The twenty first century has seen a welcome upswing in appreciation of Britain’s nice historical past of cutting-edge folk-rock within the Sixties and 70s. So it would come as a shock for contemporary converts to be taught that the good duo of Richard & Linda Thompson by no means made the UK charts collectively.
Fortunately, the primary album to invoice them collectively, I Need To See The Shiny Lights Tonight has belatedly achieved the popularity it richly deserves. Launched on April 30, 1974, it was listed at No.332 in Rolling Stone’s 2003 listing of Prime 500 Albums of All Time, chosen by critics and artists. That was only one place under The Beatles’ Assist!. In July 2014, the file made its proud return to vinyl, the format during which it was first launched, as a part of Common Music Catalog’s Again 2 Black collection.
A folks landmark
The album was an excellent showcase each for the duo’s particular person and collective skills. Richard’s spectacularly nimble and ingenious guitar work shone on songs like “When I Get To The Border.” His distinctive vocals adorned such songs as “The Calvary Cross” and the doom-laden “The End Of The Rainbow.”
The fantastic, pure voice of his then spouse, the previous folks singer Linda Peters, graced items comparable to “Has He Got A Friend For Me,” “Withered & Died,” and the title observe. “Bright Lights” was launched as a single and appeared set truthful for a chart place, however wasn’t in a position to convert airplay into gross sales.
The couple had recorded the album nearly a 12 months earlier than it was launched, in a London studio in Might 1973. Simply after its belated look, Richard Thompson answered the NME’s commentary that it was stuffed with world-weary sentiment.
‘We’re not doomy’
“It is a bit of a down record,” he admitted, “but that was accidental. We tried to balance it, but something obviously went wrong somewhere…there are a lot of slow numbers. But I don’t think that’s bad – it’s still enjoyable, there are some optimistic songs. We’re not a doomy band – we try to cover aspects of our experience.”
Hearken to uDiscover Music’s British People playlist for extra from Richard & Linda Thompson and different luminaries.
As a duo, the Thompsons could by no means have turned the massive crucial acclaim for his or her albums, and their dwell exhibits, to their true business profit. However I Need To See The Shiny Lights Tonight stands at present as an actual jewel within the English folk-rock crown.
Purchase or stream I Need To See The Shiny Lights Tonight.
