TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Richard Thompson will be on TV on Friday at 10pm on BBC4.

The write up says "Filmed at London's intimate Bush Hall before a small audience, this one-off event finds Meltdown curator Richard Thompson performing songs from his 40-year solo career like I Feel So Good and Vincent Black Lightning, and reaching back to his first band Fairport Convention for a revelatory version of Genesis Hall."

Here's a link to the program info:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tzpbs

The programme immediately before it is one about singer songwriters.The write up i read mentions Sandy Denny amongst others.

There's a thread in 'Radio Times' board about this.....but RT makes this on-topic here

Other programmes that evening are -

21:00–22:00 Singer-Songwriters at the BBC
Episode 1
1/4. With Elton John, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Harry Nilsson, Sandy Denny and Joni Mitchell. 22:00–23:00
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tzpbq

Songwriters' Circle
Richard Thompson, Suzanne Vega, Loudon Wainwright
1/4. The singer-songwriters perform their classics, chat about their work and collaborate.

 23:00–00:00 Carole King and James Taylor: Live at the Troubadour
Carole King and James Taylor reunited at the intimate Hollywood venue in concert in 2007.

00:00–01:00 BBC Four Sessions
Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Wainwright III plays classics and tracks from his latest LP Here Come The Choppers. (R)

Sky plussed!!

Thanks guys  :) :)

Loving the RT - Suzanne - Loudo prog.First three songs from the album by each that made me a fan.Plus Sandy and a glimpse of Mr Donahue in the At The Beeb programme too.

One of the best bits of telly I've seen for a long while and it's got loads to go yet! Has Suzanne Vega ever been to Cropredy?

This evening is almost worth £145.50 all by itself.

IMHO

Great programmes on tonight.

Wasn't that Dave Mattocks playing with Joan Armatrading as well as Jerry Donahue.

No! And I was just thinking, it's been ages since I saw her in concert.

Peggy! Simon! Gareth!

I do remember seeing her at Glastonbury, performing in a bullet-proof vest after a death threat had been made. I remember two guys with cymbals running across the stage at each other and crashing them together in time with the music too. It was an odd gig.

Now RT is doing Down Where The Drunkards Roll, which reminds me to mention http://www.afolksongaday.com again, where Jon Boden has recently done a very passable cover.

Cheers

Nick

I was at that Glasto too.For some reason I can't remember much.I remember I was hungry a lot though.

The RT, SV, LW4 programme was excellent...  

I saw Jerry D playing with Joan Armatrading.. on the previous porgramme..  filmed in 1976... was it DM on drums then?

Quite probably.....

And who's LW4?.....

Loudon Wainwright III's son?

It was 1989, my only Glastonbury.

The weather was red hot all weekend, Elvis Costello was brilliant, just him, a guitar and loads of effects pedals. I remember Fairground Attraction, Van Morrison, Donovan, Black Uhuru, Hugh Masekela and Peter Gabriel coming on as a guest with Youssou N'Dour.

Strangely, I was hungry a lot that weekend, too. Must have been the weather ?  ???

Any idea why she would receive death threats?

Saw all those too, except Donovan.Only just managed to find a recording of the Elvis performance and it was pretty damn good.The Van one exists too but he doesn't allow taping, which is fair enough.
Never found out what the threats were all about regarding Suzanne Vega, probably some crazy stalker type.More power to her for going on all the same.

According to various sources on t'interweb, the objects of the death threat were  her and bassist, Mike Visceglia, why doesn't seem to get mentioned.

i was really looking forward to this series of programmes, and it was good. but not quite as amazing as i'd have hoped. maybe i'm too hard to please.

the first programme, singer songwriters at the bbc gave me my first glimpse of a certain mr tom waits, and right from the off i was wondering what the hell he was trying to do. i also know that i couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen so that probably speaks volumes.

it was a good way to kill a night anyway.

Just watching the Loud, Rich & Suzanne show now.  1952 Vincent just made me cry....again!  RT played the sh!t out of it.  How much do we love him!

Jules

I'd have to say Feel So Good did it for me. Much as I love 1952 Vincent I'd rather hear him play something else. This is partly due to hearing local singers do average covers of it.

At the 1000 Years gig at The Lowry someone even shouted for Vincent and RT had to tell the punter that he wasn't doing any of his own songs. I suppose he could have done the Don McLean number.  

 :)

I remember it well. I'm happy to say it wasn't me who shouted, though! I can report that everybody around me tutted loudly (at the shouter, not at RT's response).

Now, I wonder how that hunger came about??   :P

Glastonbury being a lot bigger than the field at Cropredy, it's a long way to the food stalls and the queues are much bigger.

 :D

Ahh yes...that must have been the reason.I just couldn't remember.

I might think the same until he starts playing it and then he gets me every single time.

Jules

Never have I heard any other singer do VBL justice, in a perfect World "local singers" would leave the song well alone because it can only serve to highlight their shortcomings.
Nobody but nobody can perform this song with the passion, or indeed play the guitar in a way anywhere near approaching RT's incredible *tekkers*    
All points made are IMHO of course.

*tekkers courtesy of Soccer AM* ;D
 

Yes, but what does it mean?   ???

Jules

Sorry Jules, let me explain for all non Sky Sports Soccer AM footy folk. tekkers = technique.

Daft I know but I used the "word" in a light hearted, throw away sort of way

(walks off stage to the sound of his own footsteps)

Then I agree with you on one thing - not only does RT invest it with so much emotion when he sings it, but all the time he's playing guitar like he's possessed.  It's always a wonder to behold!

But as to the suggestion that all other singers should leave it alone - I can't agree.  Yes, maybe there are hundreds of poor imitations out there, but it only takes one triumphant reinterpretation to make it all worthwhile.  You can't stop people trying for glory, for reaching for dizzy heights.  We need the ambition in our "local singers".

Jules

I knew what you meant Martin, I watch the show when I can too.  ;D