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.
