Richard Thompson sings here about taking a moment to understand blessings, beginning with the blessing of being left alone. Completely understandable, considering the situation. See, “One Life at a Time” is the shambling, country-rocking lead track from Family and a group simply called Thompson that features, you guessed it, the whole Thompson clan.
That means his parents, ex-wife Linda, their son Teddy, Richard’s brother-in-law and his nephew. What could go wrong, you know? Certainly, not this song — which finds Thompson in great voice, as he sings with an acidic irony, and in even better playing shape. Then there’s a torrential guitar solo (reportedly courtesy of another from this bustling tribe), which unfolds like a fight over dinner that’s been simmering all day.
Family, due on November 18, 2014 via Concord Records, includes nine other tracks (Richard also sings “That’s Enough”; Linda sings two others), as well as a behind-the-scenes DVD. Other relatives take the mic for the rest, keeping this from becoming a major reunion after the former couple’s 1974-82 run of British folk gems — one highlighted by 1975’s Pour Down Like Silver and 1982’s Shoot Out the Lights.
That might be for the best, considering how all of that turned out. (Their final concert outings became known forever as The Kick In The Shins tour.) Then again, Teddy and his sibling Kamila have also put out a song about what a rotten dad Richard was back then.
It can’t be a coincidence that this album will be out just in time for the holidays, right? Family sounds like the perfect soundtrack for turkey and dysfunction.
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The guitar solo is actually played by Richards 19yr old grandson, Zak.