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Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

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March 31, 2025, 02:58 PM
parabellum
Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

March 31, 2025, 04:19 PM
TMats
A longtime favorite. Reckless Kelly does a nice cover too.


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despite them
March 31, 2025, 06:36 PM
drendean
The video led me down a rabbit hole of covers (Del McCoury Band, Bob Dylan, Reckless Kelly...). None match the original with simply Mr. Thompson and his guitar. Six string acoustic, thumb pick and floating fingers. I had to look up the lyrics since my ears are no longer fully functional and the British accent and verbiage are tough sometimes for me. No band matches the single guitar styling of the original.


drendean
March 31, 2025, 08:47 PM
lyman
quote:
Originally posted by drendean:
The video led me down a rabbit hole of covers (Del McCoury Band, Bob Dylan, Reckless Kelly...). None match the original with simply Mr. Thompson and his guitar. Six string acoustic, thumb pick and floating fingers. I had to look up the lyrics since my ears are no longer fully functional and the British accent and verbiage are tough sometimes for me. No band matches the single guitar styling of the original.



Del does a fantastic cover,

seen them perform it live quite a few times



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March 31, 2025, 09:42 PM
TMats
I hope it’s ok to add this live performance by Richard Thompson to para’s thread. It give you a chance to see the guitar mastery that you hear on the recording. While not widely known by the general public, Thompson is a musician’s musician.




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despite them
April 01, 2025, 10:33 AM
PASig
I think I've seen Richard Thompson about 8-9 times now live, more than any other artist that is a fav of mine. The guy is SO underrated and never really got the huge popularity that others in his field got and it's kind of sad because I'd put him up with any of the big guitar greats of the past 100 years.

Funny anecdote about the place I saw him the most at which is the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA near Philly.

At one of his many concerts there he made the comment before a song that it was "good to be back at the KEZZICK Theatre." I turned to the person I was with and said "did he just say what I think he said?"

We always pronounce this place as "KEZ-WICK" Theatre but he's British and there is a town in England named Keswick and lo and behold I find out that the British do pronounce it as "KEZZICK"

One of my favorites is this one:




April 01, 2025, 02:00 PM
oddball
^^^^^^^^^
After reading about Thompson from people like David Bryne, Elvis Costello and Brian Eno, I bought Shoot Out the Lights when it came out, my first exposure to him (and his wife Linda). I became a fan not only of his guitar playing, but his songwriting. "Man In Need" from this album is still one of my favorites (along with 52 Vincent Black Lightning). I did see him on his tour supporting his album Amnesia, Turning of the Tide is a great song from that LP. Legend has it that Thompson not only turned down a slot in Linda Ronstadt's band, but also the Eagles after guitarist Bernie Leadon left.



And his interpretation of this Brittany Spears song is genius. Smile





"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
April 01, 2025, 02:52 PM
6guns
I always liked this tribute to Joni Mitchell.






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April 01, 2025, 03:09 PM
TMats
I am also a fan of Richard and Linda Thompson’s son, Teddy. I looked at a lot of live performances of this duet on YT, but they all seemed to be shot by audience members. This one is not good video quality, but the audio is great and the cameras are stationary.

Richard and Teddy Thompson, “Persuasion.”




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despite them
April 06, 2025, 08:54 PM
amals
I'm a fan. Saw him some number of years ago up close in a small club. Was waiting for 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, and wasn't disappointed. Great show, of course.
April 08, 2025, 10:13 AM
SPWAMike0317
I am a fan. I was a fan when he was in Fairport Convention. I have been fortunate enough to see him several times as a solo act. He is the real deal. An underappreciated guitarist, great voice for his songs and a wicked sense of humor all make for a memorable performance. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning is one of his best.



Let me help you out. Which way did you come in?
April 09, 2025, 08:38 PM
amals
quote:
Originally posted by SPWAMike0317:
I am a fan. I was a fan when he was in Fairport Convention. I have been fortunate enough to see him several times as a solo act. He is the real deal. An underappreciated guitarist, great voice for his songs and a wicked sense of humor all make for a memorable performance. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning is one of his best.

Well said.