Richard Thompson Memoir 'Beeswing' (1967-1975)

Subject: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 06:23 PM

I read in the paper today "Beeswing" is published next month; it covers the years up to the
mid-70's.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: GUEST,Cederick
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 07:14 PM

Beeswing was of course written about the folk singer Toyah Willcox, who is now famously married to Brian Eno.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: RTim
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 07:54 PM

What Planet are you on Cederick? Toyah Willcox has been married to Robert Fripp of King Crimson since 1986.....and she DID NOT Write Beeswing.....Richard Thompson did!!

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: RTim
Date: 14 Mar 21 - 07:58 PM

I misread part of Cederick's post - however...Beeswing was possibly written about Anne Briggs - Not Willcox....!!!

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: Hagman
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 03:34 AM

Suspect Cederick had tongue firmly in cheek when posting.... :-)

Nice article here re: the forthcoming tome - https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/14/richard-thompson-beeswing-fairport-folk-rock-interview

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: gillymor
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 04:04 AM

That was a nice article and interview, now I feel like I don't have to read the book but I probably will.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 04:20 AM

Available on pre-order for Kindle.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 04:42 AM

Asked why he stopped at the 70's, he said he found most books about stars get boring after the early years. I think he is wise in this respect as I find the formative years absorbing but
the stuff about the excesses and pressures of fame extremely tedious. Not to mention the divorces.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 05:30 AM

beeswing uses the tune written by james hill ,the famous hornpipe writer

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: GUEST, henryp
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 07:48 AM

Tom McConville played on Richard Thompson's album Mirror Blue, released in 1994, which contained Beeswing. He says that Richard Thompson gave him the song Beeswing in exchange for the hornpipe Beeswing by James Hill.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 08:40 AM

I was quite amused by Cederick's comment. Given Ms Wilcox's recent YouTube performances, I'd suggest that a more mammalian anatomical reference than "Beeswing" would better suit a song dedicated to her.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 08:47 AM

Does RT's song really use any of Hill's tune?
The score
here doesn't look much like it to me.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: gillymor
Date: 15 Mar 21 - 09:18 AM

The Beeswing Hornpipe by James Hill doesn't sound at all like the tune RT used, to me anyway.
The Session

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 16 Mar 21 - 12:10 PM

He's a great one for interesting titles; the title of that wonderful song about a vulnerable waif, "King of Bohemia", apparently gets its title from a pub of that name.

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir 'Beeswing'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Apr 22 - 12:15 AM

Thompson's book is coming out in paperback this month, so Terry Gross did an interview of Thompson on her Fresh Air program today, April 20. Very interesting - Terry really does her homework before an interview.

https://www.npr.org/2022/04/20/1093709649/fairport-convention-band-cofounder-richard-thompson-looks-back-on-his-life-in-mu

Subject: RE: Richard Thompson Memoir 'Beeswing' (1967-1975)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 21 Apr 22 - 04:53 AM

Wow, Joe, thanks so much for that link. I just unearthed Richard's book from the deep caverns of my Kindle. Time for a re-read, before I tune in to Terry. I'm really glad to know about this.