From Free-Reed's website: "'RT'- The life and Music of Richard Thompson"

[Jonathan]

Here's the latest from Free-Reed's website about the RT box set due in November:


Advance & premium Reservation Form
for our major Winter 2005/6 Release...
"RT"
- The life and Music of Richard Thompson -
"RT" is Free Reed's '5-CD plus Bonus CD' celebration of the life and music of Richard Thompson .    Unlike previous ' best-ofs' and single-label compilations, this set has been compiled with Richard's full co-operation and with unprecedented access to Richard's own archives as well as those of major Thompson collectors worldwide. It features the classic Richard Thompson songs, as well as recordings never heard before by even the most devoted of fans, and is made up entirely of previously-unreleased and extremely hard-to-find recordings. An essential purchase for any RT or Fairport fan, it includes superb 160-page biog/discography Book, with a truly unique image archive.

We can also offer all our regular Mail Order customers the chance to pre-Order (with a simple £5 Holding Deposit ) the complete Box-Set plus all its books and both bonus CDs at the Special Pre-Release Price of £44.99 plus postage - the balance becomes due only when your set is due to be shipped to you in early November 2005.    Please FAX or post the form below, or pre-order your pre-release copy on-line at : www.free-reed.co.uk/rtmailorderform.php - please mention "Advance Order" on your Order Form.
 

[Sir Martin]

Oooo - Anyone seen a Tracklist?

[spooley (Simon)]

I've recently treated myself to the Free Reed "Cropredy Capers" box set and have been listening to that over the weekend.
The accompanying guidebook makes fascinating reading, and the whole ensemble does a marvellous job of summing-up and capturing the delights of the Cropredy festival.
If the RT set is half as good as this - it'll be a must-have.

As to the contents, there's a little info on RT's Beesweb site:

RT Boxed Set Pre-orders
3/10/05 (updated 3/10/05)

Representatives from Free Reed Records and Music met with Richard Thompson last week to pool ideas and give the boxed set its final overall shape. It will consist of five CDs, plus a bonus CD available with the first pressing.

Each CD will be themed:

1) Songs based on real people, places, and events
2) Epic guitar workouts
3) Unreleased songs
4) Cover versions and sessions
5) Essential RT

The bonus CD is yet to be finalized.

The majority of the inclusive recordings will be of previously unreleased material.
Richard Thompson has loaned Free Reed a large amount of music and memorabilia from his own archives – so likelihood is that even the most conscientious collector will find things that are new.

An early 2006 release is planned.

Simon.

[Keith]

I wonder if there will be much crossover with "Watching the Dark". Some of the live recordings and unreleased stuff is pretty rough and RT's voice is nothing like as good as at Cropredy this year on most of them.

[Patrick Coleman]

Hoping for "Hots for the Smarts" and "Alexander Graham Bell"...

[snagglepop]

Each CD will be themed:

 

would prefer chronological really - those pesky themed discs never, imho, run very well.
Would prefer to take a musical journey, if you will, from the early days up to now.
cheers
simon

[Chris]

would prefer chronological really - those pesky themed discs never, imho, run very well.
Would prefer to take a musical journey, if you will, from the early days up to now.

Me too - but unfortunately, that is the favoured way of Free Reed. Nigel Schofield (50% of Free Reed) is resident on the RT email list & is the source for Flip's website mentioned above.

A little birdy tells me (& it's NOT Nigel) that the box get's a launch at the BBC Folk Awards next year (I wonder why?!?!

[Jonathan]

I agree, I think I would prefer a chronological approach, as opposed to a theme.  But, so far, that's my only complaint regarding Free Reed's boxes.  And really, that's not that much of a complaint. 

Yes, some of songs on the Swarb box are really rough sounding, but I'd rather have a rare performance (especially of a rarely performed song) that's a little rough, than a pristine performance of a song we've all heard a million times.  But, I understand opinions differ.

How is the "Watching the Dark" box?  I've been tempted to pick it up several times, but I usually buy another RT CD instead.  Usually from his website, like one of the live releases.

[Nick]

It sounds strange to say but Chronological Order is difficult when the recordings are a mix of live performances. Do you consider the age of the track itself or the age of the recording?

For example, say the compilation has two tracks: Crazy Man Michael, recorded on last year's solo UK tour and a demo recording of Vincent Black Lightning. Which should come first and which second? That should be fairly clear-cut and most would say VBL first, CMM second (since CMM played solo is clearly an updated version of the song.) For a more difficult example, what about the two tracks; Night Comes In recorded live in 1975 and The Calvary Cross recorded live in 1976?

Cheers

Nick

[Chris]

The latest from Free Reed....

"Its full title is going to be:

"RT - The Life and Music of Richard Thompson"
..........

Early 'news leaks' about the set may have mentioned a November availability
for Mail Orders: In fact, only promotional copies for the world's media
will start to be available during late November, with full-format finished
product becoming available for us to send to mail-order customers early in
January 2006...... - The UK release date of 6th Feb coincides with Richard's
guest appearance at the UK's BBC Folk Awards in London!

More info will be posted on the website, and an updated Newsletter will be
on-line soon - the links are just below. The famed RT-List should also be a
good place to keep up with news - why not subscribe today at: www.rtlist.net



'RT'
THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF RICHARD THOMPSON

A 5-CD celebration of the music of
Richard Thompson

featuring

classic, rare and previously-unreleased recordings
from
his entire career

Comprising five themed CDs, over 90 Tracks...

The set has been compiled with unprecedented access to Richard's own
archives and major Thompson collectors worldwide. While it features the
classic Richard Thompson songs, as well as recordings never heard before by
even the most devoted of fans, the set is made up entirely of previously
unreleased and extremely hard to find recordings

CD1: Walking the long miles home - Muswell Hill to L.A.
Life real and surreal - autobiography and observation; songs based on real
events; a dip into trad arr. Tales in real time.

CD2: 
Finding Better Words  - The Essential Richard Thompson
This is quite simply the essential Richard Thompson; songs selected in
worldwide Fans polls, and brought together, in previously unheard recordings
for the first time.

CD3: Shine In The Dark - Epic live workouts
Here is a career-spanning collection of those memorable moments in any
Richard Thompson set when a song suddenly opens out into a breathtaking
instrumental improvisation.

CD4:  Songs pour down like silver  - Covers and Sessions
A Richard Thompson cover version is always a rare delight: this CD brings
some of the best together - from trad. arr to rock 'n' roll, punk rock to
sea shanties.
 
Slip-Cased Bonus CD5:
Something here worth more than gold - Real rarities
An amazing array of unreleased Richard Thompson songs. On this extra CD,
you'll find rare demos of songs, out-takes and live tracks which have never
before appeared on any Richard Thompson album.

This box-set includes.
Five full-length themed CDs  - plus:
160-page full-colour book with detailed discography, image archive, and
career overview, a facsimile 1952 Vincent Brochure, plus write-in voucher
for Bonus 6th CD in first 5,000 copies.

Latest on-line news from Free Reed here"

There's also a dedicated website here

[Andy]

Another genius-level bit of timing. JANUARY? When do they think Christmas is?

[johanna/ulla]

Another genius-level bit of timing. JANUARY? When do they think Christmas is?

The day of the release IS C********. Or even better 

[PLW (Peter)]

Christmas gets earlier every year, doesn't it?

[Shane (Skirky)]

Release planned for february - so still time to hang on to those Christmas vouchers, or just wait six months 'til it comes up as a mail order offer in The Guardian at a tenner off....

[Jim]

yeah but if you hang around till then will you get the write in disc as well?

[Chris]

You can still obtain the write-in disc for all the other box-sets they sell.....

[Dad Volt]

I fully expect these few posts to get moderated into nothingness very very soon. But to get back on topis isn't Richard Thompson a great guitarist!! And he can make it rain as well 

[Angela]

but it wasn't his fault we all got wet this year though!!  dennis is really getting into RT since seeing him at croppers and I just know that he'd want this box set, but I've already bought him his birthday present (birthday next month!) a new guitar..so he can't have it.  Maybe someone will buy it for me for C********!!!

Angela

[Nick]

but it wasn't his fault we all got wet this year though!! 

What time was the biggest downpour of the weekend?

What time did RT appear at the signing tent?

Case rests

Cheers

Nick

[Angela]

Ahh, but didn't it rain all day, and it stopped in the evening when he was on stage.  That signing queue went on forever didn't it, he certainly went over his alloted signing time.

Angela