# Richard Thompson discography

The discography of Richard Thompson, an English singer/songwriter and guitarist, consists of around 30 studio albums in which he is named on the cover, alongside live albums, singles, compilations, fan club and boutique label releases, soundtracks and collaborations. He has released around 20 solo studio albums, but is also known for his collaborations with first wife Linda Thompson and his time as a member of Fairport Convention. He has also appeared as a guest musician on the releases of numerous other artists.

## Albums
### Studio albums

| Year | Title | Credited to | Chart positions | Chart positions |
| Year | Title | Credited to | UK | US |
| 1972 | Henry the Human Fly | Richard Thompson | — | — |
| 1974 | I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight | Richard and Linda Thompson | — | — |
| 1975 | Hokey Pokey | Richard and Linda Thompson | |
| 1975 | Pour Down Like Silver | Richard and Linda Thompson | — | — |
| 1978 | First Light | Richard and Linda Thompson | — | — |
| 1979 | Sunnyvista | Richard and Linda Thompson | — | — |
| 1981 | Strict Tempo! | Richard Thompson | — | — |
| 1982 | Shoot Out the Lights | Richard and Linda Thompson | — | — |
| 1983 | Hand of Kindness | Richard Thompson | — | 186 |
| 1985 | Across a Crowded Room | Richard Thompson | 80 | 102 |
| 1986 | Daring Adventures | Richard Thompson | 92 | 142 |
| 1988 | Amnesia | Richard Thompson | 89 | 182 |
| 1991 | Rumor and Sigh | Richard Thompson | 32 | — |
| 1994 | Mirror Blue | Richard Thompson | 23 | 109 |
| 1996 | You? Me? Us? | Richard Thompson | 32 | 97 |
| 1997 | Industry | Richard Thompson and Danny Thompson | — | — |
| 1999 | Mock Tudor | Richard Thompson | 28 | — |
| 2003 | The Old Kit Bag | Richard Thompson | 52 | 121 |
| 2005 | Front Parlour Ballads | Richard Thompson | 54 | 197 |
| 2007 | Sweet Warrior | Richard Thompson | 39 | 111 |
| 2013 | Electric | Richard Thompson | 16 | 75 |
| 2014 | Acoustic Classics | Richard Thompson | 16 | 103 |
| 2015 | Still | Richard Thompson | 10 | 82 |
| 2017 | Acoustic Classics II | Richard Thompson | 24 | |
| 2017 | Acoustic Rarities | Richard Thompson | 84 | |
| 2018 | 13 Rivers | Richard Thompson | 18 | — |
| 2024 | Ship to Shore | Richard Thompson | 46 | |

### Live albums

| Released | Title | Credited to | Recorded | UK | US |
| 1984 | Small Town Romance | Richard Thompson | 1982 | — | — |
| 1995 | Live at Crawley | Richard Thompson with Danny Thompson | 1993 | — | — |
| 1996 | Two Letter Words: Live 1994 | Richard Thompson Band | 1994 | — | — |
| 1998 | Celtschmerz: Live in the UK ‘98 | Richard Thompson | 1998 | — | — |
| 2002 | Semi-Detached Mock Tudor | Richard Thompson Band | 1999 | — | — |
| 2003 | More Guitar | Richard Thompson Band | 1988 | — | — |
| 2003 | 1000 Years of Popular Music | Richard Thompson | 2002 | — | — |
| 2003 | Ducknapped! | Richard Thompson Band | 2003 | — | — |
| 2004 | Faithless | Richard Thompson | 1985 | — | — |
| 2004 | The Chrono Show | Richard Thompson | 2004 | — | — |
| 2005 | Live from Austin, TX | Richard Thompson | 2001 | — | — |
| 2007 | In Concert, November 1975 | Richard and Linda Thompson | 1975 | — | — |
| 2009 | Live Warrior | Richard Thompson | 2007 | — | — |
| 2010 | Dream Attic | Richard Thompson | 2010 | 20 | 83 |
| 2011 | Live at the BBC | Richard Thompson featuring Linda Thompson | 1973–2009 | 137 | — |
| 2012 | Cabaret of Souls | Richard Thompson | 2009 | — | — |
| 2017 | Live at Rockpalast | Richard Thompson Band | 1983 & 1984 | — | — |
| 2019 | Across A Crowded Room Live at Barrymore's 1985 | Richard Thompson | 1985 | — | — |
| 2020 | Live at Rock City, Nottingham, November 86 | Richard Thompson | 1986 | — | — |
| 2021 | Live from London | Richard Thompson | 2021 | — | — |
| 2022 | Live from Honolulu | Richard Thompson Acoustic Trio | 2006 | — | - |
| 2023 | Historic Classic Concert - Live in Nottingham 1986 | The Richard Thompson Band | 1985 | — | - |

## Soundtracks

Not listed here are soundtrack albums on which a Richard Thompson recording or composition is merely included, without further involvement from Thompson. Listed here are soundtracks in which Thompson had a significant creative role in creating new music.
| Year | Title | Credited to |
| 1987 | The Marksman (Music from the BBC TV Series) | Richard Thompson and Peter Filleul |
| 1989 | Hard Cash (BBC North West documentary) first broadcast in 1990 | Richard Thompson and numerous other artists listed on the cover, produced by Richard Thompson and Peter Filleul |
| 1991 | Sweet Talker | Richard Thompson |
| 2005 | Grizzly Man | Richard Thompson |
| 2010 | Baraboo: Motion Picture Soundtrack | Joel Savoy, Emma Beaton & Chris Stafford, additional compositions by Richard Thompson, metal compositions by Riley Sweeney Lynch and Dean Hurley, and Edison recordings from the early 20th century |
| 2019 | The Cold Blue (Original Motion Picture Score) | Music by Richard Thompson |

## Compilations

| Year | Title | Credited to |
| 1976 | (guitar, vocal) | Richard Thompson |
| 1976 | Live! (More or Less) | Richard Thompson |
| 1985 | Doom & Gloom From The Tomb (Vol. 1) | Richard Thompson |
| 1991 | Doom & Gloom II (Over My Dead Body) | Richard Thompson |
| 1993 | Watching the Dark | Richard Thompson |
| 2000 | The Best of Richard & Linda Thompson: The Island Records Years | Richard and Linda Thompson |
| 2001 | Action Packed | Richard Thompson |
| 2005 | Some Enchanted Evenings | Richard Thompson |
| 2006 | RT- The Life and Music of Richard Thompson | Richard Thompson |
| 2009 | Walking on a Wire | Richard Thompson |
| 2020 | Hard Luck Stories (1972–1982) | Richard and Linda Thompson |

## Singles
### With Linda Thompson

| Year | Song | Chart positions | Album |
| Year | Song | UK | Album |
| 1974 | "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" | — | I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight |
| 1975 | "Hokey Pokey" | — | Hokey Pokey |
| 1978 | "Don't Let a Thief Steal Into Your Heart" | — | First Light |
| 1979 | "Georgie on a Spree" / "Civilisation" (double-A side) | — | Sunnyvista |
| 1982 | "Don't Renege On Our Love" | — | Shoot Out the Lights |

### Solo

| Year | Song | Chart positions | Album |
| Year | Song | US Alt. Rock | Album |
| 1983 | "The Wrong Heartbeat" | — | Hand of Kindness |
| 1984 | "Tear-Stained Letter" | — | Hand of Kindness |
| 1985 | "When the Spell is Broken" | — | Across a Crowded Room |
| 1985 | "You Don't Say" | — | Across a Crowded Room |
| 1986 | "Valerie" | — | Daring Adventures |
| 1986 | "Nearly in Love" | — | Daring Adventures |
| 1988 | "Turning of the Tide" | 30 | Amnesia |
| 1989 | "Reckless Kind" | — | Amnesia |
| 1991 | "I Feel So Good" | 15 | Rumor and Sigh |
| 1991 | "Read About Love" | — | Rumor and Sigh |
| 1992 | "I misunderstood" (Official Dutch Tour Single) | | Rumor and Sigh |
| 1994 | "I Can't Wake Up to Save My Life" | — | Mirror Blue |
| 1994 | "Easy There, Steady Now" | — | Mirror Blue |
| 1996 | "Dark Hand Over My Heart" | — | You? Me? Us |
| 1999 | "Crawl Back (Under My Stone)" | — | Mock Tudor |
| 2003 | "She Said It Was Destiny" | — | The Old Kit Bag |
| 2007 | "Dad's Gonna Kill Me" | — | Sweet Warrior |
| 2012 | "Haul Me Up" | — |
| 2013 | "Good Things Happen to Bad People" | — | Electric |
| 2013 | "Salford Sunday" | — | Electric |
| 2017 | "Gethsemane" | — | Acoustic Classics II |
| 2018 | "Bones of Gilead" | — | 13 Rivers |
| 2018 | "The Storm Won't Come" | — | 13 Rivers |
| 2018 | "My Rock, My Rope" | — | 13 Rivers |
| 2022 | "Streamwalk / Treadwell No More" | — | Music from Grizzly Man |
| 2022 | "Glencoe" | — | Music from Grizzly Man |
| 2024 | "Singapore Sadie" | — | Ship to Shore |
| 2024 | "Freeze" | — | Ship to Shore |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. ||||

### With the Richard Thompson Acoustic Trio

| Year | Song | Chart positions | Album |
| Year | Song | UK | Album |
| 2022 | "(I Want to See) The Bright Lights Tonight" | — | Live from Honolulu |

## EPs

| Year | Title |
| 2003 | Tracks |
| 2020 | Bloody Noses |
| 2021 | Serpent's Tears |

## With Fairport Convention

Only studio albums recorded whilst Richard Thompson was a member of Fairport Convention are listed here. After Thompson left the group, he continued to appear sporadically as a guest musician on subsequent albums, which are listed in the session work discography.
Live, particularly at Cropredy Festival, Fairport often perform in various line-ups of past and present members. Therefore live albums which feature Thompson after he officially left the band are included here.
For more details of Fairport Convention's album releases see the Fairport Convention discography.

### Studio albums

| Year | Title |
| 1968 | Fairport Convention |
| 1969 | What We Did on Our Holidays |
| 1969 | Unhalfbricking |
| 1969 | Liege and Lief |
| 1970 | Full House |

### Live albums

| Released | Title | Recorded |
| 1976 | Live at the L.A. Troubadour | 1970 |
| 1982 | Moat on the Ledge | 1981 |
| 1984 | The Boot | 1983 |
| 1986 | House Full: Live at the L.A. Troubadour | 1970 |
| 1987 | The Other Boot | 1986 |
| 1987 | Heyday: The BBC Radio Sessions | 1968 & 1969 |
| 1988 | The Third Leg | 1987 |
| 1993 | 25th Anniversary Concert | 1992 |
| 1999 | The Cropredy Box | 1997 |
| 2003 | Cropredy 2002 - Another Gig : Another Palindrome / Festival: Cropredy 2002 | 2002 |
| 2004 | Cropredy Capers: Twenty-Five Years of Fairport Convention and Friends at Cropredy Festival | 1980-2004 |
| 2004 | The Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood (Live at the Cropredy Festivals 1986 and 1987) | 1986 & 1987 |
| 2007 | Live at the BBC | 1967-1974 |
| 2018 | What We Did On Our Saturday | 2017 |
| 2020 | Chicago 1970 | 1970 |
| 2023 | Full House for Sale | 2022 |

### Other material

| Year | Title | Year relevant material recorded | Notes |
| 1970 | Now Be Thankful | 1970 | Standalone single, with B-side, 'Sir B. McKenzie's Daughter's Lament For The 77th Mounted Lancers Retreat From The Straits Of Loch Knombe, In The Year Of Our Lord 1727, On The Occasion Of The Announcement Of Her Marriage To The Laird Of Kinleakie'. |
| 1971 | Angel Delight | 1970 | 2004 CD version contains a bonus version of 'The Journeyman’s Grace' recorded for a BBC Radio session in 1970 and featuring Thompson |
| 2017 | Fairport Unconventional | 1967-2001 | Mostly previously unreleased studio and live tracks, some featuring Thompson |
| 2017 | Come All Ye: The First Ten Years | ~1969-~1972 | Compilation of existing and newly released archive material, some featuring Thompson |

## Collaborations

Albums on which Thompson has guested or worked as a session musician are not shown here (see sections below). Listed here are albums on which Thompson played a significant creative role in the group or project.
| Year | Title | Credited to |
| 1971 | No Roses | Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band |
| 1972 | Rock On | The Bunch |
| 1972 | Morris On | Morris On |
| 1981 | Saturday Rolling Around | The GP's |
| 1987 | Live, Love, Larf & Loaf | French Frith Kaiser Thompson |
| 1990 | Invisible Means | French Frith Kaiser Thompson |
| 2014 | Family | Thompson |

## As a featured guest

Albums in which Thompson is credited on the front cover as a featured guest (rather than simply in the notes of the musicians playing) are covered here.
| Year | Title | Credited to |
| 1983 | Variations on a Theme | David Thomas & the Pedestrians with Richard Thompson |
| 1994 | Twangin' n' a-Traddin' | The Ashley Hutchings Big Beat Combo with special guest Richard Thompson |
| 1998 | The Bones of All Men | Mr Philip Pickett with Mr Richard Thompson and the Fairport Rhythm Section |
| 2023 | Child Ballads: The Final Six | The London Experimental Ensemble with Richard Thompson, Wesley Stace, Sivert Høyem, Marissa Nadler and Gina Fergione |

## Original recordings on compilations

Original recordings of new or existing compositions on 'various artist' compilations. Only the first release the recording is on is listed.
| Year | Album | Song or tune | Notes |
| 1975 | Over The Rainbow (The Last Concert, Live!) | "Hokey Pokey" | Live recording with Linda Thompson from 1975 |
| 1985 | Feed the Folk | "Old Horse" | With Martin Carthy, John Kirkpatrick and Howard Evans, alternative take to the one on Carthy's Out of the Cut, now more easily found on Carthy Chronicles |
| 1989 | Ben & Jerry's Newport Folk Festival 1988 | "Turning of the Tide" | Live recording from the festival |
| 1989 | Time Between – A Tribute to The Byrds | "Here Without You" | With Clive Gregson and Christine Collister |
| 1990 | Ben & Jerry's Newport Folk Festival 1988, Vol. 2: Mementos | "Two Left Feet" and "The Choice Wife" | Live recording from the festival |
| 1991 | All Through the Year — A Calendar in Music & Song | "Late November" | With Fairport Convention, Vikki Clayton and Jerry Donahue, live at Cropredy 1991 |
| 1991 | The Best of Mountain Stage, Volume One | "Shoot Out the Lights" | Live solo version for the radio programme |
| 1991 | Bringing It All Back Home, Music From The BBC TV Series | "The Dimming of the Day" | With Mary Black |
| 1991 | Turn of the Decade 1989-90: Ben & Jerry's Newport Folk Festival | "She Moves Through The Fair" | Live from the festival |
| 1992 | Studio Brussel: Update Live | "Misunderstood" | - |
| 1992 | Tanz & Folkfest Rudolstadt '92 | "Read About Love" | Live from the festival |
| 1993 | The World is a Wonderful Place | "The World is a Wonderful Place" | With Linda Thompson, previously unreleased, unlisted track 13 |
| 1993 | KBCO: The Best of Studio C, Volume 3 | "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" | Live radio session from 1992 |
| 1994 | In Their Own Words, Vol 1 | "I Feel So Good" | Live, solo radio session from 1992 |
| 1994 | ONXRT: Live From The Archives, Volume 2 | "I can't wake up to save my life" | Live radio session from 1994 |
| 1994 | Broadcasts Vol. 2 | "Dimming of the Day" | Live radio session on KGSR from 1994 |
| 1994 | Where Are My Headphones? Live From Studio A, Volume 2 | "Taking my Business Elsewhere" | Live, solo radio session on WCBE |
| 1995 | Live at the World Cafe, Vol. 1 | "Beeswing" | Live radio session from 1992 |
| 1995 | KFOG Radio 104.5\97.7, Live From The Archives II | "I Feel So Good" | Live from the Suasalito Art Festival, 1994 |
| 1995 | Troubadours of British Folk, Volume 3: An Evolving Tradition | "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" | Live version only previously available on a promotional EP for "I Misunderstood" |
| 1995 | 89.7 FM WNKU Presents Natural Alternatives | "King of Bohemia" | Live radio session |
| 1997 | Live at the Iron Horse, Volume 1 | "From Galway to Graceland" | Live, solo radio session from 1990 |
| 1997 | Folk, Live from Mountain Stage | "Beat the Retreat" | Live radio session |
| 1997 | Georgia on Our Mind | "Georgia on My Mind" and "John the Gun" | The first as part of the Deep Sea Ensemble, the second with the Richard Thompson Band, live in 1985 |
| 1997 | E-Town Live | "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" | Live radio session in Boulder City, Nevada from 1996 |
| 1998 | From the Heart of Studio A: The Folkscene Collection | "Waltzing's for Dreamers" | Live radio session for Roz and Howard Larman's 'FolkScene' on KFPK in Los Angeles |
| 1998 | Where Have All the Flowers Gone?: The Songs of Pete Seeger, Vol 1 | "If I Had a Hammer" | With Nancy Griffith and friends, vocals |
| 1999 | Bringing It All Back Home, Volume 2 | "Waltzing's For Dreamers" | With Mary Black and Dolores Keane |
| 1999 | Other Enz: Split Enz & Beyond | "Persuasion" | With Tim Finn |
| 2000 | 107.1 KGSR Broadcasts, Vol. 8 | "Sights and Sounds of London Town" | Live radio session |
| 2000 | Live At The World Cafe, Vol. 10 | "Cooksferry Queen" | Live radio session |
| 2000 | Heart of England: In Aid of Teenage Cancer Trust | "I want to see the bright lights tonight" | Live |
| 2000 | KINK Live Thr3e | "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" | Live radio session from 1999 |
| 2000 | The Riversound Cafe | "Sights and Sounds of London Town" | Live radio session recorded live at WRSI |
| 2000 | Mixx On The Fly - Live From Studio A - WCBE Vol. 7 | "Uninhabited Man" | Live radio session |
| 2001 | Philadelphia Folk Festival: 40th Anniversary | "Walk Awhile" and "Beeswing" | Live from previous festivals. Former with Fairport Convention, 1970; latter unknown. |
| 2001 | Live At The Night, Vol. 1 | "Crawl Back" | Live radio session from 2000 |
| 2002 | Shining Bright: The Songs of Lal & Mike Waterson | "Red Wine Promises" | Cover of Lal Waterson song |
| 2002 | Live at the World Cafe, Vol. 14: The Next Decade | "Persuasion" | Live radio session |
| 2002 | Heart of England, Volume 2: In Aid of Teenage Cancer Trust | "Sights and Sounds of London Town" | Live from Hampstead |
| 2002 | Evangeline Made: A Tribute to Cajun Music | "La Chanson D'Une Fille De Quinze Ans" and "Les Flammes D'Enfer" | Former with Ann Savoy, latter solo |
| 2002 | 156 Strings: Nineteen Totally Original Acoustic Guitarists | "How does your garden grow?" | Solo, for compilation curated by Henry Kaiser |
| 2003 | Crossing Jordan [soundtrack] | "Season of the Witch" | Donovan cover for TV soundtrack |
| 2003 | Live @ The World Café, Vol. 17: Three Flights Up | "I'll Tag Along" | Live radio session |
| 2003 | City Folk Live VI | "She Said It was Destiny" | Live radio session |
| 2003 | Live From The CD101 Big Room - Volume 1 | "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" | Live radio session |
| 2004 | WYEP Live & Direct: Three Decades, Three Discs | "She Said It was Destiny" | Live radio session |
| 2005 | The Bootlegs (Vol. 1 Celebrating 35 Years at First Avenue) | "Cooksferry Queen" | Live radio session from 1999 |
| 2006 | The Harry Smith Project: Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited | "The Coo Coo Bird" | With Eliza Carthy, live in Los Angeles, 2001 |
| 2006 | Jan Donkers – Mijn Muziek | "From Galway to Graceland" | Live in Vlissingen, Netherlands, 2001 |
| 2006 | Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys | "Mingulay Boat Song" | Cover of a song by Sir Hugh S. Roberton |
| 2006 | Live At The World Cafe, Vol. 21: In The Cards | "The Hots for the Smarts" | Live radio session from 2005 |
| 2007 | Cool as Folk | "Tear Stained Letter" | The Richard Thompson Band, live at Cambridge Folk Festival, 2001 |
| 2007 | KFOG Radio 104.5\97.7: Live From The Archives 14 | "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" | Live radio session from 2005 |
| 2007 | Het Beste Van 25 Jaar Marktrock | "I feel so good" | Live from the Marktrock festival, probably from 1995 |
| 2007 | Music & Rhythm: WOMAD Worldwide 1982-2007 | "Easy There, Steady Now" | Live from WOMAD, New Zealand in 1997 |
| 2013 | Sing Me the Songs: Celebrating the Works of Kate McGarrigle | "Go Leave" | With Linda Thompson, live cover from London, 2010 |
| 2013 | Son of Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys | "General Taylor" | With Jack Shit (aka Johnny Depp) |
| 2013 | The Beautiful Old Turn-Of-The-Century Songs | "The Band Played On" | With Christine Collister and Garth Hudson |
| 2013 | Live at the World Cafe, Vol. 36 | "Good things happen to bad people" | Live radio session |
| 2014 | Cambridge Folk Festival (Celebrating 50 Years) | "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" | Live, solo recording from the 2011 festival |
| 2014 | The 78 Project: Volume 1 | "The Coo Coo Bird" | Recorded using a 1930s Presto direct-to-disc recorder in New York City in 2012 |
| 2017 | Sincerely, L. Cohen: A Live Celebration of Leonard Cohen | "Bird on the Wire" and "Story of Isaac" | Recorded live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn |
| 2017 | Live At The World Cafe, Vol. 41: 25th Anniversary Edition | "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" | Live radio session from 2005 |
| 2019 | If You're Going to the City: A Tribute to Mose Allison | "Parchman Farm" | Live cover, with George Galt |
| 2019 | Vision & Revision: The First 80 Years of Topic Records | "The Light Bob’s Lassie" | Solo performance of traditional song |
| 2019 | Jan Douwe Kroeske Presents the Best of 2 Meter Sessions, 1987-2009 | "I Feel So Good" | Live solo version |
| 2019 | Jan Douwe Kroeske Presents 2 Meter Sessions, Volume 3 | "I Misunderstood" | |
| 2023 | Heal the Sky | "Lament for Mariupol" | Guitar instrumental |
| 2024 | Proxy Music | "I Used to Be So Pretty" and "Those Damn Roches" | With Ren Harvieu on "I Used to Be So Pretty" and Teddy Thompson on "Those Damn Roches", from an album of various artists performing songs written by Linda Thompson |
| 2025 | Think Loud 4 Parkinson's | "Tobacco Road" and "Meet on the Ledge" | With Hugh Cornwell on "Tobacco Road" and as part of Fairport's Cropredy 20 on "Meet on the Ledge". Fairport's Cropredy 20 is a group of 20 musicians, led by Fairport Convention, that came together remotely in 2020 to record this song. |

## Original recordings on career-spanning compilations

These are compilations dedicated to a single musician but featuring their work with several bands and featured artists from across their career. Only releases with newly released material are covered.
| Year | Title | Featured musician | Song or tune | Notes |
| 1994 | The Guv'nor vol 1 | Ashley Hutchings | "Some Sweet Day", "You're Gonna Need My Help" and "Dear Landlord" | As a member of Fairport Convention, recorded 1967–1969 |
| 1995 | The Guv'nor vol 2 | Ashley Hutchings | "You Never Wanted Me" and "Sir Patrick Spens" | As a member of Fairport Convention, recorded 1968 |
| 1995 | The Guv'nor vol 3 | Ashley Hutchings | "Night in the City" and "Marcie" | As a member of Fairport Convention, recorded 1968 |
| 1996 | The Guv'nor vol 4 | Ashley Hutchings | "Both Sides Now" and "Fotheringay" | As a member of Fairport Convention, recorded 1967–1969 |
| 2003 | Swarb!: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Dave Swarbrick | Dave Swarbrick | various | Various tracks with Fairport Convention from 1970 onwards, "Sword Dance / Black Cow" with Fairport Convention and Linda Thompson from 1981 |
| 2007 | A Box of Pegg's | Dave Pegg | "Let it blow" | With Fairport Convention, live at Cropredy, 2005 |
| 2010 | Sandy Denny [Box Set] | Sandy Denny | various | Thompson features on newly released material dating back to sessions with Fairport in 1968 |
| 2015 | Gathering The Threads | Judy Dyble | improvisation | An improvisation recorded with Judy Dyble in 1964 (as well as previously released Fairport Convention material). Also available on Anthology: Pt. One. |

## Original recordings on not-for-sale releases

Original recordings of new or existing compositions on albums that are not directly for sale (for example, promotional items for radio play, or albums accompanying a book or magazine). Only recordings which do not also appear on an official release are included.
| Year | Album | Song or tune | Notes |
| 1992 | Ferrington Guitars | "The Job of Journey Work" | Instrumental, from the CD with the book 'Ferrington Guitars' |
| 1996 | Launch Live | "The Razor Dance" | Recorded live for Launch disc magazine; from a limited run audio CD containing live tracks from Launch's first ten issues |
| 1999 | Rykodisc 15th Anniversary Acoustic Cafe Sampler | "Lotteryland" | Recorded live at the Acoustic Cafe |
| 1999 | Selected Tracks Live at Mountain Stage | "Bathsheba Smiles" "The Ghost of You Walks" and "Valerie" | Promo only CD release to support the release of Mock Tudor |
| 2000 | Fish Out of Water: Music Outside The Mainstream | "Waltzing's For Dreamers" | With Cry Cry Cry, live performance; CD only available via pledges to the radio station WMNF |
| 2011 | Oasis Acoustic, Volume 39 | "Hide it away" | Live, Oasis exclusive |
| 2021 | Dylan Revisited | "This Wheel's on Fire" | With Zara Phillips on backing vocals, album with Uncut magazine in the UK |

## As a guest or session musician

| Year | Title | Artist | Notes |
| 1968 | The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter | The Incredible String Band | Uncredited vocals on 'The Minotaur's Song' |
| 1969 | Five Leaves Left | Nick Drake | Overdubbed electric guitar on 'Time has told me' |
| 1969 | Love Chronicles | Al Stewart | Guitar, under pseudonym Marvyn Prestwyck |
| 1969 | Marc Ellington | Marc Ellington | |
| 1969 | Matthews' Southern Comfort | Matthews' Southern Comfort | |
| 1969 | Dudu Phukwana and the "Spears" | Dudu Phukwana and the "Spears" | Thompson played on an 'album of mostly unreleased 1969 recordings' that were released in 2020 packaged with the group's 1968 self-titled debut. |
| 1970 | Bryter Layter | Nick Drake | Electric guitar on 'Hazey Jane II' |
| 1971 | Bless the Weather | John Martyn | Guitar |
| 1971 | If You Saw Thro' My Eyes | Iain Matthews | Electric and acoustic guitar, accordion |
| 1971 | The North Star Grassman and the Ravens | Sandy Denny | Electric guitar and acoustic guitars, bass, accordion, vocals |
| 1971 | Rains/Reins of Changes | Marc Ellington | |
| 1971 | Smiling Men with Bad Reputations | Mike Heron | Guitar on 'Flowers of the Forest' |
| 1971 | Stargazer | Shelagh McDonald | |
| 1971 | Strange Fruit | Gary Farr | |
| 1971 | 4th English Album | Francoise Hardy | |
| 1971 | Street Singer | Mick Softley | |
| 1972 | Bright Phoebus | Lal and Mike Waterson | Guitar on all tracks except 'Red Wine & Promises' |
| 1972 | Jump at the Sun | John Kirkpatrick | Under pseudonym Agnes Mirren |
| 1972 | Sandy | Sandy Denny | Electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin |
| 1972 | Those Pleasant Days | Stefan Grossman | |
| 1972 | Tigers Will Survive | Iain Matthews | |
| 1973 | Rosie | Fairport Convention | Electric and 12-string guitars on the track 'Rosie' |
| 1973 | Solid Air | John Martyn | Mandolin on 'Over the Hill' |
| 1973 | A Favourite Garland | Shirley Collins | |
| 1973 | Urban Cowboy | Andy Roberts | |
| 1974 | Like an Old Fashioned Waltz | Sandy Denny | |
| 1974 | Fear | John Cale | |
| 1975 | Fantasies From a Corner Seat | Harvey Andrews & Graham Cooper | |
| 1975 | Is Having a Wonderful Time | Geoff Muldaur | |
| 1975 | Marc Time | Marc Ellington | |
| 1975 | Mike Heron's Reputation | Mike Heron | |
| 1976 | Vanishing Trick: Poems And Songs | Brian Patten | |
| 1977 | Rendezvous | Sandy Denny | |
| 1978 | Rise Up Like the Sun | The Albion Band | |
| 1978 | Julie Covington | Julie Covington | |
| 1979 | Slide Away the Screen | Ralph McTell | |
| 1980 | Night Owl | Gerry Rafferty | |
| 1981 | Smiddyburn | Dave Swarbrick | |
| 1981 | The Sound of the Sand and Other Songs of the Pedestrian | David Thomas & the Pedestrians | |
| 1981 | Teddy Boys Don't Knit | Vivian Stanshall | |
| 1981 | Thunderin' On The Horizon | Arizona Smoke Review | |
| 1981 | Voices | Murray Head | |
| 1982 | Water of Dreams | Ralph McTell | |
| 1982 | Out of the Cut | Martin Carthy | |
| 1983 | 8 | J. J. Cale | |
| 1983 | Any Trouble | Any Trouble | |
| 1983 | Fame and Wealth | Loudon Wainwright III | |
| 1983 | Flittin' | Dave Swarbrick | |
| 1983 | Proof Through the Night | T Bone Burnett | |
| 1984 | Behind the Trap Door | T-Bone Burnett | |
| 1984 | Wrong End of the Race | Any Trouble | |
| 1985 | I'm Alright | Loudon Wainwright III | |
| 1985 | Rackbag | Folk och Rackare | |
| 1985 | Visions of Excess | The Golden Palominos | |
| 1985 | Gladys' Leap | Fairport Convention | |
| 1986 | An Hour with Cecil Sharp and Ashley Hutchings | Ashley Hutchings | |
| 1986 | Bridge of Sighs | Ralph McTell | |
| 1986 | Electric Bluebirds | Electric Bluebirds | |
| 1986 | Expletive Delighted! | Fairport Convention | |
| 1986 | More Love Songs | Loudon Wainwright III | |
| 1986 | Raptures of the Deep | The Deep Sea Jivers | |
| 1986 | Supply and Demand | Dagmar Krause | |
| 1987 | As Real as Disneyland | Julian Dawson and the Flood | |
| 1987 | Time of No Reply | Nick Drake | A compilation of previously unreleased tracks recorded between 1967 and 1974 |
| 1987 | Slam Dance (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Mitchell Froom | |
| 1987 | Blue Balloon | John Kirkpatrick | |
| 1987 | Studio Romantic | Saeko Suzuki | |
| 1988 | The Auld Folks on the Wa’ and other Bothy Ballads | Charlie Allan | |
| 1988 | Temple of Low Men | Crowded House | |
| 1989 | Maria McKee | Maria McKee | |
| 1989 | Therapy | Loudon Wainwright III | |
| 1989 | Surprise | Syd Straw | |
| 1990 | Michael Doucet & Cajun Brew | Michael Doucet | |
| 1991 | Cajun Conja | BeauSoleil | |
| 1991 | Drunk with Passion | The Golden Palominos | |
| 1991 | Luck of the Draw | Bonnie Raitt | |
| 1991 | Hope You Like Our New Direction | Henry Kaiser | |
| 1991 | Orphans and Outcasts Volume 1 | Iain Matthews | |
| 1991 | Places I Have Never Been | Willie Nile | |
| 1992 | 99.9F° | Suzanne Vega | |
| 1992 | Be Headed | Chris Harford and the First Rays of the New Rising Sun | |
| 1992 | Fat City | Shawn Colvin | |
| 1992 | His Master's Choice – The Songs Of Richard Thompson | Dave Burland | |
| 1992 | The Hunter | Jennifer Warnes | |
| 1993 | The Assassin's Apprentice | Stephen Fearing | |
| 1993 | Before & After | Tim Finn | |
| 1993 | Fate of Nations | Robert Plant | |
| 1994 | Amplified Heart | Everything but the Girl | |
| 1994 | Cut and Run | Danny Carnahan and Robin Petrie | |
| 1994 | Longing in Their Hearts | Bonnie Raitt | |
| 1995 | Camouflage | Iain Matthews | |
| 1996 | Dreams Fly Away: A History of Linda Thompson | Linda Thompson | |
| 1996 | Baptist Hospital | Boo Hewerdine | |
| 1996 | Blue Aconite | Christine Collister | |
| 1996 | Norma Waterson | Norma Waterson | |
| 1997 | Move Over Darling | Julian Dawson | |
| 1997 | Who Knows Where the Time Goes? | Fairport Convention | |
| 1997 | L'Amour Ou La Folie | BeauSoleil | |
| 1998 | Other Voices, Too (A Trip Back to Bountiful) | Nanci Griffith | |
| 1998 | The Dark Gift of Time | Christine Collister | |
| 1999 | Memory of the Future | Eric Andersen | |
| 1999 | Spark | Julian Dawson | |
| 1999 | Orphans and Outcasts Volume 3 | Iain Matthews | |
| 1999 | Songbird | Christine Collister | |
| 1999 | The Very Thought of You | Norma Waterson | |
| 1999 | Bent in Gent | Crowded House | Recorded live in 1991 |
| 2000 | Long Expectant Comes At Last | Cathal McConnell | |
| 2000 | Teddy Thompson | Teddy Thompson | |
| 2001 | Give Me a Sad Song | Linda Thompson | Richard Thompson plays on a previously unreleased song 'Restless Boy', as well as previously released material |
| 2001 | Mazurka Berzerker | John Kirkpatrick | |
| 2002 | Taxi - Montreal | Crowded House | Recorded live in 1991 |
| 2002 | Fashionably Late | Linda Thompson | |
| 2002 | Spremenite Protokol | Andrej Sifrer | |
| 2003 | 12 Arrows | Judith Owen | |
| 2003 | Go Tell It on the Mountain | The Blind Boys of Alabama | |
| 2003 | So Damn Happy | Loudon Wainwright III | |
| 2004 | The Common Stone | Bob Davenport | |
| 2004 | The Ride | Los Lobos | |
| 2005 | Always | June Tabor | Thompson plays on his song 'Mrs Rita' from the BBC Radio 1 documentary The Last Shift, a different recording to that on Hard Cash |
| 2005 | Lost and Found | Judith Owen | |
| 2005 | Separate Ways | Teddy Thompson | |
| 2006 | Nothing Like a Dame | Julian Dawson | |
| 2007 | Crazy Hair Day | Barney Saltzberg | |
| 2007 | Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John | Peter Case | |
| 2007 | Release the Stars | Rufus Wainwright | |
| 2007 | South of Delia | Richard Shindell | |
| 2007 | Strange Weirdos | Loudon Wainwright III | |
| 2007 | Happy This Way | Judith Owen | |
| 2007 | Upfront & Down Low | Teddy Thompson | |
| 2007 | Rewind: Unreleased Recordings | JJ Cale | Recorded between 1971 and 1993. Thompson appears on 'Seven Day Woman'. |
| 2008 | A Piece of What You Need | Teddy Thompson | |
| 2011 | Bella | Teddy Thompson | |
| 2011 | Purpose and Grace | Martin Simpson | |
| 2012 | 20 | Kate Rusby | |
| 2012 | Connected | Danny Thompson | |
| 2012 | Find the One | The Coal Porters | |
| 2012 | Marvin Country! | Marvin Etzioni | Guest on 'It Don't Cost Much', which he co-wrote with Etzioni |
| 2013 | Won't Be Long Now | Linda Thompson | |
| 2014 | Tell 'Em I'm Gone | Yusuf | |
| 2014 | Salt | Boris Grebenshchikov | |
| 2015 | Emerald | Dar Williams | |
| 2015 | Just Me and You | Emitt Rhodes | Single |
| 2015 | This Wall Between Us | Emitt Rhodes | Single, different version to that on the album Rainbow Ends |
| 2015 | What's a man to do | Emitt Rhodes | Single, different version to that on the album Rainbow Ends |
| 2016 | 75th Birthday Celebration | Joan Baez | |
| 2016 | Cayamo: Sessions at Sea | Buddy Miller | |
| 2016 | Rainbow Ends | Emitt Rhodes | |
| 2018 | Smalls Change | Derek Smalls | |
| 2018 | Letters Never Read | Dori Freeman | |
| 2019 | Second Hand Sexbot | Judith Owen | |
| 2020 | Meditation and KitKats | Zara Phillips | |
| 2020 | Song to a Refugee | Diana Jones | Guest on "We Believe You" |
| 2021 | Red Willow | Michael Hays | Guest on "Road Will Rise" |
| 2022 | The Admiralty Lights: Complete Studio, Live and Rare 1964-2009 | Al Stewart | Thompson plays on some radio sessions from 1972 |
| 2024 | Julian Dawson | Julian Dawson | Guest on "Jesus and Judas" and "That's why God made Saturday night" |

## DVDs and videos

| Released | Title | Credited to | Recorded | Format | Notes |
| 1984 | DTV: Rock, Rhythm & Blues | various artists | — | VHS | Music set to old Disney animated footage, includes Thompson's "Two Left Feet" |
| 1985 | Across a Crowded Room | Richard Thompson | 1985 | VHS, Laserdisc | |
| 1997 | Best of Sessions at West 54th, Volume 1 | various artists | 1997 | DVD | Thompson performs "I feel so good" live |
| 2004 | Live in Providence | The Richard Thompson Band | 2003 | DVD | |
| 2005 | Live From Austin, TX | Richard Thompson | 2001 | DVD | |
| 2006 | Mountain Stage: An Evening With Nanci Griffith, Paul Brady, Richard Thompson | Nanci Griffith / Paul Brady / Richard Thompson | 2001 | DVD | |
| 2006 | 1,000 Years of Popular Music | Richard Thompson | 2005 | DVD, with 2 audio CDs | |
| 2006 | The Harry Smith Project Live | various artists | 2001 | DVD | Thompson performs "The Coo Coo Bird" with Eliza Carthy |
| 2008 | Guitar Legends in Sevilla | various artists | 1991 | DVD | Thompson plays "Keep Your Distance" and "Jerusalem On The Juke Box", and "Running and Hiding" with Roger McGuinn, Les Paul, Robbie Robertson and Roger Waters |
| 2011 | Live at the BBC | Richard Thompson featuring Linda Thompson | 1975 to 1985 | DVD (box set, also with 3 CDs) | |
| 2011 | Spactacle - Season 2 | Elvis Costello with... | 2010 | DVD | Thompson appears on episode 3 alongside Costello and the Imposters, Levon Helm, Nick Lowe, Allen Toussaint and Ray LaMontagne. He performs "Shoot Out the Lights" solo and "Tennessee Jed", "A Certain Girl" and "The Weight" with the assembled musicians. |
| 2012 | Live at Celtic Connections | The Richard Thompson Band | 2011 | DVD, Blu-ray Disc | |

## Instructional tapes and discs

| Released | Title | Credited to | Format |
| 1983 | The Electric Mandolin 1 and 2: Mandolin Theory, Technique, & Improvisation | Niles Hokkanen and Richard Thompson | Cassette |
| 1983 | Rock Guitar: A Guide from the Greats | Ronnie Wood, Michael Schenker, Richard Thompson and John Wilson | VHS |
| 1986 | The Guitar of Richard Thompson | Richard Thompson | tapes/CDs & book |
| 1998 | Richard Thompson Teaches Traditional Guitar Instrumentals | Richard Thompson | CD & book |