Customer Reviews

In Concert November 1975

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

During a port-call in Hong Kong in late 1975, I picked up a copy of the NME at an newstand. A short story told of Richard & Linda Thompson's November tour of the UK, AND, the shows were to be recorded for forthcoming live record. The record that was released in 1976 was called: "Guitar,Vocal" and it contained some of Richard and Linda's finest excerpts from that tour (three tracks: "It'll be Me" "Night Comes In" & "Calvary Cross") live electric Thompson...classic tunes...incredible guitar...amazing music. But, where was the rest?

Well, It only took 31 years, but at last, here it is. The Thompson's were promoting their latest record: "Pour Down Like Silver" and, this 15 track CD of 78 minutes of music is the document. The band is Richard: guitar,vocals, Linda: vocals, John Kirkpatrick: button accordian & concertina and the two Dave's: Dave Pegg: bass guitar and Dave Mattacks: drums. To say this was one of the greatest live folk-rock bands of all time would hit the mark concerning this...They were!

"I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight" is the opener and it's a lively rendition of this classic. Linda is a fine voice here. Mrs. Thompson sounds like she's having fun, and this dispells stage-fright myth that has been reported about Richard and her (at least for these recordings). "Hard Luck Stories" features some fiery guitar work by Richard, and the accordian adds much color, but never overpowers. There is good separation between ALL the insruments and clarity to this mix, everyone is heard clearly. The rhythm section of Peggy & DM are felt as much as they are heard. The sound quality from these tapes of 35 years past is very good, there is a 'warmth' that goes with multi-track recordings of this era.

"Night Comes In", is the first of the "epic" mumbers featured and it's awesome, 11 minutes of subtle majesty, nobody else plays guitar like this! To me he is: "Sir Richard" and this cut will explain why. Next up, "The Morris Medley" is really fun and has a little tiny guitar solo built right in, this was a great surprise. This one is great. "A Heart Needs A Home" features Linda, and she really nails this one, a standout vocal.

"Now Be Thankful" gets a cheer from the crowd. And the wonderful version of: "Jet Plane" is next, a very good rendition featuring spot-on harmonies. "For Shame of Doing Wrong" is a showcase for Linda's singing, then the guitar takes off, and Richard plays like it's the end of the world. The mammoth entitled: "Calvary Cross", keeps on building & building, and in this new mix it's not as stark as the: "Guitar/Vocal" version, but it is just as spellbinding. "Hokey-Pokey" is the closer, and this song is spry & fun {psycho-circus music}.

Back for the encores, the band delivers: "Things You Gave Me" and 'It'll Be Me" and then into: "Together Again" by Buck Owens and it's over.

This is a great live CD, the band is top-notch and the sound quaility is remarkable. Do you like Richard Thompson? If that was a YES, this CD belongs in your music collection.
FIVE STARS !!!

Here are Richard and Linda in the prime of their partnership, having just dropped Pour Down Like Silver on an unsuspecting world. Along for the ride are the world-class rhythm section of Dave Pegg and Dave Mattacks plus John Kirkpatrick on squeezy things. Having heard bits of these live recordings sprinkled over various releases over the decade, it's great to have a nice big slice of this superb material, beautifully recorded in all its raw immediacy by the great John Wood. So why is Island-Universal making it nearly impossible for American fans to get our hands on this gem? No wonder the major record companies are withering. They have cabbage heads for brains.

Hopefully this is the first release of many more to come. thompson and the band are in fine form. if you like richard & linda thompson, this is a must. my only complaint is that the accordion is a little too loud.
sometimes it even drowns out thompsons guitar.(just listen to "night comes in"). I hope they will pay more attention to the mix for future releases.

Richard Thompson at his most dour, which isn't a knock, just a heads up. From a tour supporting the tough and luminous POUR DOWN LIKE SILVER, always one my favorite albums, these performances cover a lot of songs from that record, arguably improved by Dave Mattacks' authoritative drumming and John Kirkpatrick's masterful squeezebox. But being an electric band they steer clear of the more delicate material and that leaves Linda sounding a bit out of her element. One exception is an almost pop reading of "A Heart Needs a Home", a great song better served by a starker setting than here (see WATCHING THE DARK). She also shines on a couple of nimble Nashville covers, like "Why Don't You Love Me?", which supports my contention that Thompson is the British answer to country music.

The great man himself is a bit more reticent here than he is on stage these days. His guitar tone is more understated, but no less bracing. He leads the band down the rabbit hole on several extended jams, including a definitive, towering "Calvary Cross" (not the WTD version). This and the rollicking encore "It'll Be Me" appeared on the compilation GUITAR, VOCAL during his recording hiatus in the late '70s and remain the standout tracks here.

So this may not be the most fitting introduction to Richard (and/or Linda) Thompson for novices, but it is definitely a welcome addition for completists. Great stuff for those with the acquired taste.

Just wanted to add that there's a great performance of "For Shame of Doing Wrong" on this CD. Richard Thompson and the band turn the 4:43 studio version of the song into an 8:16 live epic by adding 3 and a half minutes of their classic guitar work and jamming at the end. I like it so much that I put it right behind "Sloth", "Calvary Cross" and "Night Comes In".

It is as expected. And I expect great! Linda sounds great. Richard is Richard. This is vintage, best of, early Thompson. It's hard to find better. I wish there was more. Why they were not superstars, I'll never know. Great material, great playing and great singing. 5 stars!!

I love Richard & Linda Thompson. Their first 3 albums (Bright Lites, Hokey Pokey, Silver) are the greatest achievements of British folk-rock and among the very best albums of the 70's. This live album was recorded on tour to support Pour Down Like Silver and features the same band used on the recordings.

Why does Amazon UK have this available as an MP3 download (yet NOT to US customers), but I can't purchase the MP3 from Amazon here?