Linda Thompson, who made a series of albums with her then-husband Richard in the Seventies and Eighties, has recorded a new album and is shopping it around to several labels.

The Thompsons acrimoniously separated following their 1982 breakthrough, Shoot Out the Lights. Since then, Linda Thompson released one solo album, 1985's One Clear Moment, as well as an anthology, Dreams Fly Away.

The self-financed and currently untitled twelve-song album was recorded in New York and London and produced by Ed Haber, who compiled separate Rykodisc anthologies for both Richard and Linda. Thompson co-wrote several songs with her son, Teddy , with guest appearances from Martin Carthy, Eliza Carthy, Rufus Wainwright and Van Dyke Parks. It is currently in the final mixing process.

In addition to her own album, Thompson has also contributed to a tribute album honoring singer Lal Waterson and a Cajun tribute album assembled by Ann Savoy that includes tracks from Keith Richards, John Fogerty , Linda Rondstadt and, oddly enough, Richard Thompson.

Thompson stopped singing for several years when she discovered she had a vocal disorder called hysterical dysphonia. She started again recently when she was asked by David Thomas of Pere Ubu to participate in a project. "A lot of people singing today don't have vocal problems and they sound awful," she says. "So I don't mind it so much."

Thompson said she would probably not participate in a full-blown tour, but may perform some showcase dates after the album is released.

CHARLES BERMANT
(January 6, 2001)