Friday, October 18, 2019

Richard Thompson - Now That I Am Dead - Non-Album Acoustic Tracks (1992-1993)

Here's some more Richard Thompson. He plays in acoustic mode so often that I'm able to offer another album of stray tracks that are all performed solo acoustic.

This album is very much like the last couple that I've posted like it. For one,  the vast majority of the songs are cover versions. He runs a wide range of styles, from classic hits to obscurities to traditional instrumentals. For another thing, the sound quality is generally excellent. As with those last couple albums in this series, the vast majority of the songs were played live in concert, and this draws on some excellent soundboard bootlegs. Five of the 15 songs were officially released, but in terms of sound quality you can't really tell which ones are unreleased. And, as usual, I've removed the audience noise to make all the songs sound like stereo recordings.

One thing that makes this a little different is that Thompson plays three duets with Roger McGuinn, former leader of the Byrds, all on tunes associated with McGuinn and/or the Byrds. One of those songs is "Goin' Back." Later in the album I present another version of this same song without McGuinn. I figure the two versions are different enough to merit both of them being included, based on one being a duet and the other not.

By the way, the song "Willy O'Winsbury" is a traditional tune. But Fairport Convention wrote all new words to it and released it as a song called "Farewell, Farewell." So if it sounds familiar to you, yet different, that's probably why.

Also, note that the song "Now That I Am Dead" already appeared on a previous album I posted here, "Invisible Means." But that was a compilation of  French, Frith, Kaiser & Thompson songs. This is a different version.

01 Job of Journeywork [Instrumental] (Richard Thompson)
02 Poor Wee Jockey Clarke (Richard Thompson)
03 Jambalaya [On the Bayou] (Richard Thompson)
04 Gonna Back Up Baby (Richard Thompson)
05 Rainbow Over the Hill (Richard Thompson)
06 Wild Mountain Thyme (Richard Thompson & Roger McGuinn)
07 Goin' Back (Richard Thompson & Roger McGuinn)
08 Jack Tarr the Sailor (Richard Thompson & Roger McGuinn)
09 Now That I Am Dead (Richard Thompson)
10 The Bloater ]Instrumental] (Richard Thompson)
11 Substitute (Richard Thompson)
12 Wall of Death - Just like Tom Thumb's Blues - Needles and Pins (Richard Thompson)
13 Goin' Back (Richard Thompson)
14 Shake, Rattle and Roll (Richard Thompson)
15 Willy O' Winsbury (Richard Thompson)

https://www.upload.ee/files/15270806/RichrdT_1992-1993_NowThtIAmDeadAcoustc_atse.zip.html

The cover art photo comes from a 1993 concert.

2 comments:

  1. Another excellent collection. Thanks. Willy O'Winsbury is one of my favorite songs. I've asked for it at a few of Thompson's all-request shows, but no luck. I think the Fairport song that uses its tune is actually Farewell, Farewell.

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    1. Thanks. I mentioned the song "Now Be Thankful" without checking. I just changed it.

      Speaking of Thompson's all request shows, I plan on posting one of those next, a great show from 1992.

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