Marjorie Thompson has a no-nonsense, down-to-earth approach on Never Let Me Down, a style that lacks pretension by promising "what you see is what you get." The album gets a strong start with "Poster Child for the Blues," a funny take on a familiar genre. The song is greatly bolstered by Vincent Pasternak's viola (which most will mistake for a fiddle), reminding one of the old guitar-fiddle combos of the 1920s. The title track is pure traditional country and manages - as Jimmie Rodgers and other early country practitioners did - to keep its connection to the blues. The song is graced with lovely pedal steel work by none other than Buddy Cage. Thompson's vocals triumph more on sincerity than versatility, and it's easy to gain the impression that she's the best interpreter of her material. The arrangements vary from song to song, but they retain a similar roots feel. Spare combinations of mandolin, pedal steel, guitar, viola, and piano offer a nice range of set-ups that complement both the songs and Thompson's vocals. Another winning quality of Never Let Me Down is Thompson's predilection for writing songs with interesting chord changes, even when writing within a genre like the blues. She likewise has an affection for offbeat lyrics, as on "Hairdo Rag." Never Let Me Down is a nice, low-key effort by a talented writer.

- Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide

 

"Marjorie Thompson, guitarist, singer, and composer, has released her third album - "Never Let Me Down." It is a mix of blues, country, and folk, with guitar, bass, mandolin, viola, Hammond organ, piano, and a Fender Rhode keyboard. Her album is stylistically characterized (lit. "stamped") by her finger picking and her singing. Marjorie Thompson prefers soft sounds. If her music were described in a word then it's "wonderful." Her pieces seldom fit in a clear musical category. She mostly mixes blues, country, and folk with a harmonic whole. "Heart Full of Love" sounds more like country; "Living With An Empty Heart" sounds a little like folk. She describes her music as "country blues." She demonstrates with "Money Blues" that she can play blues with groove. On it she plays one of the most extraordinary FUNNELbody guitars by Gottschall, which are not only beauties but also noticeable by their construction and sound. Marjorie Thompson is up until now probably only known to a few outside the USA. You can't find her albums in stores, but only buy through her website - a worthwhile effort. At the 2006 Frankfurt Music Show, she was a guest at master guitar maker Gottschall to show off his guitars with her music. Accompanied by only a bass player, she played and sang live as well as in a studio. During a short interview at the show, the American from Rhode Island came across just like her music: charming, friendly, and unpretentious.

- Wolfgang Henderkes

 

"Marjorie's new CD, Never Let me Down, never lets you down. Her writing and singing is wonderful as always ... her playing is endearing. This is a great addition to her body of work!"

- Jorma Kaukonen  (Hot Tuna)

 

"Marjorie Thompson, Never Let Me Down (MoSugar). Kicking off with a song titled "Poster Child for the Blues" may sound like a bit of a bummer, but Marjorie Thompson's vocal never allows us to feel too dejected. The country flavored "Heart Full of Love" likewise finds a certain beauty in feeling lonesome and blue. Never Let me Down succeeds thanks to its open, straightforward approach."

- RL (Sing Out Vol 49 #3 Fall 2005)

 

"Marjorie Thompson, fingerstyle guitarist/singer/writer/and, um, associate dean of biological sciences at Brown University, has done it again. 2005 brings us Marjorie's third and most ambitious recording so far - an album of first-class urban blues-idiom work, performed largely in thoughtful arrangements with bass, mandolin, viola, pedal steel, lead guitar, organ, piano, a sprinkling of percussion, and a potent secret weapon, Amy Helm of Ollabelle on harmony vocals. Marjorie's impressive playing style is a cross between Dave Van Ronk, Pat Sky, Jorma Kaukonen and John Hurt. A particularly haunting story-song, "The Party" is about a wake, set to an Irish-traditional sounding melody and structure, starting with "I went to your house tonight"  and ending with "I could feel and touch and taste and know that you were there somewhere." The CD's 12th piece, "Once Again and More," starkly accompanied by just her Collings OM-cutaway acoustic guitar, is crafted, as so much of Marjorie's work is, at the highest level of folk-acoustical literacy and addresses the durability of relationships by transporting the listener into a sweeping voyage whose melody and message resonate within a reverie of reflective introspection. This artist, who in her opener calls herself a "Poster child for the blues" never ceases to refresh us with her prodigious finger-driven playing, sparkling performance, self-deprecating wit and inspired imagination."

- Stan Jay, Mandolin Bros.

 

"Marjorie Thompson's "Never Let Me Down" seems to evoke the sultry, gold rush melodies of a frontier saloon, mixed with the 1960s bohemian coffee bars and folk clubs of Manhattan's Greenwich Village."

- Pete Sears (Hot Tuna, Jefferson Starship, Flying Other Bros.)

 

"I liked it very much. Your writing is reliably intelligent and the songs are very well crafted. Nice playing, and good back-up, too."

- Happy Traum

 

"I really enjoyed the lyrics, the tone of the guitar and your sense of timing."

- Pat Donohue (Prairie Home Companion)

 

"I think I am in minor state of awe. There is a real nice feel on this disc. Fabulous in fact!"

- RL Hegarty, NH Luesman

 

"Have been listening avidly and can't really find words to express admiration and awe - so "wow" will have to do. Unbelievably beautiful performance, writing and singing on your part. Perfect and moving arrangements to compliment the emotional mood of every song - Michael's efforts for sure, yes? Love the viola and harmonies on Empty Heart. And the pedal steel on several tracks is just thrilling. Your playing and singing has just matured so much - think you are in the big leagues now."

- Bob Doherty, NY

 

"I love it. You have the real vibe for this style of music. Not everyone can pull it off as you do. Angels Gonna Carry Me Home was especially compelling to me right now."

- Russ Paladino, Very Cool Media, NY

 

"The quality of the production values are a bit shocking. I can't believe how good it sounds. I didn't think I could be a bigger fan than I already am, but you have done it."

- Paul Karp, NY

 

"I'm in awe of your talent and songwriting. I love the CD. You are truly gifted. If this doesn't propel you into the big time, I don't know what will."

- Fran La Malva, Lizardeye Guitars

 

Track Listing

1. Poster Child for the Blues	4.04
2. Heart Full of Love	4.03
3. Never Let Me Down	3.59
4. Runnin Blues	4.01
5. Living with an Empty Heart	4.03
6. So Long Blues	4.04
7. The Party	3.25
8. Angels Gonna Carry Me Home	3.36
9. Hairdo Rag	3.48
10. Do Me Like You Do	2.27
11. Money Blues	2.33
12. Once Again and More	5.09

 

Lyrics

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