Leicester Mercury report, 14 February 1974 –                                     City folk concert is a sellout.

Although pop terminology like ’one-hit wonder is rarely attributable to  the folk – scene, it  could be argued that London’s Ralph McTell fits neatly into the category. After all, he’s  regarded by most people solely as the composer of “Streets of London” one of  the best songs written in the 60s and now rightfully regarded as a folk classic.

But those  who consider McTell a “flash in the pan” should have attended last night’s sellout concert at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall where the singer proved emphatically that his composing talents were far from exhausted on the one number which brought him fame. He’s clearly a writer of considerable ability.

Thankfully, he never allowed himself to be sucked into the whirlpool of introspection which characterised the singer-songwriter vogue the late 60s, when James Taylor and his ilk nearly put me off folk for life. McTell does draw on personal experience and emotion. Last night, for example he featured “Folk Song” a number dedicated to one of his early  compositions – and you can’t get more self-indulgent than that. But generally, his material ranges over a variety of subjects.

Balance of nature.

He sang of a day at the seaside (Maginot Waltz) mental illness (Michael and the Garden), and Bob Dylan (Zimmerman Blues) and also Included my favourite McTell number “First and Last Man” a soliloquy to the primitive’s communion with  nature which he wrote after watching a television documentary about the plight of the South American Indian tribes.

He seems particularly fascinated by balance nature and the cyclical aspect of ecology which formed the theme of Wine” –  a song about a holiday in a country cottage.

Midway through the evening McTell was joined by ex-Pentangle bassist Danny Thompson for a couple of newer numbers one being a charming tribute to Steeleye Span vocalist, Maddy Prior. Then just before the end violinist Mick Pigott boosted the line-up to a trio for the finale.

Before the start of this current tour Ralph McTell threatened to discard “Streets of London” from bis repertoire. But last night he relented and judging by the reaction of the audience who accompanied him on every word clearly made the right decision.

All In all, it was a splendid concert with Prelude providing perfect support. The trio – who have deservedly made the charts with their beautiful acappela rendition of Neil Young’s “After the Goldrush” ended a fine session with an amusingly camp version of the old Everley Brothers teen-lament, “Ebony Eyes” Hardly in the great tradition, I suppose, but appreciated all the same.