Linda Thompson celebrates the music of the English music hall.

Linda Thompson’s career begins in the much beloved late ’60s, early ’70s British folk-rock scene. At first, she was mostly a session singer and a part of a short-lived duo with Paul McNeill with whom she released two singles in 1968 and 1969. McNeill happened to be friends with Sandy Denny, and soon so was Linda. She became one of the “supergroup” of musician friends related to Fairport Convention for the 1972 The Bunch album, a side project of sorts, featuring rock hits of the ’50s. The album’s single featured Linda and Sandy Denny covering The Everly Brothers’ “When Will I Be Loved.” Also in 1972 Linda married Richard Thompson and Linda (with Sandy Denny) can be found in the credits for Richard’s 1972 solo debut, Henry The Human Fly. Beginning in 1974, albums started appearing by Richard & Linda Thompson winding up with the classic Shoot Out The Lights in 1982 which also signaled the end of their marriage.

Enter the English theatre! In 1984, Linda was singing with The Home Service at the National Theatre’s production of medieval mystery plays, before releasing her first solo album One Clear Moment in 1985. Unfortunately, due to dysphonia (a condition affecting her voice and ability to sing), One Clear Moment remained her only solo effort until 2002’s Fashionably Late by which time she had found a will and a way to continue singing despite the dysphonia. In 1987, the song “Telling Me Lies” from One Clear Moment was covered by Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt for their Trio album and was nominated for the 1987 Best Country Song Grammy. In the 21st century, Linda has released or been a part of five albums to date bringing us to My Mother Doesn’t Know I’m On The Stage.

For long-time Linda Thompson fans, an album of comedy, theatrical and popular songs that made up the music hall music of the 18th and 19th centuries, may seem a bit of a surprise, when actually, Linda has deep ties to the music:

“I suppose the genesis of this record is that music hall and variety (vaudeville, for my American friends), was always a big part of my life. I’m only a hop skip and a jump removed from it. My grandparents were born in the late 1800s. My parents were born near the beginning of the 20th Century. My paternal grandmother had seen Marie Lloyd and Vesta Tilley, and the like. My dad grew up on Max Miller, and The Crazy Gang. He took me to theatres, both in London and Glasgow, to see Shows. I missed Max Miller, but I knew every word of his act, and all of the songs. I did see The Crazy Gang, who were sensational. I actually worked with one of them in 1967. Monsewer Eddie Grey. Lovely guy. Tommy Trinder was top of the bill, something made me steer clear of him tho.”

With family and special guests on board, the album was mostly recorded in May of 2005 at the Lyric Hammersmith in London. While Linda sets the proceedings in motion, special guests appear quickly. “Beautiful Dreamer,” the Stephen Foster classic, is performed by Martha Wainwright. Says Linda, “I have always loved this song. Have sung and listened to many versions of it for eons. I have never ever heard a more beautiful rendition than this. Never.”

Also along for the ride is actor Academy Award®-winning actor Colin Firth, who happens to be a fan of Linda’s son, recording artist, Teddy Thompson. Teddy brought Firth into the project and he handles the title track with all the wit and charm the title conjures. Teddy appears as well, handling lead vocal duties on several songs. Tony®-nominated cabaret artist, Justin Vivian Bond takes a turn at “A Good Man Is Hard To Find,” while both music hall singing legend, John Foreman, and renowned English folksinger Bob Davenport, tie the album back to its roots as artists who have been performing since the ’50s and early ’60s. Irish folk singer Cara Dillon with Sam Lakeman, Jools Holland with the actor Roy Hudd, concertina player Roger Digby, music director Michael Haslam, Stephen Large of Squeeze, James Walbourne of Pretenders and The Rails, and even George Hinschliffe of The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain all join in the fun, evoking the bygone era of the saloons and public houses where people could go to dance, sing, drink, smoke and joke, and let the cares of the world fall away for a while. Linda sums it up perfectly, “Drunk? Us? How very dare you?” Come join the fun!

CD / Digital Track List:

1. I Might Learn To Love Him Later On (Tra-La-La-La) featuring Linda Thompson
2. Beautiful Dreamer featuring Martha Wainwright
3. My Mother Doesn’t Know I’m On The Stage featuring Colin Firth
4. London Heart featuring James Walbourne
5. Good-Bye Dolly Gray featuring Linda Thompson
6. I Wish You Were Here Again featuring Bob Davenport
7. A Good Man Is Hard To Find featuring Justin Vivian Bond
8. Here Am I Broken Hearted featuring Teddy Thompson
9. If It Wasn’t For The ‘ouses In Between (or The Cockney’s Garden) featuring John Foreman
10. Burlington Bertie From Bow featuring Teddy Thompson
11. The Lark In The Clear Air featuring Cara Dillon
12. Wotcher! (Knocked ‘Em In The Old Kent Road) featuring Roy Hudd
13. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime? featuring Teddy Thompson
14. Show Me The Way To Go Home Ensemble