Streets of London, the official biography of Ralph McTell
by Chris Hockenhull
Northdown ISBN 1-900711-02-8 (1997); 160 pp.

Of all the heroes of the British folk-rock revival of the 60s and 70s, Ralph McTell has been among those afforded the least attention, particularly stateside. Chris Hockenhull's handsome, large-format biography of McTell, Streets of London, goes a long way toward correcting this omission. The book chronicles McTell's heady early days as a busker and traditional folkie, his early days of folk-rock stardom, his stint as a children's television star, and the ups and downs of his touring and recording careers. Rather than delivering a straight narrative, Hockenhull presents a sort of oral history, peppered with memorable tall tales from McTell collaborators, friends, and contemporaries that offer a vivid portrait of the times, as well as of McTell's own odyssey. The book deals frankly with the difficulties McTell has experienced with pre-performance jitters, writers' block, and being viewed first as a one-hit wonder (let's just say "Streets of London" is not exactly his favorite song) and then as a lightweight "children's artist." Throughout, McTell's musical skill and versatility (John Renbourn and Wizz Jones laud him as one of England's finest fingerstyle guitarists), forthrightness, and humanity shine through the pages. An exhaustive discography is included, along with dozens of rare photographs.
- Michael Parrish (St. Charles, IL)