Richard Thompson talks about why he doesn't do happy love songs
If you want a silly little love song, don't bother with Richard Thompson - the singer-songwriter does angst not amour. Instead of beating hearts, flowers and sunny days, you get bitter break-ups, painful goodbyes, spite and the long walk home.
"You can write a song about
African American Music – A survival or an actual creative force in today’s culture?
One of the recurrent topics for debate among blues aficionados is the degree of African retentions. The discussion reflects the broader theme of the social-cultural position of African Americans in the American society, and relates to questions of assimilation, acculturation or retention of the original culture. In this context,
Saint Dominic's Preview: a closer look at the song
There has just been an intense (and occasionally off-the-wall...) discussion of this wonderful song on the Van Morrison News Blog FB page.
As my contribution, here's the section from my book Saint Dominic's Flashback that looks at the song:
5. Saint Dominic’s Preview
Richard Thompson , Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell are Record Magic
Don't mind me. I listen to records like drinking a fine wine ... slow, methodical, and savoring multiple plays in order to experience the entire album. Many times, it takes the third spin when the music finally comes together and my soul is touched with its brilliance. A beautiful
Never Mind The Grammy's, Here's Pat McLaughlin
Each year the Grammy's evoke the usual wide range of responses from disgust to indifference to praise. Whatever. It's the music industry's big wet kiss to itself and I expect a stew of the good, the bad and the ugly in terms of who
CD Review - Eric Johnson "Up Close - Another Look"
Eric Johnson's new release "Up Close - Another Look" is a strange album on two grounds. First, it is not that new - it is a reprise for Europe of a CD released in North America in 2010, simply called "Up Close". Second, it is not