[peel] Re: Reel-Reel Heaven and Hell

[Nigel Wassell]

Ralph McTell is a good songwriter and a fine stylist in the traditional idiom.  As for "Streets", give me the original version (without the slushy strings) from the "Spiral Staircase" album every time, but IMO every songwriter worth his salt is entitled to at least one "pension plan" song. (Cf. Gavin Sutherland, with "Sailing".)

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Bravin 
  To: peel@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 9:40 PM
  Subject: [peel] Re: Reel-Reel Heaven and Hell


    
  Don't be quick to dismiss Ralph McTell. For every three 'Streets of 
  London' he played the odd instrumental with some fine finger picking 
  guitar. I seem to remember he played Blind Blake's Rag on a Peel in 
  Concert, but I maybe wrong. Give it a listen, Peel played some 
  excellent US finger pickers in his time (Stefan Grossman, Leon Redbone 
  and John Fahey) and in his hey day Ralph McTell was a pretty good home 
  grown version.

  John Bravin

  >>>
  "Tonight's In Concert features.... America and Ralph McTell says our John.

  "Oh fer "Christ's sake" says me.

  Well I guess some may like him/them but it's that inverse square law of 
  taste-money again for me.

  I will post the show of course...