Many years ago on this site I asked which members of the Beatles were the equivalent of which members of Monty Python. As you might expect, I got a full response, even unto the associated characters with each group.
Here’s a long overdue question of a similar nature. If it could be argued that Richard Thompson is the British Neil Young – great guitar sound, marmite voice, emerged from a famous band (Buffalo Springfield/Fairport Convention*), what do you think would be the equivalent songs in the Thompson canon to such Young classics as ‘Like A Hurricane’, After the Goldrush’, ‘F*!#in’ Up’, etc?
Any answers eagerly received. I might even start listening to the Vincent Black Lightning-riding, beret wearer.
* For those who didn’t know.
Night Comes In (live) = Cortez (live)…
…or it used to, anyway…
Maybe Calvary Cross would fit better, and he has started playing it again, too.
I think the concept and comparison valid, as I have enjoyed both artists for half a century, always comparing the idiosyncrasy of their guitar styles, each instantly recognisable and without truck to the prevailing headwinds of any fashion or expectation.
I came this close…it was one or the other for me – and you’re right, of course.
The live versions on (guitar, vocal) were effectively my introduction to solo Richard Thompson and my preference for his electric side has been in place since then.
Ignore Vincent Black Lightning the best thing was he didn’t play it on this tour.
Does RT like his motorbikes like NY likes his cars?
Not sure but RT used to play records of train sounds and Neil likes his trains.
For the Sake of Mary is his Cinnamon Girl, or he lifted the riff from it at least. (And as all proper Thommo nerds know, it’s a Balmoral not a beret.)
Ooooooh, Gatty!
I decided not to go down the beret /Balmoral route.
Thompo’s ‘Meet on the Ledge’ = Youngster’s ‘After the Goldrush’
Night Comes In
Calvary Cross
For the Sake of Mary
Meet on The Ledge (I thought was a Fairport Song – is there a solo version?)
I will listen and report back. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! More for the playlist are of course welcome.
Small Town Romance cd version has MOTL as a solo track.
The live versions of CC and NCI, on the Guitar, Vocal set, are the ones that will either win you over, or have you scurrying for the trees.
Never bettered (not on record, anyway…).
And why I was so delighted to read that RT had recently met up with John Kirkpatrick. To consider, I hope, further collaboration.
Calvary Cross – lengthy freeform guitar solo reminiscent of Down By The River, so could fit on a companion piece to ‘Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere’
I like it, though could have done without the accordion on first listen, at least.
If you pretend it’s Garth Hudson and organ, does that help? Actually not that great a leap between styles and cadence.