Linda & Richard Thompson
Sunnyvista - Chrysalis 1979 Comments:"Sunnyvista" was the second album the Thompson-duo released on Chrysalis Records. After the three very strong albums released on Island Records, "First Light" was released in 1978 after three years without a new album and "Sunnyvista" came out the following year. The three Iceland albums received much deserved much praise, but unfortunately for they did not become great commercial successes. Consequently they had to find a new company. Chrysalis was not an illogical choice, having the folk-rock success Steeleye Span in the fold. The Thompson were never really folk-rockers, but they did have strong roots in that genre.
Both "First Light" and "Sunnyvista" are good albums, which, however, may to some extent lack the solidity that characterizes their predecessors. The company had hoped for a commercial breakthrough, and some of the songs may bear a bit of a mark of being written for this purpose.
It is a quite varied album, where many profiled friends guest perform; Among them Dave Pegg, Timmy Donald, Pat Donaldson, Pete Wingfield, Rabbit Bundrick, John Kirkpatrick, Dave Mattacks and Kate & Anna McGarrigle.
The album features some hauntingly beautiful songs with lead vocals from Linda, such as "Lonely Hearts", "Sisters" and "Traces of My Love". "Borrowed Time" is a fine rocker sung by Richard. The title track "Sunnyvista" is a somewhat atypical track; almost in Brecht / Weil style - a fun and quite catchy song.
Apart from a few tracks like "Civilization" and "Justice in the Streets", I think the album is very solid and far better than its reputation. Great that the Master tapes for the two Chrysalis album were not lost, as it once was rumoured, and that remastered versions the two album can now be found on the great box set "Hard Luck Stories".
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