Difference between revisions of "Chris Thompson"

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[[image:Thompson.jpg|right|thumb|1973 cover of the self titled "Chris Thompson" album]]
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''This Chris Thompson should not be confused with ''[[Chris Thompson (II)|Chris Thompson]]'', the vocalist from ''Manfred Mann's Earth Band'', who also spent time in Hamilton, including attending Hamilton Boys High School. ''[[image:Thompson.jpg|right|thumb|1973 cover of the self titled "Chris Thompson" album]]
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Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Chris Thompson started out in the [[Kon-Tiki Folk Club]] in Hamilton, and other coffee houses. He found some initial success in Auckland with country and blues bands like The Stillwater String Band, The Medicine Show and The Myers Park Shufflers, and with regular television appearances on AKTV-2's 'On Camera' show in 1969. In the early '70s he moved to England, where he played in the band of Californian folk singer ''Julie Felix'' and played  with British folk-blues legends ''Wizz Jones'' and ''Davey Graham''. Chris moved to Ireland to live and became a 'musician-in-residence' at Trinity College, Dublin, opening shows for bands like Quintessence, Planxty and Horslips, and touring solo in Belgium in 1972. Chris also appeared on television in Dublin and Belfast. In 1973 he made his first album, which is recognised internationally as an underground classic, and is currently in its fifth edition. Back in New Zealand in 1974, Chris toured with bluesmen ''Sonny Terry'' and ''Brownie McGhee''; he maintained a lifelong friendship with ''Brownie'', for whom he wrote the song "Letter to Brownie". "Letter to Brownie" later had a video directed by [[Adam Hyde]], then a student at Waikato Polytech. It was filmed by Wayne Green, and presented to TVNZ as a demo. It engaged their interest and they re-shot the film in a bar in Auckland, screened it on 'The CV Show', and sent a copy to Brownie McGhee who enjoyed it thoroughly. In the mid-'70s Chris toured with New Zealand singer/songwriter John Hanlon, backing him up on stage and in the studio, and in the '80s Chris toured with Texan blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. Chris married Canadian musician Lynne Bradstock in 1985; they toured successfully as a duo, and made two albums for Ode Records. Together they have one daughter, Lora, who plays guitar in the Hamilton band [[Cheshire Grimm]]. Regular gigs Chris has had in Hamilton include The [[Hillcrest Tavern]] Wine Bar (1982), Ruby Blacks Coffee House (2007), The Brothers Seafood Restaurant (1979), Cafe Centrale (1998) and [[La Commune]] Cafe (2008).
  
''Christopher Malcolm Thompson'' is a singer/songwriter who has recorded with such luminaries as ''John Paul Jones'' (Led Zeppelin) and ''Dave McArtney'' (Hello Sailor). He also played guitar for well known English folk singer ''Julie Felix'', and toured with ''Stevie Ray Vaughan''. <br>
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Chris is an old boy of Southwell School and has spent most of his life in and around Hamilton, where he recorded [[Hometown Voodoo]] in 1981; this album contains the song [[Hamilton (song)|Hamilton]], about the city. This song has become widely known due to a version played by [[Big Muffin Serious Band]]. Other Hamilton and Raglan musicians Chris has played with include [[Tim Armstrong]] and The Monday Club, [[Stan Jagger]], The Dirt Band, and The Wild Allegations. After some success as a songwriter in America (where San Franciscan singer Meg Baird recorded 'The River Song', and Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold recorded 'Where is my Wild Rose?'), Chris relocated to Taupo, where he wrote new songs and performed occasionally at Cafe Ninety-Nine in Tongariro St. In December 2016 Chris recorded a new digital album called [[On High Street]] (by 'Chris Thompson, the Folksinger from Hell'), which was released on Bandcamp.com. Chris moved to Waihi Beach in December 2017 and has been playing at The Bowentown Cafe and The Porch. He is presently working with Hamilton-based Pinenut Records on the collectors vinyl edition of some long lost rock and experimental recordings made in Dublin in 1974. This album ([[Drunken Nights in Dublin]]) was released on L.P., E.P., 45 and CD at a release gig at [[Nivara Lounge]] on 24 November 2018, followed by a short concert tour to Auckland, Taupo, Tauranga and Waihi Beach.  2019 and Chris has been writing, recording and playing a few gigs (at cafe 88 in Mt.Maunganui).....his new album, "Woodsheddin'" ( an EP and Audio-Cassette release on Pinenut Records) will be released in November 2019 to coincide with gigs in Hamilton(The Fringe Festival),The Bowentown(Waihi Beach), Mt.Maunganui(Cafe 88), Taupo(Cafe 99), The Taihape Musicians Club, Palmerston North (Massey University), and The Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington.Update; touring completed, and as of November 2019, Chris Thompson has returned to Hamilton, and is living in Galloway St. in Hamilton East.2020, and Chris now has a trio with Jordan Rex Carpenter (bass) and Alex Deane (congas) and they are playing cafe gigs in and around Hamilton. Next one is Demi-Urgos Cafe, Victoria St. this Sat. Feb 22nd at midday. Free admission, all welcome. Chris also now has a Fan Club, started by some old and dear friends here in Hamilton. It's a  Facebook thing; https://www.facebook.com/groups/169033127685410
 
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In the early 1980's Chris lived in Hamilton, where he recorded [[Hometown Voodoo]] in 1981; this album contains a song about the city. He moved to Auckland in 1985, and married a Canadian-born musician and songwriter Lynne, who he released two albums with. They relocated to Raglan in 1988. He has free mp3 downloads from his latest album available.
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==Releases==
 
==Releases==
''Chris Thompson'' album, 1973 <br>
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[[image:Thompson2.jpg|right|thumb|''Chris Thompson'' (Anthology) cover art]]
''Echoes from the Pit'' album, 1975<br>
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*[[Chris Thompson (album)]] album, 1973 <br>
''Minstrelsy'' album, 1977 <br>
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*[[Echoes from the Pit]] album, 1976<br>
''[[Hometown Voodoo]]'' album, 1981<br>
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*[[Minstrelsy]] album, 1977 <br>
''The Natural Blues'', 1983 <br>
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*[[Hometown Voodoo]] album, 1981<br>
''The Road to Raglan'' album, 1990<br>
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*[[The Natural Blues]] album, 1983 <br>
''Far Out & Solid'' album, 1992<br>
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*[[The Road to Raglan]] album, 1990<br>
''Coffee Break'' album, 1993  <br>
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*[[Far Out and Solid]] album, 1992<br>
''Song for Laura'' album, 1995<br>
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*[[Coffee Break]] album, 1993  <br>
''Time Flies'' album, 2000<br>
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*[[Song for Laura]] album, 1995<br                                                                                                                  
<br>
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as ''Chris and Lynn Thompson'': <br>
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*[[Time Flies]] album, 2000<br>.
''Together'' album, 1985<br>
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*[['Chris Thompson']] album reissue CD (U.S.A.)2001
''Live in Concert'' album, 1988<br>
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*[[For my Double]] album, 2004
<br>
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*[[The White Sapphire]] album, 2005
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*[[Evolution]] album (with The Monday Club), 2007
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*[[Chris Thompson (Anthology)]], 2010
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*[[Chris Thompson and Stan Jagger]] album, 2011
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*[[Where is my Wild Rose?]] album, 2013
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*[[On High Street]]  album, 2016
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*[[Chris Thompson (album)]] vinyl reissue, South Korea, 2017
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*[[Drunken Nights in Dublin]] album and EP, 2018
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*[[Woodsheddin']] EP and audio-cassette 2019
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as ''Chris and Lynne Thompson'': <br>
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*[[Together]] album, 1985<br>
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*[[Live in Concert]] album, 1988<b
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'''Compilations:'''
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*''Alabama Song'', ''London Blues'' and ''Don't be Afraid'' appeared on the 1974 compilation [[First Thrust]]
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*''I Wanna Be Me'' appears on the 1979 compilation [[Festival Music]]
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*''Ain't No Telling'', ''The Coffin On The Baggage Train Ahead'' and ''Diamond Blues'' appear on the 1982 compilation [[Paths - New Songs of New Zealand]]
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*''Love'' and ''Hugo Spellman'' appears on the 1983 compilation [[Masters of Folk Guitar]]
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*''Poor Little Thing'' and ''She should have been a Lady'' (by Chris and Lynn Thompson) appear on the 1985 compilation [[Auckland Acoustics]]
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*''Vox Populi'' appears on the 2000 compilation [[Acoustic Magic]]
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*''Back In The City'' appears on the compilation [[Sitar Cerebrations Vol 2]]
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==External Links==
 
==External Links==
*[http://www.up.co.nz/chris/ Official Website]<br>
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[[image:Whitesapphire.jpg|right|thumb|''White Sapphire'' cover]]
*[http://www.nzmp3.co.nz/artist.shtml?95 Bio and mp3s]
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''Videos on Youtube:''
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0d6OzpwOOU| Chris Thompson - ''Crossroads Blues'']
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lElK0nu8dik Television New Zealand Interview/performance of ''Only One Way Out Of Town'', 1993]
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwPonBS70LU Chris Thompson and Big Muffin Serious Band - ''Hamilton'']
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Efcn-Mns8 Chris Thompson and Stan Jagger - ''Grocer's Blues'']
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxKn35as-jg Chris Thompson Television New Zealand - ''The Road to Raglan'']
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzOzQu77Aw0 Chris Thompson - ''If You Lose Your Money'']
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaepw356CG0 Chris Thompson - ''Take Two'']
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZwwdUkFmZA Chris Thompson and The Wild Allegations - ''When i am Dead'']
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*[https://vimeo.com/12660968 Chris Thompson "Hamilton" 'live' at Biddy Mulligan's 2010]
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*[http://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/chris-thompson-troubadour Chris Thompson article at Audioculture]
  
{{Person-Stub}}
 
 
[[category:Bands]]
 
[[category:Bands]]
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[[category:People]]

Revision as of 14:39, 16 February 2020

This Chris Thompson should not be confused with Chris Thompson, the vocalist from Manfred Mann's Earth Band, who also spent time in Hamilton, including attending Hamilton Boys High School.
1973 cover of the self titled "Chris Thompson" album

Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Chris Thompson started out in the Kon-Tiki Folk Club in Hamilton, and other coffee houses. He found some initial success in Auckland with country and blues bands like The Stillwater String Band, The Medicine Show and The Myers Park Shufflers, and with regular television appearances on AKTV-2's 'On Camera' show in 1969. In the early '70s he moved to England, where he played in the band of Californian folk singer Julie Felix and played with British folk-blues legends Wizz Jones and Davey Graham. Chris moved to Ireland to live and became a 'musician-in-residence' at Trinity College, Dublin, opening shows for bands like Quintessence, Planxty and Horslips, and touring solo in Belgium in 1972. Chris also appeared on television in Dublin and Belfast. In 1973 he made his first album, which is recognised internationally as an underground classic, and is currently in its fifth edition. Back in New Zealand in 1974, Chris toured with bluesmen Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee; he maintained a lifelong friendship with Brownie, for whom he wrote the song "Letter to Brownie". "Letter to Brownie" later had a video directed by Adam Hyde, then a student at Waikato Polytech. It was filmed by Wayne Green, and presented to TVNZ as a demo. It engaged their interest and they re-shot the film in a bar in Auckland, screened it on 'The CV Show', and sent a copy to Brownie McGhee who enjoyed it thoroughly. In the mid-'70s Chris toured with New Zealand singer/songwriter John Hanlon, backing him up on stage and in the studio, and in the '80s Chris toured with Texan blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. Chris married Canadian musician Lynne Bradstock in 1985; they toured successfully as a duo, and made two albums for Ode Records. Together they have one daughter, Lora, who plays guitar in the Hamilton band Cheshire Grimm. Regular gigs Chris has had in Hamilton include The Hillcrest Tavern Wine Bar (1982), Ruby Blacks Coffee House (2007), The Brothers Seafood Restaurant (1979), Cafe Centrale (1998) and La Commune Cafe (2008).

Chris is an old boy of Southwell School and has spent most of his life in and around Hamilton, where he recorded Hometown Voodoo in 1981; this album contains the song Hamilton, about the city. This song has become widely known due to a version played by Big Muffin Serious Band. Other Hamilton and Raglan musicians Chris has played with include Tim Armstrong and The Monday Club, Stan Jagger, The Dirt Band, and The Wild Allegations. After some success as a songwriter in America (where San Franciscan singer Meg Baird recorded 'The River Song', and Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold recorded 'Where is my Wild Rose?'), Chris relocated to Taupo, where he wrote new songs and performed occasionally at Cafe Ninety-Nine in Tongariro St. In December 2016 Chris recorded a new digital album called On High Street (by 'Chris Thompson, the Folksinger from Hell'), which was released on Bandcamp.com. Chris moved to Waihi Beach in December 2017 and has been playing at The Bowentown Cafe and The Porch. He is presently working with Hamilton-based Pinenut Records on the collectors vinyl edition of some long lost rock and experimental recordings made in Dublin in 1974. This album (Drunken Nights in Dublin) was released on L.P., E.P., 45 and CD at a release gig at Nivara Lounge on 24 November 2018, followed by a short concert tour to Auckland, Taupo, Tauranga and Waihi Beach. 2019 and Chris has been writing, recording and playing a few gigs (at cafe 88 in Mt.Maunganui).....his new album, "Woodsheddin'" ( an EP and Audio-Cassette release on Pinenut Records) will be released in November 2019 to coincide with gigs in Hamilton(The Fringe Festival),The Bowentown(Waihi Beach), Mt.Maunganui(Cafe 88), Taupo(Cafe 99), The Taihape Musicians Club, Palmerston North (Massey University), and The Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington.Update; touring completed, and as of November 2019, Chris Thompson has returned to Hamilton, and is living in Galloway St. in Hamilton East.2020, and Chris now has a trio with Jordan Rex Carpenter (bass) and Alex Deane (congas) and they are playing cafe gigs in and around Hamilton. Next one is Demi-Urgos Cafe, Victoria St. this Sat. Feb 22nd at midday. Free admission, all welcome. Chris also now has a Fan Club, started by some old and dear friends here in Hamilton. It's a Facebook thing; https://www.facebook.com/groups/169033127685410

Releases

Chris Thompson (Anthology) cover art

as Chris and Lynne Thompson:

Compilations:

External Links

White Sapphire cover

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Videos on Youtube: