Vinyl Vault

They were a bit of an afterthought on the music scene in 1982, and both their musical partnership and marriage were finished. But Richard and Linda Thompson overcame those obstacles to release Shoot Out The Lights, an album many people feel is one of the finest of the 80’s. Let’s take a look back at that landmark with a song-by-song review.

Shoot Out the Lights (1982, Hannibal Records)

Side A

  A1. “Don’t Renege On Our Love”
Over an itchy beat, Richard Thompson pleads with his lover not to break their bond, although the bitterness of his complaints makes it clear that this is a love that might be beyond repair: “Hunger is hunger/Need is need/Am I just another/Mouth to feed?” His exemplary guitar work has a Mark Knopfler-like feel here, commenting with restraint and expert timing.

  A2. “Walking on a Wire”
Richard puts anguished words into Linda’s mouth, and that quavering, fragile voice hits all the right notes on this heartbreaking lament. Richard gets his say through his guitar, which drops clusters of pain at every turn.

  A3. “Man In Need”
Jaunty and funky, this song has an almost joyous feel to it despite Richard’s lyrics about his endless search for worthy companionship. That’s because Linda’s backing vocals bring the pair together for one of the few times on the album.

  A4. “Just the Motion”
Although it offers one of the few moments of solace on the record and Linda’s vocal turn is outstanding, it’s just a little too sleepy to really hit home.

Side B

  B1. “Shoot Out the Lights”
Exhibit A on why Richard Thompson has to be near the top of any discussion of rock’s greatest guitarists. He leaves nothing but rubble when he’s all done with this track about a man who wears his isolation like a badge of honor. By the time he’s through, his fretwork has obliterated all the lights, and the darkness sounds pretty enticing.

  B2. “The Backstreet Slide”
Nothing really comes together on this one. The track is clustered and Richard’s lyrics are paranoid.

  B3. “Did She Jump or Was She Pushed?”
Linda gets her one co-writing credit on the album and takes lead on this intriguingly dark track. The death here may be nothing more than symbolic, but it’s still a pretty bleak picture of a girl whose wayward ways lead to a circumstance from which there is no escape.

  B4. “Wall of Death”
One of the truly great closing songs out there. Buoyed by an indestructible melody, the pair harmonizes throughout about the benefits of taking chances: “The Wall of Death/It’s the nearest to being free.” Richard’s playing is economical and tuneful, but it’s those two voices, together for one final time, that provide the poignancy.

The Bottom Line

Even though most of the tracks were written before the pair separated, the circumstances that surrounded the release of the album give these songs of alienation and betrayal added weight. But this music doesn’t need any help to get through to listeners. Shoot Out The Lights is truly as emotional and powerful as rock and roll gets.

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