Whether the medium was folk, jazz, rock or straight-ahead pop music, Danny Thompson was, for so very many, the double bassist of choice. Perhaps best known for his work with Pentangle, John Martyn and Richard Thompson, Danny Thompson also provided the bedrock for artists as diverse as Kate Bush, Vivian Stanshall, Alison Moyet and Cliff Richard. We were deeply saddened to hear of his death, aged 86, this week, but oh-so-grateful for the pleasure that he brought to us all.
A SPECIAL TALENT
Danny Thompson was special, of that there’s no doubt. Born in Devon, but raised in London, he learned his chops on the stand-up bass whilst still at school, juggling his leisure time between honing his musical skills and sharpening his prospects as an up-and-coming footballer. Although he signed to Chelsea as a young prospect, music won out and, at the age of 25, he joined Alex Korner’s Blues Incorporated as the band’s bassist – a role he occupied until 1967. Whilst with Korner, Danny also took his first tentative steps as a session musician – that’s his bass that you can on the Thunderbirds theme, recorded in 1964.
Danny’s skills perhaps came to widespread attention when he linked up with Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Terry Cox and Jacqui McShee to form Pentangle in 1967. He remained with Pentangle throughout the band’s first – and most successful – incarnation from 1967-1973, featuring on the band’s mighty run of albums, a series that included the eponymous debut and the peerless Basket of Light (1969).
AN IN-DEMAND SESSIONEER
Danny’s exploits as a session musician would fill a book in their own right. Maybe it’s folk artists that prevail in Danny’s extensive contact book – he features on singles and albums by Davy Graham, Donovan, Nick Drake, The Incredible String Band and Ralph McTell, amongst many others. But, look beyond the folk genre and you’ll find Danny lurking on the backline on such works as The Dreaming (Kate Bush), Amplified Heart (Everything But The Girl), Up (Peter Gabriel), Every Picture Tells a Story (Rod Stewart) and even Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow (T.Rex). He even had a Eurovision adventure – that’s him making the floor shake on Cliff Richard’s 1968 entry, Congratulations!
EXPLOITS…
Danny’s exploits with the late John Martyn were legendary, and not only for musical reasons. I won’t go into the details of some of the more lurid stories but the curious amongst you will find plenty to amuse and astound in Small Hours, Graeme Thomson’s riveting John Martyn biography. Suffice to say that Danny’s musical contribution to that lasting partnership was immeasurable. Classic albums like Solid Air (1973), Inside Out (1973) and Sunday’s Child (1975) just wouldn’t have been the same without Danny Thompson’s magical input.
WITH RICHARD – AND SOLO
Danny’s Partnership with his namesake, Richard Thompson was equally rewarding, if significantly less dramatic. Danny accompanied Richard on a string of tours during the late 1990s and early 2000s and the fruits of their partnership can be enjoyed on the 1995 live album, Live at Crawley.
And, when he wasn’t involved with sessions or propping up a talented friend, Danny had time to release a string of stunning solo albums, starting with Whatever in 1987.
“GET ON WITH IT!”
Cropredy Festival veterans will, of course, have fond memories of Danny Thompson for another reason. From the late 1980s to the early 2000s, Danny was the festival’s principal compere, adept at keeping the show moving with warmth, knowledge and humour. In days before instant availability of information, Danny’s readings of the football results each festival Saturday were the stuff of legends, prompting many cries of the words that became his own, special, festival catchphrase: “Get on with it!”
THANK YOU, DANNY THOMPSON
Danny’s management have confirmed that he died ‘peacefully’ at his home in Rickmansworth and described him as: “A musician who was both beloved and admired by everybody he worked with. His body of work is unparalleled in its quality and also in the incredibly varied number of musicians he worked with.” The statement concluded: “Danny was a force of nature. A player who served the song and who enriched the lives of every single person he met.” And I’m sure that, if you’re reading this, you are, indeed, someone who has enjoyed that enrichment. Danny is survived by his wife, Sylvia and his son, Dan.
Danny Thompson – we love you: Thank you, so very much, for the music.
Watch John Martyn, Danny Thompson and Katy Mattea perform May You Never during the 1996 Transatlantic Sessions, below:
