Ralph McTell in Whitby

Subject: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST,Spa Whitby
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 12:58 PM

Ralph McTell will be appearing at the Spa Pavilion WHITBY on Saturday 14th October as part of his "the journey tour"... Tickets can be purchased by phoning the box office on 01947 604855... £16.50 each...
www.ralphmctell.co.uk

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 10:17 AM

.

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Fliss
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 06:38 AM

Too far for me...

Havnt seen Ralph for a couple of years, getting withdrawal symptoms. Must see if he is near Shropshire this tour.

fliss

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Soldier boy
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 05:52 PM

Last saw Ralph McTell in London in about 1978 (Albert Hall I think).
He announced to the whole audience that he was bored with 'Streets of London' and therefore wasn't going to play it.
Loads of the audience voted with their feet and left in disgust.

I bet he's made a very comfortable living for himself just from that one song. Everyone wants to hear it, but no, ralph had got bored with it and did'nt give a toss about his loyal fans.

I hope he's grown up and got wise!

I would'nt travel round the corner to see him now.

Ignorant Get!

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST,M&C
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 04:41 AM

This tour is to celebrate 30 years in the business for Ralph... Yes performers (as do us all) have moods, negative thoughts and swings in attitude, but the mark of the man is to come through a better person... I have met Ralph McTell a couple of times and found him a very qenuine, honest easy going man. His tallent speakes for its self and I think reaching milestones in his career (30 years in the business) make people reflect on the possitives in life...

I will be there...

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 02:36 PM

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 04:26 AM

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST,Nicholas Waller
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 07:36 AM

It's odd that his website - which is http://www.ralphmctell.co.uk/ - says he is celebrating 30 years on the road, as it also says his debut album was in 1968. Did he not tour until 1976, or become a full-time pro until then?
Possibly, instead, it is an example - and I have done it myself - of failing to realise quite how old one is/how much time has passed, and accidentally dropping a decade.   Space Shuttle Challenger blowing up on launch and Olof Palme being assassinated in Sweden - was that 20 years ago or ten? (20).

Nick

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Fliss
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 01:01 PM

Odd. I definitely saw him in the early 70s at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon. I would have said it was 40 years as he busked round Europe in the mid 60s.

If in doubt email a friend... Andy...

Soldier Boy... Ralph got over his aversion to playing 'Streets'. I dont think he wanted to be remembered for just one song. He has written lots and lots of good songs and plays amazing blues guitar. So do go and see him again. I think we have all grown up a bit in 30 or is it 40 yrs.

fliss

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Soldier boy
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 08:04 PM

Thanks Fliss. I appreciate that. It was very many years ago and too long to hold a grudge. So how old is Ralph now ?

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 10:42 AM

He must be coming up for 62 soldier boy ....I went to a show in london at the royal festival hall in nov 2004 to mark his 60th birthday... A brilliant night...!!!!

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: suzi
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 10:49 AM

Guest was me...

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Fliss
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 06:35 PM

3/12/1944. My son shares the same birthday, but different year.

Thats ok Soldier Boy. Ive only seen Raplh irritable once in all the years Ive seen him. They were delayed en route to a gig and had to do the sound check quickly with the audience waiting outside. But the show was one of the best Ive ever seen. Ralph was muttering little asides to himself and his blues numbers were ace. It was the first time I heard 'Jesus Wept' and 'An Irish Blessing'.

The latter song is special as a friend lost her son in 1997 and I sent her the lyrics. She asked a friend to read it at the lad's funeral... very moving.

When I taught in Croydon in the early 70s I lived next door to Ralph's mum. She is still a very dear friend.

fliss
ps have emailed Andy to see if he can clear up if its 30 or 40 years on the road!

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 10:29 AM

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Fliss
Date: 02 Oct 06 - 04:35 AM

Andy reckons its 40 years. Aaagghh Im old... ageing hippy:-)

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 09:44 AM

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 02:24 PM

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Fliss
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 04:29 PM

Poor Guest .. are you having a struggle to post something?

fxx

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 06:35 PM

Anyone hear Ralph McTell on Radio 4 Midweek this morning (I didn't because it was after I went to work)?

Kitty

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST,Nicholas Waller
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 10:17 AM

You can hear it by going to Midweek's website page and pressing LISTEN AGAIN. McTell starts his bit at about 22mins50 in, though he does pitch in earlier as well.

He talks about this and that, for instance how he got the line "It's a long way from Clare to here" off a fellow builder, from Ireland, while he was working on a building site and chatting to him about coming to the UK. If the chap had said "It's a long way from here to Clare", says McTell, it's likely no song would have been sparked off (being more a straightforward statement of geographical fact). Also, he says he quite likes that it has sometimes been credited as Trad.

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Fliss
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 01:39 PM

Managed to hear Ralph on Mike Harding's prog last night ... online! Hadnt thought of listening to radio online. I knew I could but just hadnt tried.

And yes it is 40 years.

Nice nice chap.. hes got better and better over the years, but still stayed the same Ralph.
fxx

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Oct 06 - 09:22 AM

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 07 Oct 06 - 09:59 AM

I phoned up for a ticket at Derby tonight, but he was sold out.

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST,M&C
Date: 07 Oct 06 - 02:14 PM

Still plenty of tickets for Whitby...

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 07:30 AM

Saw him in Derby last night and if he is as good when he plays Whitby (and all the other dates on the tour) then you are in for a treat. And, Soldier Boy, he sang "Streets of London"

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 07:56 AM

yeh I would, if I'd written it.

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Soldier boy
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 09:02 PM

Good to hear that Dave S. Looks like he has learnt from his mistakes.

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 07:16 AM

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby this Saturday
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 07:18 AM

Tickets are selling fast for this great gig...

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST,M&C
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 06:19 AM

Its this Saturday...

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 06:05 AM

Thats Saturday 14th October... Doors open 7.00pm tickets available on the door...

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 07:50 AM

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: alanabit
Date: 15 Oct 06 - 03:47 AM

I think any artists are quite right not to play songs they are fed up with. You can't expect to perform a song well if you are bored with it yourself.
I recall booking Don Partridge back in the eighties, and he said quite openly that he was embarrassed by "Rosie". He gave us a splendid night though and we never once got the impression that he was just going through the motions. What often happens, when a singer "rests" a song for a while, is that they are able to pick it up again and perform it with renewed enthusiasm. In Ralph McTell's case, I don't even think that "Streets of London" is among his ten best songs.

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST,scott
Date: 23 Feb 07 - 10:35 AM

Dear y'all,
I had the pleasure of being Donal's predecessor as Ralph's Tour Manager and Sound Engineer from 1995 till 1998 - and would be glad to hear from anyone who were at any of the tours or answer any questions (obviously not answering on behalf of Ralph - but my experiences with him on the road) you might like to ask

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Casandra
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 08:45 AM

Hi Scott
       I am new to this board however I do remember you I thought I would point out the present Tour Manager and Sound Engineer is one
Donard Duffy.I dont think he has had to delay a show for a Blue Double Decker bus!![YET!]

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Casandra
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 09:05 AM

Hi Scott
       I have tried to send a personal message to no avail, is this because your not signed up? I have found your other posts and as this was the latest maybe you just pop in/on when you feel like it?

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST,A Ralph Fan
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 10:58 AM

Hi Scott,

I was at a number of Ralph's performances in the 90's, and have still go once or twice a year if I can. Like many of his fans, I've had the priviledge of meeting him a few times. I was just wondering - and I know that you can only answer from your point of view, and not his - how you think he really felt about those long signing sessions. I know that the sessions have become so long that he's had to stop having them at all now, but sometimes when I've been in the queue to speak to him, I've wondered what he's really thinking.
You get the impression from interviews, books etc. that he's a very private person - and also strangly lacking in self-confidence for one so talented, which makes me wonder if the whole thing, not just the length of time taken, was quite a strain for him.

Also - have you ever heard him explain the story behind 'Nightmares' - I've never heard it live, and have always wondered what the story behind it is.

Thanks Scott

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: GUEST, Grimmy
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 11:08 AM

I remember seeing Ralph in 72. He's written some great songs down the years - and, yes 'Streets' probably wouldn't make my top ten.

Off the top of my head, I can't remember him performing/recording a traditional song - or can someone put me right there?

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Small Voice Calling
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 12:27 PM

I reckon Ralph has recorded 17 songs by good old Trad - in the sense that no-one knows who wrote them - though this number probably increases to 30-odd if we count the songs by known authors that are out of copyright. The only songs from the English tradition that Ralph has recorded are 'Scarborough Fair' and 'Factory Girl' (not the one he wrote himself!). Mostly, he has drawn from the American county blues tradition for his inspiration. See http://www.ralph-mctell.co.uk/uk.html for a comprehensive discography.

Subject: RE: Ralph McTell in Whitby
From: Fliss
Date: 08 Mar 07 - 02:29 PM

Ive been to Ralphs's concerts since the early 70s. He IS a very private person. He also used to get stage fright very badly.

It has always been great to stop and speak to him after performances. I can see why he has stopped doing this - very tiring.

Took my sister to see Ralph in concert in Brighton some time ago. We introduced ourselves and he remembered we lived next door to his mum and said it was nice to see us girls.... well we were once, honest... and did we purr.

Keep on singing Ralph.