TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Nervously, he asks. . .

Does anyone know when these are now due? I can't find anything specific on the Beesweb site other than something saying they should be out by Christmas (last year), which sounds ominously like something Tony Blair said about the troops.

I know it's been a massive job for Maart, and I wouldn't want to pile on any pressure, but it's gone a bit quiet.

Maart hasthem finished & are with RT.

Down to him to decide on release date. / publisher.

Perhaps ask him via the email link on theRT website?

In the Questions and Answers for Jan/Feb 08 posted at richardthompson-music.com, RT answered the following question:

Secondly, where/how/when can I get my hands on the songbook(s) with guitar tablature?

Still coming.

I raised the subject with RT himself at Cropredy last year, and the response I got was one of raised hackles (on his part), suggesting he was rather irritated that people kept asking the same question...

I think I managed to save the situation and we ended up having a pleasant exchange, but it was a sweaty moment for me, I can tell you, having annoyed one of my great heroes!

Basically it is clearly a huge task to proof-read, and he claimed pressure of work, what with touring etc, to find the time (which I can sympathise with). Maybe the enforced rest (scorpion/finger interface) this month will have provided some "spare" time?

DC

That's why I asked "nervously". I do sympathise with Richard on this - proof reading is a hell of a job, especially with music involved. One false note. . .

It's just I couldn't find an update on the website. But I am a patient man.

One false note and it's Trad Arr ...?  :-\

So the books will be here eventually, but don't ask RT as it gets on his wick, not much more to be said. Is it okay to drift this topic now?  ;D

Purely for the point of discussion, these questions are not to anyone in particular; How about making up you own arrangements? What's the point of a whole host of people playing exactly the same thing? Everyone should be able to hear where the changes are - get yer geetar in a modal tuning and swing your arm at it- you get away with one and two finger chords as well.
Even if you do get the guitar part down exactly the way it's written on the page, the next time you see RT play it he will almost certainly play it sightly differently, you might become confused, disappointed and angry enough to burst a child's balloon on the way home.

Are you going to spend hours getting the voice to sound like RT too?

I wouldn't dream of trying to sing and play like RT (actually, I would dream of it, but nothing more). But the written words and music are a great help.

I agree, and I'll probably buy them as they come out too. I wasn't trying to start an argument. I was just raising the point (and hopefully starting a discussion) about when it comes to performing the songs, it's better to have come up with one's own interpretation, rather than a 'tribute act' type performance.

Mind you - when he's ready to make siome cash from them I bet he'll be happy to talk about them, sign them etc.

But the written words and music are a great help.

Without the written words and music, I'd be lost. I'm not good enough to figure out my own arrangements.

Maybe the scorpion incident will give him a bit more time...

Rebecca (Mrs DC) is fab at working out the chords from listening to the music being played (she's classically-trained), and so we have worked out a lot of RT's songs anyway, and I'm not too bad at it myself, now. However, they're all turning out to be "our" versions as I'm not in the same game (let alone the same league) as RT.

I did play a wrong chord near the end of Morgan Magan (a Carolan tune) the other week, and it sounded good so we've now incorporated it (as suggested by Nick, above)!

It is useful to have the words and music (we have Maart's FC and Sandy books), if only for those "...oh, that's what it is..." moments.

If you need any awkward questions asked, I'm always up for a bit of stunt work... (not really  :D)

DC

I already suggested that, BB...

DC

Oh, sorry  :-[ I kinda skimmed through it.

Think nothing of it, old chap ;).

DC

while you wait..... http://people.netcom.co.uk/r.kendrick/rt/guitar/default.htm

Update from the current RT Newsletter:

With his rigorous tour schedule (100 shows a year, 130 days of travel) and numerous projects, the promised Richard Thompson Songbook series is still a few months away. Slow, steady progress is being made, so please check our website for further updates.

DC

... and an answer on his current Q&A:

Songbooks are being designed, and I think we’ll have a great package. Once this is done, we can release fairly quickly.

DC