Ten Favorite Insects and Creepy Crawling Things Songs: Beeswing (#4)

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Here's another one of those songs that feature an insect in the title. There's a snake still to come (hence the "creepy crawling things"...plus, I had a spider earlier, and they technically aren't insects), as well as the song that more or less inspired this series (that'll come tomorrow). Meanwhile, here's a favorite with today's song. #4: Beeswing - Richard Thompson Just watch this guy play guitar. Man, oh man. This is one of his "classics," too, despite the fact that the album it was on (Mirror Blue) wasn't considered one of Thompson's greatest albums (we're talking three and a half stars versus five, y'know, with an artist of his caliber). I thought when the album came out, and I still think it, that Capitol Records must think they can still rely on the Beatles. Consider Steve Miller: after two massively successful albums (Fly Like an Eagle and Book of Dreams) Capitol waited four years for another album. And, by the time ol' Stevie "Guitar" Miller obliged, the music scene had dramatically changed (and poor Steve had just caught up with disco: side two of Circle of Love is a disco song called "Macho City"...and yes, it's all of side two). Similarly, although with an infinitely higher quality guitarist and songwriter to work with here, the label watched as Richard Thompson's cresting wave with Rumor and Sigh went back out to sea with the tide...and then a sea wall was built. So Richard Thompson went from someone on the brink of major breakthrough to sliding back into the cult figure status. Smart move, Capitol. No wonder we love indie labels. Anyway.... This is a beautiful lost love ballad that he almost always does live. That's good for me, because have I mentioned I'm going to see him in April? Love his music and his guitar playing. Beeswing Written by Richard Thompson Recorded by Richard Thompson From Mirror Blue, 1994 She was a rare thing.....