As Moncton’s Chris Colepaugh puts the finishing touches on the fifth of 12 new songs due to be released in 2019 - that’s one song per month, bucko - the month of May brings listeners an electrifying cover of Richard and Linda Thompson’s “I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight.”
As accomplished and revered as Colepaugh is as a solo performer, band leader and accompanist, he’s also the kind of musician that, throughout his career, has maintained an innate sense of curiosity about music.
“It was just in the last few years that a friend turned me onto Richard Thompson. He was pretty confident I was going to really like his style of playing, so it became something I had to hear for myself,” Colepaugh begins. “One night I was working in the studio, and I put on the I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight album and, as my friend predicted, found myself completely floored with Thompson’s guitar playing and phrasing. There was this gnarly nastiness to it. In the bigger picture, it was rather unconventional, especially within the context of folk and rock.”
Colepaugh’s version of the track remains faithful to the original, maintaining Thompson’s attitude while, among other attributes, employing a range of guitar harmonies to emulate the horn section heard in the original.
“I’ve kept the melody intact, but in listening to the original, I wondered what I could do to make it a tad heavier and a little more straight ahead. That’s not me being critical of the original as much as it’s driven by my desire to put a bit of a unique stamp on my version of the song. There are so many songs from the 60s and 70s that are just amazing, including this track and they become something I want to share with others.”
lyrics
I'm so tired of working every day
Now the weekend's come I'm gonna throw my troubles away
If you've got the cab fare, mister you'll do all right
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Meet me at the station don't be late
I need to spend some money and it just won't wait
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
There's crazy people running all over town
There's a silver band just marching up and down
And the big boys are all spoiling for a fight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Meet me at the station don't be late
I need to spend some money and it just won't wait
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
A couple of drunken knights rolling on the floor
Is just the kind of mess I'm looking for
I'm gonna dream till Monday comes in sight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Meet me at the station don't be late
I need to spend some money and it just won't wait
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
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