Product Description

Fifth solo album from folk legend Linda Thompson. One of the leading lights of the British folk circuit, Thompson is onfine form on this release, teaming up with Antony Hegarty of Antony & The Johnsons and Colin Blunstone of The Zombies to record some of her finest material to date. Includes the tracks 'Beauty' and 'Do Your Best For Rock 'n' Roll'.

Track Listing

1. Stay Bright
2. Versatile Heart
3. The Way I Love You
4. Beauty
5. Katy Cruel
6. Nice Cars
7. Do Your Best For Rock 'n' Roll
8. Day After Tomorrow
9. Blue And Gold
10. Give Me A Sad Song
11. Go Home
12. Whisky, Bob Copper And Me
13. Stay Bright

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47831 in Music
• Released on: 2007-09-03
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 44 minutes

Customer Reviews

All heart
This album is primarily contemplative in tone and sparely arranged, coloured in with touches of brass here, strings there, accordion elsewhere. In her self-penned compositions there are plenty of observations on life from a woman whose own life has taken many unexpected turns, not all of them very pleasant. And she has the benefits of some quality songwriting assistance from people including Tom Waits, Rufus Wainwright and her son Teddy Thompson, who also plays guitar. "Versatile Heart" is a fragile beauty, but with a certain underlying strength and dignity, as you'd expect of Linda Thompson.

A little more country than 'Fashionably Late'...
...but none the worse for that really. It's the early 'folky' stuff on the album that lets it down for me, and the album doesn't really hit its stride until Track 7 ('Do Your Best For Rock 'N Roll' - another reviewer does not like this, but it I think it kickstarts the album). Teddy Thompson's guitar work impresses, and he's a strong influence on the album as a whole. Inconsistent then, so it may be best just downloading a few tracks (my favourite is Track 8, the Tom Waits song, 'Day After Tomorrow').

Not to all tastes, bt well worth a listen

Her first studio release for 5 years, this is the new album from Linda Thompson. Her voice seems fine for someone that loses it on a regular basis, but her choice of material isn't one that uplifts my heart.

I can't say "buy this album" with hand on heart, but take a listen. Others have enjoyed it far more than me. You may be amongst that number and god knows, the talent of this woman needs encouragement,

Stay Bright

Two straightforward instrumental tracks of this name top and tail the album. Nice. Filler.

Versatile Heart

The title track starts with a discordant brass band, reflecting the discordant emotions of the song.

"you can play any part with a versatile heart,
Sugar soft and sweet, you make my life complete"

"You're lucky you can choose who you love and who you lose
That's An Art"

"Stay on the road you two faced fool
That way we'll not come to blows"

Discordant, unsettling, quite brilliant,

The Way I Love You

Another melancholy song, wistful and slow. With an accordion.

Beauty

Another melancholy song, wistful and slow. With strings. Contributed by Rufus Wainwright, I still think most of his songs would be done best by k.d.laing,

Katy Cruel

For me this is almost the standout track of the album. Lively, vital, singing tinged with humour, it has it all.

Nice Cars

Daughter Kamila wrote this witty composition, that shows her mothers talents off. An excellent song. This is the standout track of the album for me.

Do Your Best For Rock `N Roll

Dolly Parton would have been proud. Dross.

Day After Tomorrow

A melancholy anti-war song from the pen of Tom Waits, wistful and slow.

Blue & Gold

AMS, W&S. Sorry.

Give Me A Sad Song

Suddenly american, a Dolly Parton song. A low.

Go Home

AMS, W&S. About the end of a relationship, from an unusual viewpoint. Despite myself, I like this!

Whiskey, Bob Copper And Me

A paean to the early days. Somewhat enjoyable.

Stay Bright

The tail, musically more complex than the top. Short and sweet.