Stephen Epstein wrote:
> Have been watching this thread closely, and some excellent choices by all.
> I'm almost embarrased to say that I know nothing 'bout Richard Thompson.
> Suggestions from anyone as where to begin?
Hi Stephen,
I'm sure there are long-time RT fans on the list that could give you some
wiser advice, but my short-time fanhood is so filled with enthusiasm, I'll
give it a go. My first suggestion is starting with his most recent, Mock
Tudor. It's very dense and some of the songs are so edgy it was hard to
listen to at first (kind of like getting used to a new Joni), but now I love
it, and there's some great guitar playing on it and the songs are so deep,
songs like the _Uninhabited Man_ and _Dry My Tears and Move On_ always get to
me. And the brief instrumental on Sibella, wow, I love that. It's such a
surprise, you know, how when you're in a car that goes over a particular type
of little hill and for a moment you're weightless and it feels good? It's
like that.
I'd also suggest You?Me?Us? even though it's considered uneven, but there are
some great songs on that, some "modern" ones and some beautiful folk-inspired
ones too. It's Mitchell Froom produced, which means something to long-time
fans, but I couldn't explain exactly what.
My favorite RT cds, though, are ones of live performances that you can only
get through the mail, Celtschmerz and Two Letter Words. He really shines in
live performance and both of these cds are great and kind of "most popular
songs" collections. You can find out about them here:
http://www.amug.org/~deeg1225/rtbcds.html. It was by listening to these that
I really started to feel like I could fully hear and understand and enjoy and
LOVE his music.
I'd suggest staying away from the cds he did with his former wife Linda even
though many people think they're his greatest, but I got Shoot out the Lights
early on and didn't like listening to Linda's voice. Maybe later, after I
know RT's music better I'd appreciate those cds more, but not now. I felt
like I couldn't hear Richard through Linda's singing, and his voice has
improved a lot since then. He was forced to get better, I think, more
expressive, once Linda was no longer performing with him. And he did. The
songs themselves are great and many are on the live cds.
Another one I got early on was Watching the Dark, a 3-cd box set, but it's a
jumble timewise and soundwise and I didn't feel like it gave me a good sense
of Richard's work. So, again, later.
So those are my suggestions and some of my experiences in getting to know RT.
It's my second experience of being completely smitten by an artist (Joni was
the first and only for the longest time), and it's fun being captured again.
Hope this has been helpful to you.
Debra Shea
NP: RT _Sibella_ and _Bathsheba Smiles_, a few times.... at least....
