With the release of their classic 1974 debut,
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight,
Richard & Linda Thompson set an unbelievably high standard for themselves. Although containing many of the same attributes, their follow-up,
Hokey Pokey, doesn't quite reach the lofty heights of its predecessor, but then again, not many records do. The
Thompsons, from the opening Irish fiddle derivation of a
Chuck Berry riff, through
Linda's exquisite performance of "A Heart Needs a Home," to their cover of
Mike Waterson's "Mole in a Hole" which closes the record, once again create a timeless amalgam of folk and rock. Recorded at the time of the
Thompsons' conversion to Islam,
Hokey Pokey comes across a bit lighter than
Bright Lights. Songs such as the playfully suggestive title track, the jaunty "Georgie on a Spree" and the quirky tale of "Smiffy's Glass Eye" make
Hokey Pokey seem downright cheery for
Richard Thompson, although even at its sunniest, themes of sex, cruelty and avarice linger just below the surface. For those more accustomed to the usual straightforward doom and gloom from the
Thompsons, there's the rueful "I'll Regret It All in the Morning," the sullen, traditional tone of "The Sun Never Shines on the Poor" and the mournful ballad "Never Again."
Hokey Pokey is an often overlooked gem in the
Thompsons' luminous catalog. [The deluxe bonus-tracks edition of
Hokey Pokey included live material, unreleased
John Peel sessions, expanded packaging, and a full lyric sheet.] ~ Brett Hartenbach