Track Listing
DISC 1:
1. Man in Need, A
2. Can't Win
3. Waltzing's For Dreamers
4. Crash the Party
5. I Still Dream
6. Bird In God's Garden / Lost And Found - (with French/Frith/Kaiser/Thompson)
7. Now Be Thankful - (single remix, with Fairport Convention)
8. Sailor's Life, A - (previously unreleased, with Fairport Convention)
9. Genesis Hall - (with Fairport Convention)
10. Knife-Edge, The
11. Walking on a Wire - (with Linda Thompson)
12. Small Town Romance
13. Shepherd's March / Maggie Cameron
14. Wall of Death - (with Linda Thompson)
DISC 2:
1. For Shame of Doing Wrong - (previously unreleased, with Linda Thompson)
2. Back Street Slide - (previously unreleased)
3. Strange Affair - (with Linda Thompson)
4. Wrong Heartbeat, The - (previously unreleased, with Linda Thompson)
5. Borrowed Time - (with Linda Thompson)
6. From Galway to Graceland
7. Tear Stained Letter
8. Keep Your Distance
9. Bogie's Bonnie Belle
10. Poor Wee Jockey Clarke - ('92)
11. Jet Plane in a Rocking Chair - (with Linda Thompson)
12. Dimming of the Day - (with Linda Thompson)
13. Old Man Inside a Young Man
14. Never Again - (with Linda Thompson)
15. Hokey Pokey (The Ice Cream Song) - (with Linda Thompson)
16. Heart Needs a Home, A - (with Linda Thompson)
17. Beat the Retreat - (remix)
DISC 3:
1. Al Bowlly's in Heaven
2. Walking Through a Wasted Land
3. When the Spell Is Broken
4. Devonside
5. Little Blue Number
6. I Ain't Going to Drag My Feet No More
7. Withered and Died - (with Linda Thompson)
8. Nobody's Wedding
9. Poor Ditching Boy, The
10. Great Valerio, The - (with Linda Thompson)
11. Twisted
12. Calvary Cross
13. Jennie
14. Hand of Kindness
15. Two Left Feet
16. Shoot Out the Lights
| Details | | Playing Time: | 217 min. | | Contributing Artists: | Fred Frith, Gerry Rafferty, Glen Tilbrook, Henry Kaiser, John Hiatt, Linda Thompson, Sandy Denny, Shawn Colvin | | Distributor: | Ryko Distribution | | Recording Type: | Mixed | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes
WATCHING THE DARK contains 3 CDs with 23 live, rare and unreleased tracks spanning the years 1969-1992. Also included is a 24-page booklet with photos, a complete biography and a selected discography.
Personnel includes: Richard Thompson (vocals, electric, acoustic & 12-string guitars, banjo, mandolin, mandocello, hammered & electric dulcimers, hurdy-gurdy, oud, Fender Rhodes, harmonium, Clavinet, bass); Clive Gregson (guitars, organ, background vocals); Simon Nicol (guitars, dulcimer, autoharp, piano); John Kirkpatrick (accordions, concertinas, background vocals); John Sherman, Alan Dunn (piano, accordion); Betsy Cook (piano, keyboards, background vocals); Mitchell Froom (keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ, harmonium); Neil Larson, Pete Wingfield (keyboards); Phil Pickett (shawm, hurdy-gurdy); Danny Thompson (acoustic bass); Dave Pegg, Pat Donaldson (bass, background vocals); Jerry Scheff, Ashley Hutchings, Willie Weeks, Ruari McFarlane, Bruce Lynch (bass); John French (drums, vocals); Timi Donald (drums, percussion); Dave Mattacks, Kenny Aronoff, Jim Keltner, Andy Newmark, Mickey Curry, Gerry Conway (drums).
Producers include: Joe Boyd, Mitchell Froom, Henry Kaiser, Richard Thompson, John Wood.
Compilation producer: Edward Haber.
Includes liner notes by Greil Marcus, Joe Boyd and Leslie Berman.
This three-disc set contains too many rarities and flouts chronology too blatantly to function as a simple best-of. Rather, it's an eclectic overview that dips deep enough into the archives to appeal to the hardcore fans that make up most of Thompson's audience while featuring enough classics to operate as a de facto "Greatest Hits" for those unfamiliar with the unjustly hitless guitarist/singer/songwriter. Previously unreleased live cuts display Thompson's unrivaled way with his axe ("Can't Win," "Calvary Cross"). Fans of Thompson's folkier side will delight at never-before heard traditional tunes like "Bogie's Bonnie Belle" and "Poor Wee Jockey Clarke." There are even some previously unheard Fairport tracks for those who've been in on Thompson's special gift from the very beginning. If you love Thompson, you must own this.
Editorial Reviews
Ranked #5 in the Village Voice's list of the 10 Best Reissues Of 1993.
Village Voice (03/01/1994)
Thompson chronicles the often harsh, usually private side of life with a vigilance few other rock writers can sustain...the mordant grace, black humor and stinging solos that have continually given Thompson zealots proof their man is one of rock's most piercing artistes...
Musician (07/01/1993)
...If you want one single moment that will single-handedly justify selling a kidney in order to purchase WATCHING THE DARK, try the majestic mourn of `When The Spell Is Broken'....
Melody Maker (06/12/1993)
8 - Excellent - ...From the landmark genre-crashing with Fairport Convention via avant garde experimentation to the seriously at-home-in-LA credentials of his most recent solo work, WATCHING unearths some real glories...
NME (05/01/1993)
...from a few stately Fairport tunes to feedback-throbbing numbers like `Shoot Out The Lights' to an almost astounding exhibit of tender ballads, folk instrumentals, and careening guitar attacks... - Rating: A-
Entertainment Weekly (05/07/1993)
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