TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

To my eternal shame I must admit to owning nothing by the great man.  But there is a big back catalogue out there, so where should I start if I am only going to by one album?

Let the arguments commence!!!

Thanks

IM

Hello ian and a warm welcome.

Action-Packed the anthology of his CD's on Capitol is a good sampler as it covers albums over the best part of a decade.  It also has Vincent Black Lightning.  Nuff said.

Good luck - the recommendations on this one could well bankrupt you!

David

Mock Tudor which includes what must be one of the best rock tracks of all time 'Cooksferry Queen'. If only for DM's drumming.

To get into some of the stuff he usually excerpts from at Cropredy 'Hand of Kindness. Not bad backing musicians, either ;)

The Holy Trinity have got to be:

1. I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
2. Shoot Out The Lights
3. Hand of Kindness

David's Capitol Years sampler suggestion might also be a good idea. I tend to find the later stuff (post mid-80s) doesn't live up to the quality of what came before but there have been some decent later albums like 'Rumour & Sigh'. I think generally he's tended to move towards a more singer-songwriter direction from the early 90s onwards whereas the albums with Linda and the early solo albums were very much rock/folk-rock, and at times - like on 'Hand of Kindness' and live - almost folk-rock 'n' roll.

I'd say start with Mock Tudor, and if there's nothing there you like, then it's probably not worth going any further. ::) Most newbies have trouble with the voice initially but it's worth persevering. Move on to Action Packed to sample the latter years and then see if you can dig out Across A Crowded Room. Only then, Grasshopper, will you be ready for Shoot Out The Lights. If you get as far as French, Frith, Kaiser and Thompson there's some sort of prize. Get into Henry The Human Fly and he's alleged to pop round and give you a badge.

Start out with Henry the Human Fly, the reason being, is that everything after is so much easier. Seriously this is a very underated album and worth it for The Angels Took My Racehorse Away and Poor Ditching Boy.

i would start with henry, move on to bright lights, then try shoot out and then as a taster of what hes up to now try old kit bag or mock tudor
 if he suits you youll soon be after the rest, do them chronologically

Old Kit Bag is to me the most accessible and, well, best in terms of geetar since Fairport Convention's first album

Just be warned, you'll probably end up wanting to buy them all. But for three starters from different eras and with different charactertry

Bright Lights
Hand of kindness
Mock Tudor

'Rumour and Sigh' is a pretty good place to start to. I'm not helping, am I?

One purchase?

Get the Box Set.

That'll keep you busy for a while at least  :)

Cheers

Nick

Hand of Kindness (by many a mile)

While it is a big outlay I bought the Box Set and having nothing else, I suspect it covers most bases (I did get it for £35 which helped) but it probably is cheating.

OK I genereally prefer 'proper albums' but in RT's case there are two compilations that would give really good overview of his career and all the best stuff:

There's a good,and very affordable compilation of the Island years (usually five or six quid in Fopp or somewhere like it) called 'End of the Rainbow: The best of RIchard and Linda Thompson' with all the classics on it.

Previously mentioned, 'Action Packed' is the compilation of the Capitol period and includes the best tracks froim Mock Tudor etc and, yes ,Vincent Black Lightning - it was this CD that got me hooked and was a good strarting point.

Perhaps the best way in though would be to catch him live - I took a mate to see him in the US a couple of years ago that had never heard of him- let alone listened to him- and he was blown away.

Monkers

If the boxed set is out,I would actually go for the 'official' bootlegs as a starting point;

Celtschmetz for Richard Accoustic
Semi Detatched Mock Tudor for the band sound
And More Guitar because it is the 'classic' line up of the Richard Thompson band,and it features more er guitar!

The first RT album I bought was 'Rumour & Sigh' as it was probably the most accessible of his albums available at the time I discovered he existed.  However, I do agree with that 'Mock Tudor' is probably an ideal first purchase these days - it's worth it for 'Bethsheba Smiles' alone IMHO.

If you then find you really like RT the superb box set would make a great birthday/Christmas present.  ;)

Cheers
Dunc

Unofficial and dodgy boots just uploaded at http://www.myspace.com/richardandlindathompson   
 
 

You see, Ian - I did warn you.  Sort that bank loan now before it's too late! ;D

And removed from myspace swiftly methinks!!

Thanks to all who have contributed - better get my birthday present list out then.

Just out of interest, has anybody else bought the Chris Rea box set 'Blue Guitars'?  I have to say, if you think he is all about the Jeremy Clarkson - 'Best driving album in the world.... ever' tracks - you will be pleasantly surprised.  Having survived his dreadful illness, which took him to 'last rites' territory,  Chris decided to make the album he wanted - and it grew from there, into a multi CD box set - tracing popular music from West African traditional music - through to Motown etc, and it's a testament to his songwriting skills that he has been able to write 100+ songs spanning the genres.  Comes with  a great DVD of 'the making of' too, featuring top notch musicians from right around the world.

Highly recommended by yours truly, and available for about £30 at MVC, if you have one near you (less than half price!)

Regards

IM

Vinyl copy of "What We Did On Our Holidays" - listen to "I'll Keep It With Mine", particularly the guitar playing at the end... Also "Night Comes In" on the "Guitar Vocal" collection... "Cooksferry Queen" is a gas too...

For what its worth, my introduction to RT was through "Vincent Black Lightning" on a compilation tape sent me by a friend.  Which, considering how much cash I've spent on the great man since just goes to prove that the odd bit of low level piracy can be a positive boon for artists!

Anyway, that prompted me to buy "Action Packed" which was a good buy if you still aren't sure, and then "the "Island Years".  These two compilations cover the best of the old and the new and can be had for under a tenner for the pair if you shop around.

But I have to agree with the other poster about the official bootlegs.

If I could only keep two RT albums they would be "Semi-detached Mock Tudor" and "More Guitar".

The box set is for afficienados only!



Crunch

See..... I went out and bought Mock Tudor, like you recommended, and now I have to go and buy a whole load more!

Thankfully the dreaded HMV have all the reissues of the Richard & Linda Thompson catalogue at half price, so I picked up 4 remastered and repackaged CDs for £5 each.  Looking forward to listening to those when I get the chance.  Bought the Ray Lemantagne (spelt it right?) CD for £7.00 on MVC too, which sounds really good too, and also two Elvis compilations, which are excllent too. I particularly enjoyed 'That's alright' where you can hear that it's just 4 blokes sitting around a mic, playing live - one take only - no overdubs, and having a really good time.  Is it 30 years this year since he died - that's gone quickly.

IM

Go here:

http://www.rtlist.net/

for listening purposes.

If you're initially more drawn to:

--Keep Your Distance, then go to Rumor and Sigh, Shoot Out the Lights, and Action Packed.

--1952 Vincent Black Lightning, then go to Henry the Human Fly, Amnesia, and Old Kit Bag.

--Hard on Me, then go to Across a Crowded Room, guitar,vocal, and Mock Tudor.

Oh, hell, I pretty much made that up, but I think I might be on to something

I've always considered Mirror Blue a good companion to Mock Tudor.  The album they sandwich, You?Me?Us?, is a little more challenging.

I see that no-one has mentioned Amnesia yet. I know this was a different kind of album, with Mitch Froom producing, but it does have some of RT's best songs from the American adventure. I remember lots of these being huge favourites at the Croppers of the time. "Turning of the Tide", "Gypsy Love Songs", "Waltzings for Dreamers" "Pharaoh"  (June Tabor sang this at one Cropredy) and the mighty "Can't Win". Look out for the live electric version of "Can't Win" for some of his epic guitar work. Vic and Bob also used the intro to "I Still Dream" on one of their shows. This is a much under-rated album, even allowing for the bizarre cover.

Upon its release, Amnesia was his strongest, most consistant album since Hand of Kindness - no doubt - perhaps even SOTL.

The Live version of 'Can't Win' has some of the most incediary electric guitar playing I've heard - it's on the box set that was issued in the late 90s??

Probably my favourite RT 'official' album, but not for the faint hearted - its a little 'dense' for beginners.

Conversely, it's the only one I won't have in the house. Not for beginners. I'm just saying.

I would start at the start, with 'Henry The Human Fly', it's a terrific record.

Perhaps.  I guess it depends on what we mean by beginners, eh?

-Beginners who like Fairport -- Bright Lights
-Beginners who like Wainwright -- Amnesia
-Beginners who like Britney -- 1000 Years of Popular Music
-Beginner who are refugees from the Seraphim -- Mirror Blue  ;D

He did a great acoustic live album together with bass player Danny Thomson some ten years ago. It is one of my favourites.
Bertil B

Mirror Blue is a very odd album all round but well worth the effort if only for the wonderful Shane and Dixie.
Now you, me, us is a truly difficult album to get into. The live versions of the songs stand out though.

Taken at the Wickham festival last Friday....

[attachment deleted by admin]

Live versions of "Can't win" are on "Watching the Dark", "More Guitar" and "Ducknapped".  I'm particularly fond of the "Ducknapped" version 'cos I was there when it was recorded  :)

That's me you can hear clapping at the end ...........

I know it's only been mentioned once, but "Rumour and Sigh" is a very accessible album.  Shoot out the Lights is pretty good too. 

Ahh I feel like that sometimes - like everyone knows everything about music and I know nothing.
I was at that point where I had compilations and what have you but didn't know where any of my favourite tracks came from or any kind of chronology so I've borrowed Mock Tudor, Rumor and Sigh and Across a Crowded Room as recommended by a friend.

Do we think these are good recommendations? ;D

A pretty good best three to start with. Although I've always had a soft spot for Hand of Kindness....and.... ;D

Cool, what's on that one then? Any I might know? I do feel I ought to buy some of the man's work rather than just borrowing.
There was an awful lot of stuff he played at Cropredy last year that I didn't know. This is definitely not allowed to happen again.

Hi Carol - see PM

 :)

Starts off with Tear Stained Letter, then the saddest of the saddest - How I wanted To, later on there's the band version of Devonside (with the most heartbreaking key change/fiddle break), ends up with a riproaring Two Left Feet. The backing band's not bad either. Trouble with that Thompson fellow is he will insist on playing his new stuff live.... ::)

Ahh all bands are a bit like that. Don't they know we only came to their gigs for our favourite old stuff?
Do we think there is any chance of a RT tour/gig? I know I could look this stuff up but surely conversation is the point of this board?

Depends if your prepared to go to the US.... http://www.richardthompson-music.com/Tour.asp (http://www.richardthompson-music.com/Tour.asp)

 ;)

Oh I'd be so totally prepared but my bank manager says otherwise. :-[

Pah what does he know?

RT Band likely next year, once the new band CD is out...

Saw the old chap (on sparkling form) in Newark a few weeks ago, just before he fled back to the US.

When you can play an acoustic guitar like that, who needs electricity, a bass player or a full band ??

Well - I do rather like RT fronting a full band !!

He'll be back soon.

Dunno about as starting points, but wouldn't want to be without Pour Down Like Silver or Guitar,Vocal. The latter is the odds & sods compilation from the mid '70s with incredible live versions of Calvary Cross and Night Comes In- completely inspiring, intense group interplay with John Kirkpatrick and the rhythm section dream-team of Peggy and DM. Seriously, this is mighty, mighty stuff! Also a nice selection of early Fairport rarities including the equally mighty Poor Will..Probably tricky to get hold of these days though...

Pour Down Like Silver is the conversion to Islam record; stark, very beautiful and includes (I reckon) Linda's finest vocals- The Poor Boy Is Taken Away, Dimming Of The Day, Shame Of Doing Wrong. Completely essential stuff (and probably only a fiver in yer local megastore) so no excuses...

Notice no one has yet mentioned the super-slick Richard & Linda T. albums from the late '70s yet- First Light and Sunnyvista....Not their greatest by any means, but some way from the disater they're sometimes portrayed as. Great songs on those...Strange Affair, Borrowed Time, Sisters, Pavanne, You're Gonna Need Somebody...And great memories of watching them together (one time only) under my Pa's cycling cape in the pouring rain at Cropredy at the first FC reunion...Ho-hum..

And...amazed no-ones mentioned Daring Adventures. Again, pretty slick but not in an overly obtrusive way and includes a number of  songs that still crop up in RT shows- Missie, Al Bowly's In Heaven, Valerie.... Some great guitar too...

Actually, really liked the Grizzly Man soundtrack  and last year's Front Parlour Ballads and I usually come round to the ones that I'm not initially keen on (Old Kit Bag, in particular) Come to think of it...has the guy ever made a truly ropey album?

Start here and you won't go wrong.... one of the greatest songs he ever wrote and a great performance from Linda.... but never recorded as well as many live versions...

Ok then, I'm going to report back in a few weeks when I've done an awful lot of listening and have some opinons to share.

Right now I need sleep as off to Ireland for a few days tomorrow. Huzzah