TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

his arrived today...

We are delighted to announce Ralph's return to the Royal Albert Hall on the 12th of May 2016.

More than forty years have passed since Ralph McTell's first appearance at the Royal Albert Hall. He has now played this wonderful London venue almost a dozen times, both as a solo artist and as a guest, of artists such as The Everly Brothers and Nanci Griffith, and even named his best-selling live album, Ralph, Albert and Sydney, after this venerable venue.
His career has seen him travel across the English speaking world and throughout Europe, where his classic song "Streets of London" is universally known and loved. Translated into dozens of languages, (most recently Korean and Croatian) it is sung in schools all over the world and often used as a guitar instruction piece for teaching finger style techniques. Ralph never seems to tire of singing it and the audience never seems to tire of joining in with the choruses.
With a body of work represented by well over 300 songs, Ralph varies his stage performances on each tour to include some of this vast repertoire among his new compositions, and each night a carefully conceived program is tailored to accommodate requests from his audience.
It was the sheer number of requests sent in each night that gave Ralph the idea for this very special show.
Ralph McTell's  LOYAL COMMAND PERFORMANCE.
For this Royal Albert Hall concert we decided to let Ralph's audience, past, present and future, to nominate ALL the songs to be performed.
Ralph will perform the 20 most requested songs at this very special show.
Details of how to nominate choices of songs will be announced shortly on his website:
www.ralphmctell.co.uk
This will truly be a concert for the loyal friends that Ralph has gained over all the years and as the audience will select what they consider the best repertoire for the evening, first timers will have the benefit of what McTell's fans considers to be the very best of Ralph McTell.

Tickets on general sale on Friday, but there might be a pre-sale on Thursday, keep eyes peeled

Will keep eyes peeled ;D

There's a link right at the bottom of Ralph's email yesterday.....for purchasing tomorrow.

That link I referred to is to Ticket Fsctory. I strongly suspect that you won't get to choose your seat, just the area (possibly) or price.

You might think it better to wait until Friday when you usually are able to choose seats on the RAH website.

My thoughts entirely, after the comments regarding last weeks Bellowhead Pre-sale seat availability. Although I shall be pretty peeved (and somewhat surprised !) if Ralph sells out the Albert Hall in 4 minutes and I miss out, particularly as its on a Thursday night. Never been to the RAH although I lived in London for 12 years and have been just about everywhere else, looks like now I'm going twice, as booked to see Dylan in October, Happy days...

As predicted, Ticket Factory does offer 'best available', but also allows you to select the area, and tells you the row and seat allocated before you commit. I got seats one row in front of where I would have chosen, so very happy. See you there!

Job Done, Now Boss I am having a few days Holiday, whether you like it or not.

Second row in the Arena, in the middle. Happy Bunny.....knew it was worth waiting until today.

Voting (http://www.ralphmctell.co.uk/survey/) for RAH play list is now open!

20 songs was limit enough, but to narrow it down to 10????!!!!! :-\ :o
If I submit 6 or 7 different lists, do you think they would all get counted ::)

I'm fairly sure that none of my top ten would get into the chart.

The choice is compounded between favourite album tracks and favourite concert pieces - some material e.g. the guitar rags are brilliant as part of a live performance; then some of my favourite album tracks probably don't translate so well to live arrangements.
Just for old times' sake, I would love to hear him play some of the archive stuff that I've never, or seldom, heard him play live (I don't think I've ever heard him play Kew Gardens and Old Brown Dog I only heard once, for instance).

Submitted 10 faves..  ;)

Thanks for the advice Chris. Couldn't book til today but happy to get Arena seating, row 11 in the middle. Just hope I don't get a tall person ( :P :P ) in front of me.  ;)

My wife can sympathise with having to put up with tall folk obscuring the view: we went to a Wizz Jones gig at the Half Moon and she was annoyed as halfway through the evening some denim-clad guy came and stood betwixt her and the stage. When she politely pointed out the intrusion, he obligingly shuffled out of the way. It is the only time that she has ever spoken to Ralph!

hah!

Would you care to list your choice Colin?  ;)

Well my first draft is:

The Fairground
Kew Gardens
Gypsy
Would I Lie to You?
Maddy Dances
Tequila Sunset
Leaving ‘Liggan Woods
Leah's Favourite
Hard Times
Terminus

Nice set, Colin.

My two sets, separated by a beer...

As far as I can tell	Walk into the morning
Factory girl	Brighton Belle
Zimmerman blues	You well-meaning
Small voice calling	Birdman
Run Johnny run	Throw out a line and dream
Tequila sunset	That'll do Babe
England	Still in dreams
Water of dreams	The ghost of Robert Johnson
West 4th Street and Jones	Holding hands
Somewhere down the road	Terminus

Of these, the only ones I expect to make the final cut are Still in dreams and Terminus.  We wait and see...

Please tell!

Terminus (seems to be popular!)
Peppers & Toms
Hands of Joseph
I'm not really blue
Hiring Fair
Mr Connaughton
Dancing Doreen
Girl on the Jersey Ferry
Conundrum of time
Sand in your shoes



and so far, not a single 'hit' mentioned....  ;) ;D Ralph will probably feel bereft if no-one chooses 'the hit'  ;D

I voted for:

Peppers & Tomatoes
Barges
Gypsy
Lost Boys
Around the Wild Cape Horn
From Clare to Here
Bentley & Craig
First and Last Man
Messrs Stephenson & Watt
When Maddy Dances

And that's probably my 1-10 in order of favourites (at least today ...tomorrow it could change!). P & T definitely No. 1!

I feel that there should be an organised campaign to vote in Kenny The Kangaroo!

That is certainly on my list.....is Nerys Hughes still alive?

I believe, despite the feelings of Half Man Half Biscuit, that she is still alive and professionally active.

Indeed, she appears to be 73....and happily married for 43 of those.

Ticket booked ;D
Voting to do, but Easter Lilies and The Setting will be there.

Has anyone received their tickets yet?  (I don't think they were 'print at home')

Yes, for ages. Suggest you contact whoever you booked through.

Thanks Chris.  Apparently they are arriving on Thursday 14th April. :-\

Mine arrived as predicted! Not long now...

Any thoughts of a get-together before the gig?

Well up for this! Can anyone remember tgat superb pub/eaterie not far from the hall in a Mews?

Could be this one, http://www.thequeensarmskensington.co.uk/  not been before but it has good reviews and is very convenient.

That's the one - last time I was there I thought there were tables outside. Anyone?

I think one would need to get there early, it does get busy. But a goidly group of Takkawhilers already in occupancy might dissuade others :-)

Sorry to disappoint everybody, but we won't be there.  :-\
I'm in a different country.

Is there any interest in a meet?

Yes, Chris; it'll be good to catch up. Say where and when.

Could be this one, http://www.thequeensarmskensington.co.uk/  not been before but it has good reviews and is very convenient.[/quote]

This one.....around 5-5.30?

I caught Ralph on Radio 2 Friday morning, talking about the show and singing a couple of songs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b076zw4k

We have a spare ticket in the Arena because sadly one of our party cannot now make it :(
Would like to sell at face value and can post to someone or hand over on the night.

See you there (http://www.thequeensarmskensington.co.uk/) then...

All packed, ready for the off 9.00am Tomorrow, having a few days in the smoke re-living the days of my youth, hope to meet up at the https://www.thequeensarmskensington.co.uk/ on Thursday, Happy days. Safe Journey all.

I'm going to be late, sorry, other things this week mean I'm not going to get free as early on Thirsday afternoon as I'd like. 6ish probably unfortunately

I'd love to have been at the RAH to see Ralph, but unfortunately it clashes with Show of Hands (& friends) Folk themed Rhine River cruise, which also starts tomorrow! Be thinking of the RAH though - hope a CD or DVD will follow!

Spellbinding first half, full vote result to be on website in a few days. First bonus of the night as an extra he added in the No. 21 song. Has also introduced the RM50 to the world of live performance, and very nice it sounds too.

And the second half was also superb!
Three standing ovations.
Love that man and his music!

A night to remember.....superb.

Someone knocked his beer over behind me & my shoes & bag got covered in beer. At least he *told* me, which is more than another guy did last week, when my coat (over the back of my chair) soaked up their beer fior over 30 minutes before I noticed. Why not just apologise & suggest I move it??

Sorry to hear that Chris, wasn't' me I would never allow my beer to be be so unruly, I agree it was a night to remember, quote of the night from some middle aged city gent type near us to his friend 'So what's he like then, has he been on X factor'  I think he should have been there on Wednesday for Will.I.am. Hope by the end of the evening he had found out what he is like and that X factored performers wouldn't stand a chance with the likes of our Ralphie competing.

I was in one of the boxes, with some people who knew a bit about Ralph, and the other one who clapped politely...if they did at all. Me - edge of seat and clapping lots, though I spared them my singing....

It was a relaxed Ralph in good voice in the 'village hall' There are far too many songs to choose a top 20, no Peppers and Tomatoes or Hands of Joseph in the list....here are the songs played...Lovely atmosphere. A stunning performance plus a very nice souvenir programme.

Maginot Waltz
Nanna's song
Nettle Wine
Michael in the garden
Tequila sunset
Barges
First and Last man
First song
In the dreamtime
Naomi
Zimmerman Blues
The Ferryman
Mr. Connaughton
Let me down easy
You well meaning
Hiring Fair
Streets of London
Summer Lightning
Around wild cape horn
Clare to here
West 4th street & Jones

Fabulous evening - nice seats in the stalls, nobody tipped any wine or beer near me.... ;D
The set list was perfect (14 out of my 20 choices were played), Ralph was in fine voice and the new RM50 has a really nice sound.  All in all a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Forgot to mention the lady in the arena a couple of rows behind me who could hum just about every song in the first half, unfortunately she was way out of tune on all of them, I know we all do it but  it did  get a bit comedic at times. after the break it seemed to be less noticeable.

I really hope there is a CD of this (they've already designed the artwork).  And, can we now have a 21 - 40 concert?  No beer tipped over where we were.  I saw Chris's reaction - was it during Streets of London Chris?  And why were there so many empty seats at the front of the Arena?  Something must have gone wrong somewhere.

Just seen a review by someone called JohnHikerBiker
Ralph McTell at the Royal Albert Hall, May 2016

“Streets of London” was one of the background songs to my time at university in Nottingham, the first track on Ralph McTell’s album “Spiral Staircase” (1969). The song’s a mainstay of London buskers even now - I heard it played and sung very creditably by a busker at Leicester Square tube station just yesterday. Not a hit until a rework in 1974, the song has a timelessness with its poignant words and simple tune.

Ralph McTell performed a couple of songs on his own piano, introducing it as the original instrument he used to compose many of his songs whilst he was still living in a council flat in Croydon, South London. His piano accompaniment to “Growing old with Naomi”, with piano and singer highlighted against the dark of the rest of the stage and hall dark, had an air of being invited back to his flat for a song session. No small feat to pull off in the huge space of the Albert Hall.
Mostly, though, “a bloke singing with a guitar”, still using his line from the seventies. Back in those days I was laying out lights and a basic PA for university Folk Club, though never Ralph McTell. A folk singer performed to a lively pub, pint on stage, occasionally asking for quiet, introducing his songs and chatting to and with the audience. Tonight’s classic blue and amber lighting recalled that ambience though few of the audience had a pint in their hand.
Ralph McTell’s gentle lilting ballads build sound pictures of memories and emotions; the bite is in the depth of the scenes his songs conjure up, perhaps bathos, sometimes nostalgia and usually not political. Ralph McTell’s musical heroes seem to have included Bob Dylan and The Everley Brothers, all of whom he has seen play this same hall. He described the Albert Hall as “a proper London venue, a secular cathedral... you can feel all the spirits of all the performers who have been on here before”.  He described the walk from the dressing room as particularly long here for him as a result being conscious of those who have trodden that walk before.

His guitar playing is matchless: the accuracy, evenness and plasticity of tempo, are from another era. It’s as though the electronic drum machine had never been invented. Incredibly refreshing. A little bit of forgivable vocal instability in the more vicarious melodies but the baritone voice is still very sure and strong.
The audience loved him, humming sympathetically when invited and joining in gustily for the choruses of “Streets of London”. Several encores and a photocall for the singer’s website.

Loved the whole thing.  We went as a fairly last minute thing.   I really enjoyed the selection even though my choices were split fairly evenly between old and new songs.  It was great to bump into John B and Diane (Delfini) just on the way out.  :)
He may have written a few songs for Fairport but I'm sure they wrote one for his concerts 'Who knows where the time goes?'

Fantastic venue, fantastic night! That's all I can say!

The top 50 songs (http://www.ralphmctell.co.uk/ralphs-loyal-command-performance-top-50/) voted for the RAH set are listed on Ralph's website - where were your picks?

Thanks John.  Someone filmed bits of this concert (from a box?) and uploaded to youtube.  The Ferryman, Streets of London, Nanna's Song.  The quality is poor but they are a nice reminder of the night.

20, 21, 22 25, 32, 41, 45, 49, 50!!  ;D

Ralph needs to do a concert called 'Bottoms up'  ;D