Hand of Kindness

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Richard Thompson chronology
Hand Of Kindness

Studio album by Richard Thompson
Released	June 1983
Recorded	1983 at Olympic Studios, London and Ocean Way Studios, Los Angeles
Genre	Rock
Length	41:15
Label	Hannibal Records
Producer(s)	Joe Boyd
Strict Tempo! (1981)	Hand Of Kindness (1983)	Small Town Romance (1984)

Hand Of Kindness is an album by Richard Thompson recorded and released in 1983.

After the "Tour From Hell" to promote Shoot Out The Lights Richard Thompson resumed a solo career as a recording and performing artist.

Hand Of Kindness is a distinct departure from the albums that preceded it. Thompson biographer Patrick Humphries observed that with this album Thompson "left the darkness behind him and walked out into the light". This is one of the most straight forward and up tempo rock albums in the Thompson catalog. The mood is generally exuberant and Thompson's vocals and particularly his guitar playing are confident and extrovert. The one exception is the very dark and melancholy "Devonside", a track which Thompson rarely plays live, occasionally joking that he doesn't want to depress the audience.

Several songs feature the dual 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" which is an enduring favourite and a feature of Thompson concerts to this day. (The song was also covered by U.S. country artist Patty Loveless in 1995.)