Thirty-two years after the fact, this live album presents a full-length version of the shows performed by
Richard & Linda Thompson to promote their 1975 album
Pour Down Like Silver, their third LP, following
Hokey Pokey released earlier in 1975, and 1974's
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight. They are accompanied by
John Kirkpatrick on accordion and concertina,
Dave Pegg on bass, and
Dave Mattacks on drums. The recordings have not been released previously, except for "Calvary Cross" and "It'll Be Me," which were included on
Richard Thompson's 1976 compilation
Guitar, Vocal, but which have been remixed for this album. The selections come mostly from the
Thompsons' three albums, of course, with special emphasis on
Pour Down Like Silver, and the performances are often stretched out with lengthy guitar solos. A nod to
Richard Thompson's tenure in
Fairport Convention is made with a version of "Now Be Thankful," and since the instrumental lineup mirrors that found on the album of traditional music
Morris On, the players give
Linda Thompson a break and perform a set of instrumental reels. The cover songs are all American country and country-rock numbers,
Hank Williams' "Why Don't You Love Me" (with
Linda Thompson on lead vocals), "Things You Gave Me" (learned from a
Rick Nelson album), the
Jerry Lee Lewis hit "It'll Be Me," and
Buck Owens' "Together Again." This was a recording worth excavating from the vault, and it confirms
Richard & Linda Thompson's reputation as a major folk-rock act of the ‘70s, making it all the more regrettable that they broke up, professionally and romantically, in the early ‘80s.
–
William Ruhlmann, Rovi