Recently the BBC Club in Portland Place provided the distinguished setting for the official launch of The Journey - Recordings 1965 to 2006, the long-awaited four-CD box set tracing the career of one of Britain's most respected songwriters and performers - Ralph McTell.

Hosting the event was Radio DJ Bob Harris, a long-term admirer of the McTell style, whose introductory speech claimed that Ralph has produced "a body of work comparable with anyone on the planet."

Ralph duly obliged us with a short set, before mingling with friends and associates, a veritable who's who from the world of acoustic music.

Ralph's connections with the locality have been well documented and present at the launch were several Old Croydonians; guitarist Wizz Jones, singer Jacqui McShee and illustrator Peter Thaine; even Guardian journalist and TV news correspondent Robin Denselow once sang in Croydon clubs such as The Olive Tree.

Researched and compiled by music archivist David Suff, The Journey contains 66 tracks, half of which were previously unreleased in the UK including many rare demos, studio out-takes and live recordings from all stages of Ralph's 40 years as a performer.

His own lyrical work provides the backbone to the collection, with McTell classics From Clare to Here and Summer Lightning set alongside the lesser known Slipshod Taproom Dance, the children's favourite Kenny the Kangaroo and the more recent, Peppers and Tomatoes.

In addition there are fine reworkings of his own blues heroes - Jesse Fuller, Big Bill Broonzy and the Reverend Gary Davis.

On stage, Ralph is usually the lone performer, but the new-found tracks include many studio collaborations. Savour the guest appearances by Richard Thompson, Dave Pegg, Billy Connolly, the T-Rex rhythm section and the London Symphony Orchestra.

The Journey - Recordings 1965 to 2006, was officially released earlier this month and is available from your local record shop or via the website, ralphmctell.co.uk.