Advantages: Superbly played, written and sung - and what a variety of moods Disadvantages: None
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 a Twisted Memory", ...
Advantages: Tremendous variety Disadvantages: Two rather dull long numbers
This compilation of previously-unreleased material and rarities, like B-sides and radio sessions, features the ever-versatile guitarist (to say nothing of Appalachian dulcimer and mandolin player) on an assortment of Fairport Convention tracks as well as solo work and songs with his then wife Linda. His vocals aren't in evidence at all on the first four cuts, all from Fairport (even though he co-wrote one), but even then his guitar skills were much ... ...Hangman" and a live version of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Rock'n'Roller" does he take the spotlight. For me the highlights are the lovely "A Heart Needs a Home" and the Penn/Moman standard "The Dark End of the Street", with Linda sharing vocals. Their version of the Cliff Richard oldie "It'll Be Me", with John Kirkpatrick's button accordion much in evidence behind them, and a couple of instrumentals all add to the variety. Two overlong live tracks, ...
Advantages: Only occasionally less than brilliant Disadvantages: None
"Sunnyvista" has received an undeservedly lukewarm reception over the years, but when I first heard it on release in 1979 I was knocked out by the immediacy and sheer force of the songs and playing, and time has never dulled its impact. On the whole it's definitely more rock than folk, and was reportedly influenced by listening to bands like the Clash. The presence of guests like Squeeze's Glen Tilbrook, Gerry Rafferty, Pete Wingfield and the long-defunct ... ...accordionist John Kirkpatrick suggest a healthy fusion of styles. (No Joe Strummer or Mick Jones though - that would have been something else!)
The opening track, "Civilization", is an absolute masterpiece - Richard's angry vocals and lyrics about contemporary society, Linda's sweeter but still impassioned singing, are set to a belting pace that incorporate a kind of Eastern feel thanks to Sue Harris's oboe playing, and chunky rock riffs played ...
Advantages: Songs well up to standard Disadvantages: Unadventurous instrumentation
...the chilling "The Ghost Of You Walks" and the introspective "Burns Night" come out the best, and lyrically "Woods of Darney", a song about a soldier's love affair in France during World War I, is a gem.
Musically, though, I found this album a little disappointing. While I can't fault the songs, I've always enjoyed Richard's work not just for his writing but also for the colourful, imaginative instrumentation which breaks down the barriers between ...
Advantages: An accessible introduction to the work of Richard Thompson Disadvantages: The album lacks the spontaneity of earlyer records.
For many Rumour and Sigh marked a return to the form Richard Thompson was during the early 80's period of "Shoot out the lights" and "Hand of Kindness". Those classic's in Thompson's cannon were as much the result of the fine production work of Joe Boyd as the brilliant songwriting and guitar playing of Thompson. The mid 80's produced a serious of albums which today sound dated by the production techniques employed on them, although this is not to ... ...there introduction into Thompson’s live shows, yet album version of crowd pleasers such as Valerie (from the 1986 album “Daring Adventures”) sound weak and diluted in comparison. This probably has more to do with the introduction of new producer Mitchell Froom than Thompson taking influence from the Human League! Amnesia (1988) was a solid album, but lacked the spontaneity of the Boyd era albums. Rumour and sigh however went some ...
Excellent performance, tonnes of steam, ventilated ironing board (*)
