Customer Reviews

Guitar / Vocal

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

 

 

While not very cohesive, this odds-and-ends '70s compilation is a terrific snapshot of Richard Thompson's diverse artistry, and is a better listen than the more recent "Watching the Dark" box set.

The towering gems of this album are the live versions of "Calvary Cross" and "Night Comes In," both just staggering in their stark intensity and mind-blowing guitar from RT (live is where he cuts loose).

Linda Thompson has her moments here too, especially on the live "Dark End of the Street" and the alternate take of "A Heart Needs a Home," which is much nicer than the version on "Hokey Pokey."

The Fairport Convention tracks at the start are real guitar showcases that were a bit of a revelation to this FC skeptic. Richard absolutely rips on all of them, playing some sustain-heavy, bluesy Les Paul leads quite unlike his later shimmery Stratocaster playing.

Then there's some nice acoustic pieces that offset the heavier doses of electric playing than we're used to on RT albums.

All in all, a really fine set that will convince you there's nothing that RT can't do, and do well.

As others below note, the stand-outs here are the two extended live tracks from the early 70s: "Night Comes In" & "Calvary Cross." As one who bought Thompson's first album the week it came out more than 30 years ago, I've followed his brilliant career for more than half my life, and these two live cuts are the best things he's released. I've seen him many times live, and he attains remarkable heights of lyricism in concert, but it's seldom caught and recorded as it is here. These two cuts are simply radiant and transcendent, expressing the Sufi spirituality for which he was living at the time. These two songs are, quite simply, the best of Richard Thompson.

"guitar/vocal" has been characterized as the "ultimate drool for Thompson fans", and truer words have never been spoken. The opening track, "Time Will Show the Wiser", was the first single from his first band, Fairport Convention, and hearing this instance of primal Thompson is worth the price of admission. Other standout tracks - live versions of "Night Comes In" (probably the most tender music Thompson has ever done), and "Calvary Cross" (where his solo travels to the heart of darkness in this song, then simply blows the whole thing apart). The covers here present a short-hand view of his influences - country ("The Dark End of the Street), rock n' roll ("Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller"), and English folk ("The Pitfall/The Excursion"). Fairport fans get a taste of "Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman", inexplicably left off of "Full House", and a gentle take of the Dylan staple! "The Ballad of Easy Rider". Finally, fans of Linda Thompson's gorgeous gossamer voice get some choice vocals on "A Heart Needs a Home", and "Dark End of the Street". Even if you own "Watching the Dark", lots of goodies make this a worthwhile purchase. More casual fans will have many paths to choose from if they enjoy "guitar/vocal".

This album was vital in my discovery of Richard Thompson. I'd already acquired some Fairport and Richard and Linda LPs, and this gave a nice overview of Richard's work at that point. It also included quite a few precious nuggets that were previously unreleased. It still holds up as a nice 70 some minute compendium of Richard's earlier work. Later releases have rendered this less than essential, but it's still a great compilation, and there are several cuts on here that are still unique to this collection. If your a R.T. completist, you'll have to have it.

First off, this is an excellent cd with great recordings. However, the only people who will seek this out are rt completists (i.e. those looking forward to the 6 cd set being released in february). Most of the best tracks are on other cds. Fortunately, i got a copy of this cd at a local library but it is not worth paying a lot for even if you love rt.

Two tracks on this CD are worth the price on their own: live verions of "Night Pours In" and of "Dark End of the Street". The others vary in quality and some will probably only be of interest to die-hard R.T. fans.

I would recommend "Rumour and Sigh" rather than this one to anyone starting a Richard Thompson collection.

PS I think the track listing is incomplete - missing Night Pours In and a live version of Calvary Cross.