1952 Vincent Black Lightning

Last updated

"1952 Vincent Black Lightning"
Song by Richard Thompson
from the album Rumor and Sigh
ReleasedMay 1991
Recorded1991
Studio Sunset Sound, Los Angeles and Konk Studios, London
Genre Folk
Length4:43
Songwriter(s) Richard Thompson
Producer(s) Mitchell Froom
Music video
"1952 Vincent Black Lightning" on YouTube

"1952 Vincent Black Lightning" is a song by guitarist Richard Thompson from his 1991 album Rumor and Sigh . It tells the story of a thief named James and the girl Red Molly whom he charms with a ride on his 1952 Vincent Black Lightning motorcycle, which he bequeaths to her on his deathbed. In 2011 Time magazine listed the song in its "All TIME 100 Songs", a list of "the most extraordinary English-language popular recordings since the beginning of TIME magazine in 1923," praising it as "a glorious example of what one guy can accomplish with just a guitar, a voice, an imagination and a set of astonishingly nimble fingers." [1]

Contents

Despite not being issued as a single, the ballad became a fan favourite and is one of Thompson's most highly acclaimed solo compositions. [2] A live version of the song appears on Thompson's album Two Letter Words: Live 1994 .

The band Red Molly, who has covered the song, takes its name from the lead female character in the song. [3]

The motorcycle

A Vincent Black Lightning VINCENT Black Lightning.jpg
A Vincent Black Lightning

The song focuses on the main character's love for both his girlfriend and his 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, a rare British motorcycle of which perhaps 30 were made. [4] The character James compares it to other cycles of the age in his dying speech:

Says James, in my opinion, there's nothing in this world
Beats a '52 Vincent and a red headed girl.
Now Nortons and Indians and Greeveses won't do
They don't have a soul like a Vincent '52. [5]

While most cover versions of this song by different artists remain with the original lyrics listing those same three makes of motorcycle (that "don't have a soul like a Vincent '52"), Thompson himself often varies the makes in his performances, variously including the following makes: Triumph, Harley, Enfield, Douglas, Rudge, Matchless, and Ducati.[ citation needed ]

Interviewed in the 2003 BBC Four documentary Solitary Life, Thompson said: "When I was a kid, that was always the exotic bike, that was always the one, the one that you went "ooh, wow". I'd always been looking for English ideas that didn't sound corny, that had some romance to them, and around which you could pin a song. And this song started with a motorcycle, it started with the Vincent. It was a good lodestone around which the song could revolve". [6]

Covers

The song has been covered by many artists:

American artists who cover the song frequently change the place reference, Box Hill to Knoxville. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Thompson (musician)</span> British recording artist; singer, songwriter, guitarist

Richard Thompson is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent Motorcycles</span> British motorcycle manufacturer

Vincent Motorcycles was a British manufacturer of motorcycles from 1928 to 1955. The business was established by Philip Vincent who bought an existing manufacturing name HRD, initially renaming it as Vincent HRD, producing his own motorcycles as HRD did previously with engines purchased as complete assemblies from other companies. From 1934, two new engines were developed as single cylinder in 500 cc and v-twin 1,000 cc capacities. Production grew from 1936, with the most-famous models being developed from the original designs after the War period in the late 1940s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent Black Shadow</span> Hand-built motorcycle produced by Vincent HRD

The Vincent Black Shadow is a British motorcycle designed and built at the Vincent works in Great North Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire UK. Motorcycles produced by Vincent H·R·D at their factory in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England were renowned for their design innovation, engineering excellence and high performance. Already advertising their existing 110 mph Rapide machine as "The world's fastest production motorcycle", in February 1948 the distinctive Vincent Black Shadow was announced with a top speed of 125 mph. Built in three different Series over the course of its life, the line continued until 1955, after which the company stopped all motorcycle production.

"Shelter from the Storm" is a song by Bob Dylan, recorded on September 17, 1974, and released on his 15th studio album, Blood on the Tracks, in 1975. It was later anthologized on the compilation album The Essential Bob Dylan in 2000.

<i>Rumor and Sigh</i> 1991 studio album by Richard Thompson

Rumor and Sigh is the seventh solo album by British singer/songwriter Richard Thompson, released in 1991 on the Capitol label. The album was a commercial success for Thompson, and featured his biggest American hit single "I Feel So Good", as well as the fan favourite "1952 Vincent Black Lightning”.

<i>Two Letter Words</i> 1996 live album by Richard Thompson

Two Letter Words is a live album by Richard Thompson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Pink</span> House associated with Bob Dylan in Upstate NY, US

Big Pink is a house in West Saugerties, New York, which was the location where Bob Dylan and the Band recorded The Basement Tapes, and the Band wrote their album Music from Big Pink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highway 61 Revisited (song)</span> 1965 single by Bob Dylan

"Highway 61 Revisited" is the title track of Bob Dylan's 1965 album Highway 61 Revisited. It was also released as the B-side to the single "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" later the same year. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song as number 364 in their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

<i>RT- The Life and Music of Richard Thompson</i> 2006 box set by Richard Thompson

RT- The Life and Music of Richard Thompson is a 5-CD box set by Richard Thompson, released in February 2006. It gives an extensive overview of Thompson's long career without including content from any of his mainstream albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Dylan</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1941)

Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter. Generally regarded as one of the greatest songwriters ever, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his 60 year career. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s, when songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" (1963) and "The Times They Are a-Changin'" (1964) became anthems for the civil rights and antiwar movements. His lyrics during this period incorporated political, social, philosophical, and literary influences, defying pop music conventions and appealing to the burgeoning counterculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Molly</span> American folk trio

Red Molly is a folk trio consisting of Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner, and Molly Venter. They perform original works composed by each of the group members as well as other songwriters, such as Hank Williams, Gillian Welch, Richard Thompson, Mark Erelli, Jake Armerding, Ryan Adams and Amy Speace. Their fans are known as "Redheads".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Jackson (song)</span> 1971 single by Bob Dylan

"George Jackson" is a song by Bob Dylan, written in 1971, in tribute to the Black Panther leader George Jackson, who had been shot and killed by guards at San Quentin Prison during an attempted escape on August 21, 1971. The event indirectly provoked the Attica Prison riot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent Black Lightning</span> Type of motorcycle

The Vincent Black Lightning was a Vincent-HRD motorcycle first built in September 1948 at the Vincent works in Great North Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK, and produced from 1948 to 1952. The bike was a purpose-built factory modified Black Shadow that was then named and produced as the Black Lightning. At the time the Black Lightning was the fastest production motorcycle in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drifter's Escape</span> 1967 single by Bob Dylan

"Drifter's Escape" is a song written by Bob Dylan that he recorded for his 1967 album John Wesley Harding. Columbia Records released it as a single in the US and the UK in 1969 as the B-side to "I Threw It All Away". The song was recorded in four takes on October 17, 1967. CBS Records International also issued the song paired with "John Wesley Harding" in some markets.

"Man in the Long Black Coat" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released in 1989 as the fifth track on his album Oh Mercy. It is a minor-key folk ballad, often described as "haunting" and frequently cited as a highlight of the album. The song was produced by Daniel Lanois.

<i>Reckless Kelly Was Here</i> 2006 live album by Reckless Kelly

Reckless Kelly Was Here is a live CD/DVD by Reckless Kelly. It is the band's second live album and the first to include a DVD.

Black Lightning is a fictional DC Comics superhero who first appeared in 1977.

<i>The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete</i> 2014 compilation album by Bob Dylan and the Band

The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete is a compilation album of unreleased home recordings made in 1967 by Bob Dylan and the group of musicians that would become the Band, released on November 3, 2014 on Legacy Records. It is the ninth installment of the Bob Dylan Bootleg Series, available as a six-disc complete set, and as a separate set of highlights – in a two-disc format common to the rest of the series – entitled The Basement Tapes Raw.

<i>You Got Me Singing</i> 2016 studio album by Amanda Palmer and Jack Palmer

You Got Me Singing is a collaborative studio album by American singer-songwriter Amanda Palmer, recorded with her father Jack Palmer. It was released on July 15, 2016, through Amanda Palmer's label 8 ft. Records and Cooking Vinyl. It peaked at 16 on the American Americana/Folk Albums chart.

<i>Live City Sounds</i> 2001 live album by Mary Lou Lord

Live City Sounds is a live album by the American musician Mary Lou Lord, released in 2001. It was a return to Lord's busking roots.

References

  1. "All-TIME 100 Songs: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning" (retrieved on Feb. 26, 2014).
  2. "1952 Vincent Black Lightning - Richard Thompson - Song Info - AllMusic" . Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  3. Extended Bio (accessed March 7, 2011) from redmolly.com
  4. "1952 Vincent Black Lightning - Richard Thompson - Song Info - AllMusic" . Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  5. Beviglia, Jim (12 August 2012). "'1952 Vincent Black Lightning,' By Richard Thompson". American Songwriter . Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  6. "Richard Thompson: Solitary Life - BBC Four" . Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  7. "July 14, 2013 Clarkston, MI - The Official Bob Dylan Site". bobdylan.com. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  8. "'I thought it was a hoax': Richard Thompson wasn't easily convinced about Bob Dylan cover". Something Else!. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  9. Sean Rowe - "1952 Vincent Black Lightning". Anti- Records. 2 December 2014.
  10. Himes, Geoffrey (21 August 2018). "The Curmudgeon: How an English Song about an English Motorcycle Became an American Classic". Paste . Atlanta, GA. Retrieved 9 May 2020.