TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

This morning's Observer newspaper has a 2 page (3 if you count the full page photo) interview with Richard Thompson. In it's Review section.

Thanks.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/apr/11/richard-thompson-faith-feature

He's on good form.

I came on her especially to point out the article, but you beat me to it! Maybe I don't need to miss the Observer Music Monthly too much.

I loved this bit that he wrote: "I don't think Fairport could be accused of pursuing fame and wealth, but the drawback to longevity is that your audience ages with you and you have to be vigilant not to end up playing for blue rinses in Cromer Pavilion"....
So when the "Folk on the Pier" folk festival takes place next month, in Cromer, watch out for any "blue rinses" at the Pavilion, where most of the acts play!!

When I read that in the paper I took it as ever such a gentle dig, but on reflection I think I can imagine the smile on his face as he said it...

There seem to be a few "blue rinses" at Cropredy every year.
And a rainbow of other colour rinses, too.

Me, I'll stick with the silver threads among the gold, until the silver is dominant, then I might just go for a lilac rinse á la Quentin Crisp.
And a tiara, too !

In this morning's Observer as well- this time introducing who is playing at the "Meltdown" festival and why he has selected them- in the Review section.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/may/30/richard-thompson-meltdown-festival

Nice article but...Van Dyke Parks [was] "An uncredited co-writer on Pet Sounds. Him and Brian Wilson basically did the whole album, and Van Dyke said, "I don't want my name on it, thanks".  ???
Never heard that theory before, it's been well-documented that Brian Wilson's chief collabrator on Pet Sounds was Tony Asher, and Van Dyke Parks was the co-creator of the ill-fated Smile album, only entering Wilson's circle after Pet Sounds. No-one has ever mentioned Parks having any involvement whatsoever with Pet Sounds, even Tony Asher has said in articles and books that he and Wilson worked alone on that album together.
Maybe RT was referring to Smile, maybe RT has opened a new and previously unknown chapter in the Pet Sounds story.

The Pet Sounds lyrics sure don't read like Parks.  Far too down to earth, not cerebral enough.  Unless he meant Parks helped with the music.  But I can't see it, I think it's a mistake.

Jules

Exactly, unless Parks co-composed some of the musical ideas with Brian inbetween his writing sessions with Tony Asher. Apparently the whole Pet Sounds album was written in a matter of days by just the two of them. The key word of RT's statement here is "uncredited", meaning Parks' role has a) been written out of history, b) supressed by Mike Love, Capitol Records, Beach Boys historians, Parks and Wilson themselves, and others or c) didn't happen and RT has made a mistake. However, more than happy to hear a new angle on this ; with RT's L.A. connections and his own history with Capitol Records maybe he's onto something and knows information that others don't.
Just going to check some Beach Boys boards to see if they're aware of this mystery.

Please report back if you learn anything.

Jules

I'm on it, Jules. The Beach Boys Britain board requires you to register via their admin to post on there at the moment as membership has been restricted, so I've sent the enquiry direct to admin via my Hotmail to see if they can either put it out there on the board for a response, or respond directly. Interesting to see where this goes !

Right then, got a response from Andrew G. Doe responsible for co-writing the fine book Brian Wilson & The Beach Boys: The Complete Guide To Their Music.

"I saw it too, and my immediate reaction was "Richard's got his albums arse about face". :-)  
To my best knowledge, the closest Van Dyke had anything to do with Pet Sounds was when Brian asked him to help out with the lyrics of the early version of "Good Vibrations". Which he indeed declined."

Let's wait 'n see if anyone else can shed light on this, but you may find this is the general consensus.

RT was also interviewed this evening on Radio 4's "Loose Ends" programme- about the "Meltdown" festival, and included him playing some samples of his guitar work- second item in the programme, about 10 minutes in, although I'm not sure if it is available on "I-Player".

It won't be: the programme is called 'Front Row'. It's a daily half-hour arts round up, whereas 'Loose Ends' is a round-table discussion show on a Saturday evening. I mainly include this information for those poor souls unable to tune into the Beeb without thinking about it, for example those in foreign lands who know little of the wonders of radio. At least now there is internet streaming.

SN, dreaming of a Radio 4 pension... (and what about SID!!!!)

It's here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00slls5/Front_Row_Vast_Anish_Kapoor_sculpture_Richard_Thompson/

Why did you think it wouldn't be, Simon?

I think Simon was saying that it won't be on the i-player under the name Loose Ends because that's not what the programme was called :-\

Sorry, you are right of course, about the name of the programme- interesting listening, whatever the name! For what it's worth, "Front Row" and "Loose Ends" are both very good radio arts reviews which make up the highlights of my (mainly) radio4 listening week! As well as the Archers of course;
Sad or what!? (Listening to the Archers- is that what we old hippies have become?)

Are you sure it in was Loose Ends? Once a week on a Friday and no mention of RT at all, either recent shows or the next show: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qjym

Did you mean "Front Row"? If so, posted here: http://www.talkawhile.co.uk/yabbse/index.php?topic=35001.msg506027;topicseen#new including an iPlayer link.



Edit: Keep up at the back, Mike!  ;)

Ah I see!



Yes, RIP Sid.  Mind you, I saw it coming when Fallon said It's not like I'm never gonna see him again

Whoops! Didn't even notice the second page or the thread before I hit reply! my bad  :-[ :-[

If you see sid tell him  ;)

Perhaps he'll come back as a policeman?... (QV Hedley Nicklaus - sp?)