Richard Thompson can write as sublimely as he plays. Though his themes are tragic, the intensity of his narratives, the sharpness of his wit, and the beauty of his solos are transcendent and uplifting. I have many of Richard's other CDs, and I've seen him play in Seattle several times, but only this set captures the breadth of his work in a variety of settings. It's full of delightful and moving surprises.

If this is your first RT purchase, you'll want to go on and pick up later CDs like "Old Kit Bag" and "Mock Tudor," classics like "Rumour and Sigh," his duets with Linda, "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" and "Shoot Out the Lights," and early work with Fairport Convention. But this is a fine place to start.