Sam Pacetti -Richard Thompson's 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

[yahoochiewatchie]

@amieLightle How bout i kick you straight in the pussy?

[jrjul]

Sam was the 1st person I ever heard perform this song live. The man is a finger pickin genius. So many covers of this great song. RT who was one of the founding members of Fairport Convention. Another great RT song ; "Beeswing". BTW, Sam can usually be found performing live at "The Milltop" in St Augustne FL on monday evenings. He is a local favorite. He often performs at the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival ; first weekend in May down here in St Johns County FL at the fairgounds.

[frndandlovr]

I have heard the Reckless Kelly version and for a little while did adopt a certain chord change he does ... inserting a C in the riff, which is normally done just in the G chord (in RT's key). It's nice, but a little tricky, so I don't usually do it.

And I made a mistake earlier ... RT capos 3rd fret playing the G position.

[Daion1978]

I'm well impressed! I've just seen this among the RT version playes and he really stands out among them.

Thanks to TedWray for this post.

Does anybody know anything about the tuning and chords this guy is using?

[frndandlovr]

It looks to me like he's tuned to drop-D, playing D (capo on what looks to be the 6th fret ... making the key G#). Richard Thompson tunes to "drop-C" without a capo and plays in the key of G.

Drop-C is like Drop-D except that you tune the low E down to C and the A down to G. The result is that you have some standard chord shapes on the high strings. Conveniently, one of the forms of C is a complete barre on the 5th fret.

[Daion1978]

frndandlovr hi, thanks for posting, though I have done it in concert now. Trouble is, it sounds like the Pacetti version-if he had boxing gloves on!

By the way, check out the Reckless Kelly Version!

[yahoochiewatchie]

@Daion1978 R. Kelly? Isn't he a pedo?

[Kappadanielson]

Oh my Sam Pacetti!!!! I heard a recording of his Shawneetown that I absolutely loved......I played it over and over. Thanks for sharing this!

Kappa

[mickenoss]

Awesome amalgamation of guitar and voice, didn't want to enjoy through being a Richard Thompson fan, but you did a good job, exceptional even! Well done =)

[mickenoss]

Just watched it a few more times, I really love this. It makes RT's version sound mechanical and souless, bloody good job jobbed!

[Sordel]

Steady on, mickenoss! "mechanical and soulless" indeed ...

[mickenoss]

AxKTzwaEa2o

Give that one a listen and you'll see what I mean, I LOVE RT's song but this guy is one of the only ones who've done a decent cover in a way that does the original justice. Sam's just so soulful, you gotta admit!

[stevem23]

mechanical and souless?! you pig! RT birthed this masterpiece!

as an aside, great, GREAT rendition! you poured your soul into it...

[loungecruz]

go Sam

[johnjosephgreenwood]

Fantastic version of a great song.

[carphius]

amazing! I play the original version of this song but this is very, very good! thanks for uploading!

[RoofFiddler]

If you can link to a better version, I'll eat my hat.

[RTFan52]

I like this version, but :

7pItobmBGfY

YouTube doesn't seem to like full URLs in comments anymore.

Your hat could probably use some salt and pepper.

[RoofFiddler]

It isn't really fair to compare a cover to a performance by the original artist- the original artist performing the song will always have a bit more "validity" by default... But still- sacrilege though it may be, I'll say out loud that I still think Sams version is better than the RT performance in that video. It's certainly a lot fresher.

[Jennobvm]

No its not!

But its hella better than those damn bluegrass versions. Apart from messing up the first lyric, this is textbook fingerpicking, great stuff.

[eddietwang]

kij

[RoofFiddler]

OK, i'll admit to being a bit of a Sam Pacetti fanboy, but from a purely objective perspective, this is easily the best version of 1952VBL on youtube, including the various Richard Thompson renditions.

[fngrpckr]

Fantastic playing! I think you do a very good job on this. Great singing also. You do some great songs, Thank's!

Darryl