Richard Thompson Preps New Album ‘Hippies, Thugs And Heroes’

Veteran singer-songwriter Richard Thompson will release his 20th studio album, Hippies, Thugs And Heroes, on October 16 through New West Records. The renowned guitarist previewed the record with the lead single, “Cocaine Walking, Booze Talking.”

The 12-track album was produced by Thompson and James Frazee. It follows the Fairport Convention co-founder’s 2024 release Ship to Shore.

Thompson wrote and demoed the new songs at home before bringing them to his backing band, which includes Taras Prodaniuk on bass, Michael Jerome on drums, David Mansfield on guitar and fiddle, and his wife, Zara Phillips, on backing vocals. The band recorded the album at Hobosound Studio in Weehawken, New Jersey, near Thompson’s home, with most songs recorded in two to four takes.

“It’s so much fun to mess around at home and disappear down in the basement for hours at a time,” Thompson explained. “I even bought myself a drumkit. So I was able to present more complete demos to the band.

“You look over the body of songs you’ve written and ask yourself, which ones are kindred spirits? You look for commonality among the songs, and it’s also a joy when you realize that certain songs seem to be brothers and sisters.”

View the “Cocaine Walking, Booze Talking” lyric video:

Hippies, Thugs And Heroes Tracklist

1. Sorcerer’s Apprentice
2. Cocaine Walking, Booze Talking
3. Pauper’s Grave
4. Unsung Hero
5. Make Believe You Don’t Know Me
6. She Burns It All
7. Everybody’s Stealing
8. The Soul In Me
9. Pipe Dreams
10. The Big Smoke
11. Stringer
12. Siren