Richard Thompson

More than a decade ago, Thompson released an extraordinary album called Small Town Romance which featured the man and his acoustic guitar unaccompanied, recorded live at the Bottom Line in New York City. It was one of those records that became a soundtrack for unspeakable personal heartbreak. Thompson later asked to have the record delisted—he supposedly wasn’t happy with it—but thank goodness it’s still in print. It’s a wonder he felt that way, since he’s one of the hardest working modern-day troubadors in the business, and this disk comes closest to capturing the man doing what he does best. Never mind all those years Dick spent at the head of folk-rock paragons Fairport Convention, or atop The Best Records Of All Time List (Shoot Out the Lights with ex-wife Linda). Some of us prefer to keep our mistakes within arm’s reach, the better to avoid repeating ourselves—but sometimes there’s nothing as beautiful as a train-wrecked relationship, or a painfully honest live performance.