Linda Thompson
Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 27 September 2002
Something folky for the weekend, Linda Thompson 'Fashionably Late'.
I bought this for my wife a month ago on the strength of great reviews as she has more folky taste than I. It is absolutely superb, songs of consistent quality and arrangements including some lovely touches of backing vocal and instrumentation. It has a timeless feel rather like my favourite 'folky' album, 'Matepedia' by the McGarrigle sisters.
Bruce
Posted on: 27 September 2002 by Chunny Nochubb
Posted on: 27 September 2002 by Gunnar Jansson
Thanks for the tip.
I´ve also seen good reviews on this album.
Gunnar
Posted on: 28 September 2002 by Clive B
Bruce,
Have a listen to Norma Waterson's "The Very Thought of You". I just bought it on spec a few years ago, but it's so classy, especially (IMHO) the Nick Drake / John Martin / Richard Thompson (Jo Locke) tracks.
Regards, CB
Posted on: 29 September 2002 by Bruce Woodhouse
Thanks Clive.
I was hoping somone would post a suggestion or two, this is a musical area I don't know much about.
Bruce
Posted on: 30 September 2002 by Chunny Nochubb
Not too sure what to recommend as I have not heard too much of the Linda Thompson CD and am not that familiar with the McGarrigles although there is still time, however would love to get a version of them (vocals), Emmy Lou Harris (vocal), Dick Gaughan, (main vocal + guitar) Rufus Wainwright (vocal) and acoustic slide guitar player (name forgotten) singing “Wild Mountain Thyme”, which was broadcast on the BBC 2 series “The Transatlantic Sessions”. There have been 2 CDs issued from the series but this song was not included. Ideas on a post card please
Getting back to Linda Thompson and the Watersons, I would not say that the below have songs of consistent quality but there are certainly good harmonies and arrangements:
Norma Waterson "Norma Waterson" (Ryko/Hannibal, 1996)
Eliza Carthy "Angels and Cigarettes" (Warner Brothers, 2001)
Kate Rusby is still the flavour of the month and I think that her most recent “Little Lights” is probably her best, otherwise for a variety pack you could have a look at the tribute album to Greg Brown “Driftless”, which has just been released. 14 of his songs sung by a variety of US and Canadian female artists. This was the CD, I bought at HMV last Thursday. (Got the only copy), some of it definitely enters into the superb class for arrangements and harmonies etc.
Would recommend anything with Emmy Lou Harris singing harmony on and any acoustic Steve Earle, “Train a Commin’” by the latter gives an opportunity to try both.
Not to forget "The Be Good Tanyas" but we are probably in different territory by now.
CNC
