Richard Thompson
Discussion List FAQUsing the List
Why have Frequently Asked Questions (a FAQ)?
What is the purpose of the Richard Thompson Discussion List?
What is the history of the RT Discussion List?
Who maintains the RT Discussion List?
How do I send messages to the RT Discussion List maintainer?
How do I send messages to everybody on the RT Discussion List?
How do I reply to individuals who send messages to the RT Discussion List?
How do I change from real time to digest subscription, and what is the difference?
How do I stop receiving messages from the RT Discussion List?
How do I get an index of the RT Discussion List files that are archived and available?
How do I get a specific RT Discussion List digest file?
Why are tape-trading discussions not allowed on the RT List?
Who contributed to the creation and revision of the RT List FAQ?
Who is responsible for keeping the RT Discussion List FAQ updated?
Are corrections to, comments on, or ideas about the FAQ welcomed?
Why have Frequently Asked Questions (a FAQ)?
This Frequently Asked Questions file has been created to provide basic information on the purpose of the RT Discussion List, information on how to contribute to the list, and background on Richard Thompson and his music.
The FAQ should provide new members of the RT Discussion List with some information on topics that have already been discussed on the list.
The RT Discussion List FAQ is not intended to be a comprehensive, critical, or biographical study of Richard Thompson. Nor is it intended to be a comprehensive discography of his work. There will be, however, quite a few references throughout to other sources of information for those who seek more information than this FAQ is intended to provide.
What is the purpose of the Richard Thompson Discussion List?
This list was created to facilitate global discussion, via the Internet, of the music of Richard Thompson. Topics for discussion include all matters Thompson-related (songwriting, guitar techniques, reviews, concert info, etc.). Comments on Fairport Convention and projects that RT has been involved with are OK, too.
What is the history of the RT Discussion List?
On May 25, 1993, Allyn Dimock dimock@das.harvard.edu asked on rec.music.folk if there was an RT discussion list on the Internet. On May 31, 1993, Brian White brw@jazz.njit.edu replied to Allyn's post and offered to manage an RT list if one did not exist. At this time, Brian asked for a show of "electronic" hands, as to potential interest.
On June 3, 1993, those who had sent Brian private email on their desire to be included in the proposed RT discussion list received a message with the following opening paragraph:
"If you got this message, you've been added to the Richard Thompson mailing list as a "charter subscriber", which buys you absolutely nothing! Of course, if you didn't receive this message, how would you know? :^)"So, this list was officially "born" on June 3, 1993. The total number of "charter subscribers" was a small but enthusiastic 34. Four countries were represented: Australia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Charter members were Brian White, Gerry Pirrung, Dan Kozak, Paul Woods, Diane M. Terry, David Ewing, Doug Henkle, Chris Revie, Bob McC, Shane Youl, Ray Peck, Mark Linimon, Gordon Banks, Philip Foster, James Finn, Louis Cornelio, Garth Payne, Patrick Nielsen-Hayden, Ken Ficara, Martin Jonas, Cliff Joslyn, Pete Gibson, Ethan Jones, Fred M. Hamilton, Ray Smith, Noel Lackey, Dan Clancy, Mark Hessman, M.L. Bailey, Carl E. Anderson, Henry Koretzky, Glenn W. Lea, Colm Mulcahy, and Charlie A. Jamison.
The list has now grown to over 750 subscribers representing well over 20 countries. These countries include Australia, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United States, and Wales.
Who maintains the RT Discussion List?
This list was created by Brian White brw@jazz.njit.edu at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ, USA. Maintaining a discussion list can be time-consuming and is always a non-paying job. (But Brian says it's also fun and through the list he has met some great folks!)
It is now managed by Willis Howard.
How do I send messages to the RT Discussion List maintainer?
You may send email messages to Willis at wehoward@alphane.com.
Please don’t waste Willis’s time with requests for things which can be done directly like subscriptions and unsubscriptions. See the information on this web site.
How do I send messages to everybody on the RT Discussion List?
When you have something to contribute, send your thoughts to the following address:
Your message will then be distributed to all members of the RT list. Use this address whether you are on the regular list or the digest. You must be a subscriber in order to post.
How do I reply to individuals who send messages to the RT Discussion List?
When you want to respond directly to anyone who sends a message to the RT list, **do not** reply to rt@rtlist.net. Reply directly to the individual's private email address. If you reply to the list address your message will automatically be distributed around the world to all those RT Discussion List subscribers who have their mail options set to receive messages from the list. Look for the individual's email address in the header of the message. Understand how your local email system works. Specifically, understand how your local email system's "reply" function works. Remember to reply to the individual's email address, not the list address. Note that Microsoft Mail has options ‘reply to all’ and ‘reply to individual’ but with list e-mail the individual option replies to the list!
If you make this mistake and send private email to the list-- welcome to the club. There are a few of us who have made this mistake in the past, with varying degrees of embarrassment!
How do I change from real time to digest subscription, and what is the difference?
There are two ways to have the list delivered to your e-mail address. Ordinary subscription works in real time, which means that each time a message is sent to the list a copy is immediately sent to you. The digest consists of exactly the same messages but they are collected into one e-mail message, usually sent once a day.
First you must subscribe. To do that, send a blank email message to
Be sure to reply to the confirmation email within 2 days. If you currently get the ordinary real time list and wish to receive the list messages in digest form send a blank email from your subscription address to:
If you wish to change to the real time message distribution option from the digest send a blank email from your subscription address to
If you have problems, contact Willis.
How do I stop receiving messages from the RT Discussion List?
If you wish to stop receiving messages from the RT Discussion List, send a blank email from your subscription address to:
PLEASE NOTE.
Unsubscribe messages should be sent from the same address as used to subscribe. If you change your e-mail address you should unsubscribe using your old address then subscribe from the new one.
How do I get an index of the RT Discussion List files that are archived and available?
This will be described soon.
How do I get a specific RT Discussion List digest file?
This will be described soon.
Why are tape-trading discussions not allowed on the RT List?
In the 1988 interview included in Clinton Heylin's book, Gypsy Love Songs & Sad Refrains, RT stated that he was "rather ambivalent" about people trading his concert performance tapes. His main problem with this then seemed to be having "off nights" getting out to people on tapes.
It must however be remembered that this was said before RT started to issue the series of official live recordings which now comprise 2 letter Words, Live at Crawley and Celtschmertz.
While It is realized that there are quite a few list members collecting and trading RT live performance and radio session tapes, out of consideration for the wishes of RT tape trading discussions are not allowed on the list.
Trading tapes of RT's official recordings, a practice that detracts from sales of the albums and thereby hurts RT's reputation, chart position, and bank account, should not be discussed on the RT Discussion List.
Who contributed to the creation and revision of the RT List FAQ?
Many thanks to the following list members for their willingness to help me with this project:
Trevor Buck, Diane Fronczak, Dee Gennarelli, Paul Honeycutt, Steve Kilpatrick, Henry Koretzky, Larry Slavens, Jeff Soldau, Steve Spencer, David Thomas, Brian White, Pam Winters, FiL Wisneski, Paul Woods, and Shane Youl .
Special thanks to Brian White for serving so well, and for so long, as the RT discussion list administrator, Pam Winters, Steve Spencer, and Dee Gennarelli and Paul Woods for their help, encouragement and information sent to me all along the way.
Thanks also to those who send the author private e-mail on this FAQ. It is gratifying to know that RT fans find this document useful.
Charlie and Chris
And a special thanks to Pam (again) and Chris Woods for helping me update this FAQ. --WEH
Who is responsible for keeping the RT Discussion List FAQ updated?
At the moment Charlie Jameson is taking a well deserved rest. Then it was down to Chris Woods to try and keep it shiny and well polished. Now the list is maintained by Willis Howard.
Are corrections to, comments on, or ideas about the FAQ welcomed?
Indeed! Help me make this FAQ a better source of information. RT and the members of this list deserve nothing but the best! Email your thoughts, corrections, suggestions, etc., to Willis Howard wehoward@alphane.com.
Thanks!