Richard Thompson - Amnesia (CD 1988)

Last ? first: I bought it because my vinyl copy is aged and I can't find the tape version I bought a few years later. RT in this period was writing perfect songs with perfect arrangements. Even now after 40 years in the business, there are people hearing him for the first time. Their reactions include anger and confusion as, for 20,30 or 40 years they've been buying what other people said they should buy and those people were as ignorant of RT as the new listener. They feel robbed! RT CDs are CHEAP!! Every one bought will be listened to for the rest of your life instead of ending up on a garage/car boot sale or in a charity shop within a year like the 'buy it now!' temporary stuff that millions think is essential for a day or so. RT writes permanent music.
Amnesia, Rumor & Sigh, Mirror Blue are all essential CDs from what at the time felt like RT's best period. Most rock stars peak around this age. But RT is not a rock star: his most recent CDs are even better! The Old Kit Bag deserves to be considered for CD of the Decade. I've about 15 RT albums on CD (and others on vinyl) and friends and relatives all, without exception love the stuff and are now going out and asking for it in shops. I help out in a charity's eBay operation and played Amnesia a few days ago while getting on with the job. There were ladies present aged between 35 and 82 and every one asked for it to be played again. "Waltzing's For Dreamers" was a particular favourite with the older ones. Pat (82) said she could imagine Gracie Fields, or Sinatra or Pat Boone singing it and that makes it an alltime standard so how come it isn't on the radio regularly? Buy Amnesia: buy them all!