Donate | NPR Shop | NPR Community | Login | Register
Richard Thompson artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music
Richard Thompson has been making inspired music for forty years. A guitar virtuoso, early innovator of the British folk-rock movement, and one of the era's finest songwriters, his distinctive style as an artist has influenced two generations of musicians and poets.
()
Richard Thompson grew up in post-war Britain, listening to Les Paul and Django Reinhardt. Known for his exceptional guitar work, Thompson's latest release, Front Parlour Ballads, is his first solo acoustic album in more than 20 years.
()
Known for both his guitar prowess and his exceptional songwriting, Thompson has long since earned a reputation as a skilled live performer, as well as a vital recording artist. Hear an interview and in-studio performance by the man who helped define British folk music.
()Richard Thompson grew up in post-war Britain, listening to Les Paul and Django Reinhardt. Known for his exceptional guitar work, Thompson's latest release, Front Parlour Ballads, is his first solo acoustic album in more than 20 years.
()Singer-songwriter Richard Thompson has earned a rabid cult following, and his albums are a staple of rock critic "must have" lists. He joins NPR's Liane Hansen in NPR's Studio 4A to perform solo guitar renditions of some unlikely tunes.
()Singer/songwriter, guitarist Richard Thompson. He first became known for his work with "Fairport Convention." He's since gone solo and is known for his dark songs, which blend elements of British folk ballads and the blues. He's released a number of solo albums, including Mirror Blue and Rumor and Sigh. Rykodisc also compiled a retrospective of his work Watching the Dark: The History of Richard Thompson. Currently, Thompson is performing a show he calls "A Thousand Years of Pop Music," which includes British and American folk songs, jazz and pop.
()Singer-songwriter Teddy Thompson may only have one CD to his name, but the Thompson name has been a major force in folk music since the 1960s. Teddy's father, Richard, formed the seminal folk rock band Fairport Convention, then later paired with Teddy's mother, Linda, to record six acclaimed albums. The pair divorced shortly after recording their last record, which eerily previewed the breakup. Teddy Thompson was just 7 at the time; he talks with Frank about his debut CD, the inspiration behind the music, and the effects of growing up in the English folk tradition.
()
Summer road trips are a time for both celebration and meditation. There's an urgent need to be free and explore, while also blocking out the rest of the world and getting lost in wistful daydreams. For Carrie Brownstein, former guitarist for Sleater-Kinney and host of NPR's Monitor Mix blog, nothing captures those moments better than these five songs.
()Bob Boilen talks with legendary music producer Joe Boyd about his work with artists like Pink Floyd, Nick Drake and Eric Clapton in the 1960s. Joe Boyd has a new book detailing his lifelong work in the studio, on stage and what it was like to be part of musical revolution.
()Bob Boilen speaks with reviewers Robert Christgau, Will Hermes and Meredith Ochs about the new CDs they're most looking forward to this spring. Hear sneak previews of new music from Modest Mouse, Wilco, Fountains of Wayne, Bright Eyes and more.
()A life in slow motion from David Gray; solo acoustic work by Richard Thompson; face to face with guitarist Adrian Belew; old world folk by Baltimore's Madagascar; celebrating 90 years with Les Paul; an ultimate collection from Billie Holiday; Neil Young covered by singer Lizz Wright; multi-instrumentalist Erin McKeown; The Sea and Cake frontman Sam Prekop
()
Record producer Hal Willner's new collection brings together songs of the sea — songs about drinking, women, death and nasty crimes on the water. Songs of pirates, you say? Hardly. There's nary an "ahoy" or eye patch in sight.
()
British singer/songwriter Richard Thompson has a new box set of live performances, outtakes, and previously unreleased material. The 5-disc set, The Life and Music of Richard Thompson, was built from the musician's own archives as well as the archives of Thompson fans.
()
The singer-songwriter's latest project is Front Parlour Ballads, a mostly acoustic work. Thompson tells John Ydstie about songs build around bikers, schoolyard bullies, dreamers, lovers and losers.
()
![The Old Kit Bag [Bonus CD]](http://media.npr.org/images/amg/pop/cov75/drf800/f881/f88181gjtm0.jpg)
Loading...