Richard Thompson - Live In Providence
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DVD Cover Information
Brand: Koch InternationalPerformer: Richard Thompson
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 89 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-11-09
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: COOKING VINYL USA LLC
Product features:
- Shot with four cameras, RICHARD THOMPSON LIVE IN PROVIDENCE features a visually stunning recording of a concert from 2003 s THE OLD KIT BAG tour as well as rare footage spanning 20 years of Thompson s career. THE OLD KIT BAG, released in 2003, was Thompson's first solo release in more than 20 years, and recognized as a major highlight of his career. Growing up in England in the 1950s, Thompson
Movie Reviews of Richard Thompson - Live In Providence
Movie Review: Electric!
Summary: 5 Stars
Live In Providence was recorded at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island, a dance barn with a raised stage and no seating. (Thompson quips that "it's a shame to see you old people standing up".) That's the ambience - more club date than concert. The look is good, with the stage mostly bathed in blue light.
The Band: Pennsylvania-born Pete Zorn (guitar, mandolin, sax) has lived in London since the 70s, and his association with Richard Thompson goes back at least 20 years (and he appears on the Old Grey Whistle Test extra). Bassist Rory McFarlane toured with Thompson in the 80s and has played and recorded extensively with fellow RTB alumnus Christine Collister. (He plays bass on the Across A Crowded Room extras.) Texan Earl Harvin (drums and percussion) -the only new hand - heads his own jazz trio, and has worked with a diverse range of rock acts. He's a gun.
The Songs: The song list is diverse, with four songs from The Old Kit Bag (2003) and a good range of material from throughout 80s and 90s. Three songs are from the greatest Richard (and Linda) Thompson LP, Shoot Out the Lights.
The set begins with the vintage 'Tear Stained Letter' (from The Hand of Kindness, 1983), which comes off like English folk strained through Leiber and Stoller, the audience happily singing the chorus at Thompson's request. From the get-go you understand that the Richard Thompson Band is a much different experience to Thompson solo. His first brief Stratocaster solo demonstrates that Thompson is as much the master of electric guitar as he is on acoustic six and tweleve string. The blistering second solo confirms it.
Next are two songs from The Old Kit Bag, which have already taken on the patina of old favourites - 'Gethsemane' and 'Outside of the Inside' - Zorn's mandolin and Harvin's percussion lending just the right Eastern textures to the latter. Thompson's solo is an understated miracle of imagination.
'Razor Dance' (You? Me? Us?, 1996) picks up the tempo, with McFarlane switching to fretless bass.
Al Bowlly's 'In Heaven' (Daring Adventures, 1986) brings it back down to a cocktail jazz feel, with Thomson (acoustic guitar), Zorn (sopranino sax) and Harvin (using brushes), all getting welcome solo space.
'One Door Opens' is another of the best songs from The Old Kit Bag. It's an "unplugged" number, with Thompson staying with acoustic, Zorn on mandolin, McFarlane on upright bass and Harvin playing tabla.
Thompson goes back to electric guitar for the classics 'Walking on a Wire' and 'Shoot Out The Lights', both delivered with conviction. Thomson's solos are again flawless, but 'Shoot Out the Lights' is diminished a little by Zorn's mandolin, which is too high in the mix - loud and energetic, but not adding much to the song.
'Can't Win' (Amnesia, 1986) is the highlight of the show, starting out low key and building to a magnificent climax. Thompson's extended Strat solo is once again seemingly effortless, but brilliant. Someone once said that Richard Thompson is incapable of playing a boring guitar solo. I agree.
After that, a solo acoustic number is appropriate, and 'Vincent Black Lightning 1952' (Rumour and Sigh, 1991) is one of the best. (Would an audience let RT leave without him playing it?)
'Crawl Back' (Mock Tudor, 1999) is played with style and humour, with interpolating lyrics from a couple of Jamaican classics. Harvin adds something on drums, building on Dave Mattacks' playing on the LP version.
'Man in Need' is the third song from Shoot Out the Lights and by now the band is in a seriously tight groove. Barely pausing for breath, they launch into the closer, 'Jealous Words' (The Old Kit Bag) - perhaps not on a par with the very best RT songs, but it rocks, and it's excuse for yet another sensational guitar solo.
The Extras: Three songs from Across a Crowded Room (a 1986 concert video), a song and an interview from The Old Grey Whistle Test (1984), two songs from Austin City Limits (2001), and another two from Videowest's Guitar Player sessions (1981). The extras are all worthwhile, although the video of Across A Crowded Room is surprising fuzzy, with a good deal of bleed between the colours. But the sound is good, and it's great to see RT singing with Clive Gregson and Christine Collister.
Sound and vision: Both excellent, although those with 16:9 screens may be disappointed by the 4:3 format.
Summary of Richard Thompson - Live In Providence
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