Post Description

RICHARD & LINDA THOMPSON
Baltimore 1982 
Live at the Aurora Theatre, Baltimore; May 13, 1982. Very good soundboard.

Including inlay front cover.

Those who have heard or watched the Thompson Family Christmas show in London 2008 know that Richard and Linda have patched things up and the two even performed together at the 2010 Meltdown Festival.

Back in 1981, Richard, who was married to Linda, had met promoter Nancy Covey and in December 1981, Richard and Linda separated. When the Thompsons’ Shoot Out The Lights album was released in March 1982, the two went on a US tour to promote the album (and then went their separate ways).

According to the wikipedia, the performances were very strong but the tension between Richard and Linda was all too obvious on stage. On occasion she would hit him during the performance or trip him up as the band was walking onstage. Listening to the light banter at this show, no one would have guessed that the relationship between Richard and Linda was falling apart. But tracks such as Withered And Died and Don’t Renege On Our Love become more striking given what was happening between the couple and one can imagine the bitter irony when Linda sings the Richard-penned For Shame Of Doing Wrong: “When I see lovers holding hands and sighing/I hang my head for shame of doing wrong.”

Thanks to reb01501 for sharing this previously uncirculated show and artwork. While fans have been grateful for this rare and historical show, they have also been too kind not to mention that there is a bit of hiss and hum on the tracks, though the vocals and instruments remain clear and distinct.

reb01501 also noted that while the stage announcer said it was the group’s first US appearance, more likely it was the group’s third.

Lineage:
soundboard > cassette > first-generation cassette > PC

Disc 1
Track 01. You’re Gonna Need Somebody 
Track 02. Did She Jump or Was She Pushed 
Track 03. Shoot Out the Lights 
Track 04. I’ll Keep It With Mine 
Track 05. A Man In Need 
Track 06. New-Fangled Flogging Reel > Kerry Reel 
Track 07. Walking On A Wire - Omitted*
Track 08. Honky Tonk Blues 
Track 09. Dimming of the Day 
Track 10. Back Street Slide 
Track 11. Withered and Died 

Disc 2
Track 12. Band member introductions and Sams amp to the rescue 
Track 13. Don’t Renege on Our Love 
Track 14. It’s Just the Motion 
Track 15. For Shame of Doing Wrong 
Track 16. Down Where the Drunkards Roll 
Track 17. Danny Boy 
Track 18. Dargai 
Track 19. High School Confidential 

* Available on RT: The Life and Music of Richard Thompson

with
Simon Nicol - guitar
Pete Zorn - bass
Dave Mattacks - drums