Richard Thompson - Beginners Guide
Posted by Leedsboy on 7 April 2008 - 8:07pm.
As the earlier blog entry which had some recommendations on has been deleted, I would be grateful for any RT fans to recommend songs or albums to start. I have an open mind(ish) and I don't recall hearing very much if anything by him.
Thanks in advance.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
- More from Leedsboy.
- Login or register to post comments
Beginner's guide
Leedsboy - my favourite Richard & Linda albums are "I want to see the bright lights tonight" and "Shoot out the lights".
Two good solo ones to start are "Rumour & Sigh" and "Mock Tudor". Both of these were recorded during his time with Capitol records. This era has an excellent "best of" called "Action Packed".
I also would recommend the intimate acoustic concert "Small Town Romance".
I know this is a repeat post from the earlier deleted post - hope this info helps you.
Oh what joy...
to be able to do this.
OK...
Richard and Linda Thompson must-have albums...
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Pour Down Like Silver
Hokey Pokey
Shoot Out The Lights
Richard Thompson solo must-haves...
Henry The Human Fly
Guitar, Vocal
Rumour and Sigh
Richard Thompson solo 'b list' but still great...
Hand Of Kindness
Daring Adventures
Amnesia
Basically, the man has never made a truly bad album. There are a few Richard & Linda compilations available which cover similar territory, and all of them are superb.
Key songs...
there are so many, but here's a few to be getting on with...
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Withered And Died
Down Where The Drunkards Roll
The End Of The Rainbow
The Great Valerio
Never Again
A Heart Needs A Home
Night Comes In
Beat The Retreat
Dimming Of The Day / Dargai
Just The Motion
Man In Need
Shoot Out The Lights
Wall Of Death
The Poor Ditching Boy
Nobody's Wedding
Tear Stained Letter
Hand Of Kindness
Devonside
How Will I Ever Be Simple Again
Turning Of The Tide
Reckless Kind
Waltzing's For Dreamers
I Feel So Good
I Misunderstood
Why Must I Plead
1952 Vincent Black Lightning
God Loves A Drunk
Beeswing
King Of Bohemia
Oh... forgot...
The Calvary Cross
A starter
Choice clips....
A Heart Needs A Home
1952 Vincent Black Lightning
Shoot Out The Lights
No-one
Has mentioned Supertramp yet.
I was getting worried there
They were about to prove me wrong.
Give it time...
give it time.
But seriously...
I own I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight, but that's it. I'd like to hear more. What's the best album to get if I want to hear Thompson at his firey, shredding, Bob Mould-influencing best?
[Edit] Just one album please, Patrick.
Shoot Out The Lights...
it shows off his guitar playing to incredible effect and has some of his finest songs.
Thank
You
Have you heard?
Have you heard the cover of "Shoot Out The Lights" Bob Mould did as a B-side to one of the singes from his first solo album? Pretty good from my recollections. I must dig it out from the loft....
The Official Bootlegs
Either More Guitar (from the mid 80s) or Semi-Detached Mock Tudor. Like many performers RT is at his best live and these are both stunning.
Patrick - thank you
Am gonna give this all a fair seeing to. A Heart Needs A Home is stunning so am looking forward to discovering this stuff. I love it when you realise there's a big old high quality back catalogue to explore.
What no BONZOS ? The Holy Trinity incomplete
Right that's it i'm bringing out the question we all want to ask but have been afraid to until now.
What are some not so good Richard Thompson tracks ? and don't give me that "There aren't any" answer.
Over 40 years in Music there has to have been some Duffers.
Oh there's been a few...
'Fast Food' is one... a stinker. 'Pharoah' never rocked my world either.
Duffers....
Usually at least one per LP, except for "Bright Lights" and "Shoot out the Lights", as stated above and which is probably why the beginner should start with retrospectives and/or live albums. The beginners guide on Island is quite good for early and Richard and Linda stuff, Guitar, vocal is worth investigating for the phenomenal work outs of the live Calvary Cross and Night Comes In. Smalltown romance is great for accoustic live, a whole different kettle of fish from his full band electric efforts. (And much as I love his spiky, some would say, but not I, spidery electric guitar style, in a live setting one man and his accoustic is best. Electric is for record players, IMHO) The capitol years retrospective is pretty good for later stuff. Equivalently, as stated in a(one of the many)parallel strand, cover versions can sometimes ease one into the skill of his songwriting so check out the 2 trib LPs. Or any of the 10 or so versions of Dimming of the Day, one of his more beautiful tracks, inexplicably missed of my personal top 3 a few days back.
There are a few
Modern Woman, anyone? And I've never liked the mawkish From Galway to Graceland, though this is a firm favourite among many fans whose opinion I respect. Chacun a son gout and all that.
Proud moment...
Richard Thompson, Bob Harris, me (with the Big Star t-shirt) and my friend Jolph following a session on Bob's GLR radio show, 1996.
Bob looks
pretty chuffed to be in your photo. Are you eating or sucking in your cheekbones a la Simon Le Bon?
Errr...
I seem to recall I was trying to get a piece of gristle out of my teeth and Alan the photographer was kind enough to press the shutter before said hygenic procedure was completed. Bloody amateurs...!
Sp...
hygienic
Classic thumbs up gesture
But what is Richard doing with his hand?
I have wondered that for the last 12 years...
and I have absolutely no idea. Perhaps it's some kind of wrist-strengthening exercise.
Is it just me
or does RT look a little bit like Mike Athertons beardy older brother?
Fairport
Sorry, can't let this thread slide without mentioning Fairport. Richard's finest album as a member of the band are on Unhalfbricking, Leige and Leif and Full House.
Also why has no-one has mentioned his cover of Britney's Oops I Did it Again?
Ooops...
....probably because the version on 1000 years is not very good, a tad too knowing. There are better versions available: see http://coverlaydown.blogspot.com/2007/10/all-folked-up-britney-spears-st...
I like his version of...
'Substitute'.
I know it's a novelty....
....but I love the "don't step on my Jimmy Shands" song.
Did Richard actually like Jimmy Shand?.....or were they his fathers records as he was a Scot?
Best place to start
The documentary's uploaded in 5 or 6 chunks by the same user so watch it all...but I am biased.
Thankfully he'll play the guitar again
Just saw this on his website (Ouch! etc)
Richard received a scorpion sting while on vacation in Mexico, incapacitating his right hand for an expected 2-3 weeks.
Reluctantly, he is forced to postpone all of the April shows until later in the year, but expects to be back up to speed in time for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2.
Across A Crowded Room
His album from 1984, and the first of his that I bought. It has 'When The Spell Is Broken', 'Fire In The Engine Room' and 'Ghosts In The Wind' on it. Absolutley stunning writing and playing. No-one seems to mention it much these days which seems a pity. I think it's brilliant
POUR DOWN LIKE SILVER
Beating the Retreat, Jet Plane, Hard Luck Stories a close second to Bright Lights.
Los Lobos - Shoot Out The Lights
This rocks! I've only just discovered this... it's really good!
Los Lobos & RT
There is also good evidence of ongoing joint ventures: check out "The Ride", an album by the former, featuring Mr Thompson on a track or 2. Also Elvis Costello, Bobby Womack, Rueben Blades, Mavis Staples.
Recommended.