Shoot Out the Lights is the sixth and final album by British husband-and-wife rock duo Richard and Linda Thompson. It was produced by Joe Boyd and released in 1982 on his Hannibal label.
After their 1979 album Sunnyvista had sold poorly, Richard and Linda Thompson found themselves without a record deal. In the spring of 1980 they toured as the support act for Gerry Rafferty and in June of that year they recorded some demo tracks at Woodworm Studios in Oxfordshire.
Later that same year and with the Thompsons still without a contract, Rafferty stepped in and offered to finance and produce a new Richard and Linda Thompson album and then use his contacts in the industry and the finished album to secure a new contract with the Thompsons. This album was recorded during September and October 1980 at Chipping Norton Recording Studios in Oxfordshire.
Whilst Shoot Out The Lights was the last album that saw Richard and Linda recording together it also marked the first time that they toured the US as a band.
Andrew Quarrie – :
I feel slightly uncomfortable listening to this as it’s after RT’s solo acoustic tour, which IIRC is where he met and fell in love with Nancy. But judging by the ease that he and Linda are chatting with the interviewer, and each other, it’s before he’s broken the news to Linda.
That all having been said, it’s a fab interview and I live in hope still for that ‘English’ electric guitar album.
Frank Wilson – :
The interviewer’s obsession with ‘bluesy’ electric guitar and attempts to relate RT’s playing on the album to the likes of Clapton and Page is handled politely as ever, despite being hopelessly wide of the mark.
If the interviewer is still with us he should have a listen to The Dog In You off the 13 Rivers album – finally, after a wait of only 36 years, RT plays the blues!
Mal Reding – :
Frank,
Thanks for the feedback. I wasn’t particularly obsessed as you said about richard’s guitar. But I take your point. These interviews were such a long time ago.