Henry the Human Fly

Henry the Human Fly is the debut solo album by Richard Thompson, his first release following his leaving former group Fairport Convention.^[8][9] It was released on the Island label in the U.K. and the Reprise label in the U.S.A. in April 1972. The album was reissued by Rykodisc in 1991.^[6]

Henry the Human Fly
Studio album by Richard Thompson
Released	April 1972
Recorded	February 1972
Studio	Sound Techniques, London
Genre	Folk rock
Length	37:01
Label	Island Reprise Hannibal Fledg'ling
Producer	Richard Thompson, John Wood
Richard Thompson chronology
Henry the Human Fly (1972) I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	A−[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[3]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[4]
Rolling Stone	[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[6]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	9/10[7]

Thompson has stated that at one point this was the worst-selling album in the Warner Bros. catalog.^[10][8]

Production

Although Thompson's first solo album, two other ex-Fairport Convention members (Sandy Denny and Ashley Hutchings) make appearances.^[6] Linda Peters, who married Thompson shortly after the album was released, sings backup on Henry the Human Fly.^[5][11]

Critical reception

The Spin Alternative Record Guide called the songs "tinged with perversity and populated by oddballs," writing that it "reveals Thompson as the one Fairporter most fiercely determined to redefine folk rock at every turn."^[7]

Mojo counted Henry the Human Fly as one of the hundred greatest guitar albums ever produced.^[12]

Track listing

All songs written by Richard Thompson.

1. "Roll Over Vaughn Williams" – 4:09
2. "Nobody’s Wedding" – 3:13
3. "The Poor Ditching Boy" – 3:01
4. "Shaky Nancy" – 3:26
5. "The Angels Took My Racehorse Away" – 4:01
6. "Wheely Down" – 3:00
7. "The New St. George" – 2:08
8. "Painted Ladies" – 3:31
9. "Cold Feet" – 2:26
10. "Mary and Joseph" – 1:38
11. "The Old Changing Way" – 3:55
12. "Twisted" – 1:58

Personnel

• Richard Thompson – guitar, vocals, accordion (1), tin whistle (4), mandolin (12)
• Timi Donald – drums, vocals
• Pat Donaldson – bass guitar, vocals
• David Snell – harp (11,12)
• Jeff Cole – trombone (7,10)
• John Defereri – tenor saxophone (7,10)
• Clay Toyani – trumpet (7,10)
• Sue Draheim – fiddle (2,7)
• Barry Dransfield – fiddle (3,5,6)
• John Kirkpatrick – accordion (2,5)
• Andy Roberts – Appalachian dulcimer (3)
• Sandy Denny – piano (8), vocals (4,5)
• Linda Peters – vocals (4,5)
• Ashley Hutchings – vocals
• uncredited - harmonium (6,9,10), piano (6)

References

1. Hartenbach, Brett (2011). "Henry the Human Fly - Richard Thompson | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 16 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
3. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. pp. 150–151.
4. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1144.
5. Loder, Kurt (29 March 1984). "Henry the Human Fly". Rolling Stone.
6. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 704.
7. Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 405–406.
8. "Richard Thompson | Biography & History". AllMusic.
9. "Richard Thompson: Quintessential Cult Artist". NPR.org.
10. "Richard Thompson". Music.
11. "Hard-Luck Stories". MTV News.^{[dead link‍]}
12. "North Coast Journal November 30, 2006 : THE HUM : Heartbreaker". www.northcoastjournal.com.