What with its chamber-orchestra version of "The Knife Edge" and Ron Kavana's talking-blues rendition of "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight," this Richard Thompson tribute album is certainly quirkier than its direct competition (Beat the Retreat, released on Capitol in 1994). It will appeal more to purists, partly because Bonnie Raitt and David Byrne are nowhere to be found and partly because Martin & Jessica Simpson do a far better job of "Down Where the Drunkards Roll" than Los Lobos ever could. The House Band makes "Pharaoh" their own, and Plainsong delivers a stunning a cappella version of the simultaneously heartbreaking and hilarious "Galway to Graceland" ("She was down by his graveside day after day/And come closing time they would pull her away"). The album's title song is a hidden track (number 13) that features a previously-unreleased, but unfortunately mediocre, Richard & Linda Thompson performance. Ultimately, though, Beat the Retreat wins, because it has two performances each by June Tabor and Maddy Prior. It also has X doing "Shoot out the Lights," a song that could have been written as easily for John Doe and Exene Cervenka as it was for the Thompsons. Do yourself a favor and get both albums. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
Julian Dawson (Vocals), Martin Carthy (Guitar), Martin Carthy (Vocals), Ron Kavana (Vocals), Ron Kavana (Multi Instruments), Ron Kavana (Performer), Dave Swarbrick (Bass), Dave Swarbrick (Fiddle), Marvin Etzioni (Mandolin), Marvin Etzioni (Vocals), Marvin Etzioni (Producer), Marvin Etzioni (Performer), Clive Gregson (Guitar), Clive Gregson (Vocals), Henry Kaiser (Guitar (Acoustic)), Henry Kaiser (Guitar (Electric)), Men & Volts (Performer), Tom Robinson (Percussion), Tom Robinson (Vocals), Tom Robinson (Producer), Tom Robinson (Engineer), Tom Robinson (Performer), Richard Thompson (Guitar), Richard Thompson (Vocals), Richard Thompson (Main Performer), Victoria Williams (Vocals), Victoria Williams (Performer), Hank Roberts (Cello), Ian Lynn (Piano), Ian Lynn (Keyboards), Ian Lynn (Producer), Ian Lynn (Engineer), Peter Blegvad (Guitar), Peter Blegvad (Vocals), Peter Blegvad (Performer), Ivor Cutler (Vocals), Ivor Cutler (Performer), Plainsong (Producer), Plainsong (Performer), Andy Roberts (Vocals), Martin Simpson (Guitar (Acoustic)), Martin Simpson (Guitar (Steel)), Martin Simpson (Vocals), Robin Petrie (Vocals (Background)), Robin Petrie (Dulcimer (Hammer)), Sally Barker (Guitar (Acoustic)), Sally Barker (Vocals), Sally Barker (Producer), Danny Carnahan (Guitar (Acoustic)), Danny Carnahan (Vocals (Background)), The House Band (Producer), The House Band (Performer), Eddi Reader (Vocals), Martin Ansell (Guitar (Acoustic)), Scott Babcock (Drums), Boris Carlin (Guitar (Bass)), Boris Carlin (Producer), Christine Collister (Vocals), Christine Collister (Producer), Christine Collister (Performer), Oliver Di Cicco (Engineer), Fi Fraser (Vocals), Jo Freya (Sax (Tenor)), Jo Freya (Vocals), David Greenberger (Guitar (Bass)), Mark Griffiths (Vocals), Keith Hancock (Vocals), Keith Hancock (Melodion), Don Heffington (Tambourine), Don Heffington (Bodhran), Boo Hewerdine (Guitar), Boo Hewerdine (Vocals), Ethan James (Harmonium), Ethan James (Engineer), Ethan James (Hurdygurdy), Barb Jungr (Harmonica), Barb Jungr (Vocals (Background)), Ian Kearey (Bass), Ian Kearey (Harmonium), Ian Kearey (Performer), Ian Kearey (?), Jon Kelly (Producer), David Kenny (Engineer), Ian Matthews (Vocals), Doug Robinson (Bass), Alan Senauke (Guitar (Acoustic)), Alan Senauke (Vocals), Vic Smith (Engineer), Mark Thompson (Engineer), Dave Stewart (Keyboards), Ged Foley (Guitar), Ged Foley (Vocals), Chris Parkinson (Accordion), Chris Parkinson (Vocals), John Skelton (Whistle (Instrument)), John Skelton (Bombardes), Eric Aceto (?), Rich de Paolo (Engineer), Les Sampson (Drums), Jessica Simpson (Vocals), Karen Tweed (Accordion), David Williams (Vocals), Rich Bates (Producer), Rich Bates (Engineer), Jeff Cronenberg (Guitar), The Fraser Sisters (Producer), The Fraser Sisters (Performer), Lionel Handy (Cello), Ralph Jordan (Bass), Ralph Jordan (Bouzouki), Phil Kaplan (Guitar), Phil Kaplan (Vocals), Tim Kent (Engineer), Ngoc Lam (?), Kathryn Locke (Cello), Chris MacLean (Engineer), Jim Marshall (Engineer), Rauri McFarlane (Guitar (Bass)), Rauri McFarlane (Vocals), Rauri McFarlane (Producer), Rauri McFarlane (Engineer), Jon Proudman (Drums), Alison Taylor (Violin), Alison Taylor (Viola), David Toon (Cor Anglais), Andrew Williams (Bass), Andrew Williams (Guitar), Andrew Williams (Harmonica), Andrew Williams (Vocals)
