Richard & Linda Thompson - I Want To See The Bright Lights Vinyl LP 2020

Track Listing

SIDE A

1. When I Get To The Border
2. The Calvary Cross
3. Withered and Died
4. I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
5. Down Where The Drunkards Roll

SIDE B

1. We Sing Hallelujah
2. Has He Got A Friend For Me ?
3. The Little Beggar Girl
4. The End Of The Rainbow
5. The Great Valerio

Recorded in May 1973, but not released until 1974 due to an International oil shortage, ‘I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight’ is a dark and eclectic affair with very light, despite the uplifting and almost commercial nature of the title track.

Richard takes lead vocal on four of the albums twelve tracks, including fan favourites “When I Get To The Border”, “Calvary Cross”, “We Sing Hallelujah” and “The End of The Rainbow”.

Linda is a perfect foil for Richard and she shines on such songs as “Down Where The Drunkards Roll”, “Has He Got A Friend For Me?”, “The Great Valerio” and the title track.

The iconic cover of ‘I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight’ by Nancy Fouts of Shirt Sleeve Studios is deceptively simple – just the title and their names written on a steamed up window.

Despite now being considered a Classic Album, sales of ‘I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight’ were modest and did little to trouble chart. It was, however, very well received by the music press:

“Richard Thompson is… the most accomplished guitarist in this land… He’s written some masterful songs, here and Linda, has performed them as perfectly as we’ve a right to expect”. Geoff Brown – Melody Maker

“These are songs which are going to be sung, and sung and sung. Not just heard by Richard and Linda, but by you, me, everybody. They have the mark of greatness upon them” Karl Dallas – Folk Review