More Guitar

Richard Thompson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Beeswing
• Run Time: 77 minutes
• ASIN: B00069IXRM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,057 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

AllMusic Guide Review by Mark Deming: While plenty of fans will tell you that Richard Thompson is one of the most consistently dazzling guitarists you're likely to see on a stage, even the greats have some nights that are better than others, and its our good fortune that someone had a DAT machine rolling on the evening in 1988 when Thompson and his band played the firestorm of a set preserved on More Guitar. One of the tracks on this album, a nine-minute workout on "Can't Win," was previously released as an example of Thompson's live prowess on the box set Watching the Dark, and most of More Guitar is every bit as jaw-dropping as that stellar performance. The set list is strong, concentrating on the then-current Amnesia while also paying a few visits to gems from the back catalog (including a surprising version of Henry the Human Fly's "The Angels Took My Racehorse Away") and a pair of choice covers. The band is one of Thompson's better road units, with the always welcome John Kirkpatrick on accordion, Clive Gregson and Christine Collister adding lovely harmonies, and drummer Kenny Aronoff driving the show like a locomotive. But the real draw of this disc is hearing Thompson go gloriously nuts on electric guitar, and his frenzied down stroking on "Don't Tempt Me," the over-the-top string bends and modal insanity of "Gypsy Love Songs," and ominous Stratocaster gunfire of "Shoot out the Lights" are manna from heaven for fans of the man's electric work. And even the most subdued numbers on this set display a passionate emotional intensity that's gripping and beautiful. In short, this was unexpectedly a show for the ages, and More Guitar allows Thompson fanatics to hear it at their leisure. Those who enjoy the more pastoral side of his music may be a bit put off, but if you love to hear him rock out, you've got to hear this disc, and that's that.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing performance from 1988 tour available at Richard's site, October 2, 2005

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WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: More Guitar (Audio CD)

"More Guitar" is aptly named--it captures Richard Thompson in top form during the 1988 "Amnesia" tour. Featuring 12 tracks with four tracks drawn from that album, a couple from "Across a Crowded Room" and "Dangerous Adventures" and a curious dip back into "Henry the Human Fly", "More Guitar" features incendary performances and guitar pyrotechnics that Thompson fans are used to seeing live but rarely captured for CD. It's a great performance from Thompson and his '88 touring band featuring Christine Collister and Clive Gregson (who toured and recorded together during the 80's and 90's producing a series of great albums released to apathetic public response).

Recorded direct to two track DAT, the recordings sound surprisingly good (although it can't of course compare to what we would get now). This album is indeed available from Richard Thompson's website. I do wish the packaging were a bit better than the cardboard holder included with the set but that's minor (I used the cover art to create my own by scanning it into the computer).

12 marvelous tracks that could only be improved by including the entire concert from 1988, "More Guitar" lives up to its title. There's also a number of other releases at Richard's website including "1000 Years of Music" which features cover songs performed on acoustic by Thompson. That's also well worth picking up as is "Ducknapped".