Spiral Staircase (studio album) by Ralph McTell

From Mercury 10/19/2017 20:22

In 1969 Ralph McTell released 2 excellent albums. Starting with this, his 2nd solo album. This album is an excellent example of melding the blues (which Ralph McTell was a huge fan of, even going so far as to adopt the last name McTell in honor of the great Blind Willie McTell) and the baroque folk which was so prevalent in the late 60s, and also a lot of great staely British traditional folk. If you love that Birthday Blues album by Bert Jansch I mentioned earlier in this list, you will probably love this.

His take on the acoustic blues is consitently sharp and beautiful and executed beautifully, especially great on the title track, "Last Train and Ride", and the solid cover of Robert Johnson's "Kindhearted Woman Blues". McTell was an excellent blues guitarist, and his plain vocals serve the material well enough. And if you wanna hear full on the elder McTell influence in this album, well its in his guitar playing throughout, but its front and center in the piedmont style blues burner "(My) Baby Keeps Staying Out All Night Long".

But I'd say this album shines most on his most baroque material, especially when McTell flexes his observational songwriting muscles. Obviously the opener and the most famous song on this album or any album by McTell "Streets of London" is just a perfect song. But of course. And the simple, mournful, version here to kick this album off is the best version I've heard. Its just so plain, and yet the melody and the guitar and the lyrics all dovetail to create this disticnt and clear vision. Its such a great song.

Also the song "The Fairground" especially in the 2nd half is just heavenly. Other examples of this relaxed, simple glorious side of this album are on full display in the wistful and sad "Daddy's Here" and the mesmerizing magical-realism and nostalgia of "Mrs Adlam's Angels", and the closer "Terminus" is fabulous and just so warm.

All in all this is just a breezy, contemplative album of very high quality. Nothing super flashy, the arrangements are all pristine and, again, breezy. Its perfect for a cool October afternoon such as this. McTell was also one of the better songwriters just technically of his generation, and he deserves a whole heap of recognition. If this were the only album he released 1969 this would still be up here pretty high, but with this somewhat questionable system of moving artists up a wee bit if they had 2 albums in 69, he goes even higher.

Rating: 8.9/10