I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight

70s folk, UK, wife and husband. Lovely, laid-back folk rock.

Sounded like something out of the late 90’s. Very impressive I’m assuming a lot of bands took inspiration from this album.

I liked it. Quite surprising actually

It’s not the type of music I normally listen to, but I had a nice surprise

I like the relaxed vibe and the reverb drenched sounds, like strolling around at the country fair on a Sunday afternoon

light 4

nice vibes

relax chill hippy

I often wonder how much my thoughts on an album are based on my mood. There's plenty of times I'm feeling grumpy or tired and I miss an album pretty quickly. This feels like an album that in a different mood, I'd have little patience for and slap with a one sentence/3 star review. But I'm kinda digging it right now. I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight is a song I always forget about, but always sing along to when it comes on 107.7 The Bone. Knowing it was the artists who wrote that definitely meant I was starting with a more open mind. I like the Celtic folk sound. They sound like a cross between Steeleye Span and Fleetwood Mac. Bonus points for singing about "dancing with me peg leg". Love some good pirate lingo. Album cover: (A+) Wow. What a simple idea perfectly executed. The colors are super rich, and it has a great sleazy, ominous but intriguing feeling.

Sooooo good.

I was only familiar with the title track (which is great) but I really dug the rest of the album. Great admission.

And today in "Oh, I recognize that album cover — how does it sound, actually...?" I don't like singer songwriters. Especially 70's singer songwriters. I think I've made that **very** clear by now. In fact, it's probably **the** thing I've realized about my music taste from partaking in this project. For the sake of the people in my group, then, I'm not gonna reiterate my grievances. If you reading this aren't a part of my group, you can go search for my SOLID AIR review; I lay it all out there. Or mostly, anyway. As a matter of fact, let's generally put the topic of "singer songwriters" aside for this review. Despite being what I came into this album worrying about putting up with, I actually ended up hardly thinking about them, except in the context of how little I actually heard them. See, if this album is anything to me, it's not "singer songwriter" like Wikipedia labels it as second. No, to me it's more the first label: folk. British folk, at that — and if there's anything I've learned from Chumbawamba (musically, anyway), it's that I actually do like myself a bit of British folk. There is just so much going on here aesthetically and melodically that I adored. The way the first song ended is maybe the most amazing moment on the whole album, if for nothing else than confirming to me that there'd be more going on than I'd assumed. From there, it just kept going; each song had some neat element that kept things engaging to my ears. Whether it was the horns on the title track, or the soundscape on "The End Of The Rainbow", or, jeez, Linda's voice in general. There was no track on here that instrumentally was an endless loop of finger-picking. Stuff was actually **happening**, and I appreciate that so much. Really, I feel like my only dig against this album might be **Richard's** voice. I wouldn't say it's bad, necessarily. He's not nearly on the same level as Linda, but for what's being done here, he does well enough. It's just that sometimes, honestly, he sounds like he's doing a voice. Y'know, like he's putting on some fake, exaggerated accent. And for all I know, that's just how he sings, but there are spots where he sounds like a caricature of a British folk singer songwriter. Linda dips in there occasionally, though not as often as Richard does. And even then, despite how much paragraph I've spent pointing this out, I don't think it's that much of a problem either. At most, it was something I blinked at like, "Huh. You for real? OK..." But, yeah, I was pleasantly surprised about this album. And unlike some others where that's the best thing I can say about it, I really did enjoy what it did just that much. Maybe not enough for a full-on 5; this feels, at best, like a "very good" 4 to me... But I'm really happy I heard this, honestly. I'd put it on the list of albums I'll say I'll listen to again but never do. I should, though. It's good stuff. And I gotta put on Chumbawamba's world/folk albums again. This made me wanna listen to those again, and believe me, that's a compliment. Not bad for an album whose cover was written on shower glass.

i'm not too familiar with richard and linda thompson outside of i know they are big names in the folk scene of the 70s (-ish). this album is very english folk forward, which is not typically my preferred style of folk, but the album is very pleasant to listen to. i do have to say, though, my favorite tracks were the tracks that had the full band on them, which provided a much more interesting energy to me than the straighter fare. i also particularly liked linda's voice, which is so nice to listen to.

Chill and folky

Great album

I really liked this record. And I know I'll never hear it again. The name and band will completely leave my head and it'll be gone. Which super bums me out. This reminded me of A. A. Bondy and a few other bands that I really enjoy, but don't hear often enough.

Nice start to a monday morning, even if its closing in on me. Charming, but not overly so. Someone described it as sounding like Neutral Milk Hotel and that's spot on, just the instrumental choices and the cadence are very Jeff Mangum.

Fave of Steve's

One of these folk albums that do not look like much but hook you anyway.

Pretty good but that god awful beggar girl song bumps this down a star

Vildt smukt, super deprimerende men osse en ret lækker varm lyd

I liked this. Hard to pinpoint exactly why but it had a lot of good sounds. Going to put it on the 4 side of a 3.5.

I really enjoyed this. I'm somewhat familiar with the works of Richard Thompson and have more or less appreciated what I've heard of his so far, but this album kept me engaged me throughout. Great musicianship, clear & audible production, folksy with some edge and not too much on the hippie side. I would listen again and will happily explore more of Thompson in the future.

For this review, I will not include the live bonus tracks added to the 2004 re-release. It's weird—last month, the title track of this album appeared in my Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify, and here we are now with the full album. For those who don't know, Richard and Linda Thompson are notable English folk-rock singer-songwriters who worked together for a decade as a married couple until their separation in 1982. I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight is their first foray together as a pair, and it was a delight to be had. The album opens strong with "When I Get to the Border" through "Down Where the Drunkards Roll" where strong guitar licks are pushed in front of the mix, complemented by a tight rhythm section, various instruments that add to the old English tone such as an accordion, mandolin, and krummhorns. Throughout, Richard and Linda commanded each of their vocal performances with the smallest amount of optimism amidst the stark and bleak nature of the situations described in the lyrics. Whether Richard and Linda portray being drunkards or thieving beggars, or watching friends and fortunes go away, they add a few lines in each song that give a sense of yearning for a better life. Though I'll admit, by the time we get to "We Sing Hallelujah", the pace and tone of this album started to mellow out. While there aren't any bad songs in the second half given there's at least one more good standout with "Little Beggar Girl", in comparison with the stronger guitar hooks and compositions of the first half this made the whole album uneven when taken in the larger context. Still, I genuinely enjoyed I Want to See the Brights Tonight as a bittersweet slice of folk rock.

This was… a grower and not a shower? On the first listen I really could barely get through it. But generally I like folk music so I tried again. On the 2nd listen I could heard drums and maybe a little more of why it might be classified as folk rock. On the 3rd listen, I gave the lyrics more of a chance and then it kept getting better. Something about the guy singing reminds me of the Pogues a bit. And the vibe of the album feels a little like drinking in an Irish Pub.

a good album with a bad last song. very melancholic and cool throughout but the last track, at 5 minutes also the longest i think, was an absolute slog. it ALMOST brings the rating down a full star but we’ll go with a low 4

Great album as always, so far I really liked every Fairport Convention records on this list, so solo album by Richard and Linda is no exception. I don't know what makes them so special, when compared to other folk albums I have listened to. Maybe an inclination that folk doesn't have to be so "pure" and musically simple? Whatever it is, works for me though.

Fine folky fun

This one really surprised me

very good album, a little quirky, but has kind of an Irish folk sound. Would definitely listen again.

Pretty nice & easy to listen to on repeat.

The rest of my listening group did not dig this so much but I thought it was pretty cool. It was a bit hippy-dippy for sure, but the guitar is AWESOME - understated but highly skilled and very 'tuned in' to what each song needed. The overall vibe was very 'small town pub' and the singing was excellent. The track that grabbed me the most was 'Has He Got A Friend For Me' - excellent lyric.

I love their voices together. Strong start and then ends in a more melancholic note. Would listen again!

feels very modern, very ahead of its time for 1974 really like the blend of singing voices, as they both have very different styles. not really any downsides, besides a few songs having some theatrical sections, however I believe that some songs are theatrical in a good way (last song). Favorites: Down where the drunkards roll, the end of the rainbow, the great Valerio. overall around 8/10

Their harmonies are really great, and the lyrics are powerful. I enjoy that the instrumentation has a bit more oomph to it than a lot of folk rock too.

Pleasantly pleasant and probably what I am looking for from this project.

I certainly enjoyed this more than I expected

November 13, 2024 HL: "When I Get to the Border", “The Calvary Cross”, “Down Where the Drunkards Roll”, title track I got Richard’s band Fairport Convention back in May (Unhalfbricking), and was a bit lukewarm on it despite a special melange of British and American folk. I took to this album quicker, however. It could be a right-time-right-place love, considering how many later “slowcore” albums have been hit-or-miss for me; these slow, meditative tracks are a surprising antidote to a cold, cloudy day. And you still have some brighter moments like “When I Get to the Border” and “The Little Beggar Girl”. Would pair with a fireplace in the future, if I HAD ONE

4/5. The album cover really does not match the vibes of the album. I felt like I was about to listen to a punk album. I though this was a good album and I'm not usually a huge fan of folk. The main difference is that this album had full and warm production, instead of the twangy higher pitched songs that folk usually has. A full band and more accessible instrumentation and melodies. The singing does veer into alternate folk but stays the main course usually. The lyrics are depressing and eerie, and their singing is also very pretty. There are a few songs on here that get dragged to the folk side and I'm suddenly transported from a cozy basement to a church with way too many people inside. Overall, I did enjoy it and will probably throw it on again sometime. Best Song: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight, The Cavalry Cross, The End Of The Rainbow

pretty good pretty country 7/10

This manages to sound contemporary despite its age. I've enjoyed so many of the songs, without expecting to.

Such a lovely record!

A new group to me who probably deserves more awareness. Good music and harmonies.

A really nice folk rock album from the 70s. Honestly it's the perfect length and just sounds great. It's not super mind-blowing in terms of novelty, but it executes what it does perfectly. A nice little hidden gem.

60s British folk meets 70s singer/songwriter meets an occasional energy drink. Opening track and title track were two favorites.

Didn't know anything about this album before. I really enjoyed it! The thing I liked the most was that some of the folky tunes were built on those old renaissance-like melodies that you can imagine a bard singing at a king's court in 1500s. This was particularly visible with the Great Valerio - my favorite song from the album. Also, as a wife guy through and through, I loved that it's a married couple's album and they're both featured as co authors.

So awesome.

A lot of guitar players would benefit from listening more to funk and country. For country listening, this is a pretty good example.

I love this -- it's exactly what you expect from a Richard and Linda Thompson record, and that makes me happy.

Not really my type of music but I dunno why I liked it so much! It was chill and calming but in a nice way and not a shite way.

Nice acoustic guitar and chill but happy sounds

This is the first album I've added to my saved music on Spotify in weeks (that wasn't already there). The first 4 tracks are great folk-ish songs with some elements of rock and delightful guitar work.

Drunkards roll and beggar girl are good

A couple smeh songs, but mostly very very good folk, country rock. Love the guitar, and Celtic influence 👍

Folk rocksinger-songwriter. Duo. Bonito. 4 (un poco irish).

I had never listened to this record all the way though. It feels timeless and present at the same time. It’s a great collection of eclectic songs that all seem to fit together very well. Excellent all around.

Easily listeanable

I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight by Richard and Linda Thompson is a captivating folk-rock gem. The album offers a poignant blend of melodic richness and lyrical depth, showcasing the Thompsons' exceptional songwriting and musical chemistry. Linda’s vocals are hauntingly beautiful, while Richard’s guitar work adds a raw, evocative edge to each track. Songs like When I Get to the Border and The Calvary Cross stand out for their emotional resonance and vivid storytelling. The production is understated yet effective, perfectly complementing the album’s introspective tone. Overall, it’s a compelling exploration of love, longing, and life's complexities, marked by its heartfelt performances and timeless quality. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 4 STAND OUT TRACK - When I Get to the Border

Did really like this one, feels very British and folky. Good stuff

I’ve got a lot of time for RT. Not sure this is his defining work but still good

Such a great album. Title track is perfect folk rock track.

Bright Lights is great tune and the whole records is very good. I’m a Richard Thompson fan. He’s a strong song writer and an amazing guitarist.

Wasn't aware of this group. A quality folk record. I liked the title track and i'd listen to this again.

Enjoyed this very much.

I liked the guitar on this one

On the one hand you could call this kind of boring and you'd probably be right. But giving it another listen there's more than I thought when passively listening the first time - I enjoy the instrumentation and the songs are really well-crafted. I'd say I'm rather neutral on folk but this is a cut above - and usually i avoid any extra tracks but the 3 live cuts here on the Apple Music version definitely add value. Wouldn't always put this on as it gets a little sleepy but we can all do with a bit of calm now and then and apparently today I did - I also appreciate the honesty and simplicity around it enough to push it to a 4. 7/10 4 stars.

Best wel goed

Was unsure at first but as this went on it really grew on me. Lovely music to relax to. One song realllllly reminds me of neutral milk hotel, which is perhaps where he got some of his influence from

This is a great powerful and emotional album that transports a sense of longing. The instrumentation is not as sparse as in other folk or folk-adjacent music yet it's not over the top and subtly electric. I like that. I will definitely listen to this album a lot more!

I really enjoyed listening to this album. I hadn’t heard it previously, and I was pleased and rewarded with almost every song. And when the song was a little more of a grind musically, the lyrics would sustain it. While it may not become a go to album for me, I am glad I was able to hear and enjoy it!

Her voice is phenomenal. Then I found out these folks had also been in Fairport Concention and realized why it sounded so good. 4/5

Cozy folky pop that’s also fairly ominous in places. Lends an extra dimension to an already worthwhile listen

I have no idea who these guys are. This was a nice listen, very calm.

Another beautiful discovery from the 70s. This decade never ceases to amaze me!

Nice songs, good singer songwriter stuff, but only good.

I unexpectedly enjoyed this. Perhaps I was in the right frame of mind as I have not enjoyed 60s folk before. I seem to like my folk with a bit of rock.

This is definitely a 4.5 for me - had such a good time with it. I already know I'm going to be revisiting this lots and I'm excited to discover more from richard & linda thompson

Really good…. Very lovely and sometimes eerie.. into it!

Loved this! Very unique sounding folk but still pretty straightforward and digestible. Parts of it felt like being at a Ren Faire!

Very pleasant and enjoyable… i guess i like it when spouses make music cuz i can think of like 4 other albums i like where a couple made the music

I feel like I've listened to Richard Thompson a few times over the years but never got into him. Vocally I think he's just ok. It gets better when he and Linda duet. His guitar playing is excellent. I think this album is really good and only gets better with repeated listening.

One of the few albums that was a nice surprise from this list.

pretty like irish country, but slows down a bit. Gonna bump to a 4 because I really like one of the songs.

Thoughts before listening: Another album universally loved by music critics that I feel like I've tried to listen to but just don't get. I know there's a story around this where Richard and Linda Thompson were a married couple that were getting divorced while the album was being made. Maybe I need to really pay attention to the lyrics to understand the appeal of this one. Review: You know what, a lot of this is really good. Some of the songs remind me quite a bit of music I love such as Magnolia Electric Company. I can definitely see this being a major influence on Jason Molina. Other songs have more of an Irish/English folk sound which is a little surprising at first, but I am enjoying those songs as well. Richard Thompson's background in Fairport Convention makes these songs make sense I guess. Also, apparently this wasn't the album where the couple were getting divorced, thats Shoot the Lights Out which is a reference to this, their first album. 4-stars.

Un excelente álbum de Folk/Rock. Sinceramente, nunca antes lo había escuchado y estoy contento de que me apareciera en la lista, ya que entrará a mis rotaciones regulares de música. En ocasiones suave, pero sin perder nunca un filo particular (probablemente las guitarras eléctricas distorsionadas), este LP no decepciona. Canción destacada: la homónima. 100% recomendado, no se lo salte.

I want to see the bright lights tonight, beggar girl, we sing hallelujah good

kirkkaat valot vai.. NO OTA TÄSTÄ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>O_O älä koskaan pyydä mitä miettinyt todellisesti ensin, älä koskaan pyydä... et tiedä mitä haluat, kansanperinteen ihmiset bluegrass tavalliset ihmiset kansanlaulu amerikkalainen perhelinja perinne luonnollinen keiju laulu laulaja lauluntekijä akustinen jazz blues musta veri juuret kansanfestivaali laulaja lauluntekijät kansantarinat hippi pakana jazz funk folksy kitara varsi idiomi soulmer sytty vaihtoehtoinen hootenanny chill kansantanssi hootenanny chill honky tonk fid bluesy chanteuse lisää metallia viikinki psykologinen twang progrock kulttuurinen kultti protesti ambient hillbilly irlantilainen gootti alkuperäiskansat etno mytologinen hippi mandoliini folks lilting länsimainen lauluntekijä tarina paikallisia tarinoita myytti emo historiallinen noituus vapaa legenda syntetisaattori pop punk rockers viulu ulkona prinssi jadelikko psyke vokalisti van morrison instrumentaalit progressiivinen merirosvo sininen kammio aluehistoria lääni yrtti okkulttinen nykyaikainen kansanmusiikki blues kitaristi ruohonjuuritason kulttuuri kansan legendat satuja yhteinen pimeä syntyperäinen satu koskaan trubaduuri musiikki muusikko alkuperä viulu the cavalry cross

The drawl, the gentle harmonies, the variation of sadness and calmness - this was an easy and enjoyable listen.

It took me a few tracks but this settled in nicely. Its a very sad album, but its very well written and has a little variety in terms of sound. Withered and Died seems almost like a bluegrass/celtic ballad and The Little Beggar Girl that pushes further into that genre.

Like Paris 1919 I was familiar with the title track and excited to hear the rest of the album. I loved the Celtic sounds and both singers sound great! Lyrically it’s a bummer but I still really enjoyed it.

Was going to give a 3, but the final two songs being live helped to boost this up and ended on a high note. Initially I was quickly growing tired of the sound, just not up my alley. But yeah, last song is banger for sure

Fun folk Irish album

Good singer/songwriter folk music. I wasn't able to listen as intently as I'd of liked, but this is certainly worth coming back to.

Excellent album that I had not listened to before. Richard's singing in particular was a highlight for me.

What a cool folksy sound these two have. I'd never heard of them before, and I wasn't expecting much from the first song, but they got better and better as the album went on. I especially liked the minor key songs, reminded me of Traffic and maybe Jim Croce. Nice sound, four stars.

Thompson and his previous band Fairport Convention, along with other Brit-folk bands of the time like Steeleye Span were quite influential to me when forming my own band due to their Celtic/folk sounds. Listening to this back to front some 25 years later only confirmed why. Other than being a major multi-instrumentalist, Thompson also has a great ability for minimalist playing when needed while providing a humanistic approach to the music. Would I call this a masterpiece? No. But an excellent timeless listen? Yes.

I enjoyed this quite a bit! Thought it could be a surprise 5 bomb after the first few tracks, but it didn’t hold that pace throughout. Still, a very solid album that I’ll revisit. 3.75/5

Folk rocksinger-songwriter. Duo. Bonito. 4 (un poco irish).

charming record, feels like im walking through a medieval town that has modern instrumentation. 7/10

Folk-rock doesn't always work for me but this album is really good. Only "discovered" it within the last five years.

The End Of The Rainbow is a bit of a haunter.

Folk budget Fleetwood Mac

4 really great folk/country songs. Really enjoyed Linda’s songs

One of the great folk records. Love Richard Thompson's song writing, and he and Linda's voices are perfect for the somber/hopeful mood they're setting.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would!

I knew nothing about these folks going in, but this was a largely enjoyable album. Nothing fancy or mind-blowing, just good stuff throughout.

I had never heard of this album before listening to it, but I gotta say I really enjoyed it. It's not particularly my type of music, but the songs are excellent and varied, and the vocals are on point 4/5

Really solid English folk. Great harmonization and hauntingly beautiful songs. It has elements of grass roots as well as a Celtic lullaby. The music is peaceful and melodic. Has rocking vibes at first and then fades to beauty.

Really unique album, just seems to lull at times

Liked very much

A strong and super well-known UK folk rock album and contains their best song: The Calvary Cross, but for me Shoot Out the Lights is their best overall album. score: 8/10

Lovely and timeless folk music.

My prototypical 4-star album for this type of project. Something that I absolutely love conceptually, something that I like listening to, something that I probably won't return to all that often (and feel slightly guilty about). Kudos to the Thompsons for their work!

Loved it.

British Folk Rock grower which layed a path that was used much later by a new wave of Folk/Americana acts like Songs:Ohia. What a treasure.

Interesting band, nice music, great voices

Might be a 5 star album

Erityisesti levyn eka puolisko on erinomaista, jälkimmäisellä vähän lopahtaa mut kyl tälle nelosen antaa.

I quite liked this. I wouldn’t say it’s anything groundbreaking but it’s a collection of really well written folksy tunes with a nice variation in sound. Having said that, the back half did blur together a little. 3.5

Not one I had heard before, but a good album. Can see the influence on a lot of modern indie bands.

I've only heard Fairport Convention, not their work in any other guise, but enjoyed this a lot. Linda's voice in particular is captivating, it's really nice and lovely music

Nice, chill modern folk.

I'm not sure what I expected here, but not what I got. Richard and Linda Thompson are one of those highly respected groups / performers that I've never heard. I mean, this made the Rolling Stone list of 500 Greatest Albums (albeit at #479), one of 2x R&L Thompson albums on that list. Anyway, I quite like this album. It is very much English Folk, somewhat reminiscent of Steeleye Span. With what I think is a renaissance type mood. I've listened to this twice today, and I'mm sure I'll listen to this again, and I expect it to grow on me. For now it's 4/5

Das Album fängt an und ich denke, nette Road-Trip-Country-Musik, bis ich dann von Akkordeon und Dudelsack/Schalmei und einem 15/4-Takt-Outro überrascht werde. Die nächsten Songs plätschern dahin, angenehm und in super-Produktionsqualität (und das in 1974, Hammer!), bis auf einmal als weitere Überraschung im Hintergrund Mariacchi-Trompeten auftauchen. Definitiv eine bunte Mischung, dieses Album. Hör ich mir sicher noch mal an.

There's a lot of folk in this folk rock, I like it.

Had never heard of this but really enjoyed it! Except the last song was a no from me. 4 of 5.

A really great album! Interesting mix of folk, rock and Irish music. Unique instrumentation, great vocals and interesting and thought provoking lyrics. This will be a permanent addition to my playlist.

Great stuff - listen again

Better than I expected and I knew quite a few of the songs too.

Pretty solid. I knew one song on the album and could definitely see this being part of my regular rotation…if I had been introduced to it at a younger age. At this point, I don’t know that it’s good enough/catchy enough to get picked over some of my go-to albums when it comes time to choose something to listen to.

I enjoyed it! It was very English folk, like the Fairport Convention album, but I think i liked the Fairport Convention one better. Still, I thought the songs were all good and I really enjoyed Linda Thompson’s voice.

This was nice!

BL: listened to this album before over the summer, liked it a lot as a folk album. Will decide a proper rating on the re-listen AL: I think this is certainly an album which will grow on you with more and more relistens. I got a lot more out of this the second time than I did the first time around, especially the appreciation for the instrumentals and lyricism. Sometimes the vocals can be a bit corny and some tracks don’t stick at all for me (“the little beggar girl”, “mother and son”) but generally this is a very solid record with some amazing standout tracks FT: “when I get to the border”, “the Calvary cross”, “The Great Valerio”, “Down Where the Drunkards Roll” 4/5

I enjoyed this one.

Masterpiece. Just for the song “I Want To See” alone.

Very enjoyable tunes. This was one I had no knowledge of at all and didn't know what to expect.

#62. Wow! A very pleasant surprise! Cannot believe this 50 years old! Most of the album sounds like current Indy musicians! Bonus tracks are good - like the twang guitars and concertinas

Folk rocksinger-songwriter. Duo. Bonito. 4 (un poco irish)

"Valerio" is a perfect song for a lonely walk at night.

Favorite Tracks I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight The Great Valerio When I Get to the Border The Little Beggar Girl

Interesting listen. Not my thing, but some very catchy and fun songs.

Took a second listen to fully appreciate. I’ll tell you one thing though, I appreciated the fuck out of When I Get to the Border. Richard and Linda brought Celtic folk and psych rock together almost battling each other, so cool. Withered and Died is a strong country tune and the horns add life to I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight as Linda sings about work sucking ass and weekends being awesome. Again, it took a couple of listen to settle in so if your weren’t feeling this first time round I think you should. This is folking good. 4 stars

It took a few listens, as it seems to get a bit more interesting and the songs do a bit more to differentiate themselves (at first, i would have said it was boring and just all blends together). It is definitely tavern-oriented storytelling folk music, with songs like Bright Lights, Drunkards, End of the Rainbow standing out for me, with several other songs being really strong. Little Beggar Girl is the only song i skip.

it was allright

This album was part of many a hippy record collection in the mid-70’s. I’ve never owned it, but the pleasure of hearing it after so long makes that an omission I’ll need to rectify. I’ve long been a Richard Thompson fan, but I’d forgotten just how much I loved what his then-wife, Linda, brought to this record. Just as Beverley Martyn’s records with then husband John were among the highlights of his career, so were Linda’s 6 albums with Richard Thompson. Highlights : the title track; the beautiful Withered & Died (which Elvis Costello, as The Imposter, would resurrect a decade later as the flip of his anti-Falklands War single, Peace In Our Time); the amazing instrumental intro to The Calvary Cross - in fact, Thompson’s guitar, dulcimer, mandolin - just great. A terrific listen.

This was a surprise. I don't care for folk (or even folk rock) generally. I was aware of the reputation of this album (and Shoot Out The Lights even more so). I thought it would be a case of an album I would appreciate but not love. But I listened to this through three times in a row, and then picked out my faves (The Great Valerio, title track, When I Get To The Border, Calvary Cross, Down Where The Drunkards Roll). I very quickly became familiar with and a grew love for this record. While steeped in folk, Richard Thompson's use of electric guitar (and occasionally electric piano) really lift this. Linda's voice is so terrific, and she clearly deeply understands these songs. I really came around to loving this record. I'm putting it on my want-list.

Despite the relatively weak vocals, the record succeeds (and then some) based on the strength of the material, subtle playing and a certain authentic soulfulness. One prefers Fairport Convention overall and this can feel a little "austerity Britain" at times, despite landing an emotional and aesthetic punch.

Something very captivating about this for me. Definitely coming back to this one... I can see Songs: Ohia/Magnolia Electric Company flowing from this, amongst others.

Wow, j’ai jamais entendu parlé de cette petite perle de folk, je réécoute définitivement

- Never heard of this before - Very impressed, really good album - Some tracks were better than others but still very good and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would - Fav songs: I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, When I Get to the Border, The End of the Rainbow

A very good mix between folk and (punk-)rock. Pretty cool!

Another new one to me. Definitely better than most. I like all the different styles present. 3.5/5

Really enjoyed

Hard to fault really. I don't think there is a duff track on the album. The guitar is great and unshowy. Great British folk rock music.

Folk rocksinger-songwriter. Duo. Bonito. 4 (un poco irish)

Pretty folk-rock cut with simple, yet intriguing instrumentals, as well as decent song writing, which shines in combination with the voices of both Richard and Linda Thompson.

Lieflijke stem van de zangeres, en leuke folk-melodieën.

Loved this, maybe I was just in the right mood, but it hit me in just the right way. The vocals are perfect, the instrumentals and mixes are outstanding. Some of the songs sounded like the could have been released in 2000's. Really enjoyed this.

Solid album and clearly a hidden gem. Which is what I'm here for. Why are you here?

Was sorta taken aback how much I liked this. It's really good, and not a genre I generally like. It has that sorta Irish folksong thing, but also sounds like Joni Mitchell or similar. I love the singing, and the instrumentation. 4.25/5

Enjoyable 70s folk rock.

This one was quite a surprise. Didn't think i would enjoy folk music that much. It's a great album to sit back and just relax for a while. But I'm gonna be honest, not really that much of a fan of Richards voice, but Linda kills it on this one. Her voice sounds amazing. Another highlight of the album for me were the instrumentals. Such a diverse sound.

The Carpenters, but British, with liquor instead of bubblegum, and none of that trying to fool everyone into believing they're siblings shit.

Nice enough sounds but content a but annoying

Feels like a night in a folk club

Light, sweet pop folk. I love music like this.

Good folk!

A very 70's vibe to it. It's got a smooth feel to it with a twangy, folksy kind of rock sound

Very soothing album to listen to, could honestly put me to sleep. But in a good way

Excellent folk. The last track is particularly fantastic.

Multi-genre album, that i hadn't heard of before, but I quite liked

Peaceful folk times

A nice folky romp!

Man...it's pretty embarrassing for myself that I've been caught out by the Thompsons now. Twice now I've gone in expecting to hate a folk album from them, and twice I've been stunned into liking it. This one even more so than Unhalfbricking. I can't even verbalize a reason as to why this one works for me moreso than other folk albums. But well done. Favorite track: Down Where the Drunkards Roll

This is simply a beautiful album. The songs are excellent, Linda Thompson's voice is sublime, Richard Thompson's guitar playing is unique and inventive. 4 stars.

Actually pretty good, nice and relaxing.

4.25

Nice jams 7 out of 10

Good English folk music, lovely and grim. I enjoyed this listen today.

I think that this was a good record for the British folk rock. Not something that I loved or will be inspired to revisit, but it was fairly easy to listen to.

Never heard of this album or Richard or Linda before (until I realised Richard was in fairport connection) but was immediately drawn in by the album cover. Really enjoyed this great folk album, will be added to my rotation. Just short of the full 5 stars.

I love this, but it does miss something special from Fairport Convention's sound.

Richard Thompson brings the same warmth and beauty to his solo work that he blessed Fairport Convention with. The invaluable assistance of his then-wife Linda really elevates these simple songs.

This was rather lovely. I need to have a deeper listen though.

I was expecting this to be a bit too folky for my liking, but it was actually pretty listenable. A whole extra star for The Calvary Cross which is an absolute belter!

I had the same reaction to every song: 1. What is this shit? 2) Oh actually it's not bad. 3) Hey this is pretty good. 4) I don't know if that was good... maybe I should listen again. Bottom line, I liked this album even though I'm not sure why.

7/10 pleasant but silly

Title track is great and it’s very pretty but also a bit sleepy. 7/10

Richard AND Linda

This really hit me in the right feelings today.. lovely classic folk.

I really enjoyed this album more than I thought I would

I usually like Richard Thompson both solo and with Linda. I think this is a very good album. The title track is great (although not quite as good as Wall of Death from the much later Shoot Out the Lights album). As always, his guitar playing is very impressive.

Nice indie influence

Yeah, enjoyed this - the Linda-lead songs were folky goodness. Kinda reminded me of Steeleye Span. And some of the Richard-lead songs, particularly "The Calvary Cross" and "The End of the Rainbow" prefigured slowcore, which is probably my favourite core, music genre-wise. Plus, "The Calvary Cross" was used to _such_ good effect in the movie "The Night House". If you like supernatural horror films, skip the trailer and go watch it! Fave track - "The Calvary Cross", natch.

Folk, Calming, Soothing, Sweet, Acoustic, Subtle, Introspective, Storytelling

Crisp, distinctive guitar playing. A unique electric blend of traditional English folk, and rock. Surprising chord changes. Pretty fucking cool.

Really good, and some great variety in there. A couple songs are duds but that’s all part of the fun

Très belle découverte! Ça tombe dans mes cordes! Jsuis occupé, donc j'ai pas le temps d'écrire plus.

Gorgeous songs with lovely vocals and melancholy, sometimes deeply cynical lyrics. The arrangements are elegant, yet also expertly restrained. This is the album I would give to anyone who claims they don't like folk rock. Fave Songs: When I Get to the Border, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, Withered and Died, The Calvary Cross The End of the Rainbow, Down Where the Drunkards Roll

Enjoyable and surprisingly close to country music given it's origin in Britain.

On paper it ticks so many boxes for something i wouldn't like, but i really liked it. i may need to change my boxes

merci à la voix de linda thompson

Quintessential British folk rock that’s bleaker and more cynical than I anticipated, with the jauntier tunes holding some of the album’s darkest truths. Paradoxically though, ‘…Bright Lights Tonight’ is still easy to love because despite its songs being full of existential dread and tales about the futility of life, it’s so accomplished and inviting musically.

A surprisingly great folk rock album from the UK. Richard Thompson's songwriting is so quintessentially British that it's hard not to like it. Melancholy and fatalistic in equal measure with just the right hint of optimism to keep the ship afloat. Really well done. This was so close to a 5-star album. I bounced back and forth on it throughout the whole album but, at the end of the day, there just wasn't enough that was truly exceptional to earn it 5 stars. But it's a solid 4.5 at least.

A really fine album. Some great songs, particularly the title track, Calvary Cross and Down Where the Drunkards Go, beautiful guitar throughout

I was lukewarm on this bleak sounding collection the first time through. As a fan of British Folk music, I wondered why they would have sent picked it, with so much other quality stuff out there. But the songs grow on you. Linda Thompson has a wonderful voice and Richard is a creative guitar player and great lyricist, though a bit dark.

great british folk music

most people don’t know this but spotify actually made this album to replace Neil Young and Joni Mitchell

This was a surprise. I don't care for folk (or even folk rock, generally). I was aware of the reputation of this album (and, even more so, Shoot Out The Lights). I thought it would be a case of an album I could appreciate but not love. But I listened to this through three times in a row, and then picked out my faves (The Great Valerio, title track, When I get To The Border, Calvary Cross, Down Where The Drunkards Roll). I very quickly became familiar and loved this record. While steeped in folk, Richard Thompson's use of electric guitar (and occasionally electric piano) really lift this. Linda's voice is so terrific, and she clearly deeply understands these songs. I really came around to loving this record. I'm putting it on my wantlist.

This review has taken a few days. I knew I liked it very much straight away, but there was some wavering, some irresolution on my part, and I couldn't grasp exactly why. I still feel twinges of uncertainty, but hopefully bashing out some words will clarify things. Fairport Convention are not really a group that has entered my orbit; this is not due to any preconception about folk, but just that every time I always found another act that stirred my curiosity more. Sorry Fairport Convention, but I'd rather check out Alice Cooper and Jacques Brel at this minute. Anyway, Richard Thompson left Fairport Convention and started his solo career, and then a duo with his new wife Linda (fun fact: Linda Thompson used to be Nick Drake's girlfriend). And I found Linda to be the standout, the main reason the album works so well. Please understand that this is not meant as a slight against Richard: his songwriting on this record, notable for its air of despair, continually impresses, as does his fretwork. But Linda's singing is what I truly adore about this album: just listen to how eerie and unnerving her voice is on the last, best track, The Great Valerio. But why have I paused? With most of the folk albums I love (e.g., Five Leaves Left or Jackson C. Frank's one album), I raised my skirt for them first time unquestioningly. With this, it has had to work a little to seduce me. Also, I wish it would last longer. There's not so much a sense of a journey across this album, but rather ten fine songs. When the end came, I was taken by surprise: was it already over? I wish I didn't have to be this critical; I would love to eulogise this, and there is real gold here. Perhaps more time with it would drive me to bump it up to the highest perch, but I already have about 900 more albums to sort out.

An unexpected change of pace - new to me. I could get into this. Loved the opening track, lost some steam by the end.

Layered and beautiful

Not exactly Liege and Leaf, but sneakily and steadily good. The quieter cuts are best – ”Withered and Died,” “Has He Got a Friend,” The End of the Rainbow.” The cultural reclamation tunes (“The Cavalry Cross” “We Sing Hallelujah”) also work well in context. RT isn’t much of a singer, but the excellent and subtle playing, song selections and overall plan more than make up for it. 3.6 > 4

I really liked the folksy refrains. Reminded me a lot of Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer

A cool like country roots album. "I need to spend some money and it won't wait" The title track is a good groove with excellent and grabbing lyrics.

Great folk album. I loved the melodies and harmonies and shared vocals. The instrumentation was great.

Very enjoyable Folk album. Liked the celtic influences as well as their hamonies. Album got a bit weaker at the end when the songs turned slower and more sad

It sounds good, I guess. But come on, it's 1973, and they are basically making folk? Kind of boring.

Best album to come from this list in a long while. Great folk, vocals, and instrumentation. Will be returning to this.

A new slant on electric folk - a stunning guitarist.

Very cool Irish folk music. I spent 10 days in Ireland years ago, and this album brought me right back to the pubs. Wont be everyone’s cup of tea but I enjoyed it

Fantastic folk rock by the guy behind Fairport Convention. Tracks are diverse with unusual instruments and non-traditional techniques that reminds us the genre is called folk... so why not use instruments from centuries ago? Vocals are great by both of them, supplemented with excellent songwriting. Length is short enough to make for a pleasurable experience without getting tired of it. I'm not a huge fan, but it grows with each listen. There is little to complain about.

Хороший плотный альбом гитарной американской музыки

This was a nice vocal jazz album to listen to. Wasn't mind blowing but calming. 7/10.

Terrific folky goodness.

Not heard it for a while but some great songs.

Solid folk with great vocals. Best track: Down Where the Drunkards Roll

Classic folk with an amazing guitarist. What's the best thing to do when breaking up with the missus? Make an album about the break up obviously. Best Tracks: When I Get To The Border; I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight; Down Where The Drunkards Roll

Didn't stick the way Fairport Convention did, but I'd be willing to give it another try to see if anything does. It still sounded very pleasant.

folksy

Sou uma luz pequenina. Leva-me à estação onde as malas carregam pessoas rumo ao sul Sou uma luz pequenina. Uma que não escreve que pouco fala que fica em chamadas para o oeste distante chama acesa e potente à espera de um sopro. "Dirty people take what's mine / I can leave them all behind" MotA: Down where the drunkards roll

I liked the record. It had a very soothing vibe. Best songs: The Calvary cross and Down where the Drunkards Roll

Nicht das ganz große Meisterwerk, dass der englische Wikipedia-Artikel wie so oft etwas zu vollmundig versprochen hat (obwohl das bei Solid Air von John Martyn völlig gestimmt hat), aber doch eine 4.

Pretty mellow, good acoustic ballads and nice use of brass for some background

Couple of solid tunes, great atmosphere, but some of it lands a bit flat.

nice

When this album came up, I knew that I know some of Thompsons music. I tried to remember what I've heard before. I don't think it was anything from this album. I have listened to several tracks from Thompson, but I've never heard a full album. This was a solid, and enjoyable experience. "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" was my favorite track. I would listen to this album again.

First listen I thought this was good but not outstanding, however I’ve ended up putting it on at least four times over the day. Probably my favourite of the albums I was hearing for the first time during this.

Not bad...enjoyable even

Great album, not quite remarkable enough to warrant a 5.

Didn’t love didn’t hate, it was cute

Have a few beers and a sing around the campfire, and the chards morph into this album. Enjoyed the vocals and much of the guitar

Du bon folk rock ! Un classique que je ne connaissais pas. 4.5.

Okay, I by and large loved this! Now I’m thinking I maybe didn’t give the Fairport Convention album a fairport chance, guys. I’ll see what I can do about that. But in the meantime I’ll leave you with this little pearl of wisdom: “Lightning Crashes” by Live is “Calvary Cross” with more shouting. Prove me wrong.

Nice album.

Production: 11/20 Songwriting: 15/20 Innovation: 10/20 Bangers: 15/20 Emotional response: 15/20 = 66 Pleasantly surprised

Didn't think I'd like it but it's stunning!!

Easy and sweet

I had a good time discovering this album

I've listened to and enjoyed this before, so falling asleep to it after a day where I was feeling anxious for no reason is actually a huge compliment imo. Plus the title track is an all time classic.

Folk's not really my thing, but this felt like it would make a really high-quality soundtrack to something. The words I caught were nice. The live tracks were very nice.

Pretty chill country

I didn’t hate it as much as I thought I would a husband wife combo. She actually has a better voice than him. The music was above average behind the vocals.

Not bad....kinda like Carpenters and indie 60s

Listening session: july 5th, while chilling at home Listened to before: no Thoughts: I like some of the folk songs but this album didn’t do much for me Favourite track: Withered And Died

načelno solidno, lijepo i fino, ali nedovoljno zanimljivo i izvanredno da bi me zaintrigiralo ili impresioniralo

The best word I can think of for this is "pastoral". It's *very* English sounding folk music with all sorts of accordion and whatnot, and it is really pleasant. I would need to listen more to find out if this really has the depth I want, but it seems like it *might*. Also, for whatever reason, I have found that I much prefer the live tracks here to their corresponding album cuts, so make of that what you will. This does suffer from being a folk album at a time that was *very* saturated with folk albums, but the detail and the breeziness does make it stand out. It's very enjoyable!

Enjoyable and easy-listening folk music. Nothing life changing, but a good listen. The last track was atmospheric as hell, though, really enjoyed that.

I'm not usually a fan of folk music but this wasn't terrible. There were bits of pub rock, country and Irish folk. This was a good breath of fresh air but a bit too slow for me

Good acoustic-style music. A few catchy songs. A solid 3 for me.

Really good album worldy Americana. Full band arrangement with unique instruments and great song writing. I can see how influential this could be on future generations of folk and Americana genres. But ultimately I didn't know of this and I don't feel all so strongly that this is a super important album to listen to before you die. You might be able to forgo it. But still worth a moment of your attention.

Марко 3,5 Сара, а класика, опет није слушала

This is brand new to me (I'm not familiar with either artist on their own either). I don't love Richard's voice but I do enjoy how it contrasts with Linda's. This is probably not something I'll revisit but I'm glad to have discovered it through this challenge! 3.5 stars rounded up for the one or two Linda-fronted tracks that really stood out to me.

I think the lyrics are probably doing the heavy lifting here. But alas I’m not much of a lyrics guy

Overall, this album has some legs. The light and catchy guitar mixed with varied rhythms, beautiful vocals and random instruments made for a nice morning listen (I imagine the same vibe for a dinner party or campfire listen). It feels like Cat Stevens sometimes, but honestly, its pretty unique and sounds modern. Somewhere near 3.5 Favorites: I Want To See The Bright Lights When I Get To The Border

If Fleetwood Mac was Irish 3/5

70

Pretty music. I liked it.

3.3

Not bad but not my thing. 3

Why am I a little salty that Linda isn’t listed as one of the album artists? Anyway - opening track felt so familiar… like a predecessor, a less indie-whinging version of a band I’m having trouble naming. (The Decemberists????)

Moody folk, Western gothic kind of vibe.

Not bad

I can definitely see myself putting this record on as background music, but none of the tracks stood out in particular. 3.5/5

Starts out as kind of a rock album in the vein of Fleetwood Mac, and slowly transitions into more of Irish folk album. I prefer the later on this one. Highlights: "When I Get to The Border" and "I Want to See The Bright Lights Tonight"

троечка

Very creepy album cover

A pleasant surprise. Nice folksy music with some country twang to it. There's some depressing lyrics but great songwriting. 3

3 y media. me gustó bastante, fleewood Mac vibes tienee me guarde algunos temas

New to me, enjoyed and will listen again. Marble Arch was lovely

Found that my attention drifted a little with this one - would revisit but feel like it needs my full attention.

As I've repeated many times, older folk isn't a genre I reach towards. Most of it (and country too) can't make me feel much beyond a "This is nice I guess". However, it appears I might've found an exception; This album is a step up from their previous albums as a part of Fairpoint Convention, and a great bit of music to return to after my week-long break! Overall, it's a high 3, but still not enough to tip it over to a 4 for me. I (predictably) enjoyed the hints of rock mixed in there.

Alright folk to play in the background

A fine folk album by a husband and wife duo. Not great but a nice listen. Good lyrically.

not bad

I just dont have alot of things to say about this one. Its fine. I just dont get very much out of it. The female vocals are good. The music is fine but I will say one the deluxe or whatever they call it they have live tracks with drums. The drums breathe new life into these songs. It makes them much more interesting. Im still not that interested but its better thay way. The only song that had anything going for me was little beggar girl. It reminded me of working in an Irish pub as a kid. But even then eh... its fine but im just not thay into it. Thats that

Better than expected, calm and stable mood . But for me , no special songs except the last one! That one, the great Valerio, really kicked in ! Dark and religious harmony ... Really nice

That was a fun album. But I probably won't be revisiting it anytime soon.

When I started it I really dug the music… but then the dude started singing … ugh… do not like his voice. What does Linda see in him? Is he hung like a horse? I don’t know… I don’t get it. There is a version on Spotify that included some live songs - those were the highlights for me. 2.8

Folksy, calm, and a bit boring as a whole. Didn’t get a very careful listen, and my rating likely suffered as a result. But overall it was decently enjoyable. 6/10 Pretty Good

The final two songs are fantastic, the rest is too beardy Favourite tracks: The End Of The Rainbow (superb), The Great Valerio

Nice warm album although would only listen to once

Really good! 3.5/5

Folk aus England

The Good: We all wanna see those bright lights tonight! The Bad: Oh shit, I forgot about my photo-phobia…a The Ugly: Never nice to hear that such a lovely couple such as Richard & Linda have split-up… Then again, listening to this album… I kinda get why they split up. I doubt they were doing much to have each other see them afore mentioned bright lights… Interesting read on Wikipedia, who’ve been asking for money, that Dick managed to publish 20 odd albums… who in their right mind has the need to listen to Dick spit on 20 albums? Not me… Hope this album doesn’t bring down my 70’s average score too much… 3*

Hørte faktisk gjennom et par ganger. Fant ikke noe ekstraordinært noen veier, så havner midt på treet.

Ei plate man bør finne fram igjen når høstmørket senker seg.

Best in the first half, where it has some pretty fun and interesting-sounding songs until the Fairportism seeps in to lull you to sleep

there were a couple of really good tracks on this album but the majority were just run of the mill folk songs

Decent folk/country rock album.