RALPH McTELL/YOU, WELL-MEANING, BROUGHT ME HERE STMA 5753 (-71) UK

UK singer/songwriter and guitarist, part of the British folk scene for over fortyfive years. Although releasing over twenty albums and a large number of '45:s from the sixties and on he's mostly known for the iconic song "Streets Of London" - today a household tune, covered by hundreds of other artists and still sung around camp fires all over the world. Even if most of his production through the years has been in the same vein - poetic and insightful lyrics coupled with pleasant melodies - that song was his only real success. With such big output it's almost impossible to pick out the very best, but of all I heard by him this is my favorite. I always thought of the album as a sibling to Mary Hopkin's "Earth Song/Ocean Song". Recorded at the same locations - Trident and Air studios - at about the same time with some from the same crew. McTell does the acoustic guitars on Hopkin's album, Danny Thompson plays double bass on both and Tony Visconti is credited for arrangements. Other things differ - this was produced by Gus Dudgeon and also includes Rick Wakeman on keyboards and Caleb Quaye on electric guitar. It's a top crew all the way, here working very relaxed, almost restrained, with sparse arrangements. Even if the lyrics sometimes concerns sordid things the overall impression is warm and cozy - making it perfect for loving moments. Favorite track - "First And Last Man". First US on Paramount (PAS-6015) omitted "Chalkdust" and replaced it with "Streets Of London". 1998 CD issue on Leola (TPGCD 14) came with original tracking. Premiere UK had label as shown here and structured fold/out cover. (MÖRS*)(SYSÖ*)