Richard Thompson

Richard Thompson (born April 3, 1949) is an English singer/songwriter from Notting Hill with a professional recording career that has spanned half a century. He first performed circa 1965/66 in a school band, Emil and the Detectives, with classmate and future-Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell. In 1967 at age 18, Thompson became a founding member of folk-rockers Fairport Convention, which he co-headed for five albums between 1968 and 1970. Immediately after leaving the band, he appeared on albums by Nick Drake, Gary Farr, Mick Softley, John Martyn, and fellow Fairport alumni Ian Matthews and Sandy Denny.

In 1972, Thompson debuted as a solo artist with the album Henry the Human Fly on Island Records. The same year, he married his backing vocalist Linda Peters, who assumed his surname. As a duo, they released three albums on Island circa 1974/75, followed by two 1978/79 discs on Chrysalis. Their partnership and marriage concluded with the popular 1982 Hannibal Records release Shoot Out the Lights.

Richard Thompson resumed his solo career with the 1983 Hannibal release Hand of Kindness. This was followed by a pair of 1985/86 titles on Polydor and a five-album run on Capitol during the ensuing decade. During this period, he appeared on albums by David Thomas, Dagmar Krause, and the Golden Palominos. He also recorded two albums as part of the super-project French Frith Kaiser Thompson with guitarists Fred Frith and Henry Kaiser.

Discography:

  • Henry the Human Fly (1972)
  • I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974 • Richard & Linda Thompson)
  • Hokey Pokey (1975 • Richard & Linda Thompson)
  • Pour Down Like Silver (1975 • Richard & Linda Thompson)
  • First Light (1978 • Richard & Linda Thompson)
  • Sunnyvista (1979 • Richard & Linda Thompson)
  • Strict Tempo! (1981)
  • Shoot Out the Lights (1982 • Richard & Linda Thompson)
  • Hand of Kindness (1983)
  • Variations on a Theme (1983 • David Thomas & The Pedestrians with Richard Thompson)
  • Across a Crowded Room (1985)
  • Daring Adventures (1986)
  • Live, Love, Larf & Loaf (1987 • French, Frith, Kaiser & Thompson)
  • Amnesia (1988)
  • Rumor and Sigh (1991)

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