I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight

Listened to this and quite enjoyed it. British folk often overshadowed by American folk.

Pleasant enough in places. I would say The Thompson Twins probably edge the Thompson spouses for me.

I am partial to a bit of British folk, and the story telling style of the songs. Some of it was too dull but other songs especially the duets hit the spot.

I can’t really put my finger on exactly why I like early Fairport and this effort (which I’ve never heard before). Obvs Richard Thompson’s guitar playing is a massive part, but it’s more that I just find the style super chilled and comforting, rather than any particular standout songs. Maybe I was a fletcher in another life, but let’s just leave it at that, like a folky mystery.

Я не знаю точно, почему, но мне очень хочется дать этому альбому 5 звезд. Лучшая песня - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight.

Nice vocals

6.5/10

Yeah. This is probably the best version of the (formerly) married folk duo, and I’m pretty sure they were a little inspiration for Mitch & Mickey in A Mighty Wind. Overall, I can just say it’s probably the best version of a time-specific sub genre that I am probably okay with listening to one total album of in a year. Faint praise, I know, but it really is praise.

Never hear of this folk-rock duo, but enjoyed this album quite a bit. Good folk vocalists with well arranged electric guitar compositions. Standouts: Calvary Cross, When I Get to the Border, I Want To See the Bright Lights

Like the vibe

I'll be thinking about this one for a while

i liked this album a lot. really cool folk sound

It's....fine? for folk rock i guess.

Not quite my tempo. 3/10

I like their mixture of folk and country. It's kind of a dated sound, but not bad.

Enjoyed it. Standout songs: When I get to the border I want to see the bright lights tonight Down where the drunkards roll

Not for me really didn’t enjoy

Meh

when I get to the border- 5 or 6 Calvary cross- 5 withered and died- 5 I want to see the bright lights- 5 down where the drunkards roll- 5 we sing hallelujah- 5 or 6 has he got a friend for me- 5 the little beggar girl- 5 the end of the rainbow- 5 the great valerio- 5

there’s something very sad about this album to me ngl, hits real hard emotionally. amazing stuff

Not really my thing but pretty good songs.

7.5/10 Favorite Tracks: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight, We Sing Hallelujah, The Little Beggar Girl, The Great Valerio, The Calvary Cross Least Favorite Tracks: Withered and Died, The End of the Rainbow

This seems interesting.

I loved listening to this one. Linda's voice is just perfect and Richard's playing is the perfect companion. Such a good album. The Calvary Cross and I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight are my favorites.

Thought the closing 3 live tracks were the strongest part of the album. The rest (other than the title track) didn’t do much for me. 2.7

2.5 The title track was a standout.

Upon reading about this album I found out it was from the same guy who started Fairport Convention, and the similarities are noticable. This was very pleasant 70's Folk Rock to listen to, although I don't feel it really stands out in this niche filled by lots and lots of musicians. Still an enjoyable listen and I can't hold anything against it. The vocals were really pleasant on here.

I really enjoyed this. It’s a little bit countrified, which is a bit surprising from a British duo, but it also has some really nice folky elements come through. Overall, very pleasant.

Masterful

It's albums like this where I wish we had 1/2 stars. For me there are some fantastic tracks - Withered and Died is an all time favorite, but I only knew a modern cover (Kate Rusby). The original is marvelous as are a number of other of Linda's songs. That said, I get a little underwhelmed by Richard Thompson's solo songs. In the end, I'm at a 3, but I wish I could give that extra half star up to 3.5 just for Withered and Died on it's own.

The celtic stuff is kinda nice but this is mostly boring as fuck.

Fairport Convention is a band I never wrapped my head around. I am not a big fan of folk, so that'd explain my trepidation. I recently saw a list of top 100 guitarists on the site Consequence of Sound. One of the comments was "Where's Richard Thompson?" Listening to songs like "Calvary Cross," I have to wonder that, too. "Withered and Died" was one of the more depressing songs I have heard. Not all of the songs that leaned more towards folk were that much of a downer, though. "Down Where the Drunkards Roll" seems like it would be as moroe, but I still liked it better. I'm surprised that the album did not do well, songs like "I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight" seem like they would have done well. The more I think of the album, the more I turn my opinion from a low 3 to a high 3. Rounding up, that's a 4. Top tracks: Title Track, "When I Get To The Border," "Calvary Cross," "Down Where The Drunkards Roll"

Richard Thompson reminds me of John Cale but not quite as good. Linda Thompson reminds me of Sandy Denny, and maybe just as good. Give me more Linda and a little less Richard. I really enjoyed the six (out of ten) Linda-led songs on multiple listens, especially on side one.

It's a decent enough album. Musically, it sounds pretty similar to a lot of British Folk. Everything I read says that it's the lyrics that are most groundbreaking for British Folk, and I'll agree it's more down to earth and less ye olde greene forest faerie, but it didn't pull me in. Overall, I enjoyed listening to it, doubt I'd seek it out again. Favorite tracks: the title track (more rocking than folk), Down Where the Drunkards Roll, The Little Beggar Girl.

Really exceptional songwriting. Melancholy and poetic. Good tunes.

not exceptional but full of humanity

⭐️⭐️ It’s fine… starts strong but dies off real quick. Probably won’t ever listen again.

Had never heard of this prior, it’s not bad. Title track is the only real memorable song once all is said and done though.

Nice

Þegar ég hlustaði á þessa plötu sá ég fyrir mér írskan pöbb. Það er langt liðið á kvöldið, búið að kveikja ljósin og flestir sofnaðir fram á borðið með hálffull bjórglös nema tvö pör sem dansa drukkinn vangadans við síðasta lag húsbandsins á pöbbnum. Öll þessi plata hljómaði eins og síðasta lag kvöldsins á írskum pöbb. Ekki slæm. Bara ekki stemmningin sem mig langar að hlusta á

Soft rock with hints of jazz and country(?)

I really like the two most popular songs on the album but everything else is lackluster

I really liked this one. It was folky and slow and the songs were absolutely beautiful. I’m so glad the generator introduced me to this one

Yup. Def one you should hear.

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

It’s average. Theres nothing special about it, though there’s nothing bad about it. Love the fact that it goes from male vocals to female vocals every other track.

The dynamic between the woman and the man singing was nice, however what a dull album. Seriously, it was just so average and nothing special at all. No hate, but that was not worthy of this list.

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

This was great - emotional, smart, great music with great performances. One I will want to add to the collection.

Ciekawy ten album pod kątem, że tworzył go mąż z żoną. Silny, lekko celtycki folk, czasami zakrawający o religijno-oazowe nastroje. Nie porywa, ale relaksuje. 6.5/10

I like the bit where they turn Irish.

This album would sound just as unique if it were made 51 years later. Great husband and wife combo making original music. Sadly they had to do the highly unoriginal divorce thing down the road.

I really didn't know what to expect from this one. The description of it being a country/folk album had me concerned. But I'm very pleasantly surprised by this one. There is some fantastic songwriting here, which clicks now that I realize Richard Thompson was a member of Fairport Convention. He's clearly taken a lot from that experience into this release with a fair number of Celtic inspired elements. But this album really goes beyond simple English folk music and could have really held its own against the contemporary music of the mid-70s. I say could have as it was a sadly neglected album upon its release, taking another decade before being released outside of the UK, which undoubtedly hurt its longterm legacy. But there's something kind of magical about the idea of the overlooked masterpiece, like a prized secret within the collections of people in the know. I'd say it's high to reevaluate this one. But in the meantime, I'm glad to have discovered it today.

Couple makes folk rock Feels like light in the darkness That’s lovely, moody

In a nutshell: a little bit rock, a little bit folk. It’s definitely of it’s time. Think acoustic Pogues. The harmonies are good. The spirit of traditional British folk (ie Celtic folk) is live and well here without sounding too cheesy. Not for me, but I think it’s one of those albums that was culturally important in the UK. Overall: 4/10

This should be called "Music for Hobbits". 2/5.

I liked it. Quite surprising actually

This has some decent songs but just doesn't compare to the Canadian folk music I grew up listening to. 3 stars or C-.

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

Nothing stands out, neither good or bad. Background music. 5.5/10

Ok. Bitvis lite vackert men det är en typ av musik som inte lyfter så högt. Det är väldigt mellanmjölk.

Börjar riktigt bra, framförallt med The cavalry cross som är en riktig höjdare. Tyvärr blir det inte så mycket mer spännande därefter utan puttrar på runt en stabil trea. Gillar hans sång mer än hennes. Blir en stark trea totalt sett pga inledningen.

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

heii ja yhtä tähteä! aika varma tästö ennnen albumin aloittamista, varmempi ekannbiisinnjälkeen ja kaikista varmin kaikkien kappaleiden jälkeen!

Hmmm, nothing special.

light 4

nice vibes

Mid folk

To discover 'I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight' before you die is one of the advantages of being alive.

Ok my knee-jerk reaction to the first few seconds of the first song was to think that he sounds a bit like Jimmy Fallons impression of Barry Gibb LOL. Looking beyond that, there’s some substance here. Lots, actually. “Down Where The Drunkards Roll” paints a really vivid picture, and is probably my highlight of the record. “Has He Got A Friend For Me” is one of a few examples of this album having some actually unique things to say, some songs about stuff you probably didn’t hear much about at the time. The closing live track, “The Calvary Cross” is a pretty exceptional live jam. I think this one just comes down to personal preference, I won’t be going back to it. There’s a lot of substance here like I said, maybe just not a lot of impact or memorable delivery of it all. And that’s ok, I can see there being a time and place for this album!

The guitar in the background is good but honestly it just sounds the same as every other generic country album. Linda’s voice did give this album a good sound.

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.

It had its moments, but this just seemed a little too Middle Earth for me

Awful

this was pleasing to the ear. i rather enjoyed this.

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

5/10 Nice enough. 2-20-2025

Irish rock

I thought this was good. It’s not typically the type of music I would choose to listen to, but I can tell it’s well made. The lyrics were interesting. Favorite songs were The Calvary Cross, I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight, and The Little Beggar Girl.

Quite impressed in hindsight that these were original songs, sounded like they would be rerecorded classic folk. In that sense they nail the sound. As an assumed bunch of classic songs it sounded like the sort of thing that would be good in a old fashioned pub and worked well enough as background music. Nothing in there made me want to go back for a second listen though. 2.5.

The End of the Rainbow and The Great Valerio were absolutely excellent, but the rest of the album wasn't. Shame I had to wait until the end to enjoy it. 2.5

Thought this was pretty good mostly. Think the first half was better, got a bit flowery and weird in some of the latter half. The opening 4 tracks were all good though. 3.5, but likely won't be back!

Not a favorite of mine but it has its moments. I particularly enjoyed The Cavalry Cross and The End of the Rainbow

Good folk that passes by like a fart in the wind.

Sounds great, but already forgotten!

I LOVE IT HERE GOAT OBVIOUSLY

hmmmm not very excited about this album the song that had the most listens was okay. 2 stars.

Very forgettable folk

Meh

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.

Simply just some Very Great folk. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. I’m learning that I’m a sucker for vivid imagery in folksier singer-songwriter albums like this, but more than that, I’m a sucker for when the world reveals itself within a track. I love focusing on slices of life sometimes, but when a line just *clicks* and reveals so much beyond what’s being presented in the lyrics, those are the aha moments that stick with me and make me appreciate the quality of the songwriting. This album does that plenty of times, and it’s probably why I’m really, really into it – it certainly helps that they pair that with great instrumentation that feels befitting and adds onto the atmosphere of each track instead of just being there for the sake of qualifying as music. It also helps that Linda Thompson sounds a lot like Emmylou Harris & her vocals harmonize brilliantly with Richard’s. I’m really stunned he has the first name basis on the album cover, since she has way more of a spotlight. It’s not a perfect album; I do think this leans into sad themes a few too many times, which sort of contrasts with the brighter soundscape in a way that lends itself to quicker burnout potential. When it’s on one though, it’s a fantastic album – stuff like “Withered and Died”, “Down Where the Drunkards Roll” and especially “The End of the Rainbow” are heartrendingly sad, but so well written, composed & performed that I think it’s impossible not to admire them. Hence, the 5, because I admire too much of this album to not give it that bump – the only track I’m down on is “Has He Got A Friend For Me”, simply because modern cynicism over guilt-driven manipulation makes that track read much differently now than it would’ve read in 1974, and even then, that might just be a personal thing. I think the rest of it is really good; a few tracks might lean into that “first minute” syndrome, but the quality of the performances and the imagery override any complaints I could bring up. It’s a really recommended listen; for me, it’s no less than a 4, and pretty easy to bump up to a 5.

I like folk music, but this isn't landing in my all time favs

Think I preferred them went they went "nu-wave" with the likes of "Hold Me Now". But if I was looking to entice some strumpet of a farmers daughter into a hay loft by getting her tipsy on cider - this would absolutely be the soundtrack I'd use.

Just bland acoustic jams

The feel of these folky records are immaculate but i always feel like the tracks melt together

Solid folk rock. Richard's guitar playing and both of their voices make this one a delight. Gonna give it the ol' 4.5 rounded up because imI want to give it another couple listens ASAP

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.

Not for me. There's some bits that grabbed the attention a little but I've no desire to hear any of it again and I need to get harsher on this stuff

Chill and folky

alright, not my thing

This isn’t it. The Little Beggar Girl is pretty funny tho

Great album

This is an album I had on cassette having taped it from a friend. Those were the days when the budget limited what could be bought and there would be an agreement on which album to buy and those to copy. Having seen them tour the album it was played for some time until the inevitable happened and he tape twisted that no end of pencil twiddling could repair. Many many years late fate intervened and when out geocaching one day the CD of the album was found in a geocache and duly swapped with something of dubious quality. Despite being in a container exposed to the elements the album was listened to in the car on the way home. It has been a staple ever since. A more than fine example of stretched english folk with strong songwriting, sparkling harmonies plus some scalding guitar.

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.

Es ist ein herausragendes Beispiel für britischen Folk-Rock. Das Album zeigt die Talente der Interpreten auf eine Weise, die sowohl Fans des Folk-Rocks als auch des traditionellen Country anspricht. Die Lieder sind durchzogen von einer melancholischen Stimmung, die sich in den Texten und Melodien Die Texte sind poetisch und oft voller emotionaler Tiefe. Songs wie „The End of the Rainbow“ und „Withered and Died“ sind bewegende Erzählungen von Verzweiflung und Hoffnung. Die klare und ausdrucksstarke Stimme harmoniert perfekt mit dem Gitarrenspiel, insbesondere in Titeln wie „Has He Got a Friend for Me“. Für mich wurde die durchgängige Melancholie als eintönig empfunden. Das Album könnte von einer größeren Vielfalt in Tempo und Stimmung profitieren. Also insgesamt ganz ok.

Every time I start listen to one of these albums with an open mind, it backfires and I'm left disappointed. It tends to be the albums I'm sceptical about that end up being better than I anticipate. Anyway, this falls into the former category where I was hoping to like this but it ended up being very twee and was about 3 guitar strums away from Coombiyah (sp?). Hard pass.

Bit slow. Worth revisit

Neat and more engaging than I expected. Also, given the tear it was made it felt like the production was pretty nice as well.

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.

The singer has a distinct type of British accent that I feel like I don't hear very often in music. Cool intro for The Calvary Cross. Like that eastern sounding scale and am a sucker for tremolo guitar. The title track so far is pretty cool and I could see it being a hit today in certain indie scenes. Though maybe without the (mellotron?) horn? I don't dislike the horn but it makes it feel a bit more of its time and not contemporary. Which is fair since it isn't a modern tune.

Fave of Steve's

The only married news team in the whatever the rest of that stolen joke is. Never heard of this which is a good thing. I despise the album cover but have no idea how this will sound. Maybe they’re brother and sister? Who knows. Oh nice. This is actually really quite good. Folk-y and weird at points. Capable vocals. This was sick. A small let-down but still not bad. Now we’re getting the female vocals. I have to assume this is Richard. I don’t see gender. Gentle song. Not bad. Very old style country. Me too sister. I hate working. That’s why I spend it writing these godawful reviews. What station? An effective public transit infrastructure? No way. Catchy, folk influenced. Very good. I have now googled these people and of course they were part of Fairport Convention. And yes, they are divorced. The circle of life. Decent track. I’m a complete sucker for folk music. Sound like you’re in a bar on a Nova Scotia port and I scream and throw my sleep apnea mask on the stage. It’s a sign of affection. Anyway. “Banger.” It’s a little silly, but I do indeed like it. The mix of American and Celtic/Maritime folk is interesting. The female vocals seems to give more of a country feel or at least be on songs that are more country influenced. This song isn’t doing it for me. This one is the worst thus far. Boring, slow and not particularly vibrant in any way. I don’t hate it, but it’s a down moment on what’s been a solid release thus far. The Great Valerio was alright. Not terrible. I like to picture a bootleg zorro despite me never seeing the real zorro. I am just vaguely aware that he existed. In with a bang, out with, well, less of a bang. This folk/rock/country album was very interesting and very good all things considered. An album I will engage with again but not one that is sparking me to engage in a string of attempted wordplay. I suppose that’s for the real freakishly bad or good albums in this collection. A good album that could improve with repeated listens makes for an enjoyable Tuesday. Sorry to hear about the divorce. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: When I Get to The Border, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, We Sing Hallelujah

I have an odd sort of relationship with folk. I start listening thinking that it will not be my cup of herbal tea, then something in it hooks me in. With this album, the mix of traditional instruments and electric guitars builds on Richard Thompson’s work with Fairport Convention but it’s the lyrics about the grubby, despairing state of Britain in the 1970s that really hit home for me. No jobs, no hope, except for a brief escape into a boozy night out.

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

I don’t know if there’s much to say about I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight. It’s pretty good ‘70s folk with touches of traditional elements throughout, Richard and Linda are both great vocalists, and there’s a handful of really solid tracks on here. But while it’s consistently good, the peaks are less frequent than the plains. That’s its issue, honestly. It’s a bit plain. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it strikes me as nothing particularly special. Maybe I’m missing a ton of context, but even its best moments are a bit unimportant in the grand scheme of my musical life. Good, but not good enough for me.

Pretty nice.

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

Some good songs on this album, soft, slower songs with a lot of feeling to them. While I don't get why this albus is considered a masterpiece its definitely good. Songs to play in the background when you want this particular kind of mood to be your backdrop.

Nice 70’s guitar folksy stuff. Good background, not so foreground

Quite surprised by this, better than I thought it would be

Uessentiel men lyder godt

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

Not really interesting in any way...

This is pretty solid as a laid-back, largely inoffensive folk record. It sounds nice, the vocal harmonies are good (and better than the sum of their parts), and the acoustic guitar playing is pretty. But excluding the opening and titles tracks, there isn't much to get excited about. Absent is the juxtaposition between textural highs and lows that really makes some of the top-tier albums stand out from the pack. There are definitely memorable moments, but those stand out for being odd rather than necessarily high-energy. Take the questionable inclusion The Little Beggar Girl. A catchy track, to be sure, and one that pays homage to the adjacent genre of Celtic folk – but I was engaged for its really weird vocal delivery and lyrics rather than for any kind of "wow" factor. Many (most) tracks are "lull" songs, including Has He Got A Friend For Me, The Great Valerio, The End Of The Rainbow, Withered And Died, and so on. The multipart mini-epic The Calvary Cross and infectious Bright Lights Tonight (title track) are the album's saving grace from getting a 2. Folk music, having one of the longest lifetimes of any musical genre, is incredibly oversaturated, and I don't see how this is any more deserving of belonging on the list than just another Mitchell, Crosby/Stills/Nash/Young, Simon/Garfunkel, or Dylan record. Though, at least with those, the records selling widely was part of what made them influential: more people listened to them at the time. But Bright Lights Tonight was "never commercially successful and critically ignored upon its release", according to the album's Wikipedia article – so can you really say with a straight face that it belongs with the 1000 most important records of all time? (I can. I have an excellent poker face.) 3/5 Key tracks: The Calvary Cross, I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight

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.

Just a really boring album that does not deserve to be in this list. It's fine, but to say it is essential to hear is absurd.

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.

So, I'll be doing beef related reviews. So far in the first track, it feels like sirloin steak that's cooked a bit medium. I'm having a bit of a hard time chewing on it. Probably wouldn't listen again unless I was stoned and hanging out with my Scottish friend who eats haggis. 2nd track is actually not bad in the intro.... I thought I was going to be enthralled after a bit, but I nearly fell asleep. HALP. Give me a bit more beef next time please. 3rd track - NOPE. BPM is like 10… I want to see the bright lights tonight - actually not bad, this is giving 70/30 cheap ground beef vibes, but they fucked the cook up a little bit...but not too much…sorta like Diet Fleetwood Mac 5th track. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Zzzzzz Zzz z Oh shit it’s the last song. well this one is actually not bad....zzzzzzzz Oh boy that was tough to get through. I nearly passed out during every song because it kept getting slower and slower. LINDA WHY'D YOU MAKE RICHARD SELL? 3.5/10 -- On the beef scale (Eye of Round)

oh im only a POOR LITTLE BEGGAR GIRL!!! another 2.5 w the caveat that the eagles should have been a 2. Just don't really have any desire to go back to this, even though I didn't hate it

I actually liked this quite a bit. Not all the songs are bangers, but I really liked When I Get to the Border, The Title Track, We Sing Hallelujah, The Little Beggar Girl, and The Great Valerio. I thought it was a little funny that Richard and Linda each sang a song about how much the world sucks, but the End Of The Rainbow is a little ridiculous; quit telling that newborn baby its life is going to be miserable, Richard, read the room.

There's an insufferable Renfaire vibe coming from a few of these songs (the worst being "Little Beggar Girl"), but there are a couple of songs on here that grew on me after a few listens. Giving this a 3 because I would consider listening to another Richard & Linda Thompson album. Shoot Out The Lights is the one I hear the most praise for, but I don't think it's in this list

It did not resonate with me, I'd need more listen sessions with lyrics to get it, but probably won't do that. 4/10

I hated this for the most part. Really pulling for Richard to get out of this situation. It's not worth it Richard, it never is. Some good moments for sure, but overall it doesn't really take me anywhere. It is an album about male opression afterall, so I guess that's the point. At least all the instruments are real. 2.5 out of 5

not beating the allegations that the editors ran out of albums and were scrambling to hit 1001 with this one. perfectly serviceable 70s folk rock, if you're into that. some of these songs are depressing as hell. +1 for the fun medieval horn, -1 for including a christmas song.

I’ll be blunt: I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight is one of the most boring albums I’ve ever heard. For all the acclaim it’s received, I found it an absolute slog to get through. The vocals are so painfully average that they’re almost forgettable, the songs blend into one dull blur, and the production doesn’t help matters. To be fair, there are a couple of elements that aren’t outright terrible. The instrumentation is competent, with a few moments where the arrangements show promise. The use of traditional folk influences, like the inclusion of fiddles and brass in certain tracks, gives the album a bit of texture. The title track, “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight,” is probably the most tolerable song here—it has a slightly livelier energy compared to the rest of the album Unfortunately, the list of negatives far outweighs any positives. Let’s start with the vocals. Richard Thompson’s singing is so bland and emotionless that it almost lulls you to sleep, and Linda Thompson doesn’t fare much better. Neither of them has the dynamic range or charisma to bring these songs to life. Their voices are technically fine but utterly unremarkable, and they lack the emotional depth needed to make these lyrics hit home. The songs themselves are equally uninspiring. “The Calvary Cross” is a plodding, dreary track that feels like it lasts twice as long as it actually does. “Withered and Died” is appropriately named—it sounds lifeless from start to finish. Even the more upbeat songs, like “Down Where the Drunkards Roll,” feel weighed down by the lacklustre vocals and sluggish pace. The production doesn’t help matters. While some might call it “intimate,” I found it flat and dull. The mix is clean enough, but there’s no vibrancy or atmosphere to draw you in. It’s all so monotone that it feels like the same song is playing over and over again. I know this album is considered a classic by some, but I just don’t see it. I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight is painfully boring, with average vocals, lifeless production, and songs that fail to leave any impression. The title track is decent, but the rest of the album feels like a chore to sit through. Not an album for me.

Afraid it didn't do much of anything for me, but it's probably a skill issue. Loved the electric guitar when it had a chance, and the bass playing as well, but most everything else fell flat for me. Nice pleasant listen but overall not impactful, again probably my bad. I should pay more attention to lyrics, BUT the instrumentation didn't reach out to me. 3/10

I understand this as an artistic piece and I appreciate it but it did not connect with me. I am not too interested in it musically, but i fuck with it conceptually

7/10 Definitely a record that I feel would have a much deeper impact if I had the context of British history and culture. From what I can gather in the songwriting we get some pretty harrowing and loaded subject matter regarding England’s history, on Linda Thompson’s side especially, and there are some pretty hard hitting images on every one of these songs. However I find the content of the record to maybe be a bit underserved by the instrumentals. They’re quite nice while they’re on but don’t really leave a bigger impact when it comes to the heavier thematics of the record, and I know most of that is due to traditions in English Folk music, but I do wish there was something more symbiotic here to my American tastes. I too would be depressed if I was British.

Not often that you can point to an album and say without a second thought this is the best ever. This is the best folk-rock album ever made. It's 100% rock and 100% folk at the same time, thus deserving of 10 stars. The version I have on CD - also the current Spotify version - has the 10 minute version of Calvary Cross which is the song then six minutes of awesume RT shredding. So add 100% axe hero to the mix too. Linda is also the best folk-rock vocalist who's not Sandy Denny, but the songs here just so much stronger than Liege and Lief. there's still Krummhorn and accordion, but less of the clogs and finger in the ear vibe than Fairport.

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.

uhh idk xD

Not bad but not for me

Acoustic-focused music is just not my thing at all. This sounds so maudlin to me. I can't even seem to enjoy it as background music.

There's a couple good songs on this and some really cool guitar parts, overall I like his voice. I don't really care for her voice except for a song, maybe two. There's a decent mix of blues, folk, country vibes, but nothing that really hooks me. End of The Rainbow is solid, probably best thing on this album.

The Calvary Cross was a good tune. I didn’t care for the girl ballads. If you swapped those for more upbeat stuff, I would’ve liked it more.

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.

“Grrr... Now when I say "hello, Mr. Thompson" and press down on your foot, you smile and nod.” 😑 “No problem.”🫡 “Hello, Mr. Thompson.”😉 “I think he's talking to you.” 🤔 I guess it is a fine album if you like folk music, but I don’t. Might have been a little better if there were more songs like Little Begger Girl that had some pep to them, but this one was a real snooze fest. Someone get the Thompsons a coffee pot or a baggie of coke.

Love the mandolin on the opening track. Title track and "End of the Rainbow" are probably my favorite tracks. Some of the songs are a little TOO folky....like you would hear them in the Shire or some shit. 2.5 stars, rounding up.

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

Although I like folk music and can appreciate the craftsmanship in these songs, the album didn’t set my heart beating any faster. A 3 for Linda Thompson’s voice.

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.

not bad but these folkrock tropes sre nowadays overplayed

Too folksy and slow for my tastes.

Fine folky fun

Have a hard time seeing why this is on the list.

Meh.

Het is toch wel zeldzaam dat een hoes zó slecht bij de muziek past als dit. Een griezelige horrorfoto van door een psychopaat op het raam van zijn cel getekende letters, voor wat kabbelende hippiefolk. Geen wonder dat deze plaat destijds voor geen meter verkocht. De muziek is wel aardig, maar dit genre hebben we toch wel eens beter gehoord. Bij Sandy Denny en haar kompanen bijvoorbeeld.

Zo, ik ben er doorheen gekomen, zonder in slaap te vallen. Niet dat het slecht album is. Muzikaal lijkt de basis soms bewust minimaal, en wordt daar met speelse geluiden en instrumenten op juiste momenten wat overheen gelegd. Het is gewoon weer een kwestie van smaak. En voor mij springt de wat suffige opzet en zang er teveel uit. De knipogen naar de jaren '60 (of waren ze gewoon toen al wat ouderwets) passen ook al niet bij mijn smaak. Dus ik klik zo het tweede sterretje aan, verken het volgende album en ga dit waarschijnlijk snel weer vergeten.

Op het eerste gehoor is dit een typisch product uit de 70s, rustige singer-songwritermuziek. Ik vond het gek dat ik nog nooit van de beste man gehoord heb, blijkbaar heeft hij in Fairport Convention gezeten. Die ken ik ook alleen maar van deze lijst. Wel geinig om zo nieuwe muziek te leren kennen. Zogezegd, is dit een product van de singer-songwriter era. Ik hoor er ook wat Beatlesque invloeden in, nog meer country en folkrock. James Taylor, Carole King, etc. Wel fijn om er een licht elektrisch gitaartje bij te horen, als het allemaal akoestisch zou zijn, zou het wel erg gezapig worden. De twee stemmen maken het ook interessant af en toe. De tierelantijntjes als een toeter of andersoortig gekke geluiden die er soms tussendoor worden geflikkerd, hadden ze wat mij betreft achterwege mogen laten. Al werkte dat bij een band als Chicago uitstekend in dezelfde periode early 70s (totdat Peter Cetera zijn tranentrekkende ballads wilde etaleren een paar jaar later). Maar we beoordelen hier niet Chicago, maar Richard and Linda Thompson. En ze gaan niet in mijn top10 komen qua singer-songwriters ben ik bang. Het is allemaal niet slecht, ik veer alleen te weinig op. Er zitten aardige nummers tussen en daar is ook alles mee gezegd. Ik mis zoals wel vaker een bekend hitje om naar uit te kijken, dus ik ben bang dat het gewoon een vergeetbare 3 wordt.

I want to see the end of this torture

It's all right. Not my style

Not for me

This one didn't stand out one way or another to me honestly. I've really enjoyed some of the folk I have heard, particularly folk from the UK but for some reason this didn't stand out to me. Not bad though, for sure. Maybe in the folk world this one is more important than I realize but can't help but feel maybe something else should have been here in it's place.

Folk que fica realmente agradável pelo vocal feminino.

Found it a bit dreary and boring tbh. Some were quite pretty Recognised one but mostly unmoved

I guess it was okay but kind of found it bland and forgettable

This one really surprised me

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

Love this album. Enjoyed it!

I mean it’s music. I felt it started stronger than it ended and I saved the titular track and Down where the Drunkards Roll to see if they grow on me. I felt like those two had some legs. It’s within my style, and I would generally prefer it over silence lol that’s harsh but it’s just not reaching me all that much. Even though I think they’ve put some energy and passion into it it just doesn’t resonate with me the way I would want it to. Glad I listened once, won’t be listening a second time.

this album is not bad, but it didn't really grab me either. i did like the overall sound, but that is kind of all i have to say about this one. middle of the road for me.

This sounds like the kind of music Jenny from Forrest Gump wanted to play. I kinda liked the folksy vibe at the start but by the end I kinda hated it.

Another album that wouldn’t impress me if they played it at a local bar. Not sure why it’s here.

The decade jump from 60s to 70s British Folk is much appreciated, but I'm starting to think I'll always be more of a fan of good ol' backwoods Appalachian Folk. Not bad, and maybe I'll give this another chance when I'm not listening to it mostly stuck in traffic, but really wasn't my speed.

I don't know if its a good sign when the Wikipedia articles main takeaway from the album is that it was not commercially successful, nor was it critically successful either. This would be a 3 star album for me if it was only Linda singing. I'm sorry Richard, but you bring this down to 2 stars.

Their voices are entrancing. It’s an album that I think could grow on me with a few more listens, if I give it the chance. At the moment I had sort of mixed feelings toward it.

I loved the title track. Vocals are nice. The album is a bit down tempo and too sad for my taste. Luckily I listened to it during a night trip and was gonna feel daunted and depressed in the morning anyways.

I'm so sick of folk music at this point.

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.

Prefer a lindisfarne style of folk, cam appreciate the guitar and songwriting just can get away with the vocals

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

70’s ballady ick

Soft folk vibe

i have found folk music that speaks to me but this just doesn't do anything for me

This album is so Scottish

Very folksy folk. I don't know. Not sure what sets this apart from every other album in the genre.

very chill but nothing too special for me

I had to re listen to it because I was not paying attention the first time. 2l listen was ok but I still felt bored. I did like the bright lights song, had the most energy

I like 60's and 70's folk but this one is unbearable. It sounds too much like Irish-scented folk. As someone with a strong dislike for Irish folk music, this album is a tough listen.

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.

Nice, folksy, and calm.

Could i write poetry to this? n

The title track is the only real highlight here. While Richard Thompson is clearly a master guitarist, the folky songs are just too downbeat for any other parts to shine through. The trade-off of vocal duties between Linda and Richard does little to provide any variety to the album.

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

Jag gillade hennes röst, inte hans så mycket. Känns som tidig singer/songwriter men ingen låt fångade mig

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

Celtic/English tinged folk music set to electric guitars. Some songs have a country western feel to them. Guitar work is very good. I could take or leave Richard's vocals. I think Linda's voice is wonderful. This album was (too?) short even with the bonus live tracks. Good album.

More pub drinking tunes from the Fairport Convention folks. It's got a few nice songs, but mostly it's meant for drunks in a pub. 3/5

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

Folk Rock nicht so meins

Angenehm anzuhören, mich hat nichts genervt oder gestört. Mehr aber dann auch nicht. Das klarste 3-Sterne Album bisher für mich. Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: Keine

It was a pleasant listen. Interesting band.

Such a lovely record!

A sort of mish-mash of 70s soft rock with irish folk songs and sea shanties (I think?). It was fine at parts but ultimately not for me. Still- a fine album if thats what youre looking for.

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

I absolutely loved the first two tracks, When I Get To The Border and The Calvary Cross. A couple of other songs were good, but nothing ever reaches the highs of those first few songs. The End Of The Rainbow is devastating, damn. I've listened twice now, and it sits solidly at a 3.

Never really got Richard Thompson

Not my bag

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.

Folking hell.

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

feels very filler-y

Decent enough! Calvary Cross and Great Valerio were cool. Probably won't return much but pleasant while it lasted

Bit boring

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.

"The Bright Lights Tonight" has been warm company over a weekend of heavy rain. I know folk music through my dad, one of the many Brit-blues believers who jumped to folk during the schism when Led Zeppelin lead the charge to heavier, distorted grub. Folk has seeped into me, but I'm suspicious of its archaisms. What’s so great about the imagined past? What are they hiding? On the other hand, I saw John Renbourne play in a tiny community centre in Poynton and he casually slew faces and was fun with it. There’s a playfulness on this album, a happy willingness to rock when fits, instruments duelling, sad songs followed by boogies, all held together by those two lead voices. The title track’s one of several bangers; I wish they had just one more to break up the bleak last two.

Another opportunity to praise folk-rock and ramble about my Dad, and I'll take it! Pretty much flawless from start to finish, with some of the Thompson's greatest moments (although check out live versions of The Calvary Cross for even more splendid guitar). Subconsciously takes me back to a wet and tense summer holiday exploring the castles of Northumberland in about 1981, although I could be engineering that memory a bit; would have been the perfect soundtrack regardless. Also a favorite of our extremely-bearded old labmate, Mark. It does strike me as a bit weird to have such strong nostalgia for the music tastes of a paternal influence that was both mild and short-lived (as regular readers will recall); a testament to the power of music and memory, I guess. Predictable 5*

I wasn't sure what to think of this at first other than being impressed by the instrumentation. After a while, it gets into you in a strange and beautiful way.

Fine. I’ve heard a lot about this album and some people really like it, but this album did not grab me.

Such a great album, and perfect for the fall. Definitely listen to Life of the Record podcast on this one, it’s fantastic.

Oh, yeah. That’s the shit. I’ve heard it before. I’ll listen again. Linda shines through on this one.

so good. i LOVE folk omgomg

I’m not even done with it, but I love every second. my cup of tea.

mid album tbh. Didn't catch that folk wave at all

Mira, estuvo ok, pero aburre al cabo de un rato

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

1. border - 1 2. crozz - 1 3. died - 1.5 4. tonight - 1.5 5. roll - 1 6. zing - 0 7. friend - 1.5 8. beggar - 1 9. rainbouu - 1.5 10. valerio - 2

Chill folk music, really enjoyable. Not the best, but really pleasant.

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

Hey this was pretty good, almost sounded like 80s Australian folk pop rock at times.

This belongs up there with the albums we’ve gotten on this list so far from Carol King, Paul Simon, The Cars, and a few others. It is PERFECT. Every song brings something subtle and wonderful to the table. It’s more proof that it’s not about how loud a song is that determines how powerful it feels. Each track is an expert display in mood and contrast and harmony. Every song feels like a journey and it’s one of those albums that makes me so glad I’m listening to this list because otherwise I might never have heard this. Everything was spectacular, but my personal haunting favorite was The Great Valerio.

"The Calvary Cross" is basically Songs: Ohia 20 years early. Absolutely essential listening front to back.

Not something I would normally listen to. Not sure how this is a 1001 album personally.

I found this pretty boring; not a huge singer-songwriter fan in general.

The definition of ok

Not a fan of English folk

Nice folk music, This album has some great songs on it and some not so great songs. Its a real mixed bag. I really enjoyed the end of the rainbow and when I get to the boarder Then there were songs that I just could not get on with like the great valerio and the little beggar girl. Favourite song: The end of the rainbow Least favourite: the little beggar girl. It could have easily featured in Robin Hood the Disney cartoon. Album artwork: Simple and effective cover

I’m surprising myself and giving this a 5. It really grew on me over several listens. Even the more kooky folksie numbers. Another great find from the generator. One reviewer compares this with Frightened Rabbit and I hear it

70s alt/soft folk. There were a couple standout tracks, notably the vocals on "The Cavalry Cross", but as a complete package it didn't do much for me.

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

The lowest bpm I heard in a while. So mellow and low it actively makes me less productive and lazy.

A familiar old friend - one of my Dad's all-time favourites so an LP he has given me when he replaced it with the CD. It's quite understated and easy to miss the quality of songwriting if you're not looking out for it. I still think it starts too slow but picks up from the title track onwards. Down Where The Drunkards Roll is a classic. If you have any interest in folk, it's surely essential but I am content to listen to it from time to time when I'm in the mood.

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

Nice to listen to. Seemed toward the end of the folk era and at the genres limit. ^ | Probably just me trying to sound smart. I’d listen again

Unique songs that still managed to flow well together. Really interesting guitar work throughout the album. Really enjoyed the title track. Interesting combination of English folk and modern (for the time) singer/song writer. Another album I likely won’t revisit, but I didn’t necessarily hate the experience. It was fine.

I absolutely love the title track. The rest of the record was good - but never rose as high.

Slog to get through and very dim

Nice but unremarkable

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).

A rather miserable affair, if you don’t like folk

The title track is great, but the rest isn’t great. I really do not like the sound of Richard’s voice. Linda’s songs are a little better, but it’s mostly mid.

Second half kinda redeemed but I would never want to listen to it again so here we are.

70's English Folk music... Well, I didn't hate it, but I'll probably never listen to it again.

Lemmiwiiiinks, Leeeemmmmiiiwinks.

Pretty easy, nice east coast vibe, folk music. Reminds me of traveling. Feels a bit dated but the melodies are great.

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

This album starts really strong but 2/3rds of the way through it tapers off..

Surprisingly better than I thought it would have been

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

Didn't love it. Didn't hate it. Better than most Folky stuff "popular" at the time. Sneaks in 3 stars.

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.

I liked the title track a lot but the rest of the album was just okay. It's not a bad album, it might even be a good one, but it's not something I'll listen to again anytime soon.

Proper 70s folk. Listenable but not something I’d necessarily listen to again. 3*

Enjoyed this very much.

Rustic. Sad. Irish. Interesting. 1973.

I liked the guitar on this one

I really enjoyed this album and would be fine giving it a higher score if it had been released ten years prior. It sounds like a product of the folky sixties rather than the mid seventies. There’s no trace of any of the progress made in the music industry. This doesn’t necessarily make an album unoriginal, but in this case, it feels derivatively unique. If it had come out a decade earlier, I probably would have given it a five out of five, as I really did really enjoy it. 3/5

Нейтральная приятная музыка. Напомнило баллады

This album interested me so much that I started doing a required training for work in the middle of listening to it instead

Very Linda forward.

Compared to what I’ve had in the past week this album was calming and a good break. However based on itself, the singers approaches aren’t my style and it was just mid. I liked the last song and it’s guitaring but nothing else stood out.

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.

This is so bad, dude. I think the singers sound Irish? So it kind of sounds like hippie Irish folk music - but not the cool hippie shit or the cool Irish folk music. If this was an album of old Irish drinking songs that would be AWESOME! sadly, it's more like music for Americans who pretend they're Irish and go to renaissance fairs and don't wear deodorant. The last song on the album, The Calvary Cross (live) is terrific. Like, where the hell was this in the original song - or at any other point in the album?! It's so, so good. What a shame there's nothing else like it, id have enjoyed an album full of songs that sound like this. Ok, so the last song was good enough that I went back and relistened to the album to see what I missed. I think it’s better than I originally thought, but i still stand by what I wrote above…just with a bit less vitriol. The Calvary songs are undoubtedly the highlights.

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

I didn’t hate it (even if they did have a Buck Owen’s cover) but I would have no reason to ever intentionally listen to this again. 2.3

Some good songs, but mostly good for a one-time listen.

I enjoyed it but wasn’t very memorable

Nice folksy music, easy listening nothing I loved too much though

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!

Que se yo, no es muy para mi esto.

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