Ralph McTell - Not 'Till Tomorrow (1972)

(U.K 1968 - Present)

One of the great storytellers, Ralph McTell, is now celebrating more than 50 years on the road. Known for his virtuoso guitar style, he is primarily 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.

Ralph made his debut in 1968 with the album ‘Eight Frames a Second’ and in 1974 the release of ‘Streets of London’ earned him an Ivor Novello Award.

'Not till Tomorrow' (1972) was McTell's fifth album to be released (aside from the remixed compilation Revisited) – and first album to chart – in the UK; and his third album to be released in the U.S. 

Ralph had been phoned and asked if he had decided on a title for the album and, wishing to give himself another day to come up with a title, responded "Not till tomorrow" which was misunderstood to be the name he had given to the album. By the time the mistake was found it was too late.

Reprise Album Release Notes:

Ralph McTell's first album for Reprise is the one his English following critics and civilians, alike-has been waiting for, and the one his soon-to-be American fans will one day realize they had been waiting for.

Producer Tony Visconti has triumphed in reconciling the recorded McTell with the live McTell. Not 'till Tomorrow has the former done credit to the latter.

Visconti (who produces T. Rex in his spare time, yet not without ministering tastefully to Tom Paxton in that same role) has used the minimum of personnel to fullest effect.

Ralph sings, plays acoustic guitar, keyboards and harmonica-just as he would on stage. Danny Thompson (borrowed from Pentangle), plays double bass, and Laurie Allan, percussion Tony Visconti and wife (nee Mary Hopkin) supply backing vocals.

Mary & Tony Visconti

There are a couple of themes that dominate his lyrics-specific personalities (often misfits), rovers and outcasts in general, and, of course, autobiographical things (making it clear why he's attracted to rovers and talented misfits).

Danny Thompson

The album leads off with "Zimmerman Blues," a not too disguised reference to Bob Dylan, sung in the first person by Ralph. His voice ripples hypnotically as he recounts the hazards of success, the nostalgia for bare beginnings.

On the same side he includes a terribly, terribly sad but lovely tribute to American-born poetess Sylvia Plath, who took her own life a number of years ago.

The song "Birdman." though it mentions no names. concerns George Jackson. It is a rebellious and gritty Delta-style blues, with some hairy slide playing, The vocal is subtly echoed, as if to reinforce the sense of a jail cell The integration of a verse from the traditional "John Henry" is an especially good touch.

Singing of more random anti-heroes, Ralph lives out his Wild West fantasy in "When I Was a Cowboy" (of the drug-store or midnight variety?)  It has a jaunty, if somewhat crippled, gait and the lonesomest harmonica this side of the Rio Grande (...er, the Thames?)

Ralph McTell UK Tour 1972

Taking this theme more seriously is the lengthy last track, "Gypsy," a spirited, if bitter, summary of the gypsies' right to be, calling on their magic. ("We fit in your landscape as the sixth to the five senses. ")

"Barges" and "Nettle Wine" are auto-biographical country reveries, one from childhood, the other from now. The barges and leather-skilled boatmen that absorbed a younger Ralph still ply England's network of inland canals. Older, he gives concise instructions for brewing nettle wine and stalking sunsets. A less inviting scene is conjured by "Standing Down in New York Town," suggesting it's not even a nice place to visit any more

Some James Taylor-type guitar picking leads into an altogether personally McTell tale, "First Song." A love song to a song, and to whoever caused him to write it Judging from "First Song's" companions on Not 'Till Tomorrow, it was the start of something big.

This post consists of FLACs ripped from my super clean vinyl and as usual includes full album artwork and label scans. It is interesting to note that my copy has a release date of 1972 on the back cover while the Reprise vinyl labels state 1973.  I wonder whether this discrepancy is somehow related to the delayed date of the album because Ralph couldn't decide on the album title !   

I quite like this album - especially the catchy track "When I Was A Cowboy", however for some reason I don't really like the last track "Gypsy", as the riff really annoys me and it drags on for ever. But I'll let you be the judge..... it's probably just me !

Side One

1. ZIMMERMAN BLUES 3:50

2. FIRST SONG 2 39

3. WHEN I WAS A COWBOY 4:00

4. NETTLE WINE 2:28

5. SYLVIA 3:40

6. BIRDMAN 6 10

Side Two

1. BARGES 4:28

2. STANDING DOWN IN NEW YORK

TOWN ONE DAY 3:58

3. ANOTHER RAIN HAS FALLEN 3:57

4. THIS TIME OF NIGHT 4:27

5. GYPSY 6:14

The Band:

Ralph McTell - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Harmonica, Organ

Danny Thompson - Double Bass

Laurie Allan - Percussion

Tony Visconti - Sitar, Recorders, Organ, Backing Vocals, Producer

Mary Visconti - Backing Vocals

Ralph McTell Link (247Mb)