RALPH McTELL – SPIRAL STAIRCASE LP – Nr MINT A1/B1 UK 1969 ORIG FOLK STREETS OF LONDON

Ralph McTell – Spiral Staircase
(Transatlantic Records  1969  TRA177)
Matrix No’s: A1/B1 – UK Pressing
Purple on White Transatlantic Labels

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition
(there are some surface marks visible on the vinyl when held up to the light but they don’t affect the sound quality apart from the odd light pop/crackle)

Front Laminated Sleeve in Nr MINT/Excellent+ condition
– back cover has some rubbing/ringwear and original price sticker “Bentalls”

Ralph McTell (born Ralph May; 3 December 1944) is an English singer-songwriter and guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk music scene since the 1960s. McTell is best known for his song “Streets of London” (1969), which has been covered by over two hundred artists around the world.

Spiral Staircase is British folk musician Ralph McTell’s second album. Produced by Gus Dudgeon and released in the UK in 1969, its opening track, “Streets of London”, has become McTell’s signature tune.

Track listing

All titles by Ralph McTell except where stated.

1. “Streets of London”
2. “Mrs Adlam’s Angels”
3. “Wino and the Mouse”
4. “England 1914”
5. “Last Train and Ride”
6. “The Fairground”
7. “Spiral Staircase”
8. “Kind Hearted Woman Blues” (Robert Johnson)
9. “Bright and Beautiful Things”
10. “Daddy’s Here”
11. “Rizraklaru (Anag.)”
12. “(My) Baby Keeps Staying Out all Night Long” (Buddy Moss)
13. “Terminus”

Personnel

• Ralph McTell – guitar, vocals
• Brian “Brock” Brocklehurst – double bass
• Mick “Henry VIII” Bartlett – jug
• “Whispering Mick” Bennett – washboard
• Peter Berryman – second guitar
• Mike Vickers – orchestral arrangements
• Brian Gascoigne – musical direction

Production credits

• Producer: Gus Dudgeon for Tuesday Productions
• Engineer: Tom Allom at Regent Sound
• Sleeve design: Peter Thaine
• Liner notes: Ben Klein