Sheer brilliance personified!!!! Nobody plays like Richard Thompson. He is one of the most gifted musicians, I have heard. You won't hear his songs on the radio. They are far too intelligent.
'Woodstock' was meant to be played that night by Stone Temple Pilots - sounds like a joke but it's not, google "Stone Temple Pilots Nix Mitchell Tribute" - but they backed out at the last minute when their singer blew out his voice doing three concerts in one day. Richard Thompson, who was already doing two other songs that night, offered to step in and play 'Woodstock'... and then casually cranked out this stunning version of a great JM song. Serious respect.
Wow! He uses the same ringing sitar like technique on the song She Moves Thru The Fair. It has a mystical sound that takes this song to a whole new level. My God, what an amazing musician.
Can't this site give more than 5 Stars?! He's just so damn good. I'm intoxicated on his duet with his son singing persuasion. Never to be heard on US radio.
But the genius here is in delivery. RT is an improvisational musician. He got told he was doing this on the night. Joni's genius was in writing this wonderful tune. RT's genius was in knocking out this breath taking performance. For musicians like him, each performance is a work of art, it is in the nature of improvisation. The guitar is exquisite in this rendition.
When you can spin out a completely new, musically and "of its time" perfect, version of a song this well known it's not because you know the music or even have mastered the music. It's because you are the music.
He pulled this off on live television after the Stone Temple Pilots no-showed. The promoters desperately needed to fill that time slot, and Richard was the only one who could walk out there and do another Joni song off the top of his head. It's unbelievable.
It is rare that a new version of a song actually helps to improve the enjoyment of the original. That is the case here - an incredible performance by Richard Thompson.
Hey, peoples- Lighten up on Mr. Gordon. Is this Joni’s version? No. But I highly doubt that even JONI wanted to hear “Joni’s version.” Richard gave a fine rendition with his smooth vocals, that accent and the tasty flourishing guitar riffs (and in all honesty, I must add, that he’s never really been my cup of tea. But those stats just improved a couple of minutes ago!). CSN’ version was different. So was Eva Cassidy’s and I just now found a version by Matthew’s Southern Comfort, whose harmonies would give even CSN a run for their money. Also- MSC’s version was the only one that made it to the top of the charts (UK). Anyway- I liked Richard’s respectful homage a lot- and more importantly... so did Ms. Joni Mitchell!
I do not care how experienced Richard Thompson is, but doing a performance of such a classic song in front of the great lady who composed and performed it originally must be a pretty nerve wracking experience. Well done to him!
I love this but view that look differently. It’s a knowing glance from one great performer to another. Like, “Brilliant song, dearie. So happy to be part of this tribute.” He’s been a working musician far too long to have more butterflies than usual just because she’s watching. I have no doubt she’s an equal admirer of him.
There are so few who can do justice to a great Joni Mitchell song like this, can't even think of anyone off hand at the moment.But this is Mr Thompson no less who manages to touch Joni's heart with the beauty of this rendition.
Richard Thomson spent 3 years in "Fairport Convention". His "second coming" as a solo artist has been more than 40 years long. "Henry The Human Fly" was released in 1972. This man Richard Thomson's voice and his approach to performance is inspiring, spiritual and elevating... his guitar work fluid, simple, complex... and utterly beautiful. This version of "Woodstock" is transcendental and mystical. Joni looks very happy... and rightly so.
This is an absolute incredible cover of this beautiful song. Very often I don't always like the version of a cover that I have heard hundreds of times by the original artist (in this case Joni Mitchell). But....wow! Richard does one hell of a cover and no disrespect to Joni but I think I like Richard's cover even more. It's Richard's vocals, arrangement and guitar that is amazing!
This was great what the heck are you saying. The melody appears to be a tough piece and I think he was fantastic, sure did enjoy it very much. Thanks RT for your wonderful gift. It was a pleasure once again to listen to your beautiful voice and fantabulous guitar mastery. Peace and Love.
One of the greatest covers of any song, by any artist of any other artist. A few thoughts: Joni has gone on record as saying that "Woodstock" is the one song she was most proud of for having written it. Just think about that. And here comes this British guy, not VERY well known to an American tv audience, to play it with Joni herself in the audience. And apparently he was a last-minute stand-in for the Stone Temple Pilots, so he hadn't loads of time to rehearse. And he plays this. HOME-FREAKIN'-RUN. Cutaways to Joni show her looking a bit askance at first, then ultimately transported--the ultimate compliment to Richard's performance. While you're at it, Richard, why not play Highway 61 Revisited for Dylan? Or Hey Jude for McCartney?
With all due respect, Joni Mitchell knows, of course, who he is and just how good a musician he is, and she's hardly "looking a bit askance." If anything, she's gearing up for what she's sure will be a transportive experience. Aside from that, I agree with you: He hits it out of the ballpark.
At no point does she look "askance", as you put it. People's inability to correctly interpret facial expressions and body language never ceases to amaze me.
Wow. Just... wow. Haven't listened to every track of this show yet, but so far, this one's by far the most impressive (to these ears; ymmv of course). Totally true to the song, but totally different take on it. Sounds like he's emphasizing the timeless "folksong" nature of it.
Richard is amazing. And so is Joni. I like the first shot of her; she is paying attention to him as a musician, and then the second shot, just letting her own song , forty years plus on, run through her. Maybe presumptuous of me, I dunno.
I always loved the a cappella version he used to do back in the 80's with his band, but I think I like this even more. Which makes sense - everything's better with RT on guitar!
Wow! I have an audio version of this, but didn't realise until now that not only did he have to perform this un-rehearsed, but Joni was sitting a few metres away watching him.
He was asked at the very last minute to fill in for Stone Temple Pilots, who were supposed to do this but backed out. He didn't know the chords but knew the words and melody. What you are seeing is completely improvised.
Fairport Convention started their recording career with a number of JM songs (Night in the City, Eastern Rain and more). Soon after Iain Matthews left Fairport, he and his band Matthews Southern Comfort had a major hit with this very JM song.
I seem to recall that when Matthews Southern Comfort recorded this, Fairport were involved as part of the acompanying musicians. At the time, this would have included RT.
Sick! I hate to say it, but with a short time to plan this song, Thompson actually made a version I love more than Joni's. I mean this interpretation is overwhelming. Thompson's version is perfection.
You must not know Thompson's songwriting ability. He certainly turns out incredible cover tunes, but his originals are simply magic. I like Joni Mitchell, but Richard's song "Meet on the Ledge" is every bit as powerful.
joni36, thank you for posting this! I remember watching the JM tribute on TV but this song never made it into the broadcast version, only "Black Crow", which had a snarly, edgy feel that seemed less faithful to the original than "Woodstock". Clearly Joni was moved on this...
Fairport Convention were a fantastic band, heard them live many times, RT, Swarbrick, Sandy, Dave and Simon, all were great shows except for one at the Roundhouse, they showed up 3 hours late and very drunk but still put on a good show. RT was an outstanding guitarist 50 years and has only gotten better.
That's amazing.Thanks vlock1 for filling in the details.All I can say is thankyou Weiland for making an aweful lot of people very happy indeed, including Joni Mitchell.Someone made a huge mistake in not including Richard at the start. Apart from Joni, of course,who else has managed to do such justice to this song as Richard Thompson demonstrates in this great video.Thanks vlock1 for sharing it, much appreciated to say the least.
+bountybar Yes RT confirmed that the tuning was DADGAD. Here's what he said in his interview with Guitar Player: Guitar Player: When you did “Woodstock” at a Joni Mitchell tribute concert you made it your own. What was that process? RT: I did it on a half-hour’s notice because the person scheduled to do it dropped out. The only way I could hear to do it that quickly was a DADGAD tuning, turning it into a British traditional modal thing.
