Songs of the Expatriates: Richard Thompson & Zachary Richard
This week on American Routes, we'll talk to the beloved electric and eclectic, folk rocker songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson. An advocate for British lyric and music tradition in new settings with refashioned traditional songs and stories like "Matty Groves" and "Tam Lin," Thompson evolved from playing in the seminal late 1960s English folk-rock band, Fairport Convention to his present day role as an in-demand guitarist and songwriter. Now based in Los Angeles, Richard's career of memorable songs and epicure guitar is heard in a variety of genres from Cajun and country to rock and pop. Thompson's iconic songs include "Meet on the Ledge," "1952 Vincent Black Lightning," "Dimming of the Day" and "Tear Stained Letter." Among the artists who have recorded his work are Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos, Del McCoury and R.E.M. Then we'll visit with accordion-man Zachary Richard about growing up in French-speaking South Louisiana but needing to go to France and Quebec to realize the significance of the Cajun culture into which he was born. Zachary Richard's 40-year career reflects new ways with old Cajun waltzes and two steps, the R & B glow of near by New Orleans, American folk rock mixed with swamp pop, and elegiac new songs that draw on continental French, Quebecois and Acadian sources the French of his homeland: South Louisiana's Cajun country.
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Salford Sunday Richard Thompson
Electric, Beeswing
Come All Ye Fairport Convention
Liege and Lief, Island
Sur le Point de Lyon Beausoleil with Richard Thompson
Bayou Deluxe, Rhino
On Top of Old Smoky Roscoe Holcomb
The High Lonesome Sound, Smithsonian Folkways
Forbidden Lovers Lefty Frizzell
Look What Thoughts Will Do, Columbia
Instrumental: On Top Of Old Smokey Grant Green
Goin' West, Blue Note
Lovin' Up a Storm Jerry Lee Lewis
Sun Classics, Charly
Sittin' On Top of the World Howlin' Wolf
The London Sessions, MCA
Rock Island Line Lonnie Donegan
The Singles Anthology 1955-1967, CMETD
SEGMENT: Richard Thompson
Instrumental: Sunset Song Richard Thompson
Sweet Warrior, Beeswing
Wreck of the Carlos Rey Los Lobos
The Ride, Hollywood
Handsome Molly Mick Jagger
Wandering Spirit, Atlantic
Dimming of the Day Bonnie Raitt
The Best of Bonnie Raitt on Capitol 1989-2003, Capitol
1952 Vincent Black Lightning Del McCoury Band
Del and the Boys, Ceili
End Bed: Take Care the Road You Choose Richard Thompson
Sweet Warrior, Beeswing
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: Laisse le vent souffler Zachary Richard
Le Fou, Avalanche
Sweet Sweet Zachary Richard
Le Fou, Avalanche
J'ai vu le loup le renard et la belette Balfa Brothers
J'ai vu le loup le renard et la belette, Rounder
Acadian Driftwood The Band
Northern Lights - Southern Cross, Capitol
Balfa et Grand Bois Coteau
Highly Seasoned Cajun Music, Rounder
No French No More Zachary Richard
Women in the Room, A&M
Les Flammes d'Enfer Richard Thompson
Evangeline Made: A Tribute to Cajun Music, Vanguard
Instrumental: Acadian Two-Step Coteau
Highly Seasoned Cajun Music, Rounder
SEGMENT: Zachary Richard
Let the Four Winds Blow Fats Domino
Out of New Orleans, Bear Family
Femme l'a Dit FeuFollet
Cow Island Hop, Valcour
Instrumental: Frog Legs Clifton Chenier
Bon Ton Roulet, Arhoolie
Rosa Majeur Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Band
Zydeco, GNP Crescendo
Sweet Little Doll Clifton Chenier
Bon Ton Roulet, Arhoolie
Bon Soir Moreau Canray Fontenot
Louisiana Hot Sauce Creole Style, Arhoolie
I Got Loaded The Wood Brothers
The Muse, Southern Ground
End Bed: Cow Island Hop Feufollet
Cow Island Hop, Valcour