Summer Lightning

[TheTrevor001]

What an excellent performance - great guitar work and a fine voice. Nice job.

[salixarbour]

Hi.

Glad you're making good progress with 'Summer Lightning'. Must admit, I don't have a clue as to which chords I play during the piece;I just finger-pick it!!!

I searched through my hard disk for those tunes which I've written down and scanned, and unfortunately, as suspected, Summer Lightning isn't one of them.

Wishing you every success.

Alan.

[theschumanity]

Just saw what you said about figuring it out by ear! I figured out most of it by ear, but couldn't figure out that it was a Cdim until I found it online. I'd been playing a C#dim and could tell something was off... that chord really makes the song, and you hit it just right!

[jimbo9580]

a lovely version, well done. ........the RM songbook can be found on the fan club site...."songs for six string" 41 of the masters songs....well worth the money

[fretphootler]

A lovely song and very nice guitar work, hope you don't mind but I've tried to work out the guitar part from your vid.Having listened to Ralph Mctell's original version you seem to be very accurate. Keep up the good work!

[safetygoggles]

Hi Alan, i was at a party a few weeks ago celebrating my dad's 60th birthday and onee of his friends played this song on an accoustic. It completely bowled me over, and then i found your version!!

Great job, beautiful playing and warm voice to compliment the song, you've just made my day, month, year!

Any idea where i can find the tab??

[salixarbour]

Hi, Safetygoggles.

I've worked out most of the songs I play by ear, have written them down, and am happy to pass the notes on to others to help them learn. However, in the case of this particular song, it was one of the first pieces of music I ever learned on the guitar, back in 1976/77, and was from a friend's Ralph McTell book. It's probably worth more than gold-dust now! Sorry to disappoint.

Ask me for another!!! :-)

Alan.

[Gobby4242]

OMG,, you are bluddy FANTACTIC,

great voice :)

x xx

[gregorheinrich]

thanks. this is a very nice version: a nice setting to record the video (not the standard home-office-in-front-of-pc) setting. soft vocal rendering, suitable to the mood of the song, and for guitarplayers also some good ideas of how to play it, thanks to the camera angle. at places the timing seems to have gaps or sudden slowdowns, but that might be intentional. anyway: I played this song live in the early 80s, might pick it up again. your clip was encouraging in that respect. bye from Mexico.

[salixarbour]

Hi again, Gregory.

I've replied directly to your other email also, as you're no doubt aware. :-)

Many thanks for your kind words. Your comments about the timing/rubato are interesting as recently I've begun questioning this myself. However, I seem to remember that this was exectly the way Ralph McTell played the piece. I'll have to dig out an old recording and have a careful listen now! :-)

Best wishes.

Alan.

[gordonpig]

my favouritest song ever....you made me cry

thanks jacqu xxx

[salixarbour]

Funny thing, I've been playing this song tonight at home, for the first time in months!

Then, I discover this nice little message!!

Many thanks, Jacqu. :-)

Alan.

[salixarbour]

Salut jbluemchen.

Je vous remercie de votre gentillesse, et je

suis heureux que vous avez aimé cette très belle petite chanson.

Amicalement.

Alan.

[jbluemchen]

Très belle performance...

[AlexanderSerban]

awesome rendition, alan. i've spent the afternoon getting this song down, all thanks to you!

[plynchmusic]

great job

[spbsteve]

a good verision ,however is the origanal on here anywere.steve the cameraman

[salixarbour]

Hi, Steve.

Sadly, I don't think it is. Pity, it would be lovely to see it here.

Regards.

Alan.

[zappafanman]

I requested that Ralph McTell should sing this for my wife at a concert in Maidstone. He hadn't by his final piece - his encore - when he struck up the opening notes I knew it was coming and he finished by saying "Happy birthday Penny" - a magical moment and one of my favourite songs - thanks for the posting.

[salixarbour]

Hi, Zappafanman.

Wonderful story! That must have been a magical moment for you both.

Best wishes.

Alan.

[marclapierre]

Lovely job. It sounded terrific.

PS: I listen to hard rock too (among other things). People can diversify and listen to more than one thing :P

[salixarbour]

Hi, Marc.

I totally agree with you; I like just about every form of music, but choose to play just soppy ballads :-)

Very impressive Speed Ball work btw. I think I'll stick to juggling though :-)

Meilleur Voeux

Alan

[KrzyKacz88]

You're a true modern minstrel. Your music goes straight to people's souls. Keep on recording :)

[salixarbour]

Thank you, KrzyKacz88. I'm truly flattered that my sweet little song made its way into your favourite videos, amongst all of that heavy metal!!!!! :-)

Best wishes.

Alan.

[KrzyKacz88]

I would rather say: hard rock ;) But I still can appereciate Your videos. Like I said, it's just beautiful :)

[salixarbour]

Ah, you're splitting hairs now, and there's nothing worse than a heavy metal/hard rocker with split-ends... :-)

Best wishes

Alan

[AscendentInLeo]

Nice

[Leonmitch]

Wonderful rendition!

[ichingiching]

Another great song and beautifully played and sang. You make it your own. M:)

[cco2LLC]

Beautifully done.  Thank you.

[StephanieBalsom]

Beautiful! This song really suits your voice. What a good dog you have because mine would have had the camera knocked over within 5 seconds! lol Steph

[salixarbour]

Hi, Stephanie, and thanks again for your compliment. That little doggy's called Digby, and you're right, he's fantastic...really quite chilled...nothing bothers him! Quite unlike his brother, Dexter, who's a little live-wire, but still great fun. :-)

3w's dot lowejones dot co dot uk (for more doggies)

Regards,

Alan.

[muasis]

Mate

your songs are a life saver here in Germany........

Oh and the VPN works great

When are we going to get some more ew stuff:-)

Mark

[salixarbour]

Lol Mark (muasis). Glad you're managing to stay online...I'd get the DT's without a connection! Brill that VPN's letting you get some work done!! :-)

Best of luck over there.

Alan.

[ElvenDane]

Great job, Alan - good voice ;-)

I really must start practicing ... - a lot more !

Do you do other of Ralph's lovely songs ?

[salixarbour]

Hi, ElvenDane. I must start practicing a bit more too. A couple of hours a week is all I'm managing these days!!

One day I'll get round to recording Maginot Walt, Sweet Mystery & maybe even Kenny the Kangaroo. :-)

Cheers.

Alan

[ElvenDane]

Aha, that would be great ;-)

Do you know any of his later material ? He his continued to write even better songs - Hands of Joseph, Peppers & Tomatoes, The Setting, Red & Gold, Lost Boys, After Rain, Hiring Fair (on YouTube now !) + several more - , so if you don't know those you have got a lot of catching up to do ;-)

Have a funny live recording of KtK btw. (hint,hint)

Cheers

H.

[shawe1983]

Is there any chance you Blind Blake's Rag by Ralpg? I'm sure you could do it a great justice! You're a fantastic guitarist.

[shawe1983]

Is their any chance you know Blind Blake's Rag by Ralph? I love that tune and you are an excellent guitarist, I'm sure you could do it justice :)

[RobbieDingo]

:) great! - Love that song, well performed....

[salixarbour]

Many thanks, Robbie.

Alan.

[lunalunanueva]

Beautiful Piece!!!

BTW what a cute dog you have!

just sitting there listening to the music...

Saludos,

Marie

[salixarbour]

Hola, Marie. Que tal? It really is a beautifully written piece of music. That cute dog is called 'Digby'. He's a great little fellow. :-)

Regards,

Alan.

[muasis]

This is the first time I've ever heard this song. What a fantastic tune and lyrics.

Well played and sang, Alan

Inspiring.

[salixarbour]

Thanks, Mark. This one turned out well! The job is made easier when it's such a beautifully written song.

Cheers, mate.

Alan.

[muasis]

Is Digby the one who made you smile near the begining?