Across a Crowded Room - Misplaced Pages

Across a Crowded Room is the fourth solo album by Richard Thompson released in 1985, on both vinyl and CD. As of 2019, it remains his final collaboration with producer Joe Boyd (who had produced Shoot Out the Lights), as well as his last studio album to have been fully recorded in England. The album gives its name to the film Richard Thompson: Across a Crowded Room, a concert film shot at a 1985 performance at Barrymore's in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, which focuses on material from the album.

Reception

Spin wrote, "Richard's command is such that his instrument serves as an eloquent extension of his limited vocal range, punctuating and amplifying each song. He puts nimble ax-wielders like Eddie Van Halen and Adrian Belew to shame, refusing to sacrifice a single note or nuance, even at high speed. As rewarding as any you'll hear all year.

Track listing

All songs written by Richard Thompson.

"When the Spell Is Broken" – 4:31
"You Don't Say" – 3:35
"I Ain't Going to Drag My Feet No More" – 4:22
"Love in a Faithless Country" – 5:55
"Fire in the Engine Room" – 3:39
"Walking Through a Wasted Land" – 4:01
"Little Blue Number" – 3:04
"She Twists the Knife Again" – 3:12
"Ghosts in the Wind" – 5:39

The listing reflects the sequence of songs the original LP release. The original CD issue included an extra track, "Shine On Love" and has a different running order. Subsequent CD re-issues have reflected the song selection and sequence shown above. In 1985 the album was re-issued on CD by PolyGram and in 1992 was re-mastered at Sound Recording Technology, Cambridge and re-issued on CD by BGO.

Personnel

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Rolling Stone

Source:

Musicians

Richard Thompson – guitar, vocals
Simon Nicol – guitar
Dave Mattacks – drums
Bruce Lynch – bass guitar
Dave Bitelli [de] – alto saxophone
Pete Thomas – tenor saxophone
Christine Collister, Phil Barnes, Clive Gregson and The Soultanas – backing vocals
Alan Dunn – accordion
Philip Pickett – shawm, crumhorn, recorder and symphony.

Technical

Joe Boyd – production
Jack Nuber – engineering
Greg Jackman and Jerry Boys – remix engineering
Chris Dickie – assistant engineering
Jack Skinner – mastering
Dennis Keely – back cover photography
Phil Smee and Donato Cinicolo – front cover photography
Phil Smee at Waldo's – cover design

References

"Richard Thompson – Across a Crowded Room". Rotten Tomatoes.
Gary Kenton (May 1985). "Spins". Spin. No. 1. p. 31.
^ Across a Crowded Room, BGO Records BGO CD 139, 1992, CD insert
Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
"Rolling Stone album review". Rolling Stone. 28 March 1985.

External

She Twists The Knife Again on YouTube

Richard Thompson

Original albums

Solo albums	Henry the Human Fly Strict Tempo! Hand of Kindness Across a Crowded Room Daring Adventures Amnesia Rumor and Sigh Mirror Blue You? Me? Us? Mock Tudor The Old Kit Bag 1000 Years of Popular Music Front Parlour Ballads Sweet Warrior Dream Attic Electric Acoustic Classics Still Acoustic Classics II 13 Rivers Ship to Shore
with Linda Thompson	I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight Hokey Pokey Pour Down Like Silver First Light Sunnyvista Shoot Out the Lights
with Danny Thompson	Industry

Live albums

Other releases

Compilation albums

Songs

Backing musicians

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