Customer Reviews

Richard Thompson - 1000 Years of Popular Music (2 CD & 1 DVD Set)

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What began as Richard Thompson's cheekily literal response to Playboy when asked to name the "Ten Greatest Songs of the Millennium" has blossomed into something of a cottage industry for the cult folk/rock hero, spawning a concert tour, a limited edition CD, and now even a DVD.

And this is cause for celebration, because even though Mr. Thompson humbly asserts that "I am unqualified to sing 98% of the material here," you'd be hard-pressed to find another performer with the talent, intellect, and wit required to present this diverse and eclectic collection of songs in such an enjoyable and entertaining way.

A project like this could have easily descended into a tedious, winking, postmodern concert-length joke, and certainly Thompson and his troupe have a little fun with Gilbert & Sullivan and Britney Spears -- who wouldn't? But what ultimately makes 1,000 Years work so well is the sincerity and respect with which all of this material is treated, from Elizabethan ballads to coal miner songs to Shenandoah to Nat King Cole to Squeeze. The trio even manage to convincingly perform an a capella madrigal!

While about half of this "popular music" is understandably rooted in the 20th century, Thompson also adapts an impressive collection of tunes from the other 900 years of the past millennium (the ones that Playboy apparently wasn't very interested in), aided only by the back-up vocals, percussion, and occasional (and usually unnecessary) keyboards of Debra Dobkin and/or Judith Owen.

This backing duo (not exactly a "band") provides tasteful and unobtrusive accompaniment when needed. The only misfire occurs when Ms. Owen sings self-consciously "jazzy" and affected lead vocals on Night and Day and Cry Me A River, made even worse on the DVD format by her distracting and annoying hand gestures. I sure would have rather heard these classic songs sung by Richard Thompson (or just about anyone else, for that matter.)

There aren't any DVD "bonus features" per se, but a few interesting and amusing interview clips and rehearsal footage moments are interspersed here and there, and both stereo and 5.1 surround sound options are available. There are also two "bonus CDs" provided with the same audio as the DVD (presumably so you can also listen to this concert in your car, buggy, or covered wagon.)

Overall, Richard Thompson's 1,000 Years of Popular Music is one of the most enjoyable concert DVDs I have seen, from the rousing "Sumer Is Icumen In" opener to the boisterous final encore of "Sam Hall."

And without a dobut -- this is the greatest set list of the millennium.

The first two Richard Thompson live dvd's were marred by slightly uninspiring song selections and fairly basic camera work. But third time's the charm - this lovely dvd presentation of Thompson's "1000 Years of Popular Music" show is simply one of the most essential items in his entire catalogue - along with "Henry the Human Fly", "I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight", "Shoot Out the Lights", "The Old Kit Bag" and "Rumor and Sigh". And it's essential not only for Thompson fans, but for just about anyone who's interested in the history of popular music. Starting with old English folk song "Summer is a-cumming in" (which was also sung at the climax of 70s horror movie classic The Wicker Man), and ending with a version of "1985" (a download hit for the group Bowling for Soup a few months prior to this recording) and in between covering everything from English music hall, Gilbert & Sullivan, jazz standards and merseybeat - this is a wonderful selection of haunting songs. No, you won't find any of Richard Thompson's legendary electric guitar workouts on here, and you won't find any of his own songs, even though many of them could have matched the timeless quality of the great stuff that IS on here - but the dvd DOES manage to present Thompson as one of the most plain enjoyable live performers in the world. And it's all packaged in a lovely box with artwork, song notes and two bonus cd's. Now if only they'd do a presentation of Thompson's OWN song catalogue in this format - and that's a hint, in case any of the people responsible for this great set happen to be reading this.

This project originated out of rejection. A true non-reflection of life if ever one existed. Once upon a time, Playboy coveted Thompson's list of "the millenium's best songs". That is, until they saw it. This list included such chart toppers as "Sumer Is Icumen In" from 1260, "King Henry V's Conquest of France" from the 15th century, "Blackleg Miner" from the 19th century, and the bizarre Nat King Cole swinger "Orange Colored Sky". Then reality inverted. One of the least curmudgeonly magazines greeted Thompson's list with an icy silence. Perhaps they felt that those musty old songs would clash with the eternal blaze of naked airbrushed youth? Unflinching, Thompson turned to an art older than some of this set's songs: Alchemy. He miraculously turned what Playboy construed as poo into gleaming bullion. This shaft truly led to gold. So much so that Thompson has hit the road with his "1000 Years of Popular Music" twice.

Music is dang old, after all. Greeks and Romans rocked out. Medieval madrigals, armed with lutes and windpipes, pranced through verdant forests. Even Victorians danced. So why relegate hundred of years of great tunes to the sadly cobwebbed "early music" section? You know what they say: old songs never die, they just receive damning new retail categories. In defiance, Thompson dipped into this neglected slush pile of human all too human music and constructed a millenium set list that would make the Long Now Foundation proud.

Flanked by vocalist/keyboardist, and part mime, Judith Owen and percussionist/vocalist Debra Dobkin, the Thompson-led trio jiggle cochleas through musical history. They open with one of humanity's oldest songs: "Sumer Is Icumen In". A celebration of the rebirth of spring, it also includes a middle english word for "fart". Now that's history. The group sing it as a round (during tour one of "1000 Years" Thompson sang it solo). Next, lone Thompson conjures up the events leading to the battle of Agincourt in a fifteenth century song. France-bashing apparently has a longer history than the 2003 U.S. Congress realized. "Freedom Toast" is nothing! Try Agincourt! This beautiful song retells the affront the French handed to the young King Henry V: three tennis balls for him to "play with". No king would take that. Henry didn't. Thompson then switches to Italian for the amazing "So Ben Mi Ca Bon Tempo". A truly unforgettable song that will even get feet encased in concrete tapping.

Following a few incredible songs dealing with infanticidal mothers, eternal punishment, and Missouri rivers, "Blackleg Miner" exposes the history of "scab" songs. Women won't even look at the Blacklegs. A nasty lot, indeed. Time whizzes by as the hilarious down-and-out "I Live in Trafalgar Square" and a Gilbert and Sullivan tune close out the nineteenth century. Don't miss the high "C" in the Mikado's "Bellow Of the Blast". Thompson and Owen show us just what vocal cords were made for. "Java Jive" introduces the jazzy twentieth century with a smooth pean to caffeinated drinks.

The twentieth century focuses on rock music, with a few exceptions. On the DVD, when Thompson introduces the act's single country song, "A-11", he responds to the unenthused stillness by saying "I can tell we're no longer in Texas". Some head turning surprises pop out in the second half of the set (on CD number two). The Kinks' haunting "See My Friends" and Australia's rollicking "Friday On My Mind" will make musical antennas erect. And then the evening's biggest blast, "Oops!... I Did it Again", made famous by Britney Spears, will shock those who disparage pop music as inane trash. Thompson proves beyond doubt that the song has merit. His final dance moves on the DVD justify the price alone. Prepare thy brain. Leaving Britney behind, the gang bursts into 2001 with "1985", a ridiculously catchy pop song about a sentimental and uncool mom. After that auditory explosion, Thompson leaves the audience hissing with the a capella "Sam Hall". The DVD's final scene shows Thompson waving his fists at the audience. A great closing to an amazing show. A thousand years later and we've arrived. That'll show Playboy.

This DVD and CD set captures the second "1000 Years" outing. Thompson's website offers a CD of the first tour. Enough changes from the two sets to justify getting both. But this set also contains a fabulously produced DVD. Thompson's stage banter gets cut from the CD, but the DVD preserves every word. Listen for the great joke about european stereotypes ("In heaven the English answer the door..."). The DVD also includes snatches of a Thompson interview, soundcheck, and the band's grand entrance. No Thompson fan should miss this set. Even people with a vague interest in music history should check it out. Thompson, now in his fifties, proves that age only encumbers the uncreative. "1000 Years of Popular Music" stands comfortably next to his best work. Not bad for a rejection.

I was invited to see this show at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston when it came to town. I'm a big Richard Thompson fan, but I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this "survey"of a thousand years of popular music. I needn't have worried. From start to finish, this is an entertaining, even startlingly entertaining show, and the people who filmed it did an excellent job of capturing it. Richard's guitar playing is terrific, and his singing is some of the best he's ever done, perhaps prompted by the demands of some of the material. Nothing here sounds pedantic, and nothing is boring. Richard's dry wit is in evidence throughout. The special treat is how much music comes out of three people, and here Richard is ably served by Judith Owen on vocals and occasional keyboard and Debra Dobkin on vocals and drums/percussion. One of the things I took away from the performance I saw was how INTO the music these three were on stage, and the DVD brings that right back.

I urge anyone who has gotten as far as considering this package to relax, stop considering it, buy it, and enjoy.

The package contains a DVD of the show and two CD's of the music, along with a short booklet about the show concept and the songs.

I couldn't believe when my local public radio station played one of the Richard Thompson covers from cd2. I had to call to ask which of his CD's featured the song and thus learned about this set of 1000 years of popular music. Some of the songs on the first CD are renaissance-type songs, but CD2 includes recognizable covers. Any fans of Richard Thompson's strong guitar skills and his rich voice will love it. You'll surprise your friends when you throw some of these tunes into your party music mix.

I've watched this show every night since it arrived three weeks ago. It's not just the excellent production, the sheer talent and huge versatility of the performers. This show has some magic ingredient. Utterly captivating.

When Richard Thompson was asked to list the most significant songs of the last 1000 years no one expected this delightful romp through music history. The songs on this set and the imaginative DVD are an entertaining trip through the past and done with Richard's dry sense of humor. If your looking for your typical Richard Thompson music you will not find it here, but you will be entertained ( and slightly educated if you are not careful).

For all Richard Thompson fans this is a real treat. The vocals by Judith Owen and Debra Dobkin are great. Excellent all around!

Been an R.T. fan for almost 30 years now. Resisted buying his 1,000 year gig for awhile because I thought myself a "purist". I wanted to hear HIS music, not other's music performed by his majesty, the king of guitar and songwriting. Fellow members of the flock urged me to partake of this recording. I resisted. Then finally, having heard a cut or two online, I bought the whole deal. Sat back, listened to the first few cuts and said: "Oh, my god." Who else but Richard could appreciate, carefully select, and then gloriously reproduce music from the past ages? My teen daughter even smiled over the Brittany Spears cover. RT is all about integrity and respect for music -- even music we might not appreciate until he touches it!

I really enjoyed this DVD. I had seen Richard perform this show at Joe's Pub a couple of years ago and am going again to Nokia to catch it again. It's nice to see the show memorialized. Some of the bootleg DVDs are so poorly shot, I get dizzy and nauseated. I just don't understand why he's not a HUGE star. He's enormously talented. Amazing Guitarist. Phenomenal songwriter. Great on stage banterer. With or without band, he's an enormously entertaining man.