Strict Tempo!

Strict Tempo! is an instrumental album by Richard Thompson released in 1981.

After the modest sales for their 1979 album Sunnyvista, Richard and Linda Thompson found themselves without a record deal. An album produced and financed by Gerry Rafferty (see Shoot Out the Lights for more details) failed to secure them a deal with a major label.

To generate some income, Richard Thompson formed his own record label Elixir Records and recorded this album at a small studio in London.

The album consists of some of the artist's favourite tunes, all rendered as instrumentals and all arranged for guitar, mandolin, and other instruments played by Thompson. The only other participating player is drummer Dave Mattacks.

The album is being re-released on Vinyl by Omnivore Recordings in September, 2011, and on CD in November, 2011.

Track listing

All songs traditional and arranged by Richard Thompson except where noted.

1. "New-Fangled Flogging Reel/Kerry Reel"
2. "Vaillance Polka Militaire/Belfast Polka"
3. "Glencoe/Scott Skinner’s Rock/Bonny Banchory"
4. "Banish Misfortune
5. "Dundee Hornpipe/Poppy-Leaf Hornpipe"
6. "Do It For My Sake"
7. "Rockin’ In Rhythm" (written by Duke Ellington)
8. "The Random Jig/The Grinder"
9. "Will Ye No Cam Back Again"
10. "Cam O’er The Stream Charlie/Ye Banks And Braes"
11. "Rufty Tufty/Nonsuch à la Mode de France"
12. "Andalus/Radio Marrakesh"
13. "The Knife-Edge" (written by Richard Thompson)

Personnel

• Richard Thompson - guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, banjo, mandocello, dulcimer, harmonium, pennywhistle, dobro
• Dave Mattacks - drums, piano on Ye Banks And Braes