Published on Dec 6, 1997
I doubt I’ll ever create great art. There is virtually no chance
that I will go down in music history as having made the album of
the decade. You see, I’m happily married. Sure, my wife and I fight
and argue. There are times when we really don’t want to look at
each other. Basically, though, we are committed for life. Great
music does not come out of such a pedestrian environment.
You want great music? Then, be prepared to have your favorite
artist suffer. Be prepared for court battles, physical assaults,
and mental anguish. If you don’t believe me, then consider these
great albums:
Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan (made while he was
divorcing Sara),
Here, My Dear by Marvin Gaye (made as a way to pay off a
divorce settlement – the best album of the 1970’s in my humble
opinion),
The Pretender by Jackson Browne (made while Phyllis was
confined to a mental hospital – she killed herself a week before it
came out) and
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (surely you know THAT story). The
list goes on and on. You wanna make great music? Treat your spouse
like shit, or, get treated like shit.
Richard Thompson’s
Across A Crowded Room fits right in with the above classics.
Written and made soon after he broke up with his wife and long-time
partner Linda Thompson, this album manages to leaven the anger,
disgust and helplessness that Thompson so obviously feels with a
healthy dose of humor. “Little Blue Number” is not only about
artistic thievery, it is about a soul being stolen. Heavy duty
stuff, here done with a sly nod and a wink.
Thompson does not have a technically perfect voice. Instead, he
has a plaintive wail, suited for the themes of his songs. Schooled
in English folk and American folk-rock, Thompson uses words to
caress and seduce. What sounds like a lilting ballad of love may
actually be a brutal kiss-off. What sounds like it should be an ode
to isolation, “I Ain’t Gonna Drag My Feet No More,” is actually a
declaration of hope for the future.
Anyone who has heard this album has his/her favorite song. Mine
is “When The Spell Is Broken.” It has it all. Excellent guitar
solos (Thompson is probably one of the best living guitarists in
the world!). Beautiful harmonies, courtesy of Clive Gregson and
Christine Collister. Excellent musicians. Simon Nicol and Dave
Mattacks both worked with Richard Thompson in Fairport Convention,
one of the great, obscure bands of the 60’s. Most of all, the song
has great lyrics, “all the joy has gone from her face, welcome back
to the human race!” “you can’t cry if you don’t know how.” and,
best of all, “love letters you wrote get pushed back down your
throat and leave you chokin’, when the spell is broken.” Aw, man,
it makes me want to cut off my ear or something. I can’t believe
the guy hasn’t offed himself yet!
This is it folks! An album for those depressing winter blaahs! A
classic of any genre. Take a chance. Take your Prozac and put your
headphones on. There’s a cloud around every silver lining. Just ask
Richard Thompson!