(guitar, vocal)
Encyclopedia
is a 1976 album by Richard Thompson. It was released by Island Records
as a career retrospective after he and his wife Linda
had gone into semi-retirement from the business of making and performing music following the release of Pour Down Like Silver
(1975).
Most tracks are unreleased recordings from Thompson's career to date - though the two instrumental tracks were recorded specifically for this compilation. (guitar, vocal) spans Thompsons's early years with Fairport Convention
as well as the time he spent performing and recording as a duo with wife Linda. The release was notable for two live cuts from the 1975 Richard and Linda Thompson tour — "Night Comes In" and "Calvary Cross" — which featured lengthy guitar solos by Thompson, and for the Fairport Convention tracks "The Ballad of Easy Rider" featuring an excellent vocal from Sandy Denny
which was an unreleased track from the Liege & Lief
sessions and "Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman" which had been recorded for and then omitted from that group's Full House album.
(guitar, vocal) has been out of print for some years now. Several tracks first released as part of this compilation have subsequently been included as bonus tracks on remastered Fairport Convention and Richard & Linda Thompson albums issued by Island Records. However the BBC version of Mr Lacey was unavailable elsewhere, until it's release on the 19cd boxset Sandy Denny
: it did not feature on the recent Fairport Convention
boxset.
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
as a career retrospective after he and his wife Linda
Linda Thompson (singer)
Linda Thompson is a British singer. Born Linda Pettifer in Hackney, Thompson became one of the most recognised names—and voices—in the British folk rock movement of the 1970s and 1980s, in collaboration with her former husband and fellow British folk rock musician, guitarist Richard...
had gone into semi-retirement from the business of making and performing music following the release of Pour Down Like Silver
Pour Down Like Silver
Pour Down Like Silver is the third album by the British duo of singer/songwriter/guitarist Richard and singer Linda Thompson. It was recorded in the summer of 1975 and released in November 1975....
(1975).
Most tracks are unreleased recordings from Thompson's career to date - though the two instrumental tracks were recorded specifically for this compilation. (guitar, vocal) spans Thompsons's early years with Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
as well as the time he spent performing and recording as a duo with wife Linda. The release was notable for two live cuts from the 1975 Richard and Linda Thompson tour — "Night Comes In" and "Calvary Cross" — which featured lengthy guitar solos by Thompson, and for the Fairport Convention tracks "The Ballad of Easy Rider" featuring an excellent vocal from Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
which was an unreleased track from the Liege & Lief
Liege & Lief
Liege & Lief is the fourth album by the English rock band Fairport Convention. It is the third and final album the group released in the UK in 1969, all of which prominently feature Sandy Denny as lead female vocalist...
sessions and "Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman" which had been recorded for and then omitted from that group's Full House album.
(guitar, vocal) has been out of print for some years now. Several tracks first released as part of this compilation have subsequently been included as bonus tracks on remastered Fairport Convention and Richard & Linda Thompson albums issued by Island Records. However the BBC version of Mr Lacey was unavailable elsewhere, until it's release on the 19cd boxset Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny (box set)
Sandy Denny is a 2010 compilation box set of recordings by folk singer Sandy Denny and comprises all studio material and recordings made during her time both as a solo artist and as a member of Fotheringay, Fairport Convention, and other groups, together with home demos and live recordings.-Sandy...
: it did not feature on the recent Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
boxset.
Track listing
All songs written by Richard Thompson except where indicated otherwise.- "Time Will Show the Wiser" (Emmitt Rhodes) – this recording was included on Fairport Convention's first albumFairport Convention (album)Fairport Convention is Fairport Convention's debut album. The band formed in 1967, with original line-up Judy Dyble and Ian MacDonald , Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol , Ashley “Tyger” Hutchings and Sean Frater, replaced after their first gig by Martin Lamble...
. – 3:03 - "Throwaway Street Puzzle" (Ashley HutchingsAshley HutchingsAshley Stephen Hutchings is an English bassist, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, band leader, writer and record producer. He was a founder member of three of the most noteworthy English folk-rock bands in the history of the genre; Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion Band...
, Thompson) – originally released as the b-side to Meet On The Ledge, the single from Fairport's second album What We Did On Our HolidaysWhat We Did on Our Holidays- Personnel :* Sandy Denny - vocals, acoustic & 12-string acoustic guitars, organ, piano, harpsichord* Iain Matthews - vocals, congas* Richard Thompson - electric, acoustic & 12-string acoustic guitars, piano accordion, vocals...
. This song was a bonus track on the 2003 re-issue of What We Did On Our Holidays. – 3:18 - "Mr Lacey" (Hutchings) – this version is from a 1968 BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio broadcast is included on the 19cd boxset Sandy DennySandy Denny (box set)Sandy Denny is a 2010 compilation box set of recordings by folk singer Sandy Denny and comprises all studio material and recordings made during her time both as a solo artist and as a member of Fotheringay, Fairport Convention, and other groups, together with home demos and live recordings.-Sandy...
. – 2:53 - "The Ballad of Easy RiderBallad of Easy RiderBallad of Easy Rider is the eighth album by the American rock band The Byrds and was released in November 1969 on Columbia Records . The album was named after the song "Ballad of Easy Rider", which had been penned by The Byrds' guitarist and singer, Roger McGuinn , as the theme song for the 1969...
" (Roger McGuinnRoger McGuinnJames Roger McGuinn is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds' records...
) – Recorded during the sessions in 1969 for Fairport's Liege & LiefLiege & LiefLiege & Lief is the fourth album by the English rock band Fairport Convention. It is the third and final album the group released in the UK in 1969, all of which prominently feature Sandy Denny as lead female vocalist...
album. The 2002 re-issue of the UnhalfbrickingUnhalfbrickingThe band's male vocalist Iain Matthews left during the recordings for Unhalfbricking to make his own album Matthews' Southern Comfort, after recording just one track, "Percy's Song". Sandy Denny sang lead vocals on all the other songs, including her own compositions, "Autopsy", and "Who Knows Where...
album included The Ballad of Easy Rider as a bonus track as it was felt that the song fitted better with the mix of contemporary songs on that album rather than the traditional feel of Liege & LiefLiege & LiefLiege & Lief is the fourth album by the English rock band Fairport Convention. It is the third and final album the group released in the UK in 1969, all of which prominently feature Sandy Denny as lead female vocalist...
. – 4:34 - "Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman" (Thompson, Dave SwarbrickDave SwarbrickDave Swarbrick is an English folk musician and singer-songwriter. He has been described by Ashley Hutchings as 'the most influential [British] fiddle player bar none' and his style has been copied or developed by almost every British, and many World folk violin players that have followed him...
) – originally recorded during the 1970 sessions for Fairport's Full House album. Thompson was unhappy with the vocals and insisted that the track be omitted from the original album. However the track was included on the 2001 re-issue of Full House. The recording included on (guitar, vocal) has extra vocals by Linda ThompsonLinda Thompson (singer)Linda Thompson is a British singer. Born Linda Pettifer in Hackney, Thompson became one of the most recognised names—and voices—in the British folk rock movement of the 1970s and 1980s, in collaboration with her former husband and fellow British folk rock musician, guitarist Richard...
recorded in 1975. – 5:23 - "Sweet Little Rock 'n Roller" (Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
) – recorded in concert at the Troubador club in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
during Fairport's 1970 tour. – 4:18 - "A Heart Needs a Home" – this is a different recording and arrangement of the song included on the Hokey PokeyHokey Pokey (album)Hokey Pokey is the second album by the British duo of singer Linda and singer/songwriter/guitarist Richard Thompson. It was recorded in the autumn of 1974 and released in 1975....
album. This track was included in the 2000 Island YearsThe Best of Richard & Linda Thompson: The Island Record YearsIsland Records issued this compilation in 2000 as the first step in a program to re-master and re-issue the albums that Richard and Linda Thompson had cut for them....
compilation. – 4:04 - "The Dark End of the StreetThe Dark End of the Street"The Dark End of the Street" is a 1967 soul song written by Muscle Shoals songwriters Dan Penn and Chips Moman and first performed by James Carr...
" (Dan PennDan PennDan Penn is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and sometime guitar player who co-wrote many soul hits of the 1960s including "Dark End of the Street" and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and "Out of Left Field" & "Cry Like A Baby"...
, Chips MomanChips MomanLincoln Wayne "Chips" Moman is an American record producer, guitarist, and songwriter. As a record producer, Moman is known for recording Elvis Presley, Bobby Womack, Carla Thomas, and Merrilee Rush, as well as guiding the career of the Box Tops in Memphis, Tennessee during the 1960s...
) – recorded during a concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London in April 1975. The same recording was included as a bonus track on the 2004 re-issue of the Pour Down Like SilverPour Down Like SilverPour Down Like Silver is the third album by the British duo of singer/songwriter/guitarist Richard and singer Linda Thompson. It was recorded in the summer of 1975 and released in November 1975....
album. – 4:22 - "It'll Be Me" (Jack ClementJack ClementJack Henderson Clement is an American singer, songwriter, and a record and film producer.Raised and educated in Memphis, Jack Clement was performing at an early age...
) – recorded during a concert at OxfordOxfordThe city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
Polytechnic in November 1975. The same recording was included as a bonus track on the 2004 re-issue of the Hokey PokeyHokey Pokey (album)Hokey Pokey is the second album by the British duo of singer Linda and singer/songwriter/guitarist Richard Thompson. It was recorded in the autumn of 1974 and released in 1975....
album. – 4:22 - "Flee As a Bird" (trad., arr. Thompson) – recorded in 1976 for this compilation. – 3:11
- "Night Comes In" – recorded during a concert at OxfordOxfordThe city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
Polytechnic in November 1975. The same recording was included as a bonus track on the 2004 re-issue of the Pour Down Like SilverPour Down Like SilverPour Down Like Silver is the third album by the British duo of singer/songwriter/guitarist Richard and singer Linda Thompson. It was recorded in the summer of 1975 and released in November 1975....
album. – 12:24 - "The Pitfall/The Excursion" – recorded in 1976 for this compilation. – 3:02
- "Calvary Cross" – recorded during a concert at OxfordOxfordThe city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
Polytechnic in November 1975. The same recording was included in the 2000 Island YearsThe Best of Richard & Linda Thompson: The Island Record YearsIsland Records issued this compilation in 2000 as the first step in a program to re-master and re-issue the albums that Richard and Linda Thompson had cut for them....
compilation. – 13:27
Personnel
- Joe Boyd – Producer
- Sandy Denny – Vocals
- Timi Donald – Drums
- Pat Donaldson – Guitar (Bass)
- Judy Dyble – Vocals
- Fairport Convention – Performer
- Victor Gamm – Engineer
- Ashley Hutchings – Bass, Guitar (Bass)
- John Kirkpatrick – Accordion, Button Accordion
- Martin Lamble – Drums
- Todd Lloyd – Producer
- Dave Mattacks – Drums
- Ian Matthews – Vocals
- Simon Nicol – Guitar, Guitar (12 String), Mellotron
- Dave Pegg – Guitar (Bass)
- Pete Ross – Harmonica
- Peter Ross – Harmonica
- Dave Swarbrick – Mandolin, Violin
- Linda Thompson – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr), Performer
- Richard Thompson – Dulcimer, Guitar, Mandolin, Arranger, Vocals, Producer, Appalachian Dulcimer
- Ian Whiteman – Harmonium, Piano (Electric)
- John Wood – Producer, Engineer