Richard Thompson guitarist or songwriter?

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Although Richard Thompson may have improved over the years as a songwriter, has he alo improved as a guitarist. I sometimes think that his best guitar work was with Fairport Convention and then on the early solo stuff (especially live). However, his songwriting got more assured as time went on, but was that at the expense of his virtuoso guitar playing?

― Andrew Jackson, Wednesday, 9 March 2005 13:33 (twenty years ago)

"1952 Vincent Black Lightning" is a pretty good argument that he kept up his chops even as the songwriting improved.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 13:47 (twenty years ago)

I think he has figured out that virtuoso guitar playing alone does not sustain a career. He can and does bust a move live, but as a treat, not the whole meal. It's the songs that keep his fans buying tickets and CDs. That's why you see and hear him a lot more than, say, Bert Jansch.

― Vornado (Vornado), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 13:53 (twenty years ago)

It's as a singer that he's weakest. Despite startling songs and consistently inventive guitar work, it's difficult to listen to a Thompson album all the way through (is it the Clapton syndrome?). I prefer his records with Linda.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

Guitar-wise, RT's fairport years were characterized by that distinct celtic-raga vibe. Melodic, modal strands of sound, which influenced scads of players, like Lloyd and Verlaine, Peter Laughner, etc.

In the 80s, Thompson's guitar playing took on new dimensions. Albert Lee and Jerry Donahue were likely influences. Lots of country technique.

I would say, in most respects, RT has improved as a guitarist over the years. Lots of stylistic shifts.

Great songwriter too.

― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 15:36 (twenty years ago)

nineteen years pass...

Which songs have your favorite Richard guitar work?

I've been meaning to go through his whole catalogue album by album, since there seem to be good songs and good guitar playing on every record, but I've bogged down in the late '80s. Wouldn't mind some choice picks (studio or live, whatever, older or newer) to reinspire me.

― TheNuNuNu, Sunday, 15 September 2024 18:12 (eleven months ago)

"More Guitar" by the Richard Thompson Band? Recording of an electric 1988 show promoting Amnesia.

― O 'Tis Redding (Boring, Maryland), Sunday, 15 September 2024 18:18 (eleven months ago)

Acoustic: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning
Electric: Can't Win (live from More Guitar), Calvary Cross (live in Oxford 1975)

― bored by endless ecstasy (anagram), Sunday, 15 September 2024 18:48 (eleven months ago)

Acoustic: Beeswing
Electric: The Way That It Shows
both from the Mirror Blue album... I'm a fan of the 90s albums he did with Mitchell Froom / Tchad Blake.

― encino morricone (majorairbro), Tuesday, 17 September 2024 07:23 (eleven months ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Rjk8yN-Pc

― corrs unplugged, Tuesday, 17 September 2024 07:36 (eleven months ago)

Yes, that one is pretty incredible!

― pisspoor bung probe prog (Tom D.), Tuesday, 17 September 2024 08:15 (eleven months ago)

Turning of the Tide is the shiznit.

― Nudist Oudist (Ye Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 17 September 2024 10:49 (eleven months ago)

If you like the dark moody minimalist soundtracks such as Paris, Texas (Ry Cooder) or Dead Man (Neil Young) or even Gas, Food, Lodging (J Mascis), I strongly recommend Grizzly Man OST. The main theme of Grizzly Man is a re-envisioning of "The Knife Edge" off of the soundtrack-y Strict Tempo! from 1981.

Back in the DVD days, this hour long documentary on the soundtrack was available as bonus content:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78x6NnvHQyY

― Mrs. Ippei (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 17 September 2024 16:33 (eleven months ago)

note to self: behind the nut bends

― encino morricone (majorairbro), Wednesday, 18 September 2024 05:09 (eleven months ago)

"i stop at barry manilow"

― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Wednesday, 18 September 2024 05:38 (eleven months ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXgvNZdzYNw

teenaged Richard. Judy was so cool.

― encino morricone (majorairbro), Wednesday, 18 September 2024 06:01 (eleven months ago)

Love every version of that song, be it by Fairports or Fariñas. Mimi was so cool.

― The Clones of Dr. Slop (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 18 September 2024 11:23 (eleven months ago)

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