CHRIS THOMPSON – Jukebox The Ultimate Collection 1975-2015 (2015)

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Cherry Red Records / Esoteric finally have done justice to one of greatest vocalists in Rock history; CHRIS THOMPSON, releasing the double CD compilation “Jukebox The Ultimate Collection 1975-2015“
This is a much more comprehensive compilation than the older Voiceprint releases ‘Backtrack’ and ‘Timeline’, all remastered.

Long remembered as the frontman of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (MMEB) during their most productive period, Thompson has also been part of AORsters Night (featured here on the blog), ventured into hard rock with Mike Slamer or Mads Eriksen, recorded excellent solo albums, and participate in countless sessions for Melodic Rock stars such as Toto, Brian May, Trevor Rabin, Bonnie Tyler, etc.

This latest foray through his back catalogue is enhanced by his own annotations, however the liner notes do lack comprehensive recording data, not least the featured musicians, although we know that Brian May appears on the ballad ‘A Shift In The Wind’ whilst Mavis Staples sings on the excellent ‘The Fire’, and Chris Spedding provides acoustic guitar for ‘Thunderchild’.
It would also have been helpful if the liner had indicated on which album these songs originally appeared.

There are several tracks included from his most recent solo album ‘Toys And Dishes’ whilst the “iconic” tunes are all present and correct, notably a rocked up ‘Mighty Quinn’ (a staple in the MMEB live set), ‘Runner’, ‘Blinded By The Light’ and ‘Davy’s On The Road Again’.
Amongst the highlights there is an excellent version of ‘Father Of Day’ (a MMEB song that pre-dated Thompson’s time in the band) and ‘Spirits In The Night’ which wasn’t originally sung by Chris, ‘Cold Wind Blowing Across My Heart’ (when he fronted LA-based band Night), and ‘One Man Mission’ recorded with Mike Slamer in 2000.
Of course we have ‘Beat Of Love’ from his 1991 solo album of that name, whilst the track he recorded during a late-night session in 2002, ‘What World’, is another stand-out.

The inclusion of ‘You’re The Voice’ reminds us that Thompson co-wrote that massive hit for John Farnham in 1986 and must have kept his bank manager happy ever, since whilst ‘The Challenge’ (co-written with Harold ‘Axel F’ Faltermeyer) was a No.1 hit in Germany in 1989 and – again – very AOR.
Earlier, in 1979, Thompson had sung the theme to the film The Champ – the wonderful ‘If You Remember Me’ – one of my favorite songs of all time.

At times, vocally, Thompson reminds of Chris Ousey (Heartland, Snakecharmer), he always has that soulful edge to his delivery. I wonder whether his more recent exile to Scandinavia and Germany where he frequently plays gigs has worked against him in terms of wider public perception since the late 1990′s after he had left MMEB.
Compare and contrast with Paul Carrack (with whom he also shares some vocal and stylistic similarities) who gigs solidly year on year in the UK.

Maybe this 2-CD set is Cherry Red’s first stab at making some sense of Thompson’s heritage and it would be good if it led to reissues of all his solo works, at very least.
I don’t think Chris has been best served by labels in the past – there’s been a fair amount of recycling and re-recording and shoddy packaging – and if this goes a little way to restoring his profile – and securing the listener’s re-appraisal – it will be a job well done, the definitive article.
Highly Recommended to all (to me, a must have).

CD 1 :
01 – Dark Side
02 – Love And Loneliness
03 – Father Of Day
04 – Hot Summer Night
05 – Million Dollar Wonder Hit
06 – Cold Wind Blowing Across My Heart
07 – Spirits In The Night
08 – Whole Lot To Give
09 – For You
10 – One Man Mission
11 – Martha’s Madman
12 – You Angel You
13 – Eddie Wants To Rock
14 – Dream Away Little Girl
15 – Don’t Stop
16 – The Fire

CD 2 :
01 – The Mighty Quinn
02 – The Challenge
03 – Runner – Live
04 – Redemption Song
05 – Land Of The Long White Cloud
06 – Blinded By The Light
07 – Angel
08 – Heart Of The Fire
09 – Don’t Kill It Carol – Live
10 – If You Remember Me
11 – Millie Christine
12 – You’re The Voice
13 – Davy’s On The Road Again – Live
14 – Questions – Live
15 – Zu Leben
16 – Thunderchild
17 – What World
18 – We Are The Strong

BUY IT !
www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4930
www.amazon.co.uk/Jukebox-Collection-1975-2015-Chris-Thompson/dp/B00PUJZ3X0
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