Audio CD review:
Richard Thompson - Action Packed: Best of the Capitol Years

Richard Thompson - Action Packed: Best of the Capitol Years

Band: Richard Thompson Title: Action Packed: Best of the Capitol Years Rating: Release Date: 2001-03-27 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Turning of the Tide 2: Waltzing's for Dreamers 3: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning 4: I Misunderstood 5: I Feel So Good 6: Keep Your Distance 7: King of Bohemia 8: I Can't Wake up to Save My Life 9: Beeswing 10: The Ghost of You Walks 11: Razor Dance 12: Cold Kisses 13: Bathsheba Smiles 14: Cooksferry Queen 15: Uninhabited Man 16: Walking the Long Miles Home 17: Persuasion 18: Mr. Rebound 19: Fully Qualified to Be Your Man

one of the best solo artists ever the collection is nearly flawless and to really appreciate RT you need to see him live and get into his ridiculous British humour. this guy was actually my second concert ever (the first was The Melvins). "cooksferry queen" and "52 vincent black lightning" on one CD?!?!?!?!??! are you kidding? if you are uninitiated, get initiated now. SCHNELL!!! . One new thing.................................. But what a reason; this is Richard and Teddy playing ,it singin' it, harmonisin' it and tellin' like it is. If you are a loyal RT fan and possess "Rumor and Sigh", "Mirror Blue" and all the rest perhaps the only reason you have to lay your hard earned down is "Persuasion" the only previously unreleased material in this collection. If you are not a die hard this is an excellent entry point all the classics are here Vincent Black Lightnin' ,Turning of the Tide ( a song for ex-wives everywhere) , I misunderstood (cosmic angst) The Ghost of You Walks and on and on. . . . superb guitar (a red fender never lets you down) & tight rhythm section(s) . There are many treasures on this album and then there is the incomporable Beeswing. . . . . . . . . buy & enjoy. Good 90s Summary While I'm not one of his devotees, I'd readily admit that all albums without exception, contain material other folk-blues purveyors would cry, if not die for. If there are low points in Richard Thompson's long and distinguished career, I've yet to hear them. Yet the albums as entities are quirky, often jagged in their textures and tones. So, does a masterwork arise? Not for me, since,'Across a Crowded Room', or possibly, 'Hand of kindness' which brings me to this Capitol compilation which does beg the issues above. In short, it offers a terrific overview of a decade's worth of Thompson - Vincent, Beeswing, Razor Dance, Bathseba, Can't Wake Up. . . all sensational gems, which, given some interpretations by contemporary luminaries, still find their crucial edge in Thompson's shivering vocals. Fans can never be objective... From the OBJECTIVE reviewer. . to suggest Eric Clapton is more famous because of marketing mean some reviewer has too much wax in his ears. Richard isn't even close to the same league. Even as a "best of" it barely rises to the 3 star level. sorry i'm sure some of these songs are pretty good, but i'd have to say buy something like "shoot out the lights" instead. i just don't like greatest hits much. You can see a complete list of all Richard Thompson discography, or go back to the Richard Thompson tabs