Richard & Linda Thompson - …In Concert, November 1975 (2007)

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