On May 31, 1982, forty-five days after the release of their landmark album Shoot Out the Lights, Richard and Linda Thompson performed with their band at Parody Hall in Kansas City. A young numskull, I was incapable of fully grasping the emotional dynamic on display. The couple’s marriage didn’t survive the year. I’ve subsequently admired the individual output of both artists. Until now, however, I’ve never been infatuated with a recording by Linda Thompson. The unusual backstory of the wondrous Proxy Music necessitates a stylistic range accentuating Thompson’s skill as a songwriter. The eleven songs are funny, heart-wrenching and illuminating. "Those Damn Roches", the self-referential closing selection, further reveals the wry sense of humor exhibited on the all-time-great album cover.
