Spiral Staircase

by Ralph McTell

Spiral Staircase cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: January 1969
  • Label: Transatlantic
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Length: 47:10
  • Community rating: 3.91/5 from 3 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

The sophomore release from the English acoustic balladeer features intricate fingerpicking and rich, melancholic storytelling. Most notably, the record introduces his enduring classic 'Streets of London', cementing his legacy within the British folk revival movement.

Genres

Descriptors: Folk, Ballad, acoustic, male-vocals, storytelling, british, ballad

Tracklist

  1. Streets of London (4:08)
  2. Mrs Adlam's Angels (2:44)
  3. Wino and the Mouse (1:00)
  4. England 1914 (3:05)
  5. Last Train and Ride (2:32)
  6. The Fairground (4:07)
  7. Spiral Staircase (3:31)
  8. Kindhearted Woman Blues (2:43)
  9. Bright and Beautiful Things (1:54)
  10. Daddy's Here (4:21)
  11. Rizraklaru (Anag.) (1:44)
  12. (My) Baby Keeps Staying Out All Night Long (1:52)
  13. Terminus (1:53)
  14. Spiral Staircase (Revisited Version) (3:08)
  15. Last Train and Ride (Revisited Version) (2:31)
  16. The Fairground (Revisited Version) (3:54)
  17. Terminus (Revisited Version) (1:54)

Credits

  • Ralph McTell - primary artist, written-by
  • Famous Jug Band - backing band
  • Brian Brocklehurst - bass guitar [uncredited]
  • Brian Gascoigne - directed by [musical direction]
  • Pete Berryman - guitar [second]
  • Henry Bartlett - jug
  • Ben Klein - sleeve notes
  • Mick Bennett - washboard

More from Ralph McTell: full discography