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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMcTELL, Ralph(b Ralph May, 3 December 1944, Farnborough, England) Singer, songwriter, a strong and accomplished ragtime guitarist, influenced by blues artists (hence his stage name). His debut album Eight Frames A Second '68 on Transatlantic was followed by Spiral Staircase '69, with his best-known song 'Streets Of London'. He moved towards more production with You Well-Meaning Brought Me Here '71 on Famous, produced by Gus Dudgeon, then Not Till Tomorrow '72 on Reprise (Tony Visconti), and a new version of 'Streets Of London' was a UK pop hit '74 and 'Dreams Of You' '75 went top 40. Albums Streets '75, Right Side Up '76, Ralph, Albert And Sydney '77 and Slide Away The Screen were all on WB. He appeared on children's TV in the '80s, presented a TV series, Ralph McTell's Streets Of London, and formed his own Mays label: Water Of Dreams and Songs From Alphabet Zoo were evidence of a priceless ability to entertain children that folksingers often have; Right Side Up was reissued as Weather The Storm and Slide Away The Screen as Love Grows (with additional material). He was a member of a short-lived touring band '81 called the GPs with Dave Pegg, Dave Mattacks and Richard Thompson. Bridge Of Sighs on Mays included 'The Hiring Fair', co-written with Simon Nicol of Fairport Convention and included on their Gladys' Leap; Blue Skies Black Heroes '88 on Leola was a return to roots. Best Of Tickle On The Tum that year included guest Billy Connolly as Billy Bins. Stealin' Back '90 came out on Essential, Sand In Your Shoes '95 on Transatlantic included 'Care In The Community', about Britain's disastrous cutting of costs in the care of the mentally ill. |