Richard Thompson: rock 'n roll one minute; delicate Irish tunes the next
Aug 18 '00 (Updated Sep 16 '00)
Richard Thompson gets my vote for the best Underrated Guitarist out there. For those of you who don't know his work, Richard Thompson, along with Simon Nicol, was the guitar force for the excellent British folk-rock band, Fairport Convention, during the '60s and '70s. He then recorded several excellent albums with his then wife, Linda Thompson, including the classic, Shoot Out The Lights. After their break up (both as a couple and as a performing duo), he launched a successful solo recording career, turning out such excellent albums as Rumor and Sigh and Amnesia.
No-one I can think of has combined as many diverse influences into a unique style, and no-one I can think of plays in more diverse styles. Thompson is influenced by American and British rock 'n roll, including Elvis and The Beatles. But he is also influenced by Irish music and other traditional musics of the British Isles. Finally, he incorporates unusual middle-Eastern sounding music intervals into his music, leading to a sound that is utterly unique. To those who don't know his playing, I would describe him as Mark Knopfler taken to the next level. Some of his songs are played on acoustic guitars, with a pick held between thumb and index finger, the other fingers free to pick the strings. Others are played with a pick on electric, like most rockers. Even on electric, he uses the free fingers on his right hand to add interesting grace notes to his leads.
For an older example of excellent finger-picking-style playing, listen to Fotheringay, from Fairport Convention's self-titled album. You can't help but feel the traditional British Isles influence this delicate song. Or get one of his instructional tapes, on which he walks you through such acoustic classics as Banish Misfortune, played in the alternative tuning, DADGAD. In concert, you will see him quickly moving between various guitar tunings for each of his songs.
For finger-picking work that sounds more American-influenced, listen to 1952 Vincent Black Lightening, from Rumor and Sigh. A song about a "dangerous man" and his beloved motorcycle (1952 Vincent Black Lightening), it is a solo vocal piece backed by a ragtime-influenced acoustic guitar.
For an example of his evocative electric playing, with weird intervals and immensely passionate leads, listen to the title song from Shoot out The Lights, with Linda Thompson. Or listen to Mother Knows Best, from Rumor and Sigh, in which he BLASTS the Queen of England and, by implication, all insensitive and selfish governments.
There are electric guitar players who play faster than Thompson, but none I can think of whose leads are more creative, and none who can evoke more pure passion and emotion than Thompson.
If you get a chance to see him in concert, it is also well worth the effort. He will tug at your heart strings with a lilting Irish ballad one moment, and then rock you out of your chair with his hot electric leads the next. He also engages in a lively banter with the audience throughout his concerts, making them really fun. His dry British sense of humor makes you feel as if there's a big joke going on that only you and he understand.
There are pure rockers. There are pure finger pickers. Richard Thompson represents the best of both worlds. He gets my vote for Best Underrated Guitarist.
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