This week’s invitation from Jim – read all about it here – is to play songs by children of famous singers, who became famous singers themselves, as suggested by Barbara from teleportingweena ghostmmnc. First thought: define ‘famous.’ The last time Jim ran with this theme I went with one of Billy Ray Cyrus’ kids – the younger, less famous one. I thought about doing that again, but felt I shouldn’t repeat myself. My first idea was Jakob Dylan, but I like to do something different with these if I can and he may well be chosen by others, so instead I’ve settled on the sprog of two of the greats of English folk-rock singer-songwriter music – that counts as fame in my book. They are Richard and Linda Thompson, he is their son Teddy. I’m playing you two of the tracks from his fourth studio album, A Piece Of What You Need, which was released in June 2008.
This is the first:
And here are the lyrics:
Got an easy place to be In my arms, in my arms Got a simple space to feel free In my arms, oh in my arms
Keep it on the recent Keep it on the now Give me an easy way out
It’s a lonely world that I got In my arms, in my arms Got a ‘lotta room to get lost In my arms, in my arms
Keep it on the recent Keep it on the now Give me an easy way to get out
Keep it on the recent Keep it on the now Give me an easy way out
Got an easy place to be In my arms, oh in my arms Not much to feel from me In my arms, oh in my arms
I really like that video, with the totally OTT guest appearance by Rufus Wainwright as Elvis on keyboards, himself the son of well-known musicians (Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle). The two are friends, as are their families, and to keep the connection going both have younger sisters who are also musicians – Kami Thompson and Martha Wainwright. Teddy has to date made ten albums since his career started in 2000, mostly solo but a couple of collaborations. This is his most successful to date, having reached #10 in the UK Albums chart, and the single release of this track reached the dizzy heights of #107 here in the UK. I think my favourite is one of his earlier albums – Separate Ways – but they are all good, and he has a voice that I find very pleasing on the ear.
My second dip into today’s album of choice sees Teddy playing his song Don’t Know What I Was Thinking live, with a rather good set of backing musicians and vocalists:
If you didn’t recognise the setting, that clip is from the wonderful TV series Transatlantic Sessions, in which a bunch of very talented musicians from both sides of the pond get together in a beautiful Scottish location and make great music together. There have been six series of the show so far, starting in 1995, and this was from the sixth and, so far, most recent set, which aired in 2013. I’m ever hopeful of them making some new ones but for now they seem content to tour live shows instead: I went to one in, I think, 2014 and it was a superb evening. And you may just have noticed that after she appeared in this week’s Tuesday Tunes my favourite – Mary Chapin Carpenter – popped in for this one too. Any show which includes her is fine by me!
That’s me for SLS this week. I’m now off to see who the other participants are playing. Thanks as always to Jim Adams for hosting this, and for this week to Barbara for her theme suggestion.
Ah, you still have comments open on this post. Thank you! I’m glad I let this notification hang out in my inbox and decided today to go see what the ‘oldest’ emails were, and found this! Had not heard of Teddy Thompson; now he has multiple songs on my primary playlist. Thank you, Clive! ~Ed.
I don’t believe I’d heard of this artist or his relatives before, but I sure do love how he sings. Both videos and songs were great, and that first one was so cute with him and the girl getting together. 🙂
Thanks for the mention! I’ve really been enjoying all the choices everyone is making. 🙂
I’m not surprised you hadn’t heard of Teddy – it was a deliberate choice to introduce someone new to most readers. But Richard? He has lived in the US for quite some time and plays a lot of gigs there. I’m pleased you liked Teddy – I think he’s great, and these two are good videos to showcase him. You’re welcome on the mention, and it’s good that you’ve enjoyed the responses to your theme 👍
Fun challenge, Clive. Two good ones I had never heard before. Of course, you found a way to slip Mary Chapin Carpenter in there. She has to be one of your most played artists.
I thought they’d be new, Pete. I’m glad you liked them – he’s made some good music down the years. MCC was kind of incidental to that song, but you’re right. If you look at the cloud map of tags on my site there are four musicians in it: The Beatles, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, and MCC. Seems a fair reflection to me!
Nice. I remember ‘In My Arms.’ With Linda and Richard as your parents you start off at quite an advantage talent-wise. Ditto Rufus, though his parents marriage was not exactly a blissful union!
I can always count on you for something different Clive, as I knew nothing about Richard and Linda Thompson, or their son Teddy. I enjoyed both songs that you selected and putting out 10 albums in 14 years is very prolific.
I try to play artists that I think might be new to others for these posts. I did actually feature Richard back in July, with a song Teddy also played and sang on, a real beauty.
Teddy’s ten albums are in 24 years, not 14, but all are worth hearing. Richard and Linda made several fine albums together in the 1970s, and Richard has made a whole string of great records: his most recent was just a few months ago. Linda has had health issues but has returned with some lovely solo albums of her own, with contributions and production by Teddy on some. Keeping it in the family!
Yup, that’s right. Teddy was born while they were in a Sufi commune. They still get on, though – I saw them at a big Fairport Convention history gig around ten years ago. Fairport always end their shows with a mass gathering to sing ‘Meet On The Ledge’ and as that show brought back former members right from the beginning it was a big crowd for the song. As they were assembling one of them ushered a little lady wearing her coat onto the stage to join in – Linda!
Pardon my baseball analogies; coming off a disappointing World Series, the lingo is still fresh in my brain.
Wow! This is a grand slam homer of a post, Clive! I was not familiar with either of these videos but I immediately fell in love with both of them. And cameo appearances by RW and MCC are icing on the cake. This may well be my favorite post today!
I’m pleased you liked them both so much, Nancy. Teddy tends to be in the shadows of his father but deserves to be much better known. Those cameo appearances add a lot to both videos, I think.
Favourite post? I bet you say that to all the guys 😉
Yes I recall commenting and saving the track onto one of my playlists. When I first heard Teddy Thompson I presumed he was an American country star is a similar vein as Lyle Lovett. I wasn’t aware then that his father was Teddy Thompson.
I can’t always get to your blogs but when I do I always learn something!
There’s a touch of country in Teddy’s music, not least in an album of standards he made last year – ‘My Love Of Country.’ Probably more than in Richard’s songs, though a few of those have that feel about them too.
I’m grateful for your support – all readers are welcome, either occasional or regular!
I know In My Arms very well, it really appealed when it came out and I love singing along to it in the car – so far you’re the only other person I know that is aware of it’s existence! It’s such a simple song and I love that line ‘keep it on the recent, keep it on the now’, I wasn’t sure what it was until your post, so thanks for that.
Also love the other track, I’m definitely going to check this guy out, really love his voice. Excellent videos too.
Thanks, Paul, I’m pleased to have found another fan of the song. A few others must have liked it too, but I’m not sure how many you have to sell to get to #107 here – probably about 20!
It’s a fun video, isn’t it. There aren’t many for his songs – it seems his record company didn’t invest much in him – which is why I went with the second one, from a great tv show.
You might vaguely recall commenting in July when I featured him with his Dad in another SLS post, which was one where his voice made a big contribution. He is definitely worth your time.
Take It Easy 
Ah, you still have comments open on this post. Thank you! I’m glad I let this notification hang out in my inbox and decided today to go see what the ‘oldest’ emails were, and found this! Had not heard of Teddy Thompson; now he has multiple songs on my primary playlist. Thank you, Clive! ~Ed.
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I never close the comments – I live in hope and welcome any I get!
Teddy is pretty good, isn’t he, and it’s great that you have added some of his songs to your playlist 👍
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I don’t believe I’d heard of this artist or his relatives before, but I sure do love how he sings. Both videos and songs were great, and that first one was so cute with him and the girl getting together. 🙂
Thanks for the mention! I’ve really been enjoying all the choices everyone is making. 🙂
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I’m not surprised you hadn’t heard of Teddy – it was a deliberate choice to introduce someone new to most readers. But Richard? He has lived in the US for quite some time and plays a lot of gigs there. I’m pleased you liked Teddy – I think he’s great, and these two are good videos to showcase him. You’re welcome on the mention, and it’s good that you’ve enjoyed the responses to your theme 👍
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Two lovely tunes and both new to me, Clive nice easy listening and no surprises that Mary popped in 🙂 xx
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Thank you, Carol, I’m pleased you liked them. And any excuse to play something with Mary in it is always good for me 😊 xx
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Fun challenge, Clive. Two good ones I had never heard before. Of course, you found a way to slip Mary Chapin Carpenter in there. She has to be one of your most played artists.
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I thought they’d be new, Pete. I’m glad you liked them – he’s made some good music down the years. MCC was kind of incidental to that song, but you’re right. If you look at the cloud map of tags on my site there are four musicians in it: The Beatles, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, and MCC. Seems a fair reflection to me!
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New one to me Clive. Good choice!
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I’m pleased you liked him, Di. I thought he’d be new to most 😊
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I’m very set in my ways as regards music so it’s nice to hear something or someone new that I actually like!
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I’m a bit like that too, but I use YouTube a lot and find new music that way. I’m pleased you enjoyed these two songs 😊
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🙂
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I’ve heard of and listened to his parents songs but Teddy Thompson is new to my ears.
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Happy to have introduced him to you, Glyn.
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Terrific twofer! New to me and I enjoyed both!!
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I’m pleased you enjoyed them. I thought he would be new for most: that’s why I chose him!
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nice pieces!! Of course I have never heard of him nor his parents…. 😀
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I’m glad you liked them. And I guess English singer-songwriters aren’t as well known over there. All three of them are great, to my taste 😊
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Nice. I remember ‘In My Arms.’ With Linda and Richard as your parents you start off at quite an advantage talent-wise. Ditto Rufus, though his parents marriage was not exactly a blissful union!
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They are two talented families, though neither parental union lasted.
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I really liked both if these Clive. I remember Richard Thompson but did nit know about Teddy. He is very good. Great picks! ☺️
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Thank you, Christine, I’m pleased you enjoyed them 😊
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Great songs, thanks for highlighting them!
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I can always count on you for something different Clive, as I knew nothing about Richard and Linda Thompson, or their son Teddy. I enjoyed both songs that you selected and putting out 10 albums in 14 years is very prolific.
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I try to play artists that I think might be new to others for these posts. I did actually feature Richard back in July, with a song Teddy also played and sang on, a real beauty.
Teddy’s ten albums are in 24 years, not 14, but all are worth hearing. Richard and Linda made several fine albums together in the 1970s, and Richard has made a whole string of great records: his most recent was just a few months ago. Linda has had health issues but has returned with some lovely solo albums of her own, with contributions and production by Teddy on some. Keeping it in the family!
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Richard and Linda Thompson embraced an esoteric Sufi strand of Islam and that led to their divorce, because Linda felt like she was being mistreated.
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Yup, that’s right. Teddy was born while they were in a Sufi commune. They still get on, though – I saw them at a big Fairport Convention history gig around ten years ago. Fairport always end their shows with a mass gathering to sing ‘Meet On The Ledge’ and as that show brought back former members right from the beginning it was a big crowd for the song. As they were assembling one of them ushered a little lady wearing her coat onto the stage to join in – Linda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pardon my baseball analogies; coming off a disappointing World Series, the lingo is still fresh in my brain.
Wow! This is a grand slam homer of a post, Clive! I was not familiar with either of these videos but I immediately fell in love with both of them. And cameo appearances by RW and MCC are icing on the cake. This may well be my favorite post today!
Excellent choice! 😊
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I’m pleased you liked them both so much, Nancy. Teddy tends to be in the shadows of his father but deserves to be much better known. Those cameo appearances add a lot to both videos, I think.
Favourite post? I bet you say that to all the guys 😉
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🙈🙉🙊
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🤣
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New artist new voice , very nice 🙂
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I’m pleased to have made the introduction for you, and that you like him 😊
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Yes indeed Clive, I am impressed 💜
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Yes I recall commenting and saving the track onto one of my playlists. When I first heard Teddy Thompson I presumed he was an American country star is a similar vein as Lyle Lovett. I wasn’t aware then that his father was Teddy Thompson.
I can’t always get to your blogs but when I do I always learn something!
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There’s a touch of country in Teddy’s music, not least in an album of standards he made last year – ‘My Love Of Country.’ Probably more than in Richard’s songs, though a few of those have that feel about them too.
I’m grateful for your support – all readers are welcome, either occasional or regular!
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I know In My Arms very well, it really appealed when it came out and I love singing along to it in the car – so far you’re the only other person I know that is aware of it’s existence! It’s such a simple song and I love that line ‘keep it on the recent, keep it on the now’, I wasn’t sure what it was until your post, so thanks for that.
Also love the other track, I’m definitely going to check this guy out, really love his voice. Excellent videos too.
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Thanks, Paul, I’m pleased to have found another fan of the song. A few others must have liked it too, but I’m not sure how many you have to sell to get to #107 here – probably about 20!
It’s a fun video, isn’t it. There aren’t many for his songs – it seems his record company didn’t invest much in him – which is why I went with the second one, from a great tv show.
You might vaguely recall commenting in July when I featured him with his Dad in another SLS post, which was one where his voice made a big contribution. He is definitely worth your time.
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