Hand Of Kindness - Richard Thompson

When Richard and Linda Thompson's marriage and professional partnership hit the rocks in 1982, both went solo - Richard had done so once before, after leaving Fairport Convention at the start of the 70s. In my view, the result was the best of his long career to date. He had a first-rate band behind him, consisting of three of his former Fairport colleagues, with folk stalwart John Kirkpatrick on accordion and concertina, and sax players Pete Thomas ...
...but incredibly potent lead guitar, and you've got an amazing rock'n'roll meets Cajun outfit. The songs were equally incredible, some of them naturally reflecting the traumas of his personal life at the time. "Tear Stained Letter" ('My heart was beating like a song by the Clash, it was writing cheques that my body couldn't cash') is a prety fierce, impassioned opening track, and it's matched if not surpassed by "A Poisoned Heart and ... more

When Richard and Linda Thompson's marriage and professional partnership hit the rocks in 1982, both went solo - Richard had done so once before, after leaving Fairport Convention at the start of the 70s. In my view, the result was the best of his long career to date. He had a first-rate band behind him, consisting of three of his former Fairport colleagues, with folk stalwart John Kirkpatrick on accordion and concertina, and sax players Pete Thomas and Pete Zorn. Add Richard and his often underrated but incredibly potent lead guitar, and you've got an amazing rock'n'roll meets Cajun outfit. The songs were equally incredible, some of them naturally reflecting the traumas of his personal life at the time. "Tear Stained Letter" ('My heart was beating like a song by the Clash, it was writing cheques that my body couldn't cash') is a prety fierce, impassioned opening track, and it's matched if not surpassed by "A Poisoned Heart and a Twisted Memory", the title of which speaks for itself. Listen to his cry of rage on this slower, rolling bluesy tempo track as he steps up to the mic, and the emotional lead guitar break which brings the song to a crescendo is enough to send shivers down your spine. These two songs would have made classic singles, as did the infectious, semi-reggae track "The Wrong Heartbeat". He tugs the heartstrings equally on the wistful, gentle "How I Wanted To", revisits his folk roots with "Devonside", and reminds us that he's got a sense of humour despite the anger with the folk-funk of "Two Left Feet". I'll stick my neck out and say that this is not merely Richard's best-ever album so far, but undoubtedly one of the best of the 80s. Get it!
 

...less