Okay. Knowing full well that this is not the site for this post, I can't help myself so I'm going to blab it our anyway. A few weeks ago, Richard Thompson was in town for a concert. Just himself and what I think was a Lowden guitar. Although being aware of his music for some 30+ years, I've not had the chance to see him in a live performance. Till recently. The show absolutely blew me away and I have no words to describe it other than if you get the chance, go see for yourselves. Nope, he ain't Irish and he played no reels or jigs, just sang a bunch of songs, some from the Fairport days, some from more recent recordings, all of them backed by his excellent guitar work and adding up to one of the best concerts I have ever seen. Period. Any comments?
I've heard Waltzing's for Dreamers played at sessions in London, and it sounded good among the Irish tunes. In fact, there's probably a list of tunes somewhere, written by people, not strictly associated with ITM but whose tunes are played at sessions.
GUITARS of quality - Lowden & Avalon and singing their praises - - -
Along with Richard's abilities let us not forget the instruments... That path divided and there are now two companies making fine guitars, and the Silver series of Avalons are really sweet for the price, and nicely made and finished... Let's hear it for Irish guitars and makers, and support them too... (NOTE: Avalon's 'Silver' series isn't exactly made in situ - they did the design and supervise the output.)
Richard Thompson is brilliant. He's not been averse to performing traditional jigs, reels etc on guitar, either. Check out "Full House" by Fairport Convention and his entirely instrumental album "Srict Tempo" which he had to release independently at the time as the majors wouldn't touch it. Great stuff.
Anyone interested in fingerpicking might want to look at his Homespun book "Traditional Guitar Instrumentals". I only play with a pick so if you send me a tenner I'll pass it on.
richard thompson- 1952 vincent black lightning, one of my all time favorite guitar players. I have an mp3 of the Del Mcoury band doing singing it ala bluegrass and it works.
Strict tempo is good as well.
I luv the line "red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme"
Always love to see praise heaped upon the heads of my own heroes - sort of confirms that my taste might not be so out of whack after all. Strict Tempo is a goldmine. His version of Banish Misfortune contains some harmonic variants that none of us probably would ever have thought of. And one of my long-term goals for the fiddle is to learn Al-Andalus/Radio Marrakech. Once I am ready for the more exotic time signatures. And from a different source (an old double LP called "Live ... more or less"), the medley The Pitfall/The Excursion was among the first tunes that I learned on the fiddle - a chore, since there is no fiddle anywhere near the original, making it a tad tricky to figure out a workable bowing scheme. He claims those tunes as original, but particularly the second part sounds so trad, that he may have lifted it from somewhere. Brilliant stuff nonetheless. Okay, so he doesn't do straight traditional stuff very often, but the spirit of it permeates his work. Enjoyable and inspiring listening for anyone interested in the genre, yessir.
While we're on the subject, I've been trying to get a CD of Strict Tempo for ages (I had a tape of the LP but lost it - anyway it was a dodgy tape that was off pitch).
I ordered it from a local shop who said they could get it, then foolishly passed up a 2nd hand copy n a shop in fremantle, only to get back and find that the shop apologised cos they couldn't get it after all.
Was back in Fremantle again recently and th ebloke in the 2nd hand shop said that Richard Thompson had played town recently and they had sold everything they had by him!
So, anyone know where i can get a 2nd hand "Strict Tempo" CD?
Re: the RT Guitar Player double LP, I used to have that too, learned "Flee as a Bird" off it. Great stuff. Alas I have moved around too much and my LP collection is scattered to the four winds.
There's a copy in the local library which I borrowed(and returned) and need I say more....
I don't feel guilty about what I did as I already purchased the vinyl version many years ago. Also, I've been very supportive of Richard over the years in purchasing albums/cds and going to his concerts. So, maybe, he'll forgive me this misdemeanour.
So, if you still don't have any luck, I might be able to help.
I saw R. Thompson a few weeks back for the first time in twenty years. When I last saw him I thought his guitar playing was amazing. Now he's had twenty years' more practice he's on another planet. In common with half the audience, I bet, I rushed home, grabbed my guitar to try some of the things I saw him do, only to chuck the thing in the corner in disgust twenty minutes later(!) A humbling experience!
I was gone camping a couple of days, thanks for the feedback.
I-Fel: He did perform Vincent 52, and in spite of the buildup I gave the song, my son even liked it too. I like the line "if fate should break my stride..." as well. Good words throughout.
Looks like my work is cut out for me if I start looking for "Strict Tempo".
I'll agree with every adjective Vboyd used. He is a modern day balladeer with an eye on the present and an ear to the past.
Ottery: Yup, count me in the go home, pick up an instrument and see what happens crowd too. It didn't work for me either.
Well it sounds like this thread wasn't necessarily out of place anyway. More than a few of us may have cut our teeth on RT's playing. Thanks again for the comments.
out of place post
out of place post
Okay. Knowing full well that this is not the site for this post, I can't help myself so I'm going to blab it our anyway. A few weeks ago, Richard Thompson was in town for a concert. Just himself and what I think was a Lowden guitar. Although being aware of his music for some 30+ years, I've not had the chance to see him in a live performance. Till recently. The show absolutely blew me away and I have no words to describe it other than if you get the chance, go see for yourselves. Nope, he ain't Irish and he played no reels or jigs, just sang a bunch of songs, some from the Fairport days, some from more recent recordings, all of them backed by his excellent guitar work and adding up to one of the best concerts I have ever seen. Period. Any comments?
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by yonder
Re: out of place post
I've heard Waltzing's for Dreamers played at sessions in London, and it sounded good among the Irish tunes. In fact, there's probably a list of tunes somewhere, written by people, not strictly associated with ITM but whose tunes are played at sessions.
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by Cath
Re: out of place post
..and Galway to Graceland
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by Bren
GUITARS of quality - Lowden & Avalon and singing their praises - - -
Along with Richard's abilities let us not forget the instruments... That path divided and there are now two companies making fine guitars, and the Silver series of Avalons are really sweet for the price, and nicely made and finished... Let's hear it for Irish guitars and makers, and support them too... (NOTE: Avalon's 'Silver' series isn't exactly made in situ - they did the design and supervise the output.)
http://www.georgelowden.com/
http://www.avalonguitars.com/
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by ceolachan
Re: out of place post
Richard Thompson is brilliant. He's not been averse to performing traditional jigs, reels etc on guitar, either. Check out "Full House" by Fairport Convention and his entirely instrumental album "Srict Tempo" which he had to release independently at the time as the majors wouldn't touch it. Great stuff.
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: out of place post
Anyone interested in fingerpicking might want to look at his Homespun book "Traditional Guitar Instrumentals". I only play with a pick so if you send me a tenner I'll pass it on.
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by Cuso
Re: out of place post
richard thompson- 1952 vincent black lightning, one of my all time favorite guitar players. I have an mp3 of the Del Mcoury band doing singing it ala bluegrass and it works.
Strict tempo is good as well.
I luv the line "red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme"
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by I_Fel
Re: out of place post
Always love to see praise heaped upon the heads of my own heroes - sort of confirms that my taste might not be so out of whack after all. Strict Tempo is a goldmine. His version of Banish Misfortune contains some harmonic variants that none of us probably would ever have thought of. And one of my long-term goals for the fiddle is to learn Al-Andalus/Radio Marrakech. Once I am ready for the more exotic time signatures. And from a different source (an old double LP called "Live ... more or less"), the medley The Pitfall/The Excursion was among the first tunes that I learned on the fiddle - a chore, since there is no fiddle anywhere near the original, making it a tad tricky to figure out a workable bowing scheme. He claims those tunes as original, but particularly the second part sounds so trad, that he may have lifted it from somewhere. Brilliant stuff nonetheless. Okay, so he doesn't do straight traditional stuff very often, but the spirit of it permeates his work. Enjoyable and inspiring listening for anyone interested in the genre, yessir.
# Posted on September 6th 2004 by reedy grins
Re: out of place post
...late at night so must tap very quietly,,but yes i agree also
RT is very talented,seasoned,enduring. i think of him as "strictly traditional".
# Posted on September 6th 2004 by vboyd100
Re: out of place post
While we're on the subject, I've been trying to get a CD of Strict Tempo for ages (I had a tape of the LP but lost it - anyway it was a dodgy tape that was off pitch).
I ordered it from a local shop who said they could get it, then foolishly passed up a 2nd hand copy n a shop in fremantle, only to get back and find that the shop apologised cos they couldn't get it after all.
Was back in Fremantle again recently and th ebloke in the 2nd hand shop said that Richard Thompson had played town recently and they had sold everything they had by him!
So, anyone know where i can get a 2nd hand "Strict Tempo" CD?
Re: the RT Guitar Player double LP, I used to have that too, learned "Flee as a Bird" off it. Great stuff. Alas I have moved around too much and my LP collection is scattered to the four winds.
# Posted on September 6th 2004 by Bren
Re: out of place post
There's a copy in the local library which I borrowed(and returned) and need I say more....
I don't feel guilty about what I did as I already purchased the vinyl version many years ago. Also, I've been very supportive of Richard over the years in purchasing albums/cds and going to his concerts. So, maybe, he'll forgive me this misdemeanour.
So, if you still don't have any luck, I might be able to help.
# Posted on September 6th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: out of place post
I saw R. Thompson a few weeks back for the first time in twenty years. When I last saw him I thought his guitar playing was amazing. Now he's had twenty years' more practice he's on another planet. In common with half the audience, I bet, I rushed home, grabbed my guitar to try some of the things I saw him do, only to chuck the thing in the corner in disgust twenty minutes later(!) A humbling experience!
# Posted on September 6th 2004 by Ottery
Re: out of place post
I was gone camping a couple of days, thanks for the feedback.
I-Fel: He did perform Vincent 52, and in spite of the buildup I gave the song, my son even liked it too. I like the line "if fate should break my stride..." as well. Good words throughout.
Looks like my work is cut out for me if I start looking for "Strict Tempo".
I'll agree with every adjective Vboyd used. He is a modern day balladeer with an eye on the present and an ear to the past.
Ottery: Yup, count me in the go home, pick up an instrument and see what happens crowd too. It didn't work for me either.
Well it sounds like this thread wasn't necessarily out of place anyway. More than a few of us may have cut our teeth on RT's playing. Thanks again for the comments.
Jerry
# Posted on September 8th 2004 by yonder