Q1/ The recording quality on the Travelling Man CD is superb! I would dearly love to have all of the rest of your cannon recorded in the same way. Are there any plans to do that?

A1/ There are no specific plans to release a series of albums recorded in a similar fashion. However, although Travelling Man came 20 years after his last live album, we definately won’t have to wait another 20 years for the next one! Just by the way, ‘Ralph,Albert & Sydney’ and ‘Songs For Six Strings - Vol II’ are both live albums too and still available.

Q2/ In the notes to the CD ‘Sand In Your Shoes’ you mentioned that you spend a lot of time picking out tunes/chords on your piano. Is this your usual method of composing?

A2/ No this is not his usual method at all. Infact on the new album only one song was composed using the piano. His method differs from song to song. But he has always loved the keyboard and apart from the guitar the piano would be his next favourite.

Q3/ I had a tab book from Kicking Mule that had songs from ‘Easy’. Will that ever be available again?

A3/ Hang on to that tablature for its probably a collectors item now! There are absolutely no plans to release it again and they are very rare to find. Infact Ralph would love to see a copy himself as he never got to see it!

Q4/ Any plans to release ‘Bridge Of Sighs’ and ‘Affairs Of The Heart’ on CD?

A4/ The album ‘Bridge Of Sighs’ is scheduled for release but the song titled ‘Bridge Of Sighs’ is available on the cd titled ‘Silver Celebration’. ‘Affairs Of The Heart’ was available on CD but it has subsequently been deleted. However a few songs may surface in the release of ‘Right Side Up’ which is scheduled for sometime in 2001.

Q5/ I love your song ‘Dreamtime’ - it appears over the end titles of Billy Connolly’s World Tour Of Australia. But it doesn’t seem to be on CD. Will you ever release it?

A5/ We have recieved numerous similar letters and requests. Ralph has finally recorded his own version and it will be on the new album due for release in Sept/Oct so watch this space to pick up your own copy!

Q6/ Will you tour the US this year?

A6/ Ralph would love to tour the US but its just the question of finding the right agent in the US. But yes, he would definately love to tour soon and we are working on it.

Q7/ Could you let us know what tuning was used for the song "Joseph"?

A7/ It was the conventional tuning with the bass string tuned to D.

Q8/ Which do you feel is more satisfying - your songwriting or your playing?

A8/ Nothing compares to having written a new song except a good gig and nothing compares to a great gig except having written a new song!

Q9/ Considering that we are all getting a bit older - has age affected your guitar playing at all?

A9/ No, it hasn’t affected his playing at all, well atleast not yet! But he has had to give up pole vaulting.

Q10/Is there a story behind the song ‘Naomi’ ?

A10/Well without going into too much detail the story is in the song!

Q11/Can I finally settle a question that’s been bugging me for 30 years! - Who was the female vocalist on Kew Gardens?

A11/The female vocalist is a lovely lady called Ruth Briton who sings/sang with a band called English Tapestry.

Q12/In the sheet music/chords to The Ferryman the final chords in the verses is unclear. F# (for a while), then Em9 followed by Em. Do you play any other chords inbetween the F# and the others?

A12/Its an F# chord played without using the barre method. In other words the thumb plays F# on the base string and by lifting the second finger the open strings combine to make the eerie dissonance, which may well be an Em9. But as Ralph doesn’t read music he can’t be 100% sure but it definately resolves in an Em9.