Hand of Kindness
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Hand of Kindness
| type = Studio album
| artist = Richard Thompson
| cover = RT_Hok.jpg
| alt =
| released = June 1983
| recorded = 1983
| venue =
| studio = Olympic, London
Ocean Way, Hollywood
| genre = Rock, folk rock, zydeco
| length = 41:15
| label = Hannibal
| producer = Joe Boyd
| prev_title = Strict Tempo!
| prev_year = 1981
| next_title = Small Town Romance
| next_year = 1984
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/r20096 |title=Hand of Kindness - Richard Thompson | AllMusic |first=Mark |last=Deming |work=allmusic.com |year=2011 |accessdate=1 September 2011}}
| rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|edition=4th|isbn=978-0195313734|title-link=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}
| rev3 = Rolling Stone
}}
__NOTOC__
Hand of Kindness is the third solo album by singer/songwriter/guitarist Richard Thompson. It was recorded and released in 1983, after a ten year collaboration with former wife Linda Thompson. It is his first album of original solo material since Henry the Human Fly (1972).
Background and details
After having separated from Linda, and the "Tour From Hell" to promote the couple's Shoot Out the Lights, Richard resumed his own career as a recording and performing artist.
Several songs feature the twin saxophones of Pete Zorn and Pete Thomas, and for about 18 months after the release of Hand of Kindness, Thompson toured with his "Big Band" that featured the two sax players prominently.
The album opens with "Tear-Stained Letter", later a country music top ten hit for Jo-El Sonnier. In 2021, Thompson's ex-wife Linda cited album track "How I Wanted To" as her favorite of her former husband's songs.{{cite web |title=Richard Thompson's famous fans choose their favourite songs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/14/richard-thompson-famous-fans-choose-their-favourite-songs-beeswing |website=the Guardian |access-date=13 April 2021 |language=en |date=14 March 2021}}
The album's cover photo features Thompson holding an acoustic guitar made for him by American luthier Danny Ferrington; the same guitar appears on the cover of Thompson's next release, Small Town Romance.
The backing band for the album featured Thompson's former Fairport Convention colleagues Simon Nicol (rhythm guitar), Dave Pegg (bass), and Dave Mattacks (drums). The album featured every musician from Fairport's Full House album except for violinist Dave Swarbrick.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Richard Thompson
| title1 = Tear-Stained Letter
| length1 = 4:42
| title2 = How I Wanted To
| length2 = 5:12
| title3 = Both Ends Burning
| length3 = 3:51
| title4 = A Poisoned Heart and a Twisted Memory
| length4 = 5:25
| title5 = Where the Wind Don't Whine
| length5 = 4:09
| note5 = B-side included as CD bonus track
| title6 = The Wrong Heartbeat
| length6 = 3:15
| title7 = Hand of Kindness
| length7 = 6:03
| title8 = Devonside
| length8 = 4:46
| title9 = Two Left Feet
| length9 = 3:53
}}
Personnel
- Richard Thompson - guitar, vocals
- Dave Pegg - bass guitar
- Dave Mattacks - drums
- Simon Nicol - guitar
- Pete Zorn - saxophone, backing vocals
- Pete Thomas - saxophone
- John Hiatt, Bobby King and Clive Gregson - backing vocals
- John Kirkpatrick - accordion, concertina
- Aly Bain - violin
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Richard Thompson}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hand Of Kindness}}
Category:Richard Thompson (musician) albums