Richard Thompson at the Birchmere, Alexandria, VA

[pltrgyst]

Aaahhh. Sitting here, 21-year-old Edradour in hand, having just
returned from the Birchmere for the second night in a row seeing
Richard Thompson perform solo. The man is a flat-out guitar wizard, up
in my pantheon of guitar gods with Clapton and Albert King. For his
folk-rock finger picking style, he is second to no one. Absolutely
amazing.

Some of you undoubtedly know his work. The rest of you are wondering
how on Earth this could be on-topic.

Well, that would be because Richard Thompson is the author and best
performer -- by far -- of the very best motorcycle song ever written,
"1952 Vincent Black Lightning." Yes, better than "Eye of the
Hurricane." Far better. Impossible for some people to hear without a
tear forming, along with a damned near uncontrollable urge to go jump
on the nearest old Brit bike and scream off into the night.

If you haven't seen him, and you ever have the chance, go. But go on
two wheels.

1952 Vincent Black Lightning
~Richard Thompson

Oh says Red Molly to James "That's a fine motorbike.
A girl could feel special on any such like"
Says James to Red Molly "My hat's off to you
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952.
And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour scheme"
And he pulled her on behind and down to Boxhill they did ride
Oh says James to Red Molly "Here's a ring for your right hand
But I'll tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man.
For I've fought with the law since I was seventeen,
I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine.
Now I'm 21 years, I might make 22
And I don't mind dying, but for the love of you.
And if fate should break my stride
Then I'll give you my Vincent to ride"

"Come down, come down, Red Molly" called Sergeant McRae
"For they've taken young James Adie for armed robbery.
Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside.
Oh come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside"
When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left
He was running out of road, he was running out of breath
But he smiled to see her cry
He said "I'll give you my Vincent to ride"

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 Greeves won't do,
Ah, they don't have a soul like a Vincent 52"
Oh he reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys
Said "I've got no further use for these.
I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swooping down from heaven to carry me home"
And he gave her one last kiss and died
And he gave her his Vincent to ride.



-- Larry
"Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme." -- RT

[Dave Slavik]

Post by pltrgyst
"Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme." -- RT

Such a beautiful saying, had to snarf that for a forum sig.

[mjt]

Post by Dave Slavik

Post by pltrgyst
"Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme." -- RT

Such a beautiful saying,

.... agreed!
.

[Igli]

Post by pltrgyst
"1952 Vincent Black Lightning."

Gotta agree... This thing puts up the goose bumps every time, without
fail.Based on an old madrigal tune, I understand, with guitar work that
borders on angelic to impossible. It used to be online, a live clip from PBS,
audio only. An absolute gem, with a sledgehammer impact.

------------------------------------------------------ Igli

[pltrgyst]

Post by Igli

Post by pltrgyst
"1952 Vincent Black Lightning."

Gotta agree... This thing puts up the goose bumps every time, without
fail.Based on an old madrigal tune, I understand, with guitar work that
borders on angelic to impossible. It used to be online, a live clip from PBS,
audio only. An absolute gem, with a sledgehammer impact.

and that is all one guitar. I've been told that the song is available
from the iPod library at Apple.

-- Larry

[Beloved Leader]

Post by pltrgyst
Impossible for some people to hear without a
tear forming,...

I have to agree. Just reading the lyrics did it for me. The song
received airplay on local station WRNR in Annapolis. No other station
played it at all.

The only other song I'd like to nominate for the "best ever" category
is "Ride With the Angels," by Peter Miller and the Wildcats, on the
album "Pre-CBS." It got airplay at WRNR's predecessor, WHFS, which has
since gone into a precipitous decline and now plays total dreck. DJ
Weasel, aka Jonathan Gilbert, was the only one on 'HFS who played it,
and that was twenty years ago.

A few years back, I exchanged some e-mails with Peter Miller, who is
alive and well in San Francisco. I never ever found a copy of his
song.

Would you believe I have a link to that album?
http://www.bigboypete.com/precbs.html

Good luck finding it. I have scoured many a yard sale and rummage sale
in vain. Last Saturday I was at a rummage at Grace Episcopal Church,
three blocks from the Birchmere. The week before that, I hit one at
St. Rita's, across the street from the Birchmere.

Of course, that's the new Birchmere. The real Birchmere was....

[Larry]

Post by Beloved Leader
I have to agree. Just reading the lyrics did it for me. The song
received airplay on local station WRNR in Annapolis. No other station
played it at all.

But the song is much older than WRNR -- older, even, than WHFS.

Post by Beloved Leader
A few years back, I exchanged some e-mails with Peter Miller, who is
alive and well in San Francisco. I never ever found a copy of his
song.Would you believe I have a link to that album?
http://www.bigboypete.com/precbs.html

Thanks for the pointer -- I'll keep an eye out.

Post by Beloved Leader
Of course, that's the new Birchmere. The real Birchmere was....

... not the one on Mount Vernon Ave. 8;)

-- Larry
(Alexandria)

[Beloved Leader]

Post by Larry

Post by Beloved Leader
I have to agree. Just reading the lyrics did it for me. The song
received airplay on local station WRNR in Annapolis. No other station
played it at all.

But the song is much older than WRNR -- older, even, than WHFS.

It's about an old bike, but it's not an old song. This site:
http://www.tabalorium.com/tabs/9965.html
says the song was written in 1991.

Post by Larry

Post by Beloved Leader
Of course, that's the new Birchmere. The real Birchmere was....

... not the one on Mount Vernon Ave. 8;)

Not either one on Mount Vernon Ave. We'll let the non-locals ponder that.

[Larry]

Post by Beloved Leader
http://www.tabalorium.com/tabs/9965.html
says the song was written in 1991.

That's when the song was first released, on the "Rumor and Sigh"
album. But RT current has him performing his songs in chronological
order, and he places 1952 VBL in the very early eighties.

Post by Beloved Leader

Post by Larry

Post by Beloved Leader
Of course, that's the new Birchmere. The real Birchmere was....

... not the one on Mount Vernon Ave. 8;)

Not either one on Mount Vernon Ave. We'll let the non-locals ponder that.

Yep. Although the address is on Mt. Vernon, I think of the current
location as being "off-Mt. Vernon", sort of like "off-Briadway."

Next we'll be reminiscing about the Cellar Door... 8;)

-- Larry

[Larry]

Post by Larry
That's when the song was first released, on the "Rumor and Sigh"
album. But RT current has him performing his songs in chronological
order, and he places 1952 VBL in the very early eighties.

That should read "RT's current tour".

-- Old Fumblefingers (Larry)

[Beloved Leader]

Post by Larry

Post by Beloved Leader
http://www.tabalorium.com/tabs/9965.html
says the song was written in 1991.

That's when the song was first released, on the "Rumor and Sigh"
album. But RT current has him performing his songs in chronological
order, and he places 1952 VBL in the very early eighties.

Thanks. To the best of my knowledge, I don't have any of his albums.

[Brutus]

Post by Larry

Post by Beloved Leader
http://www.tabalorium.com/tabs/9965.html
says the song was written in 1991.

That's when the song was first released, on the "Rumor and Sigh"
album. But RT current has him performing his songs in chronological
order, and he places 1952 VBL in the very early eighties.

Post by Beloved Leader

Post by Larry

Post by Beloved Leader
Of course, that's the new Birchmere. The real Birchmere was....

... not the one on Mount Vernon Ave. 8;)

Not either one on Mount Vernon Ave. We'll let the non-locals ponder that.

Yep. Although the address is on Mt. Vernon, I think of the current
location as being "off-Mt. Vernon", sort of like "off-Briadway."
Next we'll be reminiscing about the Cellar Door... 8;)

In the summer of 1972 my wife and I, while visiting in the Washington DC area attended a most
impressive show with the (then new) bluegrass band The Seldom Scene at the Cellar Door...

BTW the best rendition of Richard Thomson's "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" that I've heard is The
Del McCoury Band version on their "Del and the Boys" CD....

[Beloved Leader]

Post by Brutus
BTW the best rendition of Richard Thomson's "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" that I've heard is The
Del McCoury Band version on their "Del and the Boys" CD....

I don't keep up with the music scene, but I'd guess that it would work
out quite well as a bluegrass tune.

Obligatory link, with schedule of upcoming performances:
http://www.delmccouryband.com/

[Beloved Leader]

Post by Brutus
BTW the best rendition of Richard Thomson's "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" that I've heard is The
Del McCoury Band version on their "Del and the Boys" CD....

Reply, part deux. I went to the Del McCoury Band website and saw
mention of a Richard Thompson interview on NPR.

http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1506843
Nov. 16, 2003 -- Richard Thompson might be the quintessential cult
artist. Mention his name, and people either scratch their heads,
wondering why the name is familiar, or turn out to be fans who try to
convert you.
....
<<

A sound card will come in handy.

[Solaratov]

You're right, it's a teriffic song.
Have you heard Bluegrass titan Del McCoury's cover of Vincent Black
Lightning? He does a damn fine job of it, IMHO!

I believe Richard Thompson's studio version is found on the "Rumor &
Sigh" album.

S.

Post by pltrgyst
Aaahhh. Sitting here, 21-year-old Edradour in hand, having just
returned from the Birchmere for the second night in a row seeing
Richard Thompson perform solo. The man is a flat-out guitar wizard, up
in my pantheon of guitar gods with Clapton and Albert King. For his
folk-rock finger picking style, he is second to no one. Absolutely
amazing.
Some of you undoubtedly know his work. The rest of you are wondering
how on Earth this could be on-topic.
Well, that would be because Richard Thompson is the author and best
performer -- by far -- of the very best motorcycle song ever written,
"1952 Vincent Black Lightning." Yes, better than "Eye of the
Hurricane." Far better. Impossible for some people to hear without a
tear forming, along with a damned near uncontrollable urge to go jump
on the nearest old Brit bike and scream off into the night.
If you haven't seen him, and you ever have the chance, go. But go on
two wheels.
1952 Vincent Black Lightning
~Richard Thompson
Oh says Red Molly to James "That's a fine motorbike.
A girl could feel special on any such like"
Says James to Red Molly "My hat's off to you
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952.
And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour scheme"
And he pulled her on behind and down to Boxhill they did ride
Oh says James to Red Molly "Here's a ring for your right hand
But I'll tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man.
For I've fought with the law since I was seventeen,
I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine.
Now I'm 21 years, I might make 22
And I don't mind dying, but for the love of you.
And if fate should break my stride
Then I'll give you my Vincent to ride"
"Come down, come down, Red Molly" called Sergeant McRae
"For they've taken young James Adie for armed robbery.
Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside.
Oh come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside"
When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left
He was running out of road, he was running out of breath
But he smiled to see her cry
He said "I'll give you my Vincent to ride"
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 Greeves won't do,
Ah, they don't have a soul like a Vincent 52"
Oh he reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys
Said "I've got no further use for these.
I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swooping down from heaven to carry me home"
And he gave her one last kiss and died
And he gave her his Vincent to ride.
-- Larry
"Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme." -- RT