Richard & Linda Thompson, Hokey Pokey (side A)

While 1974's Hokey Pokey retains the dark lyrical themes of so much of Richard Thompson's writing, it approaches them with more levity than on the duo's other canonical albums. Emphasizing the levity is the fiddle, which plays in a light and somewhat antiquated style. The songs, while great, aren't quite as memorable as on Bright Lights Tonight or Pour Down Like Silver, and the backing group is Thompson's usual from this era apart from Timi Donald on drums. The old-fashioned cover design is fun, and the recording sounds great. Unfortunately, my early-80s Carthage pressing uses overly-glossy paper and was mastered too bright/present.