Description
Label Review.
2019 album. Produced by Tony Visconti.
Our Overview.
Influential multi-dimensional folk guitarist and singer-songwriter Ralph McTell is two years into his sixth decade as a recording artist, Ralph McTell releases his new album Hill Of Beans. 74, Kent born, Croydon raised, much travelled & unassuming, Ralph remains an English musical legend. Known for his virtuoso guitar style, he is a prolific and gifted songwriter. With a style that invites you into a unique world, he weaves a narrative that is both significant and poignant. In the time honoured fashion of an artist who has always defined his own artistic terms, ‘Hill Of Beans’ is a work of grace; experience and learning, natural poise, deep substance, the core of its harmonic and melodic riches contained in voice, songs and six stringed guitar glory.
His first album of originals since 2010’s acclaimed ‘Somewhere Down The Road’, ‘Hill of Beans’ reunites McTell with producer Tony Visconti, who was there right at the start of McTell’s recording career. The latter day reconnection came after a chance meeting in London earlier this decade. “It was just lovely to see him,” reflects McTell.
“One day I’m at home and the email arrived, it said, “Dear Ralph, I’m working with that old reprobate, you remember him?” Visconti was referring to David Bowie - a figure who looms as large in the producer’s career, as the song “Streets Of London”does in McTell’s. ‘Hill Of Beans’ contain 11 tracks - Visconti’s production has allowed McTell to find the measure of songs gathered from the past 10 years but including one written in 1978, another in 1988.
“Tony is a wonderful producer, he treats all his artists with the same consideration, courtesy and respect’ says Ralph, sounding like a well satisfied man. As he ought to.
Ralph has influenced hundreds of folk singers in Great Britain, Europe, and the U.S. Fortunately, people in the U.S. and Europe are beginning to connect to his vast body of excellent original work, and not just "Streets," which has been recorded more than 200 times by artists as diverse as Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, and even the angry punk group Anti-Nowhere League, and is still McTell's most requested song.
“British Folk legend reunited with producer Tony Visconti…The beguiling ‘Hill of Beans’ finds McTell in authoritative form throughout, offering sage narratives and poignant memories” Uncut