THE SONGS POUR DOWN LIKE SILVER

Nigel Schofield, compiler of the new Free Reed retrospective box set RT and author of the book of the same name, shines a light on some of the dustier corners of Richard Thompson’s early recording career.

In 1976, Island Records released (guitar, vocal)  by Richard Thompson. Subtitled, ‘A Collection Of Unreleased and Rare Material, 1967-1972’, it is a pioneering compilation (pictured above) which was one of the first to respond to a fact that CD compilers would later take very much to their hearts – true fans are hungry for the obscure. Sales of bootlegs had more than demonstrated this at the start of the decade, though at the time the industry was keen to play this down, despite acknowledging their fears that bootlegs harmed artists’ sales and their own profits.

Still regarded as a favourite album among Richard Thompson fans, (guitar, vocal) offered a wide overview of his talent, with previously unreleased songs, live versions of well-known material, radio sessions and out-takes. Only two of its thirteen tracks had been available before. One was taken directly from Fairport Convention’s debut album. The other was a remixed version of the B-side of their first single for Island, Meet On The Ledge: never reissued in its original form, Throwaway Street Puzzle (Island WIP 6047-b) remains a highly collectible Fairport and Thompson rarity.

Twenty-three months before that single, in February 1968, the group’s debut single had been released on Track. If I Had A Ribbon Bow (Track …

by Nigel Schofield
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