Graham Reid | | 2 min read
Richard Thompson: Walking on a Wire
There seem no half-measures with the
legendary English singer-guitarist Richard Thompson. People
either “get” him or – despite acclaim as one of Britain's
greatest guitarists, the OBE and honorary PhD he received this year,
and being credited as founding British folk-rock with Fairport
Convention in the early 70s – they remain indifferent to, or
ignorant of, his particular genius.
His admirers include Husker Du's Bob Mould, REM, Neil Finn, Elvis Costello and there have been tribute albums, but he doesn't recycle past glories.
His last album, the live
Dream Attic, was a daring and courageous outing. With his
small band he introduced new material on an American tour and much of
it wasn't easy. He seemed full of bile and rage, included a
terrifically withering swipe at Sting (“the mirror's his best
friend”) and produced one of the finest albums of his long career.
It was a solo career that began badly however.
His debut Henry the Human Fly (1972) sold so poorly it was almost immediately deleted, although today many consider it landmark in electric folk-rock.
Between then and Dream Attic
he has delivered exciting albums (Rumor and Sigh and Mirror
Blue from the early Nineties are useful starting points on his solo career) and most
famously with his then-wife Linda created the classics I Want to
See The Bright Lights Tonight in '73 and Shoot out the Lights
in '82, their last before they separated.
The same year they broke up Thompson appeared solo in Gerdes Folk Club in New York where he recorded two radio broadcasts, some of which came out as the album Small Town Romance.
Now however other material from those shows appear as
The Folk City Broadcast, 19 songs which include
Fairport's Genesis Hall, the traditional Flowers of the
Forest, The Old Changing Way from Henry, and his
exceptional Streets of Paradise and Dimming of the Day
from the wonderful Richard and Linda album Pour Down Like Silver.
He throws in an instrumental jig and
George Formby's hilarious music hall pleaser Why Don't Women Like
Me but mostly explores that darkness within him on Walking on
a Wire (“and falling”), How Many Times Do I Have to Fall,
Never Again and others.
The sound isn't the best but – as he
jokes with the crowd and takes requests – you feel right there
while Thompson works out his demons, leavens it with humour and
offers gripping songs.
Time to “get” him if you haven't already.
NB: I am given to understand that this album has not been sanctioned by Thompson or his management and they are taking action to prevent its release. So while we disapprove of th practice, we would just say to Thompson aficionados . . . you better be quick.
Like the sound of this? Then check out this.
The Riverboat Captain - Jul 26, 2011
As much as I'd like 'Here Comes Geordie' to be about Sting, Mr. Thompson has denied that it is - "I can see why people think this is about Sting, but it is mere coincidence. I wrote the song about another person, who mortally insulted a good friend of mine, and deserves to be publicly flogged. So let's end all this Sting speculation. "
SaveEarl B. - Jul 26, 2011
I'm looking forward to the upcoming Rufus Wainwright box set (15 CD's???) partly because it has Rufus and his dad Loudon covering RT's "Down Where The Drunkards Roll". A version or two already available on Youtube I think.
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