Richard Thompson Straws in the Wind 86-10-17

Park West, Chicago 17th October 1986

Richard Thompson guitar, vocals
Clive Gregson guitar, organ, backing vocals
Christine Collister backing vocals, percussion
John Kirkpatrick accordian, backing vocals
Ruari McFarlane bass
Gerry Conway drums

01 Man In Need (3.47)
02 Valerie (3.27)
03 When The Spell Is Broken (6.30)
04 Jennie (5.51)
05 Dead Man's Handle (3.52)
06 Wall Of Death (3.35)
07 Calvary Cross(9.33) Removed - available on box set
08 Lover's Lane (6.27)
09 Nearly In Love (6.01)
10 Willow Tree/Bean Setting/Shooting (3.35)
11 TFlying Saucer Rock 'n' Roll (2.57)

BBC Radio 1 February 1988

Richard Thompson guitar, backing vocals

12 Killerman Gold Posse (1.50)
13 Waltzing's For Dreamers (4.05)
14 Pharoah (4.24)
15 Push And Shove (3.17) Removed - available on box set
16 Killing Jar (4.20)

CDR > WAV > trader's little helper > FLAC

This is a cd a bought in the days when I didn't know much about Richard Thompson and didn't realise it was a bootleg.

The quality is good throughout - the first eleven tracks being taken from a show in Chicago with a rock band and the other five tracks being from an Andy Kershaw session on Radio 1 (I think - I have an ancient tape of a compliation session from Andy Kershaw's show with most of these tracks on. Unfortunately, the tape has stretched a bit and it not wonderful quality otehrwise...).

To be honest, my preference is for Mr Thompson in acoustic mode, as on the radio session tracks, and these are wonderful. Mind you, I'm biased as 'Killing Jar' is one of my favourite RT songs.

Having said that, his 2007 tour with a band was a revelation and I recommend looking into those shows - there's one from NPR that's great, but I only have it in lossy format so can't upload it here.

I do find some of his recorded work a bit patchy, but when he's good, he's sublime and he deserves your support. So go buy an album and support a great man.