Category: Richard & Linda Thompson

Richard & Linda Thompson – Hokey Pokey

ARTIST: Richard & Linda Thompson     RT_hp

TITLE:  Hokey Pokey

YEAR RELEASED: 1975

CHART ACTION: None

SINGLES: Hokey Pokey

OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: Georgie on a Spree

LINEUP: Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson, Timi Donald, Pat Donaldson, Simon Nicol, John Kirkpatrick, Aly Bain

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Husband and wife duo’s second joint album sounds lighter but lyrically is a semi-indictment of the me-decade of the 70’s.

SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: Some of the soungs sound jaunty, but Richard & Linda’s second album is full of characters who are struggling to survive the 70’s, because life isn’t fulfilling for them.

Musically, it’s a wonderful-sounding record, as Thompson and Nicol’s guitar weave together, and the Thompson’s voices work well. Some guests play accordion and fiddle, and adds a traditional folky atmosphere to the songs.

It’s a step back from the couple’s debut, but it came at a time when they were moving towards living in an Islamic commune. The songs fit the restlessness that they were feeling at the time.

NOTES & MINUTIAE: It took a while to get this released, and by the time it was, they were fully ensconced in the commune and didn’t tour much for the album.

IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: No

GRADE: B+: Good, fun-sounding songs just a bit short of their fabulous debut.

 

 

Richard & Linda Thompson – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight

ARTIST: Richard & Linda Thompson             RT_Iwtstblt

TITLE:  I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight

YEAR RELEASED: 1974

CHART ACTION: None

SINGLES:  I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight

OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: The Calvary Cross

LINEUP: Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson, Timmy Donald, Pat Donaldson, John Kirkpatrick with others filling in here and there.

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: First album from the then-husband and wife duo is a beautiful record. It’s a shame that it was ignored upon release.

SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: Richard Thompson’s solo career after leaving Fairport Convention got off to a rocky start, and the album he made with his then-wife Linda continued his ‘losing’ streak, as it were, in terms of sales and notice.

Yet what they missed in 1974 they didn’t miss when the Thompson’s had more notoriety and the albums were re-released. The ten tracks all fit together well, with Linda Thompson’s voice adding brightness to some darker tunes, and Richard’s writing and guitar playing are exquisite, as usual.

It’s a shame that “Calvary Cross” is only about four minutes – Thompson can get almost ten minutes out of that without a wasted note. More on point, we’re all thankful that this didn’t go out of print, nor did it get buried.

NOTES & MINUTIAE: The title cut was used in the movie Looper and the TV show Enlightened.

IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: Yes, three live cuts from 1975

GRADE: A: It’s a great record that was a lot better than almost everything from 1974.