Ralph McTell - A National Treasure
I've always believed that people like , , , and (I could go on - there are many more names I can think of) are national treasures. In a fairer world, they would be seen for what they are: the carriers and definers of our culture.
Against the Americanisation, standardisation, Mcdonaldsisation and general dumbing down of our traditions and history they have produced work, year after year, that is true art and yet true music of and for the people. Some day and somewhere else I mean to write more about the Folk Revival and what it has meant for this country but, for now, let me just talk about one man and one particular piece of his.
Ralph McTell has just released a 3 CD set called As Far As I Can Tell. It is an amalgam of excerpts from his two fine volumes of autobiography, Angel Laughter and Summer Lightning, and songs and tunes that were inspired by the stories in the text. As a picture of this country and the life of a little boy who looks at the world through the eyes of innocence it is wonderful: as the record of a time when young men and women could hike around Europe busking and sleeping under the stars it is superb; I could smell the Gauloise fags, the cheap wine, and the dust of the French roads. It is full of humour too, gentle and bawdy, but at all times kind, as is the nature of the man.
Ralph reads the stories beautifully and the songs, music and sound effects melt in and out seamlessly. As a radio boy myself I was transported  transfixed might be a better word. I sat in the studio and listened to all 3 CDs one after the other and wanted more at the end. You can hear a piece from As Far As I Can Tell in my programme this week and I can guarantee that there'll be much more from it in the weeks to come.
Comment number 1.
At 23rd Oct 2008, Keith wrote:Yes he is. Wonderful songwriter and story-teller.
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Comment number 2.
At 23rd Oct 2008, Keith wrote:It all started for me with a Mike Harding Live from Sidmouth special in 2000, where I started to hear Ralph's songs OTHER than Streets of London; THAT I used to find far too depressing, but I've grown to like it since.
Ever since I've since Ralph live at least once most years and now own far more Ralph McTell CDs. I'm got him live at The Brindley in Runcorn tomorrow night too
SheilasRoots can wax effulgent about all sorts of new "discoveries", but sometimes you just have to get out there and hear The Greats, even when you came to them late!
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Comment number 3.
At 23rd Oct 2008, EnglishFolkfan wrote:National Treasures undoubtedly. Agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment that our Culture is defined and maintained by the above named and others. Yet this form of sung literature is generally not recognised by the upholders of our Literary History. Methinks, Laurie Lee and Ralph McTell - compare and contrast as an Eng Lit exam question.....
I look forward to your writings on the more recent Folk Story appearing in the form of an e-book, that way we get the actual musical quotes and footnotes as well as the text.
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Comment number 4.
At 23rd Oct 2008, reg meuross wrote:Many years ago I sent a cassette of songs to Ralph when I found out that my then guitarist was one of those people he had busked around europe with. Ralph took the time to write a long and detailed reply essentialy warning me on how hard it was going to be to make a living being a songwriter whilst staying true.
Years later I toured with him as a member of Alan Franks' and Patty Vetta's band. Ralph couldn't have been more concerned about our sound and particularly my old Gibson, which it turned out was the same as the one he'd had for years and recently ditched. He even made us tea!
I loved what I heard last night on the programme. It showed almost a weary fascination with the world. The best storytellers have that, it draws you gently in and takes you somewhere unexpected.
A national treasure and a gent.
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Comment number 5.
At 23rd Oct 2008, Keith wrote:I still think Ralph's best story is the one where, 15 minutes into an interiew on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Shropshire, the local Alan Partridge blurted out "I don't think you even ARE Roger Whittaker"!
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