Richard and Linda Thompson announce vast retrospective release

In just one month from today Richard and Linda Thompson will release a career retrospective – ‘Hard Luck Stories (1972 to 1982)‘ – covering a decade of music making.  The 8 CD collection is more than just a reissue of their six studio albums (including the hard to get hold of ‘Sunnyvista‘ and ‘First Light‘)  – although these of course are included – there are also non-album singles, B-sides, Demos, Rarities and previously unreleased live material.  And more.

More, in this case, is a hardback book with new essays and previously unseen photographs.  Ever the masters of publicity the duo have commented on the material with Linda saying “Here it is at last.  The good the bad and the ugly!” whilst Richard added “This is us, warts and all, at a crucial time in our musical history. Things changed fast in a decade, and here is the map.”

The tracklisting is vast, comprehensive and revealing – as well as Richard and Linda recordings there are examples of Richard’s early solo efforts, a cut from The Bunch, a duet with Sandy Denny.  And, as we mentioned before, much more.  Whilst you peruse that it’s possible to hear one of those unreleased song, ‘Amazon Queen’, on your streaming platform of choice here.

DISC ONE – SOMETIME IT HAPPENS – THE EARLY YEARS

01: Sweet Little Rock and Roller – The Bunch – Alt version ( 3:48 ) Previously Unreleased
02: The Locomotion – The Bunch from Rock On ( 3:02 )
03: My Girl In The Month of May – The Bunch from Rock On ( 2:13 )
04: When Will I Be Loved – duet with Sandy Denny ( 3:17 )
05: Amazon Queen ( 3:58 ) – Previously Unreleased
06: Shaky Nancy from Henry The Human Fly ( 3:28 )
07: The Angels Took My Racehorse Away from Henry The Human Fly ( 4:02)
08: Embroidered Butterflies from Brian Patten’s ‘Vanishing Trick’ ( 3:17 )
09: After Frost from Brian Patten’s “Vanishing Trick” ( 1;57 )
10: Sometimes It Happens – Demo – from ‘Dreams Fly Away’ ( 2:06 )
11: Restless Boy – Demo – from ‘Give Me A Sad Song’ ( 4:17 )
12: The World Is A Beautiful Place from ‘ Give Me A Sad Song’ ( 3:30 )
13: Shady Lies – Live at London University College, 25/10/1972 ( 2:23 )
14: Napoleon’s Dream – Live at London University College, 25/10/1972 (2:02)

DISC TWO – I WANT TO SEE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS TONIGHT – EXPANDED

01: When I Get To The Border ( 3:26 )
02: The Calvary Cross ( 3:52 )
03: Withered and Died ( 3:25 )
04: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight ( 3:08 )
05: Down Where The Drunkards Roll ( 4:06 )
06: We Sing Hallelujah ( 2:51 )
07: Has He Got A Friend For Me ? ( 3:33 )
08: The Little Beggar Girl ( 3:25 )
09: The End Of The Rainbow ( 3:56 )
10: The Great Valerio ( 5:23 )

BONUS TRACKS
11: Mother and Son ( 2:21 ) – Previously Unreleased
12: Down Where The Drunkards Roll – Take 1 ( 4:04 ) – Previously Unreleased
13: The End Of The Rainbow – Linda Thompson vocal version ( 3:57 ) – Previously Unreleased
14: A Heart Needs A Home – Demo version ( 3:58 ) – Previously Unreleased
15: The Great Valerio from Live at the Rainbow 16/03/1975 ( 5:16 )

DISC THREE – HOKEY POKEY – EXPANDED

01: Hokey Pokey Song (The Ice Cream Song) ( 3:22 )
02: I’ll Regret It All In The Morning ( 3:36 )
03: Smiffy’s Glass Eye ( 2:53 )
04: Egypt Room ( 3:52 )
05: Never Again ( 3:08 )
06: Georgie On A Spree ( 3:40 )
07: Old Man Inside A Young Man ( 4:26 )
08: The Sun Never Shines On The Poor ( 3:41 )
09: A Heart Needs A Home ( 3:47 )
10: Mole In A Hole ( 3:26 )

BONUS TRACKS
11: Hokey Pokey – Live on Marc Time – 1975 ( 3:13 ) – Previously Unreleased
12: A Heart Needs A Home – Alternate 1976 version ( 4:03 )

DISC FOUR – POUR DOWN LIKE SILVER – EXPANDED

01: Streets of Paradise ( 4:17 )
02: For Shame Of Doing Wrong ( 4:43 )
03: The Poor Boy Is Taken Away ( 3:34 )
04: Night Comes In ( 8:11 )
05: Jet Plane In A Rocking Chair ( 2:49 )
06: Beat The Retreat ( 5:52 )
07: Hard Luck Stories ( 3:51 )
08: Dimming Of The Day / Dargai ( 3:52 )

BONUS TRACKS
09: Wanted Man ( 5:35 ) – Previously Unreleased
10: Last Chance – Previously Unreleased ( 3:42 )
11: Diming Of The Day – Demo version ( 3:52 ) – Previously Unreleased
12: Things You Gave Me – Live at Oxford Polytechnic, 27/11/1975 ( 2:35 )
13: It’ll Be Me – Live at Oxford Polytechnic, 27/11/1975 ( 4:24 )
14: Calvary Cross – Live at Oxford Polytechnic, 27/11/1975 ( 13:24 )

DISC FIVE – THE MADNESS OF LOVE – LIVE – * Previously Unreleased
01: Dargai – Live at Queen Elizabeth Hall 25/04/1975 ( 3:33 ) *
02: Never Again -Live at Queen Elizabeth Hall 25/04/1975 ( 3:07 ) *
03: Dark End Of The Street – Live at Queen Elizabeth Hall 25/04/1975 remixed ( 4:19 ) *
04: Beat The Retreat – Live at Queen Elizabeth Hall 25/04/1975] remixed ( 6:24 ) *
05: The Sun Never Shines On The Poor – Live at Queen Elizabeth Hall 25/04/1975 ( 3:48 ) *
06: If I Were A Woman and You Were A Man – Theatre Royal, London, 01/05 1977 ( 2:54 ) *
07: The Madness of Love – Live, Theatre Royal, London, 01/05 1977 ( 7:00 )*
08: Night Comes In (Linda vocal) – Live, Theatre Royal, London, 01/05 1977( 12:53 )*
09: A Bird In Gods Garden -Live, Theatre Royal, London, 01/05 1977( 9:33 )*
10: The King of Love – Live, Theatre Royal, London, 01/05 1977 ( 6:55 ) *
11: Layla – Live, Theatre Royal, London, 01/05 1977 ( 8:48 ) *

DISC SIX – FIRST LIGHT – EXPANDED
01: Restless Highway ( 3:58 )
02: Sweet Surrender ( 4:53 )
03: Don’t Let A Thief Steal Into Your Heart ( 4:43 )
04: The Choice Wife ( 2:06 )
05: Died For Love ( 7:01 )
06: Strange Affair ( 3:08 )
07: Layla ( 4:22 )
08: Pavane ( 5:07 )
09: House of Cards ( 3:30 )
10: First Light ( 4:22 )

BONUS TRACKS
11: Strange Affair – Demo version ( 4:09 ) – Previously Unreleased
12: Drunk – Demo version ( 2:14 ) – Previously Unreleased
13: The Dust Of Your Road – Demo version ( 2:33 ) – Previously Unreleased
14: Layla – Demo version ( 4:38 ) – Previously Unreleased
15: Died For Love – Demo version ( 4:47 ) – Previously Unreleased
16: First Light – Demo version ( 4:03 )

DISC SEVEN – SUNNYVISTA – EXPANDED
01: Civilization ( 5:01 )
02: Borrowed Time ( 5:34 )
03: Saturday Rolling Around ( 3:24 )
04: You’re Going To Need Somebody ( 3:47 )
05: Why Do You Turn Your Back ? ( 5:09 )
06: Sunnyvista ( 4:24 )
07: Lonely Hearts ( 5:05 )
08: Sisters ( 4:47 )
09: Justice In The Streets ( 4:00 )
10: Traces Of My Love ( 4:05 )

BONUS TRACKS
11: Georgie On A Spree – 7” single version ( 3:28 )
12: Lucky In Life – Demo version ( 2:42 ) – Previously Unreleased
13: Speechless Child – Demo version ( 4:17 ) – Previously Unreleased
14: Traces of My Love – Demo version ( 4:13 ) – Previously Unreleased
15: For Shame Of Doing Wrong [Gerry Rafferty version] ( 4:16 )
16: The Wrong Heartbeat [Gerry Rafferty version] ( 3:09 )
17: Back Street Slide (Gerry Rafferty session, 1996 remix) ( 4:27 )

DISC EIGHT – SHOOT OUT THE LIGHTS – EXPANDED
01: Don’t Renege On Our Love ( 4:17 )
02: Walking On A Wire ( 5:26 )
03: A Man In Need ( 3:34 )
04: Just The Motion ( 6:17 )
05: Shoot Out The Lights ( 5:22 )
06: Back Street Slide ( 4:31 )
07: Did She Jump Or Was She Pushed ? ( 4:49 )
08: Wall of Death ( 3:43 )

BONUS TRACKS –
09: Living In Luxury – 7” single version ( 2:32 )
10: The Wrong Heartbeat – Shoot Out The Lights version ( 3:20 )
11: I’m A Dreamer – Gerry Rafferty session – 1996 remix ( 4:09 )
12: Walking On A Wire – Gerry Rafferty session – 1996 remix ( 5:12 )
13: Pavanne – Live, 2nd Story, Bloomington, Indiana 29/5/1982 ( 5:38 ) – Previously Unreleased
14: High School Confidential – Live, 2nd Story, Bloomington, Indiana 29/5/1982 ( 4:29 ) – Previously Unreleased