The twenty first century has seen a welcome upswing in appreciation of Britain’s nice historical past of cutting-edge folk-rock within the Sixties and 70s. So it’d come as a shock for contemporary converts to be taught that the nice duo of Richard & Linda Thompson by no means made the UK charts collectively.
Fortunately, the primary album to invoice them collectively, I Need To See The Brilliant Lights Tonight has belatedly achieved the popularity it richly deserves. Launched on April 30, 1974, it was listed at No.332 in Rolling Stone’s 2003 record of High 500 Albums of All Time, chosen by critics and artists. That was only one place beneath The Beatles’ Assist!. In July 2014, the report made its proud return to vinyl, the format by which it was first launched, as a part of Common Music Catalog’s Again 2 Black sequence.
A folks landmark
The album was an outstanding showcase each for the duo’s particular person and collective abilities. Richard’s spectacularly nimble and ingenious guitar work shone on songs like “After I Get To The Border.” His distinctive vocals adorned such songs as “The Calvary Cross” and the doom-laden “The Finish Of The Rainbow.”
The great, pure voice of his then spouse, the previous folks singer Linda Peters, graced items resembling “Has He Obtained A Pal For Me,” “Withered & Died,” and the title observe. “Brilliant Lights” was launched as a single and appeared set honest for a chart place, however wasn’t capable of convert airplay into gross sales.
The couple had recorded the album virtually a yr earlier than it was launched, in a London studio in Could 1973. Simply after its belated look, Richard Thompson answered the NME’s commentary that it was stuffed with world-weary sentiment.
‘We’re not doomy’
“It’s a little bit of a down report,” he admitted, “however that was unintentional. We tried to steadiness it, however one thing clearly went incorrect someplace…there are a whole lot of sluggish numbers. However I don’t assume that’s unhealthy – it’s nonetheless pleasing, there are some optimistic songs. We’re not a doomy band – we attempt to cowl facets of our expertise.”
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As a duo, the Thompsons might by no means have turned the large vital acclaim for his or her albums, and their stay reveals, to their true business profit. However I Need To See The Brilliant Lights Tonight stands at the moment as an actual jewel within the English folk-rock crown.
Purchase or stream I Need To See The Brilliant Lights Tonight.