After his divorce from wife and musical partner Linda Peters, Richard Thompson launched immediately into what would turn out to be a celebrated solo career. Hand of Kindness was its first recorded product, and it’s fair to say that you can still hear him working out his marital issues: “Tear-stained Letter” could hardly be more direct, and song titles like “A Poisoned Heart and a Twisted Memory” and “The Wrong Heartbeat” give you a good idea of what to expect as well. But the music is thrilling, and his guitar playing cuts to the heart.

– Rick Anderson