Richard Thompson - Wall of Death

[ianbadg]

The most unique soloist Ive ever heard. Awesome!

[GrezH]

Saw this lineup at Leeds Town Hall in 1985 and they were stunning. Great night out!

[joynthis]

All around brilliant, even though I've still never figured out what "chawnces" are.

[57adjrean]

These lyrics really resonate with me.

Great music, talented group of musicians RT has in this band.

I especially like Christine, who puts alot of energy and spirit into her playing and singing. As always, RT is THE BEST !!

[baszman]

From what I can remember this was from like1983-1985 saw the tour very incredible show!

[mapior]

Gerry Conway on drums but who's the bassist - nice technique

[Manarchy09]

@mapior That's Rory McFarlane on bass

[nhgumbah]

effortless perfection...

[thelenis]

brilliant guitarist and song writer...one of the best

[johnbarry1965]

I knew a Bearded Lady called RUBY

[johnbarry1965]

Richard Thompson like Ray Davies should be taken over by the National Trust because they are both national treasure's!!!!!

[DecimatusBand]

LIKE THIS if this is not what you were looking for when you typed in wall of death

[MSnapem]

@DecimatusBand Nope, this is exactly what I was looking for!

[RootsWorld1]

The female vocalist is Christine Collister, the guitarist in the shades and hat is Clive Gregson.

[johnbarry1965]

The happiest song ever about mortality!!!! Live for today.

[rothwellss]

Great saw the film in the 70s I think

[hallettscove]

I can't get over this man's ability.

[MrNonoz]

RTs chops are soooo underatted

[TheElMendigo]

@MrNonoz on the contrary. To the people who have heard him (e.g. music critics) he is constantly referred to as one of the best guitarists ever.

[OxbowisaMstie]

Such a sweet song....with such a brutal title! rock! \ ,,, /

[arsalbu]

It is not Linda Thompson, But I do not know who she is., I was wondering myself

[Cleapatr]

@arsalbu Christine Collister

[Coltrane48]

@Cleapatr and Clive Gregson, arguably his best live band..

[daf827]

@Coltrane48 Agree! I saw this lineup several times in the mid '80s and they rocked. Christine is RT's best backing singer, by far. Great harmonies.

[alphonso49uk]

@arsalbu I think its christine collister

[soundmethod]

Is that Linda Thompson?

[SouthCoastMackem]

Astonishing to think that he was only 18 when he started out with Fairport Convention back in 1967. Truly the guitarists' guitarist, he's been turning out top quality music like this for so many years now, I think he's past superlatives. The man is a wonder, pure and simple.

[nonameinfl]

That is a great little song and man, what a great strat tone.

[pwwatson8888]

I still get goosebumps listening to this. I t is excellent driving music!

[JacKass00001]

@pwwatson8888

It's called "Richard Thompson" and have been known to mankind for 40 odd years...

[Baruchyoseph8]

thanks for posting the words ....

[del5158]

How sick is that guitar solo? Incredible. So short. So perfect.

[SuperKarakis]

Good band!! Nice music it moves me...

[MadManxOne]

Whoops,  Sorry ThomasBivens, my last post was intended for Baci302

[bobzubb]

Christine Collister and Clive Gregson in fine support!

Brilliant phase of the maestro's career.........

[baranoww]

How about hooking him up with Kate Bush!

[Baci302]

What a tremendous performance, by the entire band, of one of rock and roll's great songs. Linda's back-up vocal is a tour de force ... exquisite!

[moonbeamchaos]

@Baci302 ---that's NOT Linda!

[Baci302]

@moonbeamchaos Oh wow. Ok. Who is it?

[Baci302]

@moonbeamchaos Christine Collister ... I got it now. I have a wonderful cd that she made with Clive Gregson. A bunch of acoustic duets. Beautiful.

[irelephant]

@Baci302 IMHO RT's best performances [from what I've seen on youtube] are those where he is singing in harmony with a great femail vocalist, such as his former wife, or remarkably well here with Christine Collister. This song is particularly vibrant, uplifiting, and full of life. His cover of Joni Mitchell's Woodstock, with her in the audience is absolutely mystical as well.

[thefrisquette]

Happy birthday MM,superbe concert ensemble(dans une autre vie)

[Dougonbass]

@ThomasBivens; read all the comments here, you will discover her name!

[ijmccardle]

Great song, but my dad just told me something funny... Change the words 'wall of death' to 'water bed', and the song takes on a whole new meaning!

[Th0masBivens]

i love this song, but this ain't linda. at least it doesn't look or sound like linda. sounds better with linda. now if that is linda and i'm wrong, i'd be surprised.

[MadManxOne]

@Th0masBivens  Its Christine Collister performing here on backing vocals, so you are right in that respect. Personally I think she did a great job of it

[writer1990]

Shawn Colvin often performed this live, back before her first album in the mid 1980s...sad that it wasn't on "Cover Girl"

[Kagami101]

This song was on a Time-Life anthology I bought years ago and it has been a favorite of mine ever since.

[jbails007]

This is an amazing little-known song. It's definitely Richard and Linda's best IMO. I'm kind of glad it's obscure so nobody ruins it by covering it. You can't do better than this version.

[CharizardYoda]

Dax Riggs covered this.

[SongsofLoveandHate]

@CharizardYoda I just found out it was a cover. That whole record is just amazing.

[GnarlyEyeball]

@CharizardYoda Dax RIggs version is awesome.

[gaspode18]

@CharizardYoda So did REM

[handonrip]

gosh a great tune about my favorite attraction ever........

[4120Wade]

Stirring, haunting, very AMERICAN song. For some reason reminds me of Warren Zevon's Excitable Boy.

[gaspode18]

@4120Wade That's odd - for me it evokes the smell of fried onions in a grubby ENGLISH fairground

[mobydoug]

@gaspode18 Now that you mention it, I do smell the fried onions.....and a wall of portapotties, as well.....

[clubconv]

I once saw R & L at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park. Naturally it rained, but so as not to disappoint the fans they had their equipment carted down to the walkway below the seating and played their set there!

[mcmullet2]

Wow, this is so fine. The female voice is perfect compliment to and strong as Richard Thompson's. Classic rock and roll.

[hawkwood44]

Unlike Bob Dylan, Richard T. never had a great pop group to popularize his fantastic songs and put his career over the top......Imagine the Byrds or Tom Petty covering this song...its a mega hit....but we take great pleasure in RTs fantastic writing

[uberpills]

Of all the times I"ve seen Thompson, this tour - his '87 tour, with Collister and Gregson - was the best.

[pmfzero]

@uberpills - I saw the band with Clive and Christine and you are right - they were perfect partners for RT

[filmerado]

Thanks!

[MaabudZ]

A perennial great song. One of Thompsons finest IMHO. I did like the version he did with Linda but this is a true pleasure to watch and hear.

[GuillermoMarconi]

One of Thompson's best songs, just brimming with confidence and attitude...and this performance is exceptional. Thanks for posting.

[dysan1010]

I'd like to mosh to this song in japanese harcore style... OI OI! 88

[aztiff]

What year?

[Soarhead77]

Probably some time between 1985 (when Christine Collister joined the Richard Thompson band) and 1989

[mjlewis104]

Without doubt, the best guitarist, songwriter, singer I have ever come across.

[MehefinHeulog]

me too

[SwordKay]

@mjlewis104 best guitarist? Look up Steve Vai.

[pwwatson8888]

Try Doyle Dykes Wabash Cannonball

[Salguine]

@SwordKay HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! HA HA HA HA HA!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! *cough cough*...Hee hee hee hee. Oh, my ribs. Heh heh heh...hooo!

[sumthinzup]

very cool

[delbard1]

That ride is ( I think), one that spins you alarge Tube side object. In Pittsburgh, Pa that rise was know a Kennywood as "The Rotor". Are thdere any other video takes on the song?

[youtootube99]

delbard.........The Wall of Death was a featured attraction at county fairs and small town carnivals througout the country (at least in the NE) in the 50s & 60s. For all I kow it is still alive and well somewhere. A stunt rider would ride his motorcycle around and around and up and down the inside of a round wooden container that was maybe 16' high. Folks would stand on a platform above the wall and watch and pray the rider didn't come over the edge and take their heads off.

[muskratkippy]

Oh great, now I hear to beware of the bearded lady. I always get these warnings too damn late!!!

[jbcatl]

This is a fantastic performance of this song.

[PhalainaBelgium]

Excellent song with outstanding vocals of

Christine Collister !! Phalaïna

[hwigney]

Could I have been at this show - Barrymore's, Ottawa, Canada?? I love it!

[donnamarcus]

Still better than the REM cover.

[morrisroe]

wow.. so good .

[poorpaddy99]

dont suppose anyone might put up the original studio recording sometime, i'd like to hear it?

[cmcgoat]

I like this version. When was it filmed and who is the woman he is singing with?

[BucksStudent]

I don't think she even knows who she is.

[20fragra07]

She is Christine Collister, who has toured a lot with him.

[martinterri]

Yep 20fragra07 is correct Christine Collister - she recorded and toured as a duo with Clive Gregson the dude with the hat playing rhythm guitar. They were excellent.