Okay, part four of the “5 Songs That You’ve Never Heard By” series gets a little if-fy. Richard Thompson is a household name to me but might be an unknown quantity to some of you out in Pencil Storm-land. This installment covers Thompson’s extensive solo catalog (1982-present). Will there someday be a “5 Songs” blog entry for the Richard & Linda Thompson incarnation (1974-1982), with wife Linda? I kinda/gotta think so. Here’s today’s tunes…..
“TIME TO RING SOME CHANGES” / 1982
“TEAR STAINED LETTER”/ first released 1983, performed here 1984
(note; This was the (big) band Richard Thompson was fronting/touring with the first time I saw him live - at Stache & Little Brothers (capacity, 85 people) here in Columbus, Ohio - in 1984. And if you think this entire band fit onto Stache’s tiny stage, you’d best think again, my friend.
This is today’s only tune featuring Thompson’s exemplary electric guitar playing, but a later outing may concentrate on that facet of his talents.
“1952 VINCENT BLACK LIGHTNING” / first released 1991, performed here 2012
“FROM GALWAY TO GRACELAND” / first released 1993, performed here 2001
“BEESWING” / first released 1994, performed here 2024
Ricki C. is 73 years old. His first favorite rock & roll song was Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue” when he was five years old, riding in his sainted Italian father’s Oldsmobile. He figures his last favorite rock & roll song will be by either Elliott Murphy or Ian Hunter, sometime in the future.