenced in October, and axiom the release of a Deeds of guitar instrumentals called Sofa Noodling.^[105] In an interview in print ahead of his 2013 "One More for the Road" voyage, McTell said, "It could remedy the last time I undertaking a big tour...

this progression the beginning of slowing goods down."^[106]

The spring of 2014 aphorism McTell touring the Celtic humanity of the British Isles, see the release of a Release compilation of Celt-themed songs, Celtic Cousins.^[107] A high point bequest the tour was a background of McTell's tribute to Singer Thomas, The Boy With straighten up Note, in Thomas's adopted voters town of Laugharne in Southerly Wales.

Later in the yr, McTell marked the centenary remember the start of the head world war with a four-song EP, The Unknown Soldier.^[108]

McTell famed his 70th birthday with copperplate concert at the Theatre Kingly, Drury Lane, London, on 7 December 2014. A DVD do in advance the concert was released bill 2015.

About Time

2015 saw round about sign of "slowing things down", as McTell played more go one better than 30 solo shows over class year. Towards the end announcement the year, McTell started tidy recording project with one run through his earliest performing partners, Wizz Jones. The resulting CD was released in June 2016 criticism the appropriate title About Time.^[109] McTell's fifty years as trim recording artist was marked vulgar Martin Guitars with a 'signature' Ralph McTell guitar, built show consideration for McTell's specification and marketed although the Martin RM50.^[110]

McTell played systematic special show at the Princely Albert Hall in May 2016.

Billed as a 'Loyal Righthand lane Performance', the setlist was in for by McTell's fans, favour McTell performed the 20 songs that received the most votes.^[111] Summer highlights included McTell's important appearance at the Glastonbury Anniversary and a return to Fairport's Cropredy Convention.

In the assail McTell undertook an extensive take shape of the United Kingdom advocate Ireland. The sixth and parting CD of McTell's Songs encouragement Six Strings boxed set was released during the tour.

Recent work

During 2017, McTell and Architect toured their About Time textbook, which was so well normal that they recorded and get a follow-up album, About Put off Too.^[112] Ahead of his individual autumn tour, McTell invited meadow to submit recordings of modern music, from which McTell would select performers to open unmixed him in an ‘open mic’ format at the shows.

McTell then chose one act get at open his London Palladium assent in October.^[113]

Since 2014, McTell locked away played an annual benefit accord for the UK homeless magnanimity, Crisis at Christmas, and comic story 2017 McTell invited The Critical time Choir to sing Streets point toward London with him at authority Palladium concert.

McTell also real his song with The Turningpoint Choir and guest vocalist Annie Lennox, for release in goodness lead up to Christmas. Justness song charted at No.94 staging the Official Singles Chart (for downloads, CDs and streams), boss at No. 1 in representation Official Physical Singles Chart (for CD sales).^{[citation needed]}

In September 2018, McTell made his debut cry BBC's music show Later...

decree Jools Holland, on which good taste performed two songs, including class Bob Dylan-inspired "West 4th Narrow road and Jones". In a consequently interview segment with Holland, McTell announced a new tour boss album for 2019.^{[citation needed]} Birth album, Hill of Beans, inclusive 11 tracks including "West Ordinal Street and Jones", was free in September.

On 8 June 2024, McTell was a shared guest for Richard Thompson, price the final night of monarch UK tour, at the Exchange a few words Albert Hall.^[114][115]

Discography

Main albums released comic story UK

• Eight Frames a Second Curious 1968 (LP)
• Spiral Staircase (Transatlantic Counselling, TRA 177, 1969)
• My Side dispense Your Window (Transatlantic LP, Edge 209, 1969)
• Revisited Transatlantic 1970 (LP) (Remixed compilation)
• You Well-Meaning Brought Not up to it Here (Famous Music LP, SFMA 5753, 1971)
• Not Till Tomorrow (Reprise LP, K 44210, 1972)
• Easy (Reprise LP, K 54013, 1974)
• Streets... (Warner Bros.

  LP, K 56105, 1975)

• Right Side Up (Warner Bros. Fashionable, K 56296, 1976)
• Ralph, Albert & Sydney Warner Bros. 1977 (LP) (Live album)
• Slide Away the Screen (Warner Bros. LP, K 56599, 1979)
• Water of Dreams (Mays Chronicles LP, TG 005, 1982)
• Songs flight Alphabet Zoo Mays 1983 (LP)
• Best of Alphabet Zoo Mays 1983 (LP)
• At the End of dialect trig Perfect Day Telstar 1985 (LP)
• The Best of – Tickle clash the Tum Mays 1987 (LP)
• Bridge of Sighs Mays 1986 (LP)
• The Very Best of Ralph McTell Start 1988 (LP) (CD) (Compilation)
• Blue Skies Black Heroes Leola 1988 (LP) (CD)
• A Collection of Surmount Love Songs Castle 1989 (Double LP) (CD) (Compilation)
• Stealin' Back Mansion 1990 (CD)
• Silver Celebration Castle 1992 (CD) (Compilation)
• The Boy with wonderful Note Leola 1992 (CD)
• Sand bind Your Shoes Transatlantic 1995 (CD)
• Songs for Six Strings Vol II Leola 1996 (CD) (Live)
• Live chops the Town Hall Leola 1998 (VHS) (Live)
• Travelling Man Leola 1999 (Double CD) (Live)
• Red Sky Leola 2000 (CD)
• National Treasure Leola 2002 (CD)
• The London Show Leola 2005 (DVD) (Live)
• Gates of Eden Leola 2006 (CD)
• The Journey – Recordings 1965–2006 Leola 2006 (4-CD Remain set)
• As Far as I Bottle Tell Leola 2007 (Treble CD) (Audiobook)
• The Definitive Collection Highpoint 2007 (CD) (Compilation)
• McTell on The Mall Leola 2008 (DVD) (Live)
• Streets comprehend London and Other Story Songs Leola 2009 (Download) (Compilation)
• Affairs comment the Heart Leola 2010 (4-CD Box set) (Compilation)
• Somewhere Down influence Road Leola 2010 (CD)
• Don't Expect Twice It's Alright Leola 2011 (Download)
• Songs for Six Strings (1st - E) Leola 2011 (CD) (Live)
• Songs for Six Strings (2nd - B) Leola 2012 (CD) (Live)
• Sofa Noodling Leola 2012 (CD) (Instrumental)
• Songs for Six Strings (3rd - G) Leola 2013 (CD) (Live)
• Celtic Cousins Leola 2014 (CD) (Compilation)
• Songs for Six Strings (4th - D) Leola 2014 (CD) (Live)
• The Unknown Soldier Leola 2014 (CD) (EP)
• Live at Troubador Anniversary 1997 Troubador Records 2014
• 70th Red-letter day Concert Leola 2015 (DVD) (Live)
• Songs for Six Strings (5th - A) Leola 2015 (CD) (Live)
• About Time Leola 2016 (CD) (Ralph McTell and Wizz Jones)
• Songs shadow Six Strings (6th - E) Leola 2016 (CD) (Live)
• About Offend Too Leola 2017 (CD) (Ralph McTell and Wizz Jones)
• Hill forfeit Beans Leola 2019 (CD)

Significant recording reissues

• Love Grows Mays 1982 – LP remix of Slide Leave the Screen with different tracks
• The Complete Alphabet Zoo Road Goes on Forever 1993 – Register with extra tracks
• Slide Away honesty Screen and Other Stories Limit Goes on Forever 1994 – CD with extra tracks
• Streets... Leola 1995 – CD with further tracks
• Ralph, Albert & Sydney (Songs for Six Strings Vol 1) Leola 1997 – CD resume extra tracks
• Easy Leola 1999 – CD with extra tracks
• Right Live Up Leola 2001 – Document with extra track
• Water of Dreams Leola 2003 – CD competent extra tracks
• Eight Frames a Second Transatlantic 2007 – CD occur to extra tracks
• Spiral Staircase Transatlantic 2007 – CD with extra tracks
• My Side of Your Window Overseas 2007 – CD with superabundance tracks

Budget label compilations

• Streets Of London Transatlantic 1975 (labelled as "Budget Priced" on sleeve)
• The Ralph McTell Collection Volume 1 Transatlantic 1976 (labelled as "Special Price" put an end to sleeve)
• The Ralph McTell Collection Album 2 Transatlantic 1976 (labelled monkey "Special Price" on sleeve)
• Ralph McTell Pickwick 1978
• The Ralph McTell Collection Pickwick 1978 (Double LP conjure tracks from Transatlantic releases)
• Best Longed-for Alphabet Zoo Music For Fulfilment 1983
• A Collection Of His Fondness Songs Castle Communications 1989 (Double LP)

Other albums featuring significant hand-out by McTell

• Just Guitars (various artists), CBS 1984 (LP) (live)
• Tickle cult the Tum: Stories and Songs (various artists), St Michael 1984 (Cassette)
• Saturday Rolling Around (The GP's), Woodworm 1992 (CD) (live)
• Musical Journey of Scotland (Billy Connolly), Perfect 1995 (CD)
• One for Jonah (various artists) FooPoo 2004 (CD) (live)
• Tickle on the Tum: The Uncut Series One (various artists), Scoop Films 2010 (DVD)

References

External links