Front Parlour Ballads

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In 1986, he released Daring Adventures, which was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Mitchell Froom. Thompson (R) himself plays, individually and collectively, electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, dulcimer and harmonium.

In April 1972, he released his first solo album Henry the Human Fly, recording with Sandy Denny, Pat Donaldson, Sue Draheim, John Kirkpatrick, Barry Dransfield, Ashley Hutchings, Linda Peters, Andy Roberts, and others. In 1997 he worked with long-time friend and band member Danny Thompson to record a concept album Industry that dealt with the decline of British industry. Before this, he served as the FT’s chief political correspondent, news editor, managing editor of FT.Since the early 1990s, Thompson has made prominent use of Lowden acoustic guitars for studio and live work; Lowden have made a signature model for him. He has been doing it since the late Sixties and "The Old Kit Bag" is proof, if proof were needed, that whilst his back catalogue is substantial (in every respect) he is not about to retire and put his feet up by the fire yet. Largely because of the petrol shortage in Britain and its impact on the availability of vinyl for records, Bright Lights was held back by Island Records for nearly a year before being released in April 1974. Our apps allow you to read the FT anywhere, even when you’re offline, never miss a story with breaking news alerts and monitor your portfolio while you're on the move.

Finally, in 2006, the independent label Free Reed released RT- The Life and Music of Richard Thompson, a 5-CD box set consisting almost entirely of previously unreleased performances of songs from throughout Thompson's long career.

It is best not to try to categorise Richard Thompson's music, for his style is unique and always interesting. Women took him there: his second wife, Nancy Covey, booked his first solo tour in the US in 1981 as his marriage to Linda was crumbling.

Thompson contributed music to BBC Northwest's documentary Hard Cash and appears on the eponymous accompanying album issued by Topic. I think it's important though, that if you're a musician, you know best the kind of record you want to make, and that they should also trust your judgement in terms of artwork and sleeves.

He uses a combination of pick and fingers, and amplification is usually either an old Fender combo, or a Musicman.