Strict Tempo!

Strict Tempo!
Studio album by
Richard Thompson
ReleasedSeptember 1981
Recorded1981
StudioBTW Studios, Wood Green, London and Woodworm Studios, Cropredy.
GenreFolk
Length42:09
LabelElixir Records
Topic Records (CD, 1992)
Omnivore Recordings (CD, 2011)
ProducerRichard Thompson
Richard Thompson chronology
Live! (More or Less)
(1976) 		Strict Tempo!
(1981) 		Hand of Kindness
(1983)

Strict Tempo! is the second studio album by Richard Thompson, released in 1981.[1] Apart from soundtracks, it is Thompson's only entirely instrumental studio album. The album consists of some of the artist's favourite tunes, all rendered as instrumentals and all arranged for guitar, mandolin, and other instruments played by Thompson. The only other musician is drummer Dave Mattacks.

After the modest sales for their 1979 album Sunnyvista, Richard and Linda Thompson found themselves without a record deal. Their earlier album Shoot Out the Lights, which was produced and financed by Gerry Rafferty, failed to secure them a deal with a major label.

To generate some income, Thompson formed his own record label Elixir Records and recorded this album mostly at the small BTW studio in London, and also at the Woodworm Studios at Cropredy.

The album was re-released on CD by Topic Records in 1992, and again on CD by Omnivore Recordings in 2011.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Robert ChristgauB[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[1]
Spin Alternative Record Guide8/10[5]

Robert Christgau wrote that the songs are "recommended to folkies, ex-folkies, guitar adepts, and students of European song."[3]

Track listing

All songs traditional and arranged by Richard Thompson except where noted.

  1. "New-Fangled Flogging Reel/Kerry Reel"
  2. "Vaillance Polka Militaire/Belfast Polka"
  3. "Glencoe/Scott Skinner’s Rockin' Step/Bonny Banchory" (James Scott Skinner, not credited)
  4. "Banish Misfortune"
  5. "Dundee Hornpipe/Poppy-Leaf Hornpipe"
  6. "Do It For My Sake"
  7. "Rockin’ In Rhythm" (Duke Ellington)
  8. "The Random Jig/The Grinder"
  9. "Will Ye No Cam Back Again"
  10. "Cam O’er The Stream Charlie/Ye Banks And Braes"
  11. "Rufty Tufty/Nonsuch à la Mode de France"
  12. "Andalus/Radio Marrakesh"
  13. "The Knife-Edge" (Richard Thompson)

Musicians

Other personnel

  • John Borthwick – engineer, BTW
  • Simon Nicol – engineer, Woodworm
  • Richard Thompson – producer, liner notes

Topic Records, 1992 CD

  • Tony Engle – design
  • David Suff – illustration (cover drawing), liner notes
  • Fin Costello – photography

References

  1. ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 704.
  2. ^ Deming, Mark. "Richard Thompson – Strict Tempo!". AllMusic.
  3. ^ a b "Richard Thompson". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  5. ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 405.