I want to see the bright lights.. Who was Richard Thompson listening to?

Steve G · December 22nd, 2007, 01:14 PM

Just listening to 'I want to see the bright lights tonight' (Richard and Linda Thompson).

Totally knocked out again by this disc. It floors me. And features heavily Thompsons stunning folk/country/interplanetary guitar work.

Anyone know who influenced him, particularly his earlier electric work?

tiktok · December 22nd, 2007, 01:21 PM

He had a lot of the usual English guitarist influences of the times--Hank Marvin, Buddy Holly, but then he was listening to a lot of pipers and fiddlers, which probably accounts for more of his uniqueness. Of course, he and Linda also used to cover Hank Williams and Buck Owens, so it's quite a melting pot.

SINCASTER · December 22nd, 2007, 01:58 PM

Scottish accordianist Jimmy Shand was a big influence on R.T.
Lots of the Shandesque in Thompson's reels.
He paid tribute to him on " Don't Sit On My Jimmy Shands "

markinlondon · December 22nd, 2007, 03:25 PM

There are lots of traditional musicians mixed in there too. I know he's mentioned the Northumbrian piper Billy Pigg as an influence before. His father was a jazz musician so some of that probably rubbed off too. Then there's a hefty dose of islamic music, although I suspect that was a bit later than ...Bright Lights.... Try the 1000 years of popular music album (or, even better, the DVD) for a taster of some of where he's coming from.

Paul in Colorado · December 23rd, 2007, 02:19 PM

Fairport Convention was heavily influenced by The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane (especially the first line up with Iain Mathews and Judy Dyble playing the Marty and Signe roles) and Joni Mitchell. I'm sure he listened to James Burton and Clarence White. He's stated in interviews that his way of bending strings was an attempt to mimic bagpipes. He's never gone the blues-rock path most British guitarists took. Yet I've heard him pull out Jimi's version of "Hey Joe" and just nailed it. An amazing player, for sure.

byrdbrain · December 23rd, 2007, 02:33 PM

I've seen him mentioning Clarence White and Moby Grape's Jerry Miller.
As for Bright Lights – oh boy, what a great album!

zombywoof · December 23rd, 2007, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul in Colorado

He's never gone the blues-rock path most British guitarists took. Yet I've heard him pull out Jimi's version of "Hey Joe" and just nailed it. An amazing player, for sure.

Joe Boyd once said the first time he saw Fairport he was blown away by Thompson's version of Butterfield's "East-West"

Bob Marlec · December 24th, 2007, 06:45 AM

Pure assumption, but how can he avoid being influenced on the acoustic side by Bert Jansch an Martin Carthy?

December 22nd, 2007, 01:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Steve G Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: LeeK (England) Posts: 1,408 54 Photos	I want to see the bright lights.. Who was Richard Thompson listening to? Just listening to 'I want to see the bright lights tonight' (Richard and Linda Thompson). Totally knocked out again by this disc. It floors me. And features heavily Thompsons stunning folk/country/interplanetary guitar work. Anyone know who influenced him, particularly his earlier electric work? __________________ "He was a drinkin' man with a guitar problem..." http://www.myspace.com/stevegiddings http://www.myspace.com/hiandlonesome

December 22nd, 2007, 01:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
tiktok Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 3,177	He had a lot of the usual English guitarist influences of the times--Hank Marvin, Buddy Holly, but then he was listening to a lot of pipers and fiddlers, which probably accounts for more of his uniqueness. Of course, he and Linda also used to cover Hank Williams and Buck Owens, so it's quite a melting pot. __________________ It takes two people to paint a perfect painting: one to paint it, and the other to shoot him when it's done. http://www.myspace.com/travishartnett http://www.myspace.com/sugarcanemutiny http://www.myspace.com/davidbavas

December 22nd, 2007, 03:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
markinlondon Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wellington, NZ Age: 48 Posts: 426	There are lots of traditional musicians mixed in there too. I know he's mentioned the Northumbrian piper Billy Pigg as an influence before. His father was a jazz musician so some of that probably rubbed off too. Then there's a hefty dose of islamic music, although I suspect that was a bit later than ...Bright Lights.... Try the 1000 years of popular music album (or, even better, the DVD) for a taster of some of where he's coming from. __________________ Helping to invent english country dance guitar since 1981.

December 23rd, 2007, 02:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
byrdbrain Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sweden Age: 50 Posts: 1,188 4 Photos	I've seen him mentioning Clarence White and Moby Grape's Jerry Miller. As for Bright Lights – oh boy, what a great album! __________________ In vino securitas

December 24th, 2007, 06:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
Bob Marlec Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brittany Age: 58 Posts: 205	Pure assumption, but how can he avoid being influenced on the acoustic side by Bert Jansch an Martin Carthy? __________________ P.S. Don't mock my English because i learned it mostly while reading this forum !

December 22nd, 2007, 01:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
SINCASTER Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: 20 miles outta town and cold irons bound Posts: 275	Scottish accordianist Jimmy Shand was a big influence on R.T. Lots of the Shandesque in Thompson's reels. He paid tribute to him on " Don't Sit On My Jimmy Shands "

December 23rd, 2007, 02:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 55 Posts: 4,012 3 Photos	Fairport Convention was heavily influenced by The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane (especially the first line up with Iain Mathews and Judy Dyble playing the Marty and Signe roles) and Joni Mitchell. I'm sure he listened to James Burton and Clarence White. He's stated in interviews that his way of bending strings was an attempt to mimic bagpipes. He's never gone the blues-rock path most British guitarists took. Yet I've heard him pull out Jimi's version of "Hey Joe" and just nailed it. An amazing player, for sure.