Ralph on You Tube

[gower flower (Shirl)]

No wonder there are some of these he would rather forget!   Bet he's so glad this didn't ruin his career!

Aaahhhh, come on, stop that ! It's just a TV-series for young children, not made for us.  

And why shouldn't he be "allowed" to do other things ? Why do people have to
have these very fixed notions as to what he/ someone can or should do ?
You can almost adjust your watch after these very predictable reactions,
like unstopable reflexes.

You just need to see it in that light. I act. happen to think that it's very sweet and innocent,
and with lots of fantastic and funny songs as well as all these hilarious moments.
And "Keeping the Night at Bay" is one of the sweetest and loveliest songs,
I have ever heard, and "You Need a Hand to Hold" is a great tune in every
respect - one of those you get on your brains straight away. Not too many
of those around these days, I might add.

And I do think he is managing very well, given the material, the conditions
and his background. This magic show of his was captivating - I wonder how long
he had to practice for that, or if that is a secret hobby of his.

I think this is the most astonished, I have ever seen anyone look  
Well done, Ralph ! Don't listen to all these serious and grumpy grown ups,
who seem to have lost their inner child as well as their sense of humour
 
Now if only I could find Tickle on the Tum on the map, I would go and live there
straight away - maybe I could even get a job in that store ?  
I would settle for just sweeping the floor there  ... maybe I could pick up a
few hints on how to pick that guitar that well and how to sing these
wonderful songs  


H.

I don't believe that anyone is suggesting he shouldn't do this stuff - only that, perhaps it's not the best career move. I know Tickle on the Tum was a kiddies programme - I used to watch it myself with my young children, way back when.

I still believe I have the right to say that maybe it wasn't his greatest career move. The music, as always, is first rate, but let's face it, the man cannot act. Okay, I know I am sticking my neck out here in McTell Mansions, but there you go.

If you lot enjoy watching these clips then go for it, and enjoy. Personally I find it embarrassing to watch, and I can't help wondering whether or not Ralph does too.

I didn't listen to the entire clip, because the link kept breaking down, so I never actually reached the music bit. But after a minute or two, the acting made the decision for me, and I switched off.

Sorry if I have offended any of you lot. Not intentional, I assure you.

Byeeeeeeeee!

GF

[Naomi]

I'm sure none of us mind you giving your opinion GF - as JJ said, it's good to see a bit of life in McTell mansions - its been a bit quiet here of late!    I think we'd all have to agree that acting is not Ralph's strong point - and the general impression given when he talks about his career in children's TV is that he's not terribly keen to recall parts of it either!

As JJ said, he was clearly enjoying some parts of it - I wasn't sure whether Ralph or Bill Oddie was having the most difficulty containing their giggles in Dr Dimple 2!  

The music in those Christmas Clips (4 songs in total) is well worth listening to GF, so it may be worth giving it another try.

Incidentally - wasn't it convenient that there was a mandolin hanging on the wall just when he needed one  

Naomi

[Henrik]

Ha, if that is Mr. Robinson ...

then I fail to see what all that fuss over
Mrs. Robinson was about  

Don't think I shall follow in Benjamin's footpaths  ....

H.

[JJ (Joanna)]

Ha, if that is Mr. Robinson ...

then I fail to see what all that fuss over
Mrs. Robinson was about  

Don't think I shall follow in Benjamin's footpaths  ....

H.

".....and here's to you Mr Robinson, Ralphie loves you more than you will know, hohoho...."  

[John Beresford]

These clips on U-Bend are just stunning!  I make it 31 episodes to date with 34 songs (some variants of others), including 7 that I have not heard (or seen) before.  I hope someone Out There has a technology that can capture these to DVD and CD.  They're priceless.

[Henrik]

These clips on U-Bend are just stunning!  I make it 31 episodes to date with 34 songs (some variants of others), including 7 that I have not heard (or seen) before.  I hope someone Out There has a technology that can capture these to DVD and CD.  They're priceless.

Yes, indeed  

There is - don't worry, John    *)

And we may even be able to get them in a better quality / higher resolution
than these YouTube-clips.

The only bad thing is that most of them were cut down to the songs ( more or less )
and that the original tapes have been binned.

Maybe someone / we should start bombarding Granada with tons of
requests for a release of the whole series on DVD ?  
H.

*) Please message me for "info" about them, if you are being very impatient  

[Chris]

Actually, I don't think doing these programmes has harmed his career in the slightest.

Now, if he were now trying to rtecreate these as a stage show - yes. But he's not trying to act, he's out there playing his songs - and I think those programmes generated a base audience for him of adults that saw those shows as kids.....

So, exactly the opposite, methinks.

[JJ (Joanna)]

Not really thought of it like that Chris   Maybe it got his music, songwriting and guitar skills out to a wider audience of adults!  

[Naomi]

 and I think those programmes generated a base audience for him of adults that saw those shows as kids.....

…of which I’m one!  


I came across Alphabet Zoo accidentally one day, and was very impressed by Ralph’s songs (though I’m sure I was somewhat older than the official target audience   ).
It was because of this, that many years later, when I saw that he was going to appear at a nearby theatre, I suggested to Carl that we should go to see him perform – and was duly struck with Ralph-itis so to speak!

Had it not been for his children’s TV work, I would have missed out on so much – the enjoyment of his music, the delight of meeting him, and the pleasure (I think   ) of getting to know you lot – both virtually and ‘in the flesh’.

N

[JJ (Joanna)]

What year was Alphabet Zoo televised then because I never saw those, just remember watching the Tickles!  

Any chance these may surface on Youtube?!  

[Naomi]

What year was Alphabet Zoo televised then because I never saw those, just remember watching the Tickles!  

I've just had a quick look in my copy of Ralph's biography - AZ was originally broadcast in 1983.

Incidentally, on the subject of Ralph's TV career, Chris Hockenhull  (ie the biographer) says:
"It was, indeed, rather odd to observe one of the world's best guitar players using his skill gleaned from Blind Blake to tell the tale of 'Gordon The Goat' ",
but goes on to say that Ralph's children's songs are mostly of the same quality as his adult songs.

...with both parts of which I think I'd have to agree!  

Naomi

[John Beresford]

Hi Jo and Naomi,

Ralphabet Zoo was first aired at 12.00 noon on Monday 10 January 1983, when Adelaide the alligator asked her Uncle Arfamo some awkward questions - you know, as alligators do.  The first series of 26 programmes ended with Zoe the zebra (who was fed up with her stripes) on 25 July.

Series two ran from 19 September 1983 (not much of a break, then) to 2 May 1984.

Tickle Town first hit the screen in 1984 (again, no rest for the industrious).  All the clips on U-Bend so far are from 1986, and represent the end of a wonderfully productive period for Ralph, which I am sure rekindled his love of the Country Blues and paved the way for the release of "Blue Skies" in 1988  - which may be their greatest legacy.

John.

[Henrik]

Nice version of "Arthur Blake" by a merry fellow who does
several of Ralph's songs :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKc2-ksiMic&sdig=1

[Leighton]

Nice one Henrik,

As you say a very merry fellow indeed.  

And he does some very nice renditions, Girl from the hiring fair being one of them. It's always good to see the whole guitar when youtubers play, just to get an idea of their playing technique.

[Al]

hmmmm, personally I dont think he's very good at all, not as good as he thinks he is thats for sure

[JJ (Joanna)]

hmmmm, personally I dont think he's very good at all, not as good as he thinks he is thats for sure

Al! ......... be warned -  never incur the wrath of a Dane cos you never know they will invade us again!  

[Henrik]

hmmmm, personally I dont think he's very good at all, not as good as he thinks he is thats for sure

Well, I have seen him do others very well -
I just think the sound is becoming rather distorted here.
Anyway he does it a LOT better than I do *LOL*

Will ask him to do it on a normal guitar that
records better.

And at least you can see both hands and get
some idea about what is going on. Helped me  

So when are we going to see your version, Al ?  

H.

[Henrik]

hmmmm, personally I dont think he's very good at all, not as good as he thinks he is thats for sure

Al! ......... be warned -  never bear the wrath of a Dane cos you never know they will invade us again!  

Have already sent 1 longship .... recon mission  

[Al]

hmmmm, personally I dont think he's very good at all, not as good as he thinks he is thats for sure
Have already sent 1 longship .... recon mission  

ah, I see no ships............ yet  

When your boat comes in I will happily play it for you Henrik    

I just think matey hurries it and thus robs it of all dynamics, I always think Blake is actually very languid, if you listen to "Diddie Wah Diddie" its all little phrases stitched together in an almost throwaway manner, and its that looseness that Ralphy captures so well, whereas matey seems to have missed the point and loses the sense of it, to my sensibilities anyway.

One of the things that, to me, sets Ralphy very much apart from many of his peers is the feel he injects into his playing, I saw him very up close at a guitar show in Leicester and having following some technically dazzling players he seemed quite self-deprecating and almost shy, and yet what he lacked in dexterity zipping up and down the fretboard he mroe than amply compensated for with style and taste.

Ralph has a limited palette on the guitar but he uses it so well and with such feel that I would rather listen to him any day than anybody else I saw showing off that day

Sorry for rambling on    

[Henrik]

hmmmm, personally I dont think he's very good at all, not as good as he thinks he is thats for sure
Have already sent 1 longship .... recon mission  

ah, I see no ships............ yet  

When your boat comes in I will happily play it for you Henrik

I just think matey hurries it and thus robs it of all dynamics, I always think Blake is actually very languid, if you listen to "Diddie Wah Diddie" its all little phrases stitched together in an almost throwaway manner, and its that looseness that Ralphy captures so well, whereas matey seems to have missed the point and loses the sense of it, to my sensibilities anyway.

One of the things that, to me, sets Ralphy very much apart from many of his peers is the feel he injects into his playing, I saw him very up close at a guitar show in Leicester and having following some technically dazzling players he seemed quite self-deprecating and almost shy, and yet what he lacked in dexterity zipping up and down the fretboard he mroe than amply compensated for with style and taste.

Ralph has a limited palette on the guitar but he uses it so well and with such feel that I would rather listen to him any day than anybody else I saw showing off that day

Sorry for rambling on    

No, that's OK, Al - interesting points.
And I do see what you mean. Just thought it wasn't
all that bad either.

A bit sloppy, yes - and without the finer details, but at least I got some
ideas about how to move on. He was even more merry than usual -
maybe he had just smoked a pipe of silly tobacco ?  


Well, you see, Al - we are sneaking in the backdoor this time.
"He" ( the Sea Stallion ) is at the Isle of Skye at the moment, undergoing repairs and tests
before the final leg to Dublin, where the original one was built in 1042.

But some day you will see hundred of square sails appearing on your horizon ...

So yes, please - I would love to hear / see your version -
this song as well as several others. Do you do Dry Bone Rag as well ?



http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/vikingvoyage/
http://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/default.asp?contentsection=contentsection.dk&zcs=
( also in E, don't worry ! )
http://www.havhingsten.dk/index.php?id=277&L=0


Henrik