Rumor and Sigh

Last updated

Rumor and Sigh
RT Ras.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 1991
Recorded1991
Studio Sunset Sound, Los Angeles and Konk Studios, London
Genre Folk rock, alternative rock
Length61:19
Label Capitol
Producer Mitchell Froom
Richard Thompson chronology
Sweet Talker
(1991)
Rumor and Sigh
(1991)
Watching The Dark
(1993)

Rumor and Sigh is a 1991 album by British singer/songwriter Richard Thompson, his thirteenth album since leaving the band Fairport Convention in 1971. Released on the Capitol label, it was a commercial success for Thompson, featuring his biggest American hit single "I Feel So Good", as well as the fan favourite "1952 Vincent Black Lightning”.

Contents

The album earned Thompson a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 1992. It was also voted number 665 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000). [1]

Songs

The American spelling of the word "Rumor" is due to Thompson taking the title from a posthumously published poem by Archibald MacLeish: "Rumor and sigh of unimagined seas/ Dim radiance of stars that never flamed." [2]

Patrick Humphries described the central character of the song "I Feel So Good" as a ne'er do well who has been freed from prison and expresses his "bullying exultation at his freedom. In an interview, Thompson explained, "If you make someone the subject of a song you're almost inevitably making him a hero. But he obviously isn't. Nor is he an anti-hero. He's no worse than the society that created him. It's a very twentieth century moral dilemma." [3]

"Grey Walls" was inspired by Colney Hatch Mental Hospital in Barnet, North London, which Thompson passed on the bus as a teenager. The song describes the disturbing effect of ECT on psychiatric patients. Thompson has also called the song a comment on the effects of Thatcherism—in the context of closing down mental institutions and selling the facilities for profit. [3]

Thompson has said he was inspired to write "Don't Sit On My Jimmy Shands" after hearing a story of Bob Dylan at a party, hogging the record player so he could play only Robert Johnson recordings. Thompson planned his song as a tongue in cheek tribute to Jimmy Shand, Scottish musician who achieved popularity in the 1930s and 40s by arranging traditional Scottish songs for his accordion band. Shand's music loomed large in Thompson's childhood. [4]

Thompson wrote "Mother Knows Best" to mark the resignation of Margaret Thatcher and express his feelings about the departed Conservative Prime Minister: "She says 'Bring me your first-born. And I'll suck their blood/ Bring me your poor/ I can trample in the mud'." [5]

Although a teetotaller, [4] Thompson wrote "God Loves A Drunk" to suggest that alcoholism can be a path to spiritual ecstasy. He has described the song as "a swipe at Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists, those people with the polyester suits, those people who are very clean and neat, which means they must be alright with God." [4]

The track "1952 Vincent Black Lightning," despite not being issued as a single, became a fan favourite and is one of Thompson's most highly acclaimed solo compositions. 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." [6]

Release

The album peaked at number 32 on the UK Albums Chart and was Thompson's first Top 40 album in the UK. [7] The album did not chart in the US, although the lead single "I Feel So Good" peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, his second and highest-charting single on that chart. [8] Its follow-up single, "Read About Love" failed to chart.

Two videos, for "I Feel So Good" [9] (animation inspired by the cover artwork) and album track "I Misunderstood" [10] were produced to promote the album. Thompson also promoted the album's American release by performing "I Feel So Good" on Late Night with David Letterman . [11]

The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 1992, but lost to R.E.M.'s Out of Time . [12]

Track listing

All songs written by Richard Thompson.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Read About Love"3:34
2."I Feel So Good"3.21
3."I Misunderstood"4.05
4."Grey Walls"4:21
5."You Dream Too Much"4:06
6."Why Must I Plead"4:58
7."1952 Vincent Black Lightning"4:43
Side two
No.TitleLength
8."Backlash Love Affair"4:49
9."Mystery Wind"4:35
10."Don't Sit on My Jimmy Shands"4:26
11."Keep Your Distance"4:11
12."Mother Knows Best"4:59
13."God Loves a Drunk"4:43
14."Psycho Street"4:28

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Artwork

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Waits</span> American singer-songwriter and actor (born 1949)

Thomas Alan Waits is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He began in the folk scene during the 1970s, but his music since the 1980s has reflected the influence of such diverse genres as rock, country, Delta blues, opera, vaudeville, cabaret, funk, hip hop and experimental techniques verging on industrial music. Per The Wall Street Journal, Waits “has composed a body of work that’s at least comparable to any songwriter’s in pop today. A keen, sensitive and sympathetic chronicler of the adrift and downtrodden, Mr. Waits creates three-dimensional characters who, even in their confusion and despair, are capable of insight and startling points of view. Their stories are accompanied by music that’s unlike any other in pop history.”

<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">Jimmy Shand</span> Scottish musician (1908-2000)

Sir James Shand was a Scottish musician who played traditional Scottish dance music on the accordion. His signature tune was "The Bluebell Polka".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Got You (I Feel Good)</span> 1965 single by James Brown

"I Got You (I Feel Good)" is a song by American singer James Brown. First recorded for the album Out of Sight and then released in an alternate take as a single in 1965, it was his highest-charting song and is arguably his best-known recording. In 2013, the 1965 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

<i>Mirror Blue</i> 1994 studio album by Richard Thompson

Mirror Blue is the eighth studio album by Richard Thompson, released in 1994.

<i>Live at Crawley</i> 1995 live album (Official Bootleg) by Richard Thompson

Live at Crawley is a live album by Richard Thompson recorded in 1993 and released in 1995.

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

Two Letter Words is a live album by Richard Thompson.

<i>Action Packed</i> 2001 studio album by Richard Thompson

Action Packed is a compilation album by Richard Thompson released in 2001.

<i>The Old Kit Bag</i> 2003 studio album by Richard Thompson

The Old Kit Bag is the eleventh studio album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson, released in 2003 on the Cooking Vinyl label.

<i>The Way I Feel</i> (Remy Shand album) 2002 studio album by Remy Shand

The Way I Feel is the only studio album by Canadian R&B musician Remy Shand. The album was released in 2001 in Shand's native Canada, UK & Europe via Universal Records and on March 12, 2002 in the United States via Motown Records. Three singles were released from the album: "Take a Message", "The Way I Feel", and "Rocksteady". "Take a Message" was the only song from the album to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #89. Shand wrote and produced all of the album's tracks.

<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">Simon Nicol</span> Musical artist

Simon John Breckenridge Nicol is an English guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was a founding member of British folk rock group Fairport Convention and is the only founding member still in the band. He has also been involved with the Albion Band and a wide range of musical projects, both as a collaborator, producer and as a solo artist. He has received several awards for his work and career.

"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."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumford & Sons</span> British folk rock band

Mumford & Sons are a British folk rock band formed in London in 2007. The band consists of Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane, and Ben Lovett.

<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">Thompson Square</span> American country duo

Thompson Square is an American country music duo composed of husband and wife Keifer and Shawna Thompson, who alternate as vocalists. They signed to Stoney Creek Records, a sister label of Broken Bow Records, in 2010. The duo has released three albums, which have produced a combined ten chart singles on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. Of these singles, two — "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" and "If I Didn't Have You" — reached No. 1.

<i>Walking on a Wire</i> (Richard Thompson album) 2009 compilation album by Richard Thompson

Walking on a Wire is a 2009 compilation CD set of songs by Richard Thompson. It was released on August 26, 2009, a set of four CDs. The set contains the bulk of Thompson's songs, but contains no unreleased material.

"Tear-Stained Letter" is the opening track from Richard Thompson's 1983 album Hand of Kindness. The song has been recorded by others, including a notable hit version by Jo-El Sonnier in 1988.

<i>You? Me? Us?</i> 1996 studio album by Richard Thompson

You? Me? Us? is the ninth studio album by British singer-songwriter Richard Thompson released in April 1996 via Capitol Records. It was Thompson's fourth album for the label, his fifth with Mitchell Froom producing and his second to be nominated for a Grammy Award. Thompson's son from his first marriage Teddy sings backing vocals on disc 2.

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

References

  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). All Time Top 1000 Albums (3rd ed.). Virgin Books. p. 217. ISBN   0-7535-0493-6.
  2. "What is the origin of the title Rumor And Sigh?". rtlist.net. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  3. 1 2 Humphries, 1996, Richard Thompson: Strange Affair, p.275
  4. 1 2 3 Humphries, 1996, Richard Thompson: Strange Affair, p.277
  5. Humphries, 1996, Richard Thompson: Strange Affair, p.276
  6. "All-TIME 100 Songs: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning" (retrieved on Feb. 26, 2014).
  7. UK Albums Chart - Richard Thompson
  8. "Richard Thompson Billboard chart". Billboard. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  9. emimusic (12 March 2009). "Richard Thompson - I Feel So Good". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2016 via YouTube.
  10. joni36 (8 June 2008). "Richard Thompson - I Misunderstood - Video 1991". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2016 via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. joni36 (17 August 2007). "Richard Thompson - I Feel So Good - Letterman 91". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2016 via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. Pareles, Jon (9 January 1992). "Grammy Short List: Many For a Few". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 April 2010.

Sources