I Want to See the Bright... [Import]

Track Listings

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

6. We Sing Hallelujah

7. Has He Got A Friend For Me

8. The Little Beggar Girl

9. The End Of The Rainbow

10. The Great Valerio

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Hindsight confirms this as a British folk rock classic, but the studio debut for Fairport Convention alumnus Richard Thompson and then-bride Linda Peters Thompson was passed over for stateside issue upon its release in 1974. Granted its stubborn penchant for framing Thompson's arch broadsides, ballads, and rockers with silver horns, concertina, and pre-industrial imagery took these songs way out of contention with the rock fare of the day, Bright Lights survives as a stunning introduction to the Thompsons' remarkable music. The set also offers a primer on Richard's understated brilliance as both electric and acoustic guitarist (and no mean hand on mandolin). His spidery Stratocaster jigs and reels with a vinous sting, and, on the ear-tweaking "The Calvary Cross," offers a position paper on the rudiments of a style that would influence guitarists on both sides of the pond. Like the Band's Robbie Robertson, Thompson harnesses a tough rock attack to a rootsy folk intelligence that has since bubbled up in the playing of successors including Mark Knopfler, sounding timeless and contemporary with every string-bending flourish. --Sam Sutherland --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Album Description
Full title - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight. The British folk-rock duo's 1974 masterpiece. Island.

Tracks:

When I Get to the Border
Calvary Cross
Withered and Died
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Down Where the Drunkards Roll
We Sing Hallelujah
Has He Got a Friend for Me
Little Beggar Girl
End of the Rainbow
Great Valerio
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight [Live][#][*]
Together Again [Live][#][*]
Calvary Cross [Live][#][*]

Album Description

Full title - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight. The British folk-rock duo's 1974 masterpiece, digitally remastered, featuring 13 tracks including 3 previously unreleased bonus tracks recorded live at The Roundhouse, 'I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight', 'Together Again' (Buck Owens cover), & 'Calvary Cross'. Packaged in a slipcase with 12-page featuring full lyrics & sleeve notes. Universal. 2004.

Album Details

2004 Digitally Remastered Edition of the Thompson's Tour De Force Album which was Originally Released in April 1974 on Island Records. It Stands as One of the Great Masterpieces of English Folk Rock. For this Remastered Edition, We have Taken the Opportunity to Add Three Previously Unreleased Live Performances Captured at the Roadhouse, London on September 7, 1975.

Customer Reviews:

A Masterpiece.......2007-07-06

When Richard Thompson released this album, his first with his wife Linda, he had already a relatively long recording career behind him. As a founder member of Fairport Convention he was the group on their first five albums. His characteristic guitarplaying style can also be heard on Sandy Denny¨s early solo albums and he had released his own soloalbum "Henry the Human Fly" in 1972.

During his time with Fairport Convention Thompson matured a lot as a songwriter and many of the band's early favourites were either written or co-written by Thompson. His inspiration by traditional British music also became still more clear. Many of the songs on "Henry" and "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" actually sound like they were traditional folk-songs.

His collaboration with Linda lasted for 8 years and resulted in 6 great albums. This their first is often regarded as the strongest with Richard's songwriting extraordinary inspired and varied, and his distictive voice blends beautifully with Linda's on these great songs.

The terrific opener "When I Get to the Border", sung by Richard, is catchy with optimistic lyrics. A little unsual for Thompson, whose lyrics often are dark and sad.

Equally cathcy ( and optimistic ) is the title track which deserved to be hit beautifully sung by Linda.

Heartbreakingly beautiful is also the sad ballad "Withered and Died", sung by Linda in way that makes you think of her friend Sandy Denny.

The dark side of Richard's songwriting become apprent on songs like "Down Where the Drunkards Roll", "Has He Got a Friend For Me" and especially "The End of the Rainbow" . Even the cathcy "We'll Sing Hallelujah" has some pretty dismal lyrics.

The budget for this album was supposedly very limited, but it does show anywhere. Great arrangements, crisp sound and best of all strong songwriting and palying from first track till the closer "The Great Valerio".

The bonus-tracks are 3 1975 live-recordings - nice to have but some may find that they disturb the very consistent feel of the original album, which I won't hesitate to call a masterpiece.

Desert Island Disc.......2007-03-07

My partner and I have over 4,000 CDs (all types of music), and if I could only keep 10 of them, I'd keep this one.

Strong, consistent music.......2007-03-07

Even for an album released in 1974, on the surface "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" seems deeply unhip. In the year when glam rock was at its peak and punk godmother Patti Smith released her first angry single, Richard and Linda Thompspon put out this album of English folk music. Some of the songs, such as "Down Where the Drunkards Roll" or "Little Beggar Girl" are so deeply rooted in the Anglo-Celtic folk tradition that it would easy to imagine they date from the eighteenth century. And yet this is part of the strength of this remarkable album. Largely unswayed by the fashions of the moment, the Thompsons produced an album of beautifully crafted and performed folk and folk-rock songs which have stood the test of time.
This is not the kind of album that has one knock-out punch. Yes, "The Calvary Cross" and "End of the Rainbow" are especially strong tracks but really this album's greatest strength is its consistency. There is not a single weak track here. Another strength is its variety of approaches and styles. "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" is a comparitively upbeat track. It is almost a rocker compared to some of the folkier arrangements. But then there are moody, haunting ballads like "The Great Valerio", which showcase Linda's exceptional voice. And some of the tracks showcase Richard's virtuosity on the electric guitar but, unlike so many mainstream seventies rock acts, never to excess.
This album will appeal to anyone who likes intelligently written and heartfelt music. It will no doubt still be around when a lot more faddish albums have dropped by the wayside.

Two Bright Lights from N. California.......2007-01-21

RICHARD & LINDA THOMPSON are prolific artists whose talent has spanned several decades and is still going strong. They are proficient in any number of styles--folk rock, blues, Cajun, etc. Both have distinctive, appealing voices and their lyrics convey a refreshing honesty.

The best thing I can say about this album..........2006-09-22

Even though it's been in my record collection for many years, I recently listened to it OBSESSIVELY for about a month, every single day. How many albums can provoke that sort of obsession? Every single song is a thriller, a masterpiece. Some songs (particularly Calvary Cross) grew even richer with live-performance development over the years, but that just shows what marvels they were from the start! Other songs, like "The Great Valerio" and "Poor Beggar Girl", appear so richly performed that there's simply no room left for improvement.

Additionally, the balance of Richard's twanging electric guitar, earthy acoustics and mandolins, Linda's dry unaffected alto, and clean, simple production really add weight. The whole thing feels quite natural and timeless.

Timeless. Yeah, that's the best thing I can say. Well, that, and it provokes strange obsessions.

Average customer rating:

buy it --
An Aural Revolution
BOY, DID I GOOF...
Play it loud and enjoy it
It's Not All Bright Lights Out There !

I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Richard & Linda Thompson
Manufacturer: Hannibal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Hannibal Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Pour Down Like Silver
Hokey Pokey
Shoot Out the Lights
Old Kit Bag
Sweet Warrior

ASIN: B00000063U
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

When I Get To The Border
The Calvary Cross
Withered And Died
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Down Where The Drunkards Roll
We Seing Hallelulah
Has He Got A Friend For Me
The Little Beggar Girl
The End Of The Rainbow
The Great Valerio

Amazon.com essential recording

Hindsight confirms this as a British folk rock classic, but the studio debut for Fairport Convention alumnus Richard Thompson and then-bride Linda Peters Thompson was passed over for stateside issue upon its release in 1974. Granted its stubborn penchant for framing Thompson's arch broadsides, ballads, and rockers with silver horns, concertina, and pre-industrial imagery took these songs way out of contention with the rock fare of the day, Bright Lights survives as a stunning introduction to the Thompsons' remarkable music. The set also offers a primer on Richard's understated brilliance as both electric and acoustic guitarist (and no mean hand on mandolin). His spidery Stratocaster jigs and reels with a vinous sting, and, on the ear-tweaking "The Calvary Cross," offers a position paper on the rudiments of a style that would influence guitarists on both sides of the pond. Like the Band's Robbie Robertson, Thompson harnesses a tough rock attack to a rootsy folk intelligence that has since bubbled up in the playing of successors including Mark Knopfler, sounding timeless and contemporary with every string-bending flourish. --Sam Sutherland

Album Description

Full title - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight. The British folk-rock duo's 1974 masterpiece. Island.

Customer Reviews:

buy it --.......2004-12-18

for 'the calvary cross', listen to the rest afterwards, and you will thank me later --

An Aural Revolution.......2004-02-13

This work has to be a classic. It is the updating of English Folk Music but still holding strong to its traditions namely in the use of traditional instruments, modes and songs.

On first hearing, the album can be inpenetrable as there is so much going on and one wonders why one has shelled out for it in the first place. After a few listenings, however, a new world of music opens up like a flower. The most powerful song has to be "Calvary Cross" which is sung with a sublime spirtual passion that is not often repeated on modern records.

The album is quirky and left-field and defies modern convention.

Give your ears a revolution and check out this album

BOY, DID I GOOF..........2003-02-10

Back in 2000 when Island released the Richard & Linda Thompson Best of The Island Years Collection, I was looking to whittle down the number of discs I owned and it seemed to be an ideal opportunity in regards to my Richard & Linda Thompson library: highlights from albums I didn't own were represented, material I was always curious about was there, and, in the case of I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight, 7 of the 10 cuts were included. I figured, hey, pick this up and I can get rid of IWTSTBLT as well as Pour Down Like Silver.

Yeah, I know: I also feel like I should be made to sit in the corner wearing a "Dunce" cap.

The Best of IS a superbly constructed compilation - heck, the songs that are on it are even in the same sequence as on this release, so what's the problem?

That this is an ALBUM, in the classic sense. It has an intention, as well as a beginning, a middle, and an end. The songs that are missing aren't the albums highlights, true, but that's only because all the other material is just so superb. "We Sing Halelujah" (not on the greatest hits) is a wonderful song, and "Has He Got a Friend For Me?" and "The Little Beggar Girl" are...well, y'know something, some of these songs are the albums highlights...(damn!)

The rest of the material is some of Thompson's - heck, the WORLD'S - darkest: "Down Where the Drunkards Roll", "Withered and Died", "The End of the Rainbow"...the titles say it all. But they're balanced by the drive and ...hope(?) in other songs like "When I Get to The Border", "Calvary Cross", and the title track. For all of their hope and desire, the songs remain wise and world-weary.

Individually, these all remain great songs, but in the context of this album is where they really make sense. Thompson's guitar work remains a unique talent, and Linda's voice is just superb (I have yet to find a solo Richard album this satisfying, because with his penchant for such dark, unflinching material, a voice as beautiful as Linda's provides excellent counterpoint).

Oh...and a word of warning: I picked this up after I'd gotten Shoot Out the Lights and wanted more of the same: this album is much more folky from songstyle to instrumentation and arrangemtents. It took a while for this album to sink in, but, boy did it ever...

Selling this album (and Pour Down Like Silver)...wow, I can be a real [dunce] sometimes...

Play it loud and enjoy it.......2003-01-17

When I first listened to this, I thought : "How come I NEVER heard of those two earlier ?". I mean, not all songs are masterpieces, but four of them certainly are. Withered and died is one of the most moving ballad I've ever heard - Linda's voice sounds very much like heaven to me. Down where the drunkards roll is great too. The Great Valerio is terrifying. The very bleak "the end of the rainbow" is one on the only RT vocals from this period that I really like. The song seems to cast a spell on the listener.
The little beggar girl & Has he got a friend for me may be the two weak tracks on the record, and still .. they are not bad at all....

It's Not All Bright Lights Out There !.......2002-07-18

A marvelous album from 1974 chocked full of Richard Thompson's wry observations on life's outsiders . The ten songs are amongst Richard Thompson's best work , and they're enhanced further by the imaginative choice of instruments that are played . The use of the Dulcimer , Anglo Concertina , Krummhorn and Accordion gives this cd a dark quasi-English medieval ambiance that fits hand in glove with the almost Gothic imagery and dark language of the songs . As usual Richard Thompson's guitar playing is inspired , and the underrated Linda Thompson has one of her finest moments on the magnificent " Withered and Died " , surely one of the great songs on " lost love " out there !

I've had this record for twenty years now , and it still keeps getting better , because from time to time I still discover hidden nuances that not only enhances the record but also highlights the depth of this stunning music . Essential !

Tracks:

When I Get To The Border
The Calvary Cross
Withered And Died
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Down Where The Drunkards Roll
We Sing Hallelujah
Has He Got A Friend For Me
The Little Beggar Girl
The End Of The Rainbow
The Great Valerio

Amazon.com essential recording

Album Description

Full title - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight. The British folk-rock duo's 1974 masterpiece. Island.

Customer Reviews:

buy it --.......2004-12-18

for 'the calvary cross', listen to the rest afterwards, and you will thank me later --

An Aural Revolution.......2004-02-13

This work has to be a classic. It is the updating of English Folk Music but still holding strong to its traditions namely in the use of traditional instruments, modes and songs.

The album is quirky and left-field and defies modern convention.

Give your ears a revolution and check out this album

BOY, DID I GOOF..........2003-02-10

Yeah, I know: I also feel like I should be made to sit in the corner wearing a "Dunce" cap.

The Best of IS a superbly constructed compilation - heck, the songs that are on it are even in the same sequence as on this release, so what's the problem?

Selling this album (and Pour Down Like Silver)...wow, I can be a real [dunce] sometimes...

Play it loud and enjoy it.......2003-01-17

It's Not All Bright Lights Out There !.......2002-07-18

Tracks:

When I Get to the Border
Calvary Cross
Withered and Died
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Down Where the Drunkards Roll
We Sing Hallelujah
Has He Got a Friend for Me
Little Beggar Girl
End of the Rainbow
Great Valerio
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight [Live][#][*]
Together Again [Live][#][*]
Calvary Cross [Live][#][*]

Album Description

Japanese limited edition run of 5000 remastered discs in paper sleeves. Island. 2004.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase. Includes Three Bonus Tracks: 'i Want to See Bright Lights Tonight (Live)', 'together Again (Live)', and 'the Cavalry Cross (Live)'. Limited to 5000 Copies.

Music Album:

Music Album

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
6. We Sing Hallelujah
7. Has He Got A Friend For Me
8. The Little Beggar Girl
9. The End Of The Rainbow
10. The Great Valerio