Track Listing

1. Streets of London
2. Hesitation blues
3. Girl on a bicycle
4. Clown
5. Michael in the garden
6. Blind Blake's rag
7. Nanna's song
8. Last train and ride
9. England 1914
10. The mermaid and the seagull
11. Daddy's here
12. Kew gardens
13. Eightframes a second
14. Mrs. Adlams's angel
15. Kindhearted woman blues
16. Spiral staircase
17. Wait until the snow
18. Rizraklaru
19. The fairground
20. Are you receiving me?
21. Louise
22. Granny takes a trip
23. Too tight drag
24. Sleepy time blues

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8039 in Music
• Released on: 2008-02-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 79 minutes

Customer Reviews

A Long career
I was going to say almost the same as the previous (1) review. The Best of Ralph was to come after this collection. I you want a real in-depth collection buy the "The Journey" the 4 cd box set. it;s brilliant and so is the sound1 failing that look out for "Silver Celebration" released in 1992. It's a pretty fair representation up to that year but then again his finest album was to come in 1995 "Sand in your Shoes".

Good, but not that good
Why do they insist on calling these repackages of Ralph's early material 'Best of'? The man has made something in the region of twenty studio albums; these recordings are all from his first three. Originally released during 1968-9, Ralph had yet to find his feet as a recording artist, so it is no put down to say that his best was yet to come.
So, what of this collection? All the usual suspects are here, including 'Streets of London', but not the hit version which came about six years later. Unfortunately it also includes the dreadful 'Granny Takes a Trip', a cover Ralph was presurised into recording by his record company. At this price you may say 'why complain?' Well, simply because there are now better low price compilations of this period available.

Good, but not the best
Why do they insist on calling these collections of early McTell music 'Best of'? To date the man has recorded something in the region of twenty studio albums; this one covers his first three! The songs were all originally released during 1968-9 on the legendary Transatlantic label, and since then they have been repackaged regularly. Ralph was still finding his feet at this time, searching for direction, so it's no put down to say that his greatest work was yet to come.
So, what's actually on this collection? To be fair it's pretty good value, containing 23 out of a total of 38 available recordings from this period. It does include 'Streets of London', but not the hit version, which came about six years later. The compilers do seem to have tried to include a truly representative selection from this period, and one or two of the more obvious songs have been ommited to make room for some seldem heard recordings. All the songs here are self-penned, althought the original albums contain a number of covers. These were recorded either at the request of his record company, or as a genuine tribute to his musical heroes, but their ommision is no great loss-the former were generally dreadful, the latter have often been done better since.
If you're interested in this period of Ralph's career you can't really go wrong at this price. Two of the three original albums have never been released in their entirety, and the third, (Spiral Staircase), Is likely to be quite difficult to find.