Richard Thompson
Album: Walking on a Wire, 1968-2009
Label: Shout Factory
Rating: ****

There’s an awful lot to like in this four-disc, 71-track box set spanning the four-decade career of one of rock music’s most respected guitarists. But it’s the first and last discs in this box that impress the most. That says a great deal about Thompson. It says that his career now is as impelling and creative now as it was in 1968. You’re going to have a tough time finding another artist of which that can be said. The box, priced at about $66, spans 34 albums, arranged in chronological order from his days with folk-rock pioneers Fairport Convention to his 2009 masterpiece Sweet Warrior. Rolling Stone once described Thompson as the “quintessential cult artist” (loose translation: genius without a hit). This box-set offers cult members a chance to replace wornout vinyl without having to negotiate a bank loan and easy way for the uninitiated to get immersed in a remarkable body of work.

On the web
http://www.richardthompson-music.com

More about Richard Thompson , Music Reviews

more scene stories

VIDEO: Whitney Houston's career-shaping moments

From "I Will Always Love You" to Super Bowl National Anthem, these songs shaped her career.

What happened to Whitney Houston?

The Queen of Soul Whitney Houston died of unknown causes Saturday afternoon. We speak to Addiction expert Dr. John Sharpe about her death, demons and drug use.

Whitney Houston's life of highs and lows

Whitney Houston — music icon, best-selling artist, winner of six Grammy Awards, movie star and admitted drug addict — died Feb. 11. She was 48.

Add your comment

Comments are not reviewed before posting. If you believe a comment has violated the commenting guidelines, please alert a moderator using links provided.