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.
While many of the songs included are familiar to Thompson fans, the tracks are mostly live, nearly all of them previously unreleased, and the arrangements are often different from those of the original recordings. Thompson himself granted the compilers access to his personal archives of recordings and photos, and other collectors of Thompsonia (most notably
Americanrecord producer Edward Haber) also contributed to the set. Thompson retained (and exercised) the right of veto over any aspect of the set.
Of particular interest are live tracks by
Richard and
Linda Thompson (including a few from the 1982 "tour from hell"), songs demo-ed for his first solo album Henry the Human Fly as well as several of Thompson's comic songs ("
Madonna's Wedding" and his lampooning of
Janet Jackson's infamous breast-baring moment at the Super Bowl) and several songs that Thompson himself had never released.
The set also includes a 168-page book – consisting of a biography, an exclusive interview and track notes – and a reproduction of a
Vincent Motorcycles catalogue (a reference to Thompson's best loved song “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”). As with the actual track selection Thompson had input into the book and was involved in the
proofreading and supplied some of the photos that are included. There are numerous typographical errors.
The five
CDs are themed, which gives each disc a specific focus and helps to give this large set some cohesion.
Songs based on real persons and events
Essential songs
Epic live performances
Thompson covering other artists' songs, or playing as a
session musician.
Rarities
A sixth CD "RT on FR" is offered free of charge by returning a coupon included in the box.
Track listing
All songs written and performed by Richard Thompson except where noted otherwise