Richard Thompson 6-21-07 at a Brooklyn Celebrates concert
in Prospect Park, Brooklyn NY
photographed by Anthony Pepitone (CC-BY-SA)
Rumor and Sigh album cover
Richard Thompson OBE (b. 4/3/49) is an English songwriter, musician (primarily a guitarist,) singer and record producer.
Thompson first gained prominence in the late 1960s as the lead guitarist and a songwriter for the folk rock group Fairport Convention, which he co-founded in 1967. After departing the group in 1971, Thompson released his debut solo album, Henry the Human Fly, in 1972. The next year, he formed a duo with his wife, Linda Thompson, which produced six albums, including the critically acclaimed I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974) and Shoot Out the Lights (1982.) After the dissolution of the duo, Thompson revived his solo career with the release of Hand of Kindness in 1983. He has released 20 solo studio albums. Three of these —Rumor and Sigh (1991,) You? Me? Us? (1996,) and Dream Attic (2010)—have been nominated for Grammy Awards, while Still (2015) was his first UK Top Ten album. He continues to write and record new material and has frequently performed at venues throughout Europe and North America, and occasionally further afield.
I was telling Clive last week that he performed about 45 miles from here a few years back and I’m still kicking myself for not going. The song I chose today by Richard is the first song I heard by him. A blogging buddy sent me a mix CD that had the song on it. It was love at first listen and I’ve been a fan ever since, trying to catch up on the discographies of Fairport Convention, Richard & Linda, and his solo albums.
My ex-boyfriend reminded me of the character in the song, but without the glorious ending.
“1952 Vincent Black Lightning” is a song from his 1991 album Rumor and Sigh. In 2011 Time magazine listed the song in its “All TIME 100 Songs,” a list of “the most extraordinary English-language popular recordings since the beginning of TIME magazine in 1923,” praising it as “a glorious example of what one guy can accomplish with just a guitar, a voice, an imagination and a set of astonishingly nimble fingers.”
Despite not being issued as a single, the ballad became a fan favorite and is one of Thompson’s most highly acclaimed solo compositions. A live version of the song appears on Thompson’s album Two Letter Words: Live 1994.
Trivia: The band Red Molly, who has covered the song, takes its name from the lead female character in the song.
CC BY-SA 3.0 VINCENT Black Lightning
1952 Vincent Black Lightning
Oh, says Red Molly to James, "That's a fine motorbike
A girl could feel special on any such like"
Says James to Red Molly, "My hat's off to you
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952
And I've seen you at the corners and cafés it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme"
And he pulled her on behind
And down to Box Hill they did ride
Oh, says James to Red Molly, "Here's a ring for your right hand
But I'll tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man
For I've fought with the law since I was 17
I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine
Now I'm 21 years, I might make 22
And I don't mind dying, but for the love of you
And if fate should break my stride
Then I give you my Vincent to ride"
[instrumental]
"Come down, come down, Red Molly," called Sergeant McRae
"For they've taken young James Adie for armed robbery
Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside
Oh, come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside"
When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left
He was running out of road, he was running out of breath
But he smiled to see her cry
And said, "I give you my Vincent to ride"
Says James, "In my opinion, there's nothing in this world
Beats a '52 Vincent and a red-headed girl
Now Nortons and Indians and Greeveses won't do
Ah, they don't have a soul like a Vincent '52"
He reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys
He said "I've got no further use for these
I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome
Swooping down from heaven to carry me home"
And he gave her one last kiss and died
And he gave her his Vincent to ride
Songwriter: Richard Thompson
Source: wikipedia
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. This week the theme is to find a song written or performed by someone who was born in the month of April.
Tao-Talk 
awesome song Li a real oldie! Xx
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Glad you like it, CA. Old Gold that still brings tears to my eyes.
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A great choice ….this guy is just a hero legend isn’t he 😎
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YES! Great description, Willow.
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absolutely 💜💜💜
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Grest write up Lisa and a fabulous song choice – such fabulous lyrics his voice and guitar playing are sublime – I love it ♥️
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Welcome aboard the Richard Thompson fan club :)
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How did I know you’d choose Richard for this week! So did I, but I played three different songs – so many great ones to choose from, aren’t there! I have always loved this one. Great choice 👍
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Clive, in the back of my mind, I guessed you would choose him also, but you know what, the more RT music the better in my book. Now I need to see which ones you chose :)
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It was a given, wasn’t it! He has given us so much great music to choose from!
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Yes! Yes!
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This is an artist I had only ever heard about from Clive- and I did not know he even toured in the US. Excellent choice Li.
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V, he is worth getting to know. If he ever tours this way again, I WILL see him. Thanks, and glad you enjoyed my choice.
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Love his work and no less his beginnings, Fairport and early love of mine.
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Paul, you liking his work does not surprise me :)
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Excellent selection, Lisa. I love this tragic romance song that involves something that seems to be much more than just a motorcycle.
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Jim, thanks very much, and I totally agree. I stayed up late last night so have a late start.
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Sundays are always busy for me, but also very enjoyable.
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Same here. I’m glad A2Z takes Sundays off or I’d be way way behind.
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This is such a great selection, Lisa. I’m a fan!
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YAY! :)
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One of those songs that has it all: flying fingers, compelling story, the perfect voice. And the Vincent Black Lightning is a beautiful bike – the fastest production motorcycle in the world at the time, one-time holder of the land speed record for motorcycles – and a perfect metaphor for someone who lived fast and died young. (I never knew anyone who owned one, but I did know owners of the Triumphs and Nortons that James puts down in the song.)
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Steve, this is in my top 100 songs of all time (I should try to compile a list one day) and was the perfect gateway song to a maestro.
Good to learn a little about the VBL, and yes, on the metaphor. I recognized the Norton and Triumph name but not the other one? On the lyric sheet I left it as-is without knowing if it was misspelled?
My ex rode a Yamaha FJ1200. He was in love with that bike.
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Greeves was another motorcycle of that era. And the written lyrics don’t mention Triumph, but that’s what he sang in the clip.
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Ah ok. Didn’t catch that, Steve and I watched the lyrics as I listened. Must be losin’ it.
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I read about him also from Clive. But not familiar with his works. I did enjoy this song and the guitar playing.
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<3
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What an awesome song! Thank you for the introduction.
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Lisa you are welcome, my pleasure :)
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Love this tune. I haven’t listened to it in a while but I am a Richard Thompson fan for sure. Between the members of Fairport Convention and Pentangle they have a mind boggling wealth of talent.
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Randy, do FC and Pentangle share some members? I love both groups.
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Not to my knowledge, though they were contemporaries.
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Cool song, first time hearing it. I just came from Clive’s post with this artist, and I enjoyed those songs, too. I have heard of Fairport convention and have one of their songs saved. Didn’t know this person was the singer on it, though. Loved watching him play that guitar. :)
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Barbara, you heard a lot of good music from him today :)
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Thompson performed in a church/arts centre in our city in 2019. A friend urged us to go, but we had a family member in hospital at the time so, unfortunately, it didn’t work out for us, either. While I’m familiar with some of his story, I don’t know a lot of his work. I liked this song, thanks for sharing it.
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Great story-telling song and you won’t be surprised I also love the guitar-playing.
I’m well familiar with the names of Richard Thompson and Fairport Convention but sadly cannot say the same about their music.
I saw Thompson once in NJ in 2016, as Richard Thompson Trio, opening up for Bonnie Raitt. While I was really there to see amazing Bonnie, I still remember I was impressed with Richard, especially his guitar-playing. I also recall Bonnie, always a class act, asked Richard to come back out on stage and join her for a song.
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