I'd never heard Mr T speak before. Does he always sound this nervous? And it sounds like Mr H is alternating between bored and angry, and shouting from inside a metal box.

Would make an interesting transcript (with a sub removing the y'knows and sort ofs) but a weird thing to listen to.

Or is it just me? Sorry.

Actually, yes, he does. As a younger man he was plagued by a stammer which is always threatening to break loose. I think it, oddly, part of the appeal. Gods with feet of clay and all that.

....but is/was the teetotalitarianism part of a realisation of maybe he was caning it a bit back before the Prophet conveniently embargoed such temptation? I neither know and feel it prurient to ask, but a lot of his lyrics celebrate the glory what is drinking, much in the way of many erstwhile imbibers relive their memories of wine and roses. Nothing to be ashamed of, either way, of course.

This was very good indeed. RT is a very interesting man. I could have listened all day. Excellent interview David.

It seems about 20 years ago since I heard RT on the radio doing a (very surprisingly long and) fabulous version of his song Hand of Kindness. Perhaps it was a BBC session. Does it, or any similar version, exist as a generally available recording? If only I could find a devil, I'd gladly sell my soul to hear it again.

Not had a chance to listen as still idling on a New Year break but looking forward to the invariably engaging RT. I directed the aforementioned and above embedded Solitary Life BBC film so feel slightly qualified on the subject. Yes he's a little shy at times but not uncomfortable though it'd be true to say he comes across best on his own terms - i.e. in concert.

RT's had a lot read into his work by theorising fans and journalists - not
wholly unlike Dylan. I remember Fairport cohort Simon Nicol
observing that RT's songwriting became less open to interpretation
from the 80s onwards.

Like a lot of artists perhaps, RT partly structures his life in a way that
leaves both his creative flow open and him able to get it out. That's
pretty intense work already and the rest of the time you get the feeling
he'd rather not examine or be doing with it too much. He seems to live a
very normal and full life, is very friendly and interesting, displaying a
remarkable absence of showbiz ego while being extraordinarily talented and
knowledgeable as a musician and writer. That's unique enough and doubtless
goes some way to explaining why he's so popular (deservedly IMHO) with
much of the massive.

After watching the Solitary Life documentary I sent this RT solo

to my son, himself a considerable guitarist, and he replied,

"F'ing brilliant. I'm not really affected by much of his stuff but sometimes... well, where the f**k does he get this stuff from? You never read or hear much about his rocking out or who influenced that part of his playing which starts to make me think that it just came from him!"

(Sorry about the cissy-prissy spelling, but I'm new here and not sure of your opinions on sweary words).

sorry, it did make me laugh though

...summed it all up - a quick 'Yep' - just the way he said it showed utter relief that it's over! (listen to the last 20 seconds again - worth the effort).

Couple of other points - I think the former Mrs Thompson would differ in his claim that he's not one for the attention. I say that because I think I recall her saying that you only had to open the fridge door and he would do a turn.

But - he does seem to be fundamentally shy, which is a good thing in my book, and this interview was fascinating - not so much for what he said (which was fine) but for the almost audible battle he seems to have within himself when talking about his career. Glimpses of an uncompromising character who may be easier to listen to than to live with!

Well done one and all.

Good to see some Cathal Coughlan fans on the Word. An even more underappreciated artist than Mr Thompson..