Danny Thompson

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Danny Thompson bigraphy, stories - British musician

Danny Thompson : biography

4 April 1939 –

Daniel Henry Edward ‘Danny’ Thompson (born 4 April 1939) is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist and businessman. He has had a long musical career playing with a large variety of other musicians, particularly Richard Thompson (no relation) and John Martyn, but including many others: at various times he has for example played with Nick Drake, Roy Orbison, Julie Felix, Freddie and the Dreamers, Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott, Tom Paxton, Donovan, Vivian Stanshall, David Sylvian, Kate Bush, Linda Lewis, Mary Hopkin, Loreena McKennitt, Tim Buckley, and Davey Graham. For four years (1964-1967), he was a member of Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, and he was a founding member of the British folk rock band Pentangle. Since 1987, he has also recorded four solo albums. He converted to Islam in 1990. "In 1999 Danny was interviewed for the BBC TV series Faces of Islam in which he discussed becoming a Muslim and his realisation of the fact that whilst he had only converted to Islam in 1990, the muslim faith had always been within him."

Partial discography

Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated

  • Red Hot From Alex (1964)
  • Sky High (1966)
  • Blues Incorporated (1967 – re-issue of Sky High)

Alexis Korner

  • I Wonder Who (1967)
  • A New Generation of Blues (1968)

Pentangle

  • The Pentangle (1968)
  • Sweet Child (1968)
  • Basket of Light (1969)
  • Cruel Sister (1970)
  • Reflection (1971)
  • Solomon’s Seal (1972)
  • Open the Door (1985)

Danny Thompson

  • Whatever (1987)
  • Whatever Next (1989)
  • Elemental (1990)
  • Whatever’s Best (1995)
  • Danny Thompson & Peter Knight (1995)

Richard Thompson and Danny Thompson

  • Live At Crawley (1995)
  • Industry (1997)

Others

Danny Thompson has played on dozens of albums and singles during his career. The following is only a small selection.

  • Vic Abram: The Folk Singer (1980)
  • ABC: Alphabet City (1987)
  • Mike Lindup: Changes (1990)
  • Richard Barbieri: Stranger Inside (2008)
  • The Blind Boys of Alabama: Spirit of the Century (2001)
  • Tim Buckley: Dream Letter: Live in London 1968 (1968)
  • Kate Bush: The Dreaming (1982); Hounds of Love (1985); 50 Words for Snow (2011)
  • Christine Collister: The Dark Gift Of Time (1998); An Equal Love (2001)
  • Graham Coxon: The Spinning Top (2009)
  • Barbara Dickson: Don’t Think Twice (1992); Dark End of The Street (1995)
  • Donovan: "There Is a Mountain" (single) (1967)
  • Nick Drake: Five Leaves Left (1969)
  • Marvin Etzioni: Marvin The Mandolin Man (1992)
  • Everything But The Girl: Amplified Heart (1994)
  • Marianne Faithfull: North Country Maid (1966); The World of Marianne Faithfull (1970)
  • Peter Gabriel: Up (2002)
  • Davey Graham: Folk Blues & Beyond (1965); Large As Life & Twice As Natural (1968); Hat (1969); Fire In The Soul (1999)
  • Boo Hewerdine: Baptist Hospital (1995)
  • Mary Hopkin: Earth Song / Ocean Song (1971); Live at The Royal Festival Hall 1972 (2005)
  • Hunter Muskett: Every Time You Move (1970)
  • The Incredible String Band: The 5000 Spirits (1967); Hard Rope & Silken Twine (1973)
  • Bert Jansch: Birthday Blues (1969); Moonshine (1972); L.A. Turnaround (1974); Avocet (1979); Sketches (1990)
  • John Martyn: Bless the Weather (1972); Solid Air (1973); Inside Out (1973); Sunday’s Child (1975); Live At Leeds (1975); One World (1977); On the Cobbles (2004)
  • Magna Carta: Lord of the Ages (1973)
  • John & Beverley Martyn: The Road To Ruin (1970)
  • Loreena McKennitt: The Book of Secrets (1997)
  • Linda Lewis: Fathoms Deep (1973)
  • Ralph McTell: Easy (1974)
  • Alison Moyet: Hoodoo (1991)
  • Deva Premal: Dakshina (2005)
  • Cliff Richard: "Congratulations" (1968)
  • Darrell Scott: Theater of the Unheard (2003)
  • Ayuo: Songs from a Eurasian Journey (1997)
  • Songhai. Collaboration with Flamenco group Ketama and Kora player Toumani Diabate: Songhai (1988); Songhai 2 (1994)
  • S. E. Rogie: Dead Men Don’t Smoke Marijuana (1997)
  • Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells a Story (1971)
  • David Sylvian: Brilliant Trees (1984)
  • Talk Talk: The Colour of Spring (1986); Spirit of Eden (1988)
  • Richard Thompson: Amnesia (1988); Mirror Blue (1994); Live At Crawley (1995); You? me? us? (1996); Two Letter Words (1996); Celtschmerz (1998); Mock Tudor (1999); Semi-Detached Mock Tudor (2002); The Old Kit Bag (2003); Ducknapped! (2003); Live From Austin, TX (2005); Sweet Warrior (2007)
  • Thunderbirds (TV series): (theme tune) (1964)
  • Kathryn Tickell: Common Ground (1988)
  • T Rex: Light of Love (1974); Zinc Alloy & The Hidden Riders (1974)
  • Loudon Wainwright III: I’m Alright (1985); More Love Songs (1986); Therapy (1989)
  • Dawud Wharnsby: Vacuous Waxing (2004)