Customer Reviews

First Light

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Probably the worst person to review a Richard and LindaThompson album is an ardent Richard and Linda fan (likemyself). Devoted followers either compare the release to the dagger-through-the-heart benchmark `Shoot Out The Lights,' or paint the album with a broad Richard and Linda Midas brush (everything that they touch turns to gold). Although next to impossible, I'm going to try to be objective, and not allow the previous criteria to cloud my mind. The vocal arrangements, provided by a choir of more than a dozen English folk-rock luminaries, are rich and glorious (Sweet Surrender, Strange Affair, House Of Cards). The star here is not Richard, but Linda. Her solo ballad `Sweet Surrender' is gently melodic and heart-warming. And her interpretation of the fatalistic tale of love (Died For Love) is convincing and intense. Linda's most vivid performance is `Pavanne:' her comely voice perfectly contradicts Richard's harrowing lyrical narrative. She even manages to upstage Richard on the soothing duet `First Light.' For compelling songwriting, `Strange Affair' is an affectionate and mystical look at death. Despite the album's captivating lyrics, intriguing song structures and beautiful harmonies; there is trouble in paradise. The guitar introduction (The Choice Wife) of `Died For Love' is self-indulgent and just too long. `Layla' is a weak and uninspired rocker (the off-key chorus is horrid). `House Of Cards' contains a dramatic and luscious chorus, but the structure is simplistic and repetitive. In summary, `First Light' beats the pants off ninety-percent of everything in the folk-rock genre. For fans, it will complement (rather than distract from) Richard and Linda's stellar library. First-time listeners will be elated. Besides, musical perfection is a never ending goal.

After not having recorded for three years (Thompson lived in a Sufi commune during this time), Thompson returned after discovering that he couldn't give up making music. Although a bit uneven, "First Light" has a number of delightful Thompson songs on them. "Restless Highway" is the closest to a mainstream single with its catchy riff and melody. "Sweet Surrender" is probably one of the weaker tracks on the album with a nice vocal from Linda the highlight of the song. "Don't Let a Thief Steal into Your Heart" is a marvelous tune undone by the slick arrangements. "The Choice Wife" a traditional song that Thompson has played on and off throughout his career is nicely performed here. "Died for Love" features a memorable performance by Linda and a lovely arrangement particularly for the backing vocals. "Strange Affair" suffers from an overly slick arrangement and playing. "Layla" (as has been previously noted) is not the Derek and the Dominos song but is based on the same folktale. Despite it's upbeat arrangement it's not all that memorable. The sad "Pavanne" based on a dream that Linda Thompson had and has a lovely melody in addition to its very sad poignant delivery and lyric. "House of Cards" isn't as bad as its made out to be;despite a turgid arrangement Richard's vocal is quite good. The country influenced "First Light" has another lovely vocal from Linda and the arrangement is stately.

Hopefully Richard (who owns the master recordings)will reissue this so that fans won't have to pay the outrageous prices listed here for the release. It's a solid album (although Thompson views it otherwise--he believes it's his worst album which it may be but his worst is better than most people)that could stand to be reissued with a second disc of demos, live recordings (particularly for some of the better songs here that aren't arranged to their full potential). Perhaps Thompson will license it along with the underrated "Sunnyvista" for reissue available at his website at some future date. This is probably Richard and Linda Thompson's least essential album.

Richard and Linda's fourth album together clearly did not live up to the standards of the first three ("I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight," "Hokey Pokey," and "Pour Down Like Silver") and as a result it is frequently dismissed as an inconsequential and insubstantial part of the their catalog. This is unfair, because for all its weaknesses, this is still a good album.

True, the production indicates an attempt to "cash in" on the west coast commercial fare of the period (late 1970's) but even it can't distract from songs like "Strange Affair," "Layla" (no, not a cover of the Clapton song) and the glorious title track which alone is worth the price of admission.

This is a strange and minor album in the Richard & Linda Thompson catalog. It's both an uneasy attempt at popular appeal yet their most overtly spiritual (Sufi Muslim) album. It also is badly produced, with vocals mixed to near inaudibility at times, and muted sonic details.

Linda is easily the star of the album; her singing is as fine as always, especially on "Strange Affair" and "Died for Love." The Richard-sung songs are, frankly, not very good. (Don't get your hopes up about "Layla"--it ain't *that* song!) The music on the album--played in part by L.A. studio types--is fairly dull, and is not helped by the flat production. The folk and Middle Eastern influences so important to the R&L sound are muted, but help when they're present. The best-known song on the album is "Don't Let A Thief Steal Into Your Heart," which has a near-disco beat, some cool duo vocals, and some nice guitar from Richard. As the album's most blatant "sellout," it actually works. And the Pointer Sisters even covered it.

You could skip "First Light" and not miss much, but Thompson addicts will want it and find things of value. Still, it's their weakest LP, and a real letdown as the followup to "Pour Down Like Silver."

It's inconceivable to me that any Richard and Linda fan could conceive of this as a weak link in their output. There's a somewhat more mainstream production to this, but IMHO it adds rather than detracts from the beauty of the best songs. These songs don't really call for instrumental flash, and the lighter production makes this album an good starting point for those new to the Thompsons' music. And sure, it's not Bright Lights or Shoot Out the Lights, but it's easily the equal of Pour Down Like Silver, another perennial fan favorite.

I must agree with others who say that this is mainly Linda's album. Richard's songs, with the exception of "House of Cards" and maybe "Restless Highway" just aren't up to his usual high standard. Perhaps the near-LA-style production just doesn't fit with his delivery. I'd suggest instead that the mix only highlights the unevenness of Richard's songs. Richard's "Layla" is the sort of rote rocker that you don't expect to find on a Thompsons album, and "Don't Let a Thief Steal Into Your Heart" is dated and dull.

Linda's tracks, though, more than compensate. "Sweet Surrender" and especially the stunning "First Light" are gorgeous, plainspoken - but never preachy - affirmations of the Thompsons' Sufi faith. And "Died for Love" and "Pavanne" are stories as haunting as "Down Where the Drunkards Roll" from Bright Lights. Five stars for Linda's work, then, and three for Richard's...let's split the difference and call it four stars.

If you have any interest in the Thompsons or in seventies folk rock, this CD is well worth searching out despite a couple of weaker cuts. First Light certainly trumps most any folk rock album produced since its release in 1978.

The first RT album I heard and purchased. I was impressed enough to go back and pick up everything that came before...and have continued to buy everything that has come since. Way underrated by critics...including RT himself, whose feelings about the album is understandably colored by his experiences. Worth many repeated listenings.

(Aside: If you're ever looking for cheap humor read the end of the year best-of lists over the past 20 years. Most critics have a pisspoor track record. Yes they are worse than you think.)

I just listened to this record for the first time years. It may not be Richard and Linda's best. But it is probably their most underrated. A fabulous record undeserving of its lowly reputation in RT's canon. And let's face it, it is better than virtually all of Richard's solo records (post Linda).

I'm sure my opinion won't be popular with RT diehards but has anyone really cared to listen to his last few records more than a handful of times? I'd take a second rate Richard and Linda record over his last ten solo albums without hesitation.

I'm not even going to argue with the dolts who panned this cd, but I'm certainly going to register my vote. I honestly don't think Richard Thompson has ever recorded a bad song, let alone album, and at least half a dozen of my favorites are on this one. Stating that the back-up band sounds like "country" is the height of ignorance, given that it includes former/current members of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, and Fotheringay as well as the core of excellent session musicians. In all the many times I've enjoyed this collection, it never remotely occurred to me that the sound is in any way incompatible with Thompson's consistent style. I hope the reviewer who claims Restless Highway is poorly constructed has even one song on his resume that can approach the least of Thompson's compositions - otherwise we've got another case of those who can't do, criticize.

It would be impossible for this duo to produce anything but wonderful music,that being said,this collection does not rank among their best.
I still must reccomend this album for the song "PAVANNE".
This is the place where perfection in lyric writing and perfection in vocal artistry converge.
One masterpiece makes a CD worth owning.

english folk with a touch of electric. heart-felt, sad. restless love is one of the saddest loveliest romantic songs of all time. nick drake would have been proud of it