My Side Of Your Window (studio album) by Ralph McTell

From Mercury 10/19/2017 20:23

This was the second album Mr. McTell released in 1969. And it is somewhat similar in aspects, the melding of british and american folk traditions, the observational songwriting excellence. But also this is a less breezy, light affair. There are some really sobering and borderline angry moments here.

This album is perhaps even more full of simple character studies than Spiral Staircase. The strange child named Michael who people think is insane, the classic tale of a sad Clown, the tale of a simple girl on a bicycle, the blue collar and ever-optimistic Factory Girl, etc. And by and large these stories work and are engaging. The music isn't as defined and beautiful as the previous album. Not as focused I suppose. But at least one of these tales, that of the Clown in "Clown" is classic McTell.

The parts of this album where I am most smitten are the more dramatic and epic sentiments of the anti-authoritarian "I've Thought About It' and the conversation on Jesus and God and all that in the song "Father Forgive Them", the philosophical examination of the transience of all things in the chamber folk song "All Things Change".

Other highlights are the very fun and brilliant variation of the Blues contained in "Blues In More Than 12 Bars", the almost choral dream quality of "Kew Gardens" and the absolutely perfect closer "Silver Birch and Weeping Willow".

All in all this is a solid album. But its betrayed a bit by the production, and the general sound of morose disinterest. It is a good record, but every time i come back to it, a lose a bit o' love for it.

Rating: 7.9/10