guitar/vocals
1949年4月3日まれ。西ロンドンのノッティング・ヒル・ゲイト出身。英国を代表するギタリスト。Fairport Conventionを経て妻Linda Thompsonとのデュオ、80年代からは本格的なソロ活動を開始し、多くの名作を残す。バグパイプを連想させる独特の音色と様々な奏法をマスターしたテクニカルなギター・プレイで世界的な評価を獲得。仲間のSandy Dennyのソロ作をはじめ、セッション歴も多数。
アマチュア時代は自身のグループEmil & The Detectivesなどでプレイ。1967年春、評判を聞いたAshley Hutchings、Simon Nicolに友人を介してスカウトされ、Fairport Conventionの結成に参加。68年、Polydorからセルフ・タイトルのアルバムでデビューを飾る。
当初はThe ByrdsやJefferson Airplane、Joni Mitchellらの影響下にある米国志向のサイケデリック・ロックを演奏していたが、シンガーSandy Dennyの加入を契機に自国のトラディショナル・ソングに着目。3作目となった「Unhalfbricking」で本格的なトラッド「A Sailor’s Life」を取り上げ、ロック史に残る名作となった4作目「Liege & Lief」で「エレクトリック・フォーク」の完成形を作り上げる。
同様の方向性を取った次作の「Full House」も緊迫感に満ちた完成度の高い名盤として評価を受ける。デビュー当初からThompsonのギター・プレイは注目されており、Fairport時代には「Meet On The Ledge」や「Crazy Man Michael」など代表曲のソングライティングも手掛けるなど一気に才能を開花させた。
1971年初頭にグループを離れ、セッション活動を経て72年に初のソロ・アルバム「Henry The Human Fly」をリリース。同年には妻のLinda Thompsonとデュオとしての活動もスタートさせる。また、同時期にはHutchingsのAlbion Country Bandでも演奏するなど、精力的な活動をスタートさせている。
Richard & Linda Thompsonとしてはデュオを解消する80年代前半までに6枚のアルバムを発表。80年代からは主にソロ・アーティストとしてコンスタントに良作をリリース。一方で様々なアーティストからのリスペクトを集め、ゲストやセッションで数多くのアーティストのアルバムへの客演を続けた。
このほか、80年代にはPeter Filleulとのサウンドトラック制作やFrench, Frith, Kaiser, Thompsonとしての活動、90年代は盟友Danny Thompsonとのデュオや自身のグループを引きいてのライブ活動、多様なプロジェクトでも積極的な活動を続けた。2000年代以降も意欲的な新作のリリース、おう盛なライブ活動でますます精力的に活躍。Lindaとの間に生まれた息子のTeddy、娘のKamila、さらにLindaとの破局後にもうけた息子Jackともにミュージシャンとして活動。
【参加アルバム】
<group>
・Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention (Polydor 583 035) 1968/6
What We Did On Our Holidays (Island ILPS9092) 1969/1
Unhalfbricking (Island ILPS9102) 1969/7
Liege & Lief (Island ILPS9115) 1969/12
Full House (Island ILPS9130) 1970/7
Live AT The L.A. Troubadour (Island HELP28) 1977/1
Moat On The Ledge (Woodworm WR001) 1982/5
25th Anniversary Concert (Woodworm WRDCD022) 1993/5
・Richard & Linda Thompson
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (Island ILPS9266) 1974/4
Hokey Pokey (Island ILPS9305) 1975/2
Pour Down Like Silver (Island ILPS9348) 1975/11
First Light (Chrysalis CHR1177) 1978/10
Suunyvista (Chrysalis CHR1247) 1979/9
Shoot Out The Lights (Hannibal HNBL1303) 1982/3
In Concert, November 1975 (Island IMCD327) 2007
・The Bunch
Rock On (Island ILPS9189) 1972/3
・Albion Band
No Roses (Pegasus PEG7) 1971/10 ※Shirley Collins & The Albion Country Band
Battle Of The Field (Island HELP25) 1976/4 ※Albion Country Band
・Morris On
Morris On (Island HELP5) 1972/6
・Richard Thompson & Peter Filleul
The Life And Lovers Of A She Devil (BBC REB615) 1986/9
The Marksman-soundtrack (BBC REB660) 1987/10
Sweet Talker-soundtrack (Capitol 7944901) 1991 ※Thompson名義
・French, Frith, Kaiser, Thompson
Live, Love, Larf & Loaf (Rhino RN70831) 1987/6
Invisible Means (Demon FIEND CD199) 1990
・The GP’s
Saturday Rolling Around (Woodworm WRCD014) 1991/5 ※81/8ライブ
・The Ashley Hutchings Big Beat Combo
Twangin’N’ A-Traddin’ (HTD CD25) 1995
Twangin’ ‘N’ A-Traddin’ Revisited (Talking Elephant TECD282) 2015
・Richard Thompson & Danny Thompson
Live At Crawley 1993 (BBC International WHAT2CD) 1995/2
Industry (Hannibal D31769) 1997/5
・Richard Thompson Band
Two Letter Words Live 1994 (Flypaper FLYCD006) 1996 ※US
Semi-Detached Mock Tudor (Beeswing BSW001) 2002 ※US
More Guitar (Beeswing BSW004) 2003/4 ※US
Ducknapped ! (Beeswing BSW002) 2003 ※US
・Philip Pickett with Richard Thompson
The Bones Of All Men (Hannibal HNCD1416) 1998/4
・Thompson
Family (Fantasy 0888072363922) 2014/11
<solo albums>
Henry The Human Fly (Island ILPS9197) 1972/6
Strict Tempo (Elixir LP1) 1981/9
Hand Of Kindness (Hannibal HNBL1313) 1983/6
Small Town Romance (Hannibal HNBL1316) 1984/9
Across A Crowded Room (Polydor 825 421-1) 1985/4
Daring Adventures (Polydor 829 7280-1) 1986/9
Amnesia (Capitol C1-48845) 1988/10
Rumour And Sigh (Capitol CDP7 95713 2) 1991/5
Mirror Blue (Capitol CDP0777 7 81492 1 7) 1994/1
You? Me? Us? (Capitol CDP7243 8 33704 2 9) 1996/3
Celtschmerz (Flypaper FLYCD007) 1998 ※98年ライブ
Mock Tudor (Capitol CDP7243 4 98860 2 5-V) 1999/6
Action Packed (Capitol CDP72435 31051 2 9) 2001
The Old Kid Bag (Cooking Vinyl COOKCD251) 2003/2
1000 Years Of Popular Music (Beeswing BSW003) 2003
Faithless (Beeswing BSW005) 2004
Live From Austin TX (New West NW6074) 2005/5
Front Parlour Ballads (Cooking Vinyl COOKCD325) 2005/8
Sweet Warrior (Proper PRPCD032) 2007/5
Hard Cash-soundtrack (Special Delivery SPDCD1027) 1990
Sweet Talker-soundtrack (Capitol 7944901) 1991
Grizzly Man-soundtrack (Cooking Vinyl COOKCD360) 2005
<solo singles>
Wrong Heartbeat/Devonside (Hannibal HNS704) 1983/8
You Don’t Say/When The Spell Is Broken (Polydor POSP750) 1985/6
Turning Of The Tide/Pharaoh (Capitol CL516) 1988/11
Reckless Kind/Turning Of The Tide-Live (Capitol CL550) 1989/9
Read About Love/I Feel So Good (Capitol CL638) 1991
I Feel So Good/Harry’s Theme (Capitol CL617) 1991/6
She Said It Was Destiny (Cooking Vinyl FRYCD155) 2003
Front Parlour Ballads (Cooking Vinyl COOKCD325) 2005/8
Sweet Warrior (Proper PRPCD032) 2007/5
Dream Attic (Proper PRPLCDX064) 2010/8
Cabaret Of Souls (Beeswing no number) 2012/10
Electric (Proper PRPCDX108) 2013/2
Acoustic Classics (Proper BSW14) 2014/7
Still (Proper PRPCDX131) 2015/6
・12″
When The Spell Is Broken (Polygram PRO348-1) 1985 ※US/promo
Nearly In Love (Polydor PRO465-1) 1986 ※US/promo
Valerie (Polydor PRO438-1) 1986 ※US/promo
Turning Of The Tide (Capitol SPRO79408) 1988 ※US/promo
Reckless Kind E.P. (Capitol 12CL550) 1989 ※US
I Misunderstood (Capitol DPRO79078) 1991 ※US/promo
Some Enchanted Evenings (Mobile Fidelity Sound MFSL1-45006) 2005 ※US
・主な編集盤/未発表音源集など
(guitar, vocal) (Island ICD8) 1976/5 ※未発表曲集
Doom And Gloom From The Tomb (Flypaper FLYC 001) 1985 ※未発表音源/cassette
The Guitar Of Richard Thompson (Homespun 3G-134) 1986 ※cassette
Doom And Gloom II-Over My Dead Body (Flypaper FLYC 003) 1991 ※未発表音源/cassette
Watching The Dark (Hannibal HNCD5303) 1993/5 ※未発表曲集
RT-The Life And Music Of Richard Thompson (Free Reed FRQCD55) 2006/2 ※6CD
・ライブ音源など
Two Letter Words (Flypaper FLYCD 006) 1996 ※94年
The Chrono Show (Beeswing BSW006) 2004 ※未発表ライブ
Live From Austin TX (New West NW6074) 2005 ※US
Live Warrior (Beeswing BSW007) 2009/4
・Ben & Jerry’s Newport Folk Festival
88 Live (Alcazar ALC105) 1989 ※1曲
88 Live – Volume 2 Mementos (Alcazar ALC113) 1990 ※2曲
Turn Of The Decade (Red House RHR CD36) 1991/8 ※1曲
・その他
Richard Thompson Teaches Traditional Guitar Instrumentals (Homespun HL00841083) 1996
Tracks (spinART no number) 2003/4 ※EP/limited edition
<session>
・1968
The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter/The Incredible String Band (Elektra EKS74021) 1968/3
・1969
Love Chronicles/Al Stewart (CBS 63460) 1969/1 ※変名参加
Dudu Pukwana & Spear/Dudu Pukwana & Spear (Quality LTJ-S232) 1969/5
Five Leaves Left/Nick Drake (Island ILPS9105) 1969/7
Marc Ellington/Marc Ellington (Philips SBL7883) 1969
・1970
Matthews Southern Comfort/Ian Matthews (Uni UNLS108) 1970/1
Bryter Layter/Nick Drake (Island ILPS9134) 1970/9
Strange Fruit/Gary Farr (CBS 64138) 1970/12
・1971
If You Saw Through My Eyes/Ian Matthews (Vertigo 6360 034) 1971/1
Smiling Men With Bad Reputations/Mike Heron (Island ILPS9146) 1971/2
Street Singer/Mick Softley (CBS 64395) 1971/4
Rains/Reins Of Changes/Marc Ellington (B&C CAS1033) 1971
New Colours/The New Seekers (Philips 6303 035) 1971
Stargazer/Shelagh McDonald (B&C CAS1043) 1971
The North Star Grassman And The Ravens/Sandy Denny (Island ILPS9165) 1971/9
Bless The Weather/John Martyn (Island ILPS9167) 1971/11
・1972
Tigers Will Survive/Ian Matthews (Vertigo 6360 056) 1972/3 ※変名参加
Those Pleasant Days/Stefan Grossman (Transatlantic TRA246) 1972
Sandy/Sandy Denny (Island ILPS9207) 1972/9
Bright Phoebus/Lal & Mike Waterson (Trailer LES2076) 1972/9
Jump At The Sun/John Kirkpatrick (Trailer LER2033) 1972/10 ※変名参加
・1973
Rosie/Fairport Convention (Island ILPS9208) 1973/2
Solid Air/John Martyn (Island ILPS9226) 1973/2
Urban Cowboy/Andy Roberts (Elektra K42139) 1973/6
・1974
Like An Old Fashioned Waltz/Sandy Denny (Island ILPS9258) 1974/6
Fear/John Cale (Island ILPS9301) 1974/10
・1975
Is Having A Wonderful Time/Geoff Muldaur (Reprise MS2220) 1975/9
Fantasies From A Corner Seat/Harvey Andrews & Graham Cooper (Transatlantic TRA298) 1975/6
Mike Heron’s Reputation/Mike Heron’s Reputation (Neighbourhood NBH 80637) 1975
Marc Time/Marc Ellington (Xtra XTRA1154) 1975
・1976
Vanishing Trick/Brian Patten (Tangent TGS116) 1976/11
・1977
Rendezvous/Sandy Denny (Island ILPS9433) 1977/5
・1978
Julie Covington/Julie Covington (Virgin V2107) 1978/10
・1979
Slide Away The Screen/Ralph McTell (Polydor 2907 064) 1979/3
Night Owl/Gerry Rafferty (United Artists UAK30238) 1979/5
・1980
Voices/Murray Head (Polydor 2424 211) 1980/7
・1981
How Many Ways/Murray Head (Music Lover MLP101) 1981
Thunderin’ On The Horizon/Arizona Smoke Review (Rola ROLA006) 1981/3
Teddy Boys Don’t Knit/Vivian Stanshall (Charisma CAS1153) 1981/4
Smiddyburn/Dave Swarbrick (Logo 1029) 1981/7
The Sound Of The Sand/David Thomas & The Pedestrians (Rough Trade ROUGH30) 1981/10
・1982
Out Of The Cut/Martin Carthy (Topic 12TS426) 1982
Love Grows/Ralph McTell (Mays TG004) 1982
Water Of Dreams/Ralph McTell (Larrikin LRF126) 1982/9
・1983
Fame And Wealth/Loudon Wainwright Ⅲ (Demon FIEND5) 1983/4
Any Trouble/Any Trouble (EMI ST17096) 1983/6
Flittin’/Dave Swarbrick (Spindrift SPIN001) 1983/8
#8/J. J. Cale (Mercury MERL22) 1983/9
Proof Through The Night/T-Bone Burnett (Warner Bros. 23921-1) 1983
Variations On A Theme/David Thomas & The Pedestrians (Rough Trade ROUGH60) 1983
・1984
Wrong End Of The Race/Any Trouble (EMI ST17119) 1984/4
Behind The Trap Door/T-Bone Burnett (Demon VEX3) 1984
・1985
Rackbag/Folk & Rackare (Amalthea AM53) 1985 ※Sweden
Visions Of Excess/The Golden Palominos (Celluloid CELCD6118) 1985
I’m Alright/Loudon Wainwright Ⅲ (Rounder CD3096) 1985
Glady’s Leap/Fairport Convention (Woodworm WR007) 1985/8
Electric Bluebirds/Ekectric Bluebirds (Making Waves SPRAY105) 1985/11
・1986
Time Of No Reply/Nick Drake (Hannibal HNBL1318) 1986
An Hour with Cecil Sharp & Ashley Hutchings/Ashley Hutchings (Dambuster DAM014) 1986
More Love Songs/Loudon Wainwright Ⅲ (Demon FIEND CD79) 1986
Expletive Delighted !/Fairport Convention (Woodworm WR009) 1986/8
Supply And Demand/Dagmar Krause (Hannibal HNBL1317) 1986
Electric Bluebirds/Electric Bluebirds (Making Waves Spray105) 1986
・1987
Raptures Of The Deep/Deep Sea Jivers (Mermaid MMD101) 1987/1
Bridge Of Sighs/Ralph McTell (Mays TPG009) 1987/1
The Auld Folks On The Wa/Charlie Allan (Ardo ARDO106) 1987/9
Michael Doucet & Cajun Brew/Michael Doucet & Cajun Brew (Rounder CD6017) 1987
Slam Dance/Mitchell Froom- soundtrack (Island STIL876587) 1987
Blue Balloon/John Kirkpatrick (Squeezer SQZ124) 1987
Studio Romantic/Saeko Suzuki (Dear Heart MIL1030) 1987
・1988
As Real As Disneyland/Julian Dawson & The Flood (Polydor 831 607-2) 1988
Temple Of Low Men/Crowded House (Capitol 7487632) 1988/7 ※Australia
・1989
Therapy/Loudon Wainwright Ⅲ (Silvertone ZD74253) 1989/4
Maria McKee/Maria McKee (Geffen 9 24229 2) 1989
Surprise/Syd Straw (Virgin 91266) 1989
・1991
Cajun Conja/Beausoleil (RNA R2 70525) 1991
Drunk With Passion/The Golden Palominos (Nation CDVE905) 1991
Hope You Like Our New Direction/Henry Kaiser (Reckless CDRECK21) 1991
Places I Have Never Been/Willie Nile (Columbia 467855 2) 1991
Luck Of The Draw/Bonnie Raitt (Capitol CDP79 6111 2) 1991
・1992
His Master’s Choice/Dave Burland (Road Goes On Forever RGFCD009) 1992
Fat City/Shawn Colvin (Columbia CK47122) 1992
Be Headed/Chris Harford & The First Rays Of The New Rising Sun (Elektra 9 61364-2) 1992
99.9 F/Suzanne Vega (Polydor 540005) 1992
The Hunter/Jennifer Warnes (Private Music 261974) 1992
On Fire & Ready !/Niles Hokkanen (Mandocrucian MD003) 1992 ※カセット
・1993
Fate Of Nations/Robert Plant (Fontana 514 867-2) 1993
・1994
The Assassin’s Apprentice/Stephen Fearing (True North TNK84) 1994/2
Cut And Run/Danny Carnahan & Robin Petrie (Fledg’ling FLE1006) 1994
Amplified Heart/Everything But The Girl (Blanco Y Negro 82605-2) 1994
Longing In Their Hearts/Bonnie Raitt (Capitol CDP0777 7 81427 2 0) 1994
・1995
Baptist Hospital/Boo Hewerdine (Discovery 77042) 1995
Camouflage/Iain Matthews (Perfect Pitch PP004) 1995
・1996
Dream Fly Away/Linda Thompson (Hannibal HNCD1379) 1996 ※compilation
Norma Waterson/Norma Waterson (Hannibal HNCD1393) 1996
・1997
Who Knows Where The Time Goes ?/Fairport Convention (Woodworm WRCD025) 1997/6
L’amour ou la Folie/Beausoleil (Rhino R2 72622) 1997
Blue Aconite/Christine Collister (Fledg’ling FLED3010) 1997
Move Over Darling/Julian Dawson (Fledg’ling FLED3012) 1997
Born Blue/Keith Hancock (Nico’s NRC40462) 1997
・1998
The Dark Gift Of Time/Christine Collister (Fledg’ling FLED3016) 1998
Songbird/Christine Collister (Fledg’ling FLED3017) 1998
Other Voices, Too/Nancy Griffith (Elektra 62235-2) 1998/10
・1999
Memory Of The Future/Eric Anderson (Appleseed 1028) 1999 ※US
Orphans & Outcasts Vol.3/Iain Matthews (Perfect Pitch PP005) 1999 ※US
The Very Thought Of You/Norma Waterson (Hannibal HNCD1430) 1999
・2000
Long Expectant Comes At Last/Cathal McConnell (Compass 7 4287 2) 2000
Teddy Thompson/Teddy Thompson (Virgin 724384971823) 2000/8
・2001
Mazurka Berzerker/John Kirkpatrick (Fledg’ling FLED 3030) 2001
・2002
Fashionably Late/Linda Thompson (Topic TSCD8121) 2002
Evangeline Made: A Tribute to Cajun Music (Vanguard VCD79565-2) 2002/5
Passion/Murray Head (Justin Time JUT84962) 2002/10
・2003
Twelve Arrows/Judith Owen (Dog On The Bed Music no number) 2003/3
Go Tell It on the Mountain/The Blind Boys Of Alabama (Real World CDRWDJ115) 2003/9
So Damn Happy/Loudon Wainwright Ⅲ (Sanctuary SANCD197) 2003
・2004
The Ride/Los Lobos (Hollywood 2061 62443-2) 2004/5 ※US
・2005
Separate Ways/Teddy Thompson (Verve B0004132-02) 2005/11
・2007
Release the Stars/Rufus Wainwright (Geffen 1733587) 2007/5
Crazy Hair Day/Barney Saltzberg (Craig N’ 704791016027) 2007/5
South Of Delia/Richard Shindell (No Label RS1809) 2007/5
Strange Weirdos/Loudon Wainwright Ⅲ (Concord 0888072303010) 2007/5
Upfront & Down Low/Teddy Thompson (Verve Forecast 0602517329997) 2007/7
Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John/Peter Case (Yep Roc YEP2160) 2007/8 ※US
Happy This Way/Judith Owen (Linn AKD299) 2007
・2008
A Piece of What You Need/Teddy Thompson (Verve Forecast 1779769) 2008/6
・2011
Bella/Teddy Thompson (Verve Forecast 0602527470887) 2011/2
・2012
20/Kate Rusby (Pure 3717612) 2011/10
・2013
Won’t Be Long Now/Linda Thompson (Topic 12TS822) 2013/10
・2014
Tell ‘Em I’m Gone/Yusuf (Legacy 88875017052) 2014/10
【参加グループ】
Fairport Convention (1967.4-1971.1)
The Bunch (1972)
Albion Country Band (1972.10-12)
Richard & Linda Thompson (1972.6-1982)
Hokey Pokey (1973.11-1974.3) with Linda & Simon Nicol
Sour Grapes (1974.3-5)
The GP’s (1981)
French, Frith, Kaiser, Thompson
Richard Thompson Band
Thompson