# Your favorite Richard Thompson song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 1, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301 "2015-11-01T00:00:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/21 "2015-11-04T19:40:36Z")
1952 Vincent Black Lightning is one of my favourite songs. If I could learn to play that before I die, I’ll die a happy man. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/22 "2015-11-04T19:44:02Z")
I’m just popping in to say that I have 10 row tickets for RT on Friday. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/23 "2015-11-04T20:51:49Z")
I know it’s the obvious choice, but “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” still makes my jaw drop. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/24 "2015-11-05T01:33:15Z")
I have a friend who is a really good guitar player and songwriter and he started playing guitar because of Richard Thompson. He saw Thompson play live and went and bought a guitar the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/25 "2015-11-05T14:24:13Z")
[I plant me a green willow tree.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3k03-KvQL4) on the dulcimer, no less. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/26 "2015-11-05T15:58:59Z")
I first came to him via “who knows where the time goes?”. I know that is Sandy Denny’s song but still, he treats it so beautifully and gently. He is a true great, particularly for knowing that sometimes (mostly) less is more. He saves the fancy stuff for when it is truly necessary (1952 Vincent Black Lightning) ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/27 "2015-11-05T16:24:12Z")
I own _Rumor and Sigh_ and the new one, _Still_. I wasn’t super impressed by his early work with Linda, but I didn’t hate it. So far I think R&S has the best songs (I really dig “Read About Love”), and Still has the best guitar work, but of course, those are the only two albums I’m familiar with. So give me suggestions for which RT album or albums I should buy or listen to next. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/28 "2015-11-05T16:30:27Z")
I like “House of Cards,” from _First Light_ (1978). ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/29 "2015-11-05T16:52:19Z")
My favorite is _Withered and Died_, with either Richard singing, or Linda. Or Kate Rusby. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/m2_JqAaZN3g/hqdefault.jpg "Richard Thompson - Withered And Died") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2_JqAaZN3g) [Withered and Died - Kate Rusby - YouTube](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gksMSyn10MQ) (Kate Rusby) I really dislike _Beeswing_ for some unfathomable reason. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/30 "2015-11-05T17:38:00Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I’m just popping in to say that I have 10 row tickets for RT on Friday. Solo or with a band? I’ve mostly seen him solo but the one time with a band was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/31 "2015-11-05T17:44:17Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > I own _Rumor and Sigh_ and the new one, _Still_. I wasn’t super impressed by his early work with Linda, but I didn’t hate it. So far I think R&S has the best songs (I really dig “Read About Love”), and Still has the best guitar work, but of course, those are the only two albums I’m familiar with. > > So give me suggestions for which RT album or albums I should buy or listen to next. [Hand of Kindness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_of_Kindness) [I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Want_to_See_the_Bright_Lights_Tonight) - with Linda, a classic. I like [Amnesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesia_(Richard_Thompson_album)) since that was the album he was touring for when we saw him first, and the first we bought. I think Richard jokes about Henry the Human Fly being the lowest selling album in the catalog. It’s not that bad but … We even rented Sweet Talker, the movie he did the soundtrack for. Not your top choice either. There are some bootlegs of concerts floating around if you go to the right places, but these three are a good start. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/32 "2015-11-05T18:26:52Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Solo or with a band? I’ve mostly seen him solo but the one time with a band was awesome. I’ve seen both too. This show is solo first set, band second set. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/33 "2015-11-05T19:46:10Z")
IMHO, 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, Wall Of Death, and Tear Stained Letter are perfect songs, and will admit getting a bit _verklempt_ everytime I hear them, marveling at their perfection. Really, anyone who doesn’t get choked up a bit listening to 1952 VBL might not have a soul; maybe 500 years from now, it’ll be one of those tunes listed as “Traditional”. That being said, some other of my favorites that haven’t been mentioned: [Jet Plane In A Rocking Chair](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3B0YbPjPyE) [Down Where The Drunkards Roll](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh9sqazJkSk) [Time To Ring Some Changes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7cNbZokW-k) [Valerie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8SCOvLVjlE) [No Peace No End](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHay78MFlV8) ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/34 "2015-11-05T21:12:26Z")
I also want to put in a word for [“Hope You Like the New Me.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWmKUau7CVs) ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/35 "2015-11-06T01:16:00Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I’m just popping in to say that I have 10 row tickets for RT on Friday. Your post prompted me to check the Tour Dates section of Thompson’s website and now I’m going to see Richard Thompson in Santa Fe on Nov. 20! Thanks a bunch; I’ve seen him do a solo acoustic show but never electric. Can’t wait. Oh yeah, favorite song- _Shoot Out The Lights_ or _Cooksferry Queen_- or _Hots for the Smarts_ or _1952 Vincent Black Lightning_ or any of the other nominees. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/36 "2015-11-06T12:15:08Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > So give me suggestions for which RT album or albums I should buy or listen to next. A good start would be _Watching the Dark_, a three-album career retrospective. It includes a Fairport Convention song, some with Linda. About a third of it is live recordings. That should point you in the directions you might be interested in. Otherwise, you could go with _Mock Tudor_ or _The Old Kit Bag_. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/37 "2015-11-06T14:22:10Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > A good start would be _Watching the Dark_, a three-album career retrospective. It includes a Fairport Convention song, some with Linda. About a third of it is live recordings. That should point you in the directions you might be interested in. > > Otherwise, you could go with _Mock Tudor_ or _The Old Kit Bag_. Frank stole my post! Those are exactly the albums I was going to suggest. Also “Shoot Out The Lights” if it hasn’t already been suggested. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/38 "2015-11-07T15:13:35Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > Your post prompted me to check the Tour Dates section of Thompson’s website and now I’m going to see Richard Thompson in Santa Fe on Nov. 20! Thanks a bunch; I’ve seen him do a solo acoustic show but never electric. Can’t wait. > > Oh yeah, favorite song- _Shoot Out The Lights_ or _Cooksferry Queen_- or _Hots for the Smarts_ or _1952 Vincent Black Lightning_ or any of the other nominees. You are in for a treat. The electric band is a trio. RT, bass and drums. The drummer was particularly good. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/39 "2015-11-10T10:35:01Z")
Acoustic: “1952 Vincent Black Lightning“ Electric: “Shoot Out The Lights“ I came to listen to Richard Thomson quite late in my life, but both those songs let my jaw drop on first listen. They still blow my mind each time. “Beeswing“ is almost as good, especially lyrically. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2015, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301/40 "2015-11-21T02:01:51Z")
A friend of mine posted this on Facebook today: > [@](#): > > In early 1992 Tommy and I hopped in my old Datsun 280Z and drove down to New Orleans. Richard Thompson was playing at Tipitina’s and we’d heard he was supposed to be some sort of hotshot guitarist and songwriter. The idea was that we’d take a chance and see what he was all about, and if he was terrible it didn’t really matter because we’d still be in New Orleans and we’d party like rock stars. We couldn’t lose. > > As it turned out we didn’t party like rock stars — we were both too busy trying to scrape our jaws off the ground. > > We drove 300 miles back to Tuscaloosa, proselytized with a rabid evangelical zeal to a handful of our friends, loaded up a car with three of those friends, and drove all the way back down to Louisiana to catch Richard playing in Baton Rouge the very next night. > > Richard’s concert in Santa Fe tonight will be the 38th time I’ve seen him since then and I’m a kid on Christmas morning every single time. Tommy is my friend that I mentioned in post #24. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-richard-thompson-song/736301.md?page=3)