Notes

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disc 1: written as DVD
disc 2: info and files

Originals - Richard Thompson : Solitary Life
First Version premiered on BBC 4 on 15th January 2003
Updated Edition (This Version) First Broadcast 20th May 2004
Capped 22nd July 2006



"Richard Thompson: Solitary Life is a personal portrait of the critically acclaimed and enigmatic British folk rock singer, providing an insight into his fascinating life alongside exclusive footage. Contributors to the programme include Billy Connolly, Bonnie Raitt, ex wife Linda Thompson, Harry Shearer (Spinal Tap's Derek Smalls) and Richard's wife Nancy Covey.


"As Thompson, hailed as one of Britain's finest songwriters, releases his first album in four years and tours the UK, this documentary visits him at home in both London and Los Angeles - the first time such intimate access has been granted to this private and complex artist.


"Billy Connolly observes: "He's a quiet guy, he's almost an anorak our Richard, you wouldn't think he's the guy with the guitar shaking the town!"


"In the Sixties whilst still a teenager Thompson wrote generation defining songs like Meet On The Ledge. As founder member of Fairport Convention, as a duo with then wife Linda and more recently as a solo artist, Thompson's unique mix of rock and traditional music has ironically become more popular now in America than in the UK.


"At their height tragedy struck Fairport Convention when a motorway accident killed their engineer, drummer and Richard's girlfriend Jeannie Franklyn. Galvanised by grief they created stark new music, adapting traditional songs for a young electric band and spearheading Folk Rock.


"Richard and Linda Thompson's songs of spiritual yearning culminated in their becoming Sufi Muslims. Alternative living and devotional music gave way to the Eighties success Shoot Out The Lights. Good fortune coincided with the duo's messy divorce, painfully played out on their legendary US tour. The documentary captures this tension and highly charged atmosphere with exclusive footage recorded at one of the last concerts by a fan in America, which has never been seen on television before.


"Since then Richard's solo career has burgeoned, especially in America, with such resolutely English themed songs as Vincent Black Lightening 1952 celebrating a classic British motorbike. As well as featuring powerful performances of songs such as The End Of The Rainbow and A Heart Needs A Home, the documentary includes Solitary Life and Kidzz neither of which appear on his forthcoming album The Old Kit Bag."


Producer . Paul Bernays
BBC Music Entertainment Publicity

Freeview STB > DVD > TMPGEnc DVD Author 3

Video: 4371 Kbps (VTS_01_1.VOB G-Spot reading), 25 fps, 720 x 576
Audio: Dolby Digtal (AC-3), 48000 Hz 256 kbps