Richard Thompson

Richard John Thompson OBE (born 3 April 1949) is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist. He made his début as a recording artist as a member of Fairport Convention in September 1967. In January 1971 Thompson announced that he was leaving Fairport Convention and 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. By this time Thompson had begun a relationship with the singer Linda Peters, who had sung on Henry the Human Fly. In October 1972 the couple were married, and Thompson, with Linda now effectively his front woman, regrouped for his next album and the next phase of his career under the name of Richard & Linda Thompson.

The first Richard and Linda Thompson album, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, was recorded in May 1973 in short time and on a small budget. 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. The album was well received by the critics, though sales were less than stellar.

In 1982 Richard and Linda Thompson group split with Linda and Richard pursuing solo careers since then.

Links To Peel
Peel was an admirer of Richard Thompson's guitar playing especially when he was in Fairport Convention and continued his interest in his music when he had his initial solo career and later on his collaboration with his wife Linda. In 1974, Peel proclaimed Richard and Linda Thompson's I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight as his 1974 Top Ten Albums and in 1997 he listed it as his Top 20 Albums in the Guardian newspaper. For the Peelenium 1974, Peel choose their song I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight as one of his favourite songs for that year on his 18 November 1999 show. In 2003, Peel narrated the BBC documentary Originals: Solitary Life Richard Thompson, which profiled the life of Richard Thompson.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * 1976 Festive Fifty: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight #41

Peelenium

 * Peelenium 1974: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight

Sessions
1. Recorded: 1973-01-01. Broadcast: 25 January 1973 2. Recorded: 1974-02-04. Broadcast: 12 February 1974 3. Recorded: 1975-02-11. Broadcast: 24 February 1975
 * The Little Beggar Girl / Dragging The River / The Great Valerio / Medley: The Neasden Hornpipe; The Avebury Particle Accelerator; The Flowing Tide
 * Hokey Pokey / Georgie On A Spree / I'll Regret It All
 * A Heart Needs A Home / Wishing / I'm Turning Off A Memory

Other Shows Played
Richard Thompson

1972
 * 02 June 1972: The Angels Took My Racehorse (LP – Henry The Human Fly) Island
 * 06 June 1972: The New St George (LP – Henry The Human Fly) Island
 * 16 June 1972: Roll Over Vaughan Williams (LP – Henry The Human Fly) Island
 * 23 June 1972: The Angels Took Away My Racehorse (LP – Henry The Human Fly) Island

1981 Richard & Linda Thompson
 * 18 July 1972: Nobody’s Wedding (LP – Henry The Human Fly) Island
 * 30 July 1981: New-Fangled Flogging Reel / Kerry Reel ((album - Strict Tempo! (Traditional & Modern Tunes For All Occasions!!) Elixir
 * 03 August 1981: Scott Skinner Medley (Glencoe / Scott Skinner's Rockin' Step / Bonny Banchory) (album - Strict Tempo! (Traditional & Modern Tunes For All Occasions!!)) Elixir

1974 1975 1976 1977 1978
 * 05 February 1974: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (7") Island
 * 20 November 1975: The Poor Boy Is Taken Away (LP: Pour Down Like Silver) Island
 * 12 August 1976: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight / Withered And Died (album - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight) Island
 * 27 December 1976: I Wanna See The Bright Lights Tonight (LP - I Wanna See The Bright Lights Tonight) Island FF #41
 * 03 October 1977:  I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (12", Album: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight) Island
 * 28 September 1978: 'Layla (LP-First Light)' (Chrysalis)


 * 02 October 1978: Strange Days (album - First Light) Chrysalis

1979
 * 13 November 1978: Restless Highway (album - First Light) Chrysalis
 * 25 September 1979: Traces Of My Love (album - Sunnyvista) Chrysalis

1982 1984 1991 1996
 * 17 October 1979: Civilisation (LP - Sunnyvista) Chrysalis
 * 29 October 1979: Civilisation (single – Georgie On A Spree) Chrysalis
 * 03 May 1982: Walking On A Wire (LP - Shoot Out The Lights) Hannibal
 * 17 April 1984: Withered And Died
 * 24 November 1991: Withered And Died (album - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight) Island
 * 10 August 1996: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (album - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight) Island

1999 2004
 * 10 August 1996 (BFBS): 'I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (7")' (Island)
 * 18 November 1999: 'I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (LP-I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight)' (Island) Peelenium 1974
 * 27 April 2004: Withered And Died (I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight) Island (JP: "Always makes me cry, that one - and got Mrs Ravenscroft in here as well too, to have a bit of a sing-along.")


 * 20 May 2004: 'Down Where The Drunkards Roll (CD: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight)' (Island)


 * 15 June 2004: The End of the Rainbow (LP - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight) Island