Richard Thompson. Take Care the Road you Choose, Live. 

Must have been getting blown away by RT's playing for nigh on forty years now. On acoustic and electric guitar his skills are magnificent, but what I think sets him apart from a hundred thousand other very good guitar players is not just his tone, but the fact that he isn't satisfied to stay strictly in his 'comfort zone', and there are moments during his improvisations that really take his playing to the very edge of his capabilities, I see a great many very good guitar players who are either too technically perfect to achieve the kind of tension and emotion he does, his melodic invention is constantly inspiring, and if occasionally his solos may tread territory that feels uncertain, I prefer that to the endless noodling of countless safe and predictable players who treat music more like a competetive sport, than an art. Thanks RT for inspiring my own lesser pilgrimage to guitar nirvana all these years.

I have listened to RT since 1970.This man is still the greatest guitarist and songwriter on the planet.

This is without doubt absolutely sensational. Beautiful and perfect in every way possible.

He's definitely one of the top 10 guitarists alive on the planet today! His songwriting skills are beautiful... Love me some RT.

I never had to get used to it. I loved his sound and style right away. And unlike many older rockers, his voice has only gotten better. And of course, the guitar playing, too.

You can always tell Richard Thompson's playing, like when he's sitting in on a song. You can just tell it's him by the phrasing and the tonality of his playing. He's like Mark Knopfler in that regard.

A very good case could be made for Richard Thompson being both England's greatest songwriter and greatest guitarist

His guitar skills, his songs, his voice, heart melting.

Absolutely one of the best performances I've had the privilege of seeing and listening to.

The guitar playing is otherworldly, totally unpredictable and unique.

Sensational performance of one of my favorite RT songs. RIP Pete Zorn.

Just plain fabulous

Just friggin beautiful in every way isn't it , thank you Richard Thompson 🖖🤘🖖

Just saw him for first time up close in concert here on Maui. How I missed him all these years, I don't know. I've seen Hendrix Neil Young and many others among the best. Thompson, I think, may have been the best guitarist I've ever seen. He makes his guitar sing like no other.

Intensely beautiful, passionate and I think personal. The mix of metaphors in the "some take the high" verse is Scottish, islamic and musical, giving the impression this is as much about a spiritual path as a relationship. The road not taken is deeply felt in terms of love, loss and longing.

Incredible. First time I heard this I was in my car and literally had to pull over to listen without distraction. I sat there a good 5 minutes after it was over thinking about what I'd just heard. This is why I've been listening to this man for 40+ years.

TOO BEAUTIFUL RENDERING.REAL MUSICIANS IN FRONT OF US.BREATHTAKING PERFORMANCE.

It’s a long time since I gave up trying to figure out which of his many splendid songs is my favourite.

Been listening to Richard Thompson since the Fairport Convention days, and yes his voice is a little different to the " norm ", but his singing and playing just gushes emotion, a bit like another favourite of mine, the much misunderstood Neil Young.

Lifelong fan of Richard Thompson’s astonishing guitar playing and songwriting ever since I heard “A Sailor’s Life,” about half a century ago. I thought for many years I kept him in business by purchasing his LPs, CDs, and attending concerts when he came to town. Obviously, I’m not the only one who appreciates his talent...thank goodness.

This is one of the very best RT live performances I've ever heard. The Sweet Warrior album track is good but this is sublime. Joel Zifkin's beautifully understated fiddle accompaniment is a real plus.

I have been fond of his music since his early days with Fairport. Thank you Richard you have enriched my life with all your public appearances... Thank you!

Richard is forever young. White hair but voice, fingers and heart the same as 40 years ago!

Humble genius.

Oh I'd be there having that Guinness don't get any better

An absolute gem.......

Probably the line-up I like the best. Saying that it wasn't always. Just like my fav songs changes from today to today. Just why I love this man's music so much, keeps you thinking. Superb

Awsome Guitar art

Sometimes less is more. Simply stunning.

One of the musical greats here and I’m not talking RT. Pete Zorn was just a consummate musician. That’s why The like of RT and many others had him on stage with them. Modest but magnificent.

I would't have his voice any other way, and you are brilliantly spot-on.

Never heard Richard Thompson before. Thank you RU-vid for putting in in to my mix. Brilliant. Had to replay it again to put this comment.

What a sweet guitar tone this dude has

I listened to the studio version of this yesterday, which is lovely, but can’t hold a candle to this performance. This is such a deeply felt performance and his guitar tone is so rich here, compared with.the rather thin sound on the album. As the first encore at the Celtic Connections gig, it seems to have found him in just the right frame of mind.

An absolutely fandamntabulous song.., a well put together band that’s for sure…

he's very easy listening...I remember Fairport Convention......over 50yrs ago...

Fantastic,What a Feeling This Man Have for Songwriting & Guitarplaying Thank You For Sharing Quality Music

I am wishing to hear the complete applause to the excellent end of this live version, he so deserves it.

You can have lead guitarists who try and play as many notes as they can physically fit in and think that speed equals talent( and to be fair , sometimes it does) or you can listen to a maestro like RT , who only plays a note if it's needed , and everyone played adds to the song's meaning . I know which I prefer listening to.

Mesmerizing I am in Awe! So many beautiful, heart felt songs. The best of the best

Sublime. And also good advice!

So true.......... Love you RT & any band you choose xxJenn

Tremendous performance by one of the best.✌

A good lad, C of E, who now looks toward 🕋. Extraordinary.

At 2:30 - "I let my heart"- so resonant, a sonic arrow!

Thanks for the upload. One of my favorite RT tunes.....beautiful solo. Love that band. RIP Mr. Zorn.

outstrips the original even and that's saying something! Great song and fantastic performance!

Such an incredible tone combined with soothing lyrics. I can't get enough RT!

simply incomparable..

There are few guitar players at his level, in my opinion. His sense of orchestration and harmony are second to none, not to mention his technique. He elevates any track he contributes to. One of my many favorite Thompson accompaniments is on Bonnie Raitt's "The Luck of the Draw." ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qOqGGPfKYy4.html Once you get to know his style, you can identify his playing in a moment, whenever you come across it.

First heard him when with Fairport Convention (yep, I'm that old! LOL). My opinion, he's the best acoustic, six string player I've ever heard (Kottke is best on the 12 string).

gorgeous, beautiful song. Luscious guitar playing

That was splendid! What a singer and guitar player and what a wonderful band! And what a beautiful song! Thank you to share friend

Thank you 💚 beautiful

Wow, just wow.

Yes yes yes

Mesmerizing guitar. Perfect.

Isn't this a lovely song? Beautiful, but with a few barbs in the Thompson fashion. Another classic from a genius songwriter, the best in the UK since Lennon-McCartney split up. Thompson's low key guitar is lovely too.

Excellent guitar solo at 3:55!

So sad that Richard and Sandy Denny didn't get more time to work together

Thank you for posting this absolute gem. It's a pity it cuts off so abruptly, but it's wonderful to have. I'm genuinely confused by the reference to his phrasing. I've earned my living as an actor and voice artist for nearly 50 years and he sounds spot on to me. Not saying you're wrong, but my ears have no problem with it.

I love ❤️ anything that the divine RT does xxx Mistress

Superb !!

Wow!

Your description is accurate. Well said

Superb

Apparently, RT said that EVERY song 🎶. he writes is a love ❤️ song......... Mistress Bex 💋

If I ever get out of these shoes And I shrug off a skin or two I'll come looking in the wasted places Beat-up, last ditch rendezvous If it had been some other place Some other time to find me If I had been in my right mind Not looking for ghosts behind me Then I'd hold you with my fingers burning Kiss your little tears of yearning But sometimes there's no turning Take Care The Road You Choose If I ever get out of my mind Guillotine myself to stop me dreaming And let my heart go where it will Without those other voices screaming Some take the high, some take the low Some take the straight and narrow Some still standing at the crossroads Some fly like an arrow With my radar I'll find you, darling No regrets to blind you, darling And never look behind Take Care The Road You Choose

ahhh, Zorn. still there

Never really thought about his phrasing technique - I presume you mean his singing? As a fellow Brit I think it could just be his Britishness coming out. It is rare for singers to sing with their own accent in the pop and rock worlds - choosing instead to adopt a kind of generic American accent - and so when we hear someone singing with an English accent it sounds strange at first. However, in the folk world - from which Mr Thompson hails - using one's local accent to sing is normal, and if i might be so bold, in my opinion, delightfully refreshing. Many thanks for uploading!

He is actually my celestial brother, same date of birth only a year later!

I am so sick and tired of people putting "sloppy Jimmy Page" on a pedestal. Listen to this, people!

AnneMarie Lewis: YES, YES OH, YES!!!!!!!! Mistress Bex 💋

So ist gut

J'ai son âge je joue aussi de la guitare mais malheureusement je lui arrive à la cheville tant pis la musique on l'aime tant pis pour les fausses notes

Comment #101 RT RULZ :)

Is a fender supposed to sound like this? What's he doing?

Richard goes electric.

"...has a very eccentric phrasing technique, but you get used to it." I can only presume this was lost in translation, and not written in the absurdly offensive and patently stupid way it's written.