{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Short description|English folk rock duo}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Rails | image = Kami Thompson and James Walbourne.jpg | image_size = | landscape = yes | alt = James Walbourne and Kami Thompson of The Rails at Copredy Festival 2012 | caption = James Walbourne and Kami Thompson <br> of The Rails at Copredy Festival 2012 | alias = | origin = | genre = Folk rock | years_active = 2013–present | label = Island Records<br>Thirty Tigers | website = {{URL|therailsofficial.com}} | current_members = Kami Thompson<br>James Walbourne | past_members = }}
'''The Rails''' is an English folk rock duo from London, England, composed of husband and wife James Walbourne and Kami Thompson. Thompson and Walbourne first met during the recording sessions for ''Versatile Heart'' by Thompson's mother Linda Thompson in 2007. The band signed to Island Records in January 2014 and released their debut album on 5 May 2014 on the label's Pink Label imprint, the first band to do so since the 1970s.
==History==
===Background===
Kami Thompson is the daughter of British folk rock singers Richard Thompson and Linda Thompson and her brother is the alternative rock musician Teddy Thompson.<ref name="guardRSD">{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/apr/24/ride-rails-record-store-day-london-new-york-gigs | title=A ticket to ride with The Rails | work=The Guardian | date=24 April 2014 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Sheffield | first=Hazel}}</ref> Kami Thompson had been in her mother's band as a backing singer and had worked with Sean Lennon and Bonnie "Prince" Billy before issuing a solo album ''Love Lies'' in 2011.<ref name="guardNew">{{cite web | url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jan/10/the-rails-new-band-of-the-day | title=The Rails (New band of the day No 1,675) | work=The Guardian | date=10 January 2014 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Lester | first=Paul | authorlink=Paul Lester}}</ref>
James Walbourne is from Muswell Hill in London and has been in various bands, including Peter Bruntnell's band, the Pernice Brothers, Son Volt and The Pretenders, before releasing solo album ''The Hill'' in 2010. He has also been a touring member of Ray Davies's band and has played with Uncle Tupelo, Edwyn Collins and The Pogues.<ref name="Bill">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/1518483/james-walbourne/biography | title=ARTISTS / James Walbourne |magazine=Billboard | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Deming | first=Mark}}</ref>
===Formation (2011–2013)===
Linda Thompson was recording her solo album ''Versatile Heart'' in 2007 which featured Kami Thompson alongside Teddy Thompson.<ref name="PFLinda">{{cite web | url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10578-versatile-heart/ | title=Linda Thompson Versatile Heart |work=Pitchfork | date=31 August 2007 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Klein | first=Joshua}}</ref> Walbourne appeared on the album after being recommended by the author Nick Hornby and first met Kami Thompson at the session, but the relationship was not developed any further at this time.<ref name="tele2">{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturevideo/musicvideo/live-music-sessions/10614162/The-Rails-perform-Bonnie-Portmore-music-session.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204025801/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturevideo/musicvideo/live-music-sessions/10614162/The-Rails-perform-Bonnie-Portmore-music-session.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=4 February 2014 | title=The Rails perform Bonnie Portmore – music session | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=3 February 2014 | accessdate=23 April 2015}}</ref>
They met again by chance in 2011 at the 50th anniversary show for McCabe's Guitar Shop in Los Angeles, this time forming a professional and personal relationship, marrying in October 2012.<ref name="guardRSD" /><ref name="guardNew" /> In the same year they also formed folk rock duo Dead Flamingos and released the ''Habit'' EP.<ref name="theflamingosarecoming">{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dead-flamingoes-mn0002917520/discography | title=Dead Flamingos discography | publisher= AllMusic | accessdate=23 April 2015}}</ref>
Soon after the band was renamed The Rails and in January 2014 they signed a recording contract with Island Records.<ref name="MusCon">{{cite web | url=http://musicconnection.com/rails-sign-island-records/ | title=The Rails Sign to Island Records | work=Music Connection | date=20 January 2015 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Kaufmann | first=Andy}}</ref>
Kami Thompson has been quoted as stating "our long-term goal is to make the perfect divorce album, obviously."<ref name="guardNew" /><ref name="tele2" /> This is a humorous reference to the album ''Shoot Out the Lights'', recorded by Richard and Linda Thompson at the end of their relationship, whilst Linda was pregnant with Kami, and considered by many to be a notable break-up album.<ref name="TeleBU">{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/10317277/The-20-best-break-up-albums.html | title=The 20 best break-up albums | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=25 March 2015 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Green | first= Thomas H}}</ref><ref name="RSBU">{{cite magazine | url =https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-eighties-20110418/richard-and-linda-thompson-shoot-out-the-lights-20110315 | title=100 Best Albums of the Eighties, 9 Richard and Linda Thompson, 'Shoot Out the Lights' | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=18 April 2011 | accessdate=23 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="UBU">{{cite web | url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/features/richard-thompson-album-by-album-26243 | title=Richard Thompson – Album By Album | work=Uncut | date=1 February 2013 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Williamson | first=Nigel | authorlink=Nigel Williamson}}</ref>
===''Fair Warning'' (2014–2015) ===
On 5 May 2014 The Rails released their debut album ''Fair Warning'' which peaked at number 95 on the UK Album Chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22962/RAILS/ |title=Rails; Official Charts Company |publisher=Officialcharts.com |accessdate=23 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="aoty">{{cite web | url=http://www.albumoftheyear.org/2014/releases/may-05.php | title=May 2014 Album Releases | publisher= Album of the Year | accessdate=23 April 2015}}</ref> Martin Kelly, the manager of the band, convinced Island Records to resurrect its pink label design for the release of the album. The pink label imprint had previously been used in the 1960s and 1970s on records by prominent folk rock artists such as John Martyn, Nick Drake and Thompson's father's original band Fairport Convention.<ref name="guardRSD" /><ref name="pink">{{cite web | url=http://www.islandrecords.co.uk/island-artists/rails/ | title=The Rails bio | publisher= Island Records | accessdate=23 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="guardpink">{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/sep/25/linda-thompson-jon-boden-folk-rockers-island-records | title=Linda Thompson and Jon Boden: two generations of folk-rockers unite | work=The Guardian | date=25 September 2014 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Rogers | first =Jude | authorlink=Jude Rogers}}</ref>
The album was co-produced by the band, Scottish musician Edwyn Collins (best known for his work in the band Orange Juice) and Sebastian Lewsley.<ref name="guardNew" /> Many of the songs feature English folk musician Eliza Carthy, herself a member of another large musical family (the Carthy's and the Watersons), playing the fiddle.<ref name="carthy">{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jul/08/norma-waterson-eliza-carthy-folk-family | title=Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy: 'Everything's in a cycle, isn't it?' | work=The Guardian | date=8 July 2010 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Rogers | first =Jude | authorlink=Jude Rogers}}</ref>
All but two of the songs on the album, including three re-recorded tracks from the Dead Flamingos ''Habit'' EP, are written by Thompson and Walbourne.<ref name="mojorev">{{cite journal | last=Fyfe | first=Andy | title=Filter Albums | journal=Mojo | issue= May 2014 | page=92 }}</ref> The other two songs, "Bonnie Portmore" and "William Taylor", are traditional ballads retrieved by the band from the folk archive at Cecil Sharp House.<ref name="tele1">{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/worldfolkandjazz/10820036/The-Rails-a-new-folk-rock-romance.html | title=The Rails: a new folk rock romance | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=9 May 2014 | last=McCormick | first=Neil | authorlink=Neil McCormick}}</ref>
''The Guardian'' gave the album 4 out of 5 stars in their review and wrote that The Rails are "a duo to watch".<ref name="Grev">{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/may/01/the-rails-fair-warning-review | title=The Rails: Fair Warning review | work=The Guardian | date=1 May 2014 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Denselow | first=Robin | authorlink=Robin Denselow}}</ref> ''Mojo'' also gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, writing that the album "rings with the joy of a golden history while also pointing to an exciting future".<ref name="mojorev" /> ''Folk Radio UK'' gave the album a positive review stating that "Richard and Linda Thompson established themselves as enduring British folk rock legends...daughter and son-in-law seem highly likely to follow in their footsteps".<ref name="FRUK">{{cite web | url=http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2014/05/the-rails-fair-warning/ | title=The Rails – Fair Warning | work=Folk Radio UK | date=9 May 2014 | accessdate =23 April 2015 | last=Davies | first=Mike}}</ref>
''Mojo'' named ''Fair Warning'' as their 2014 Folk Album of the Year and it was a runner-up in the fRoots 2014 New Album of the Year list.<ref name="mojo">{{cite journal | last=Irwin | first=Colin| title=Mojo's Review of 2014 | journal=Mojo | issue= January 2015 | page=68| authorlink=Colin Irwin (journalist)}}</ref><ref name="froots">{{cite web | url=http://www.frootsmag.com/content/critpoll/ | title=Critics Poll 2014 | work=fRoots | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Anderson | first=Ian | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219125950/http://www.frootsmag.com/content/critpoll/ | archive-date=19 December 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2015 The Rails performed at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and were presented with the Horizon Award, which is given to the best emerging artist of that year.<ref name="TeleBBCFA">{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/worldfolkandjazz/11554655/Nancy-Kerr-wins-BBC-Folk-Singer-of-the-Year.html | title=Nancy Kerr wins BBC Folk Singer of the Year | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=23 April 2015 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Chilton | first=Martin}}</ref><ref name="BBCFA">{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1kbxTJKTvdflnwhRTBs04qY/bbc-radio-2-folk-awards-rules | title=BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Rules | publisher= BBC | accessdate=23 April 2015}}</ref>
Both Thompson and Walbourne appear on the album ''Family'' (2014) by the band Thompson (the band being named for all the Thompsons that appear) having written two songs for the project. The album was produced by Teddy Thompson and features Richard and Linda Thompson as well as other related musicians, including Walbourne's brother and Richard Thompson's son from his second marriage.<ref name="FoRa">{{cite web | url=http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2014/12/thompson-family/ | title=Thompson – Family | publisher= Folk Radio UK | date=1 December 2014 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Holland | first=Simon}}</ref> Kami Thompson commented on the project: "The whole album is like a family songwriting competition—it's a bloody nightmare. I mean, what could possibly go wrong"?<ref name="NYT">{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/magazine/teddy-thompsons-folk-rock-family-reunion.html | title=Teddy Thompson's Folk-Rock Family Reunion | work=The New York Times | date=7 November 2014 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Dominus | first=Susan}}</ref>
==Influences and musical style==
The Rails have been called folk, folk rock and folk pop by music writers.<ref name="guardRSD" /><ref name="guardNew" /><ref name="tele2" />
''AllMusic'' write about The Rail's "classic folk-rock pageantry" and feel that their music "blends bits of Celtic, soul, blues, and folk so agelessly that it could belong in 1974 or 2014".<ref name="AM">{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/fair-warning-mw0002630307 | title=The Rails Fair Warning | accessdate=23 April 2015 | publisher=AllMusic | last=Monger | first=Timothy}}</ref> Similarly, ''Mojo'' write that "anyone else debuting in 2014 with an album of early '70s-style folk should likely get short thrift from people" but feel the band have the "proper pedigree", going so far as to state that Walbourne's guitar "is as immaculately understated as, well, his father-in-law".<ref name="mojorev" /> Walbourne has been described by the author Nick Hornby as "an unearthly cross between James Burton, Peter Green, and Richard Thompson", describing guitar solos that "drop the jaw, stop the heart, and smack the gob, all at the same time".<ref name="hornby">{{cite web | url=http://www.nickhornbyofficial.com/stuff-ive-been-reading-august-2007/ | title=STUFF I'VE BEEN READING: AUGUST 2007 | publisher= Penguin Books | date=8 August 2007 | accessdate=23 April 2015 | last=Hornby | first=Nick | authorlink=Nick Hornby}}</ref>
The band aspire for a simple sound with "no tricks" where "you can hear everything", adding that "it's hard to convince people to make a record like that now but the sound is fantastic, it's so direct."<ref name="guardNew" /> Walbourne grew up with "a fascination for early rock 'n' roll and roots Americana and was exposed to the music of Frank Sinatra and Bo Diddley by his father.<ref name="guardRSD" /><ref name="tele2" /> Regarding the legacy of her parents' music, Thompson admits that folk music was formative for her and states that "at the time folk was a box I didn't want to be in, and I did my best to avoid it".<ref name="tele2" /> The Rails decided that "it made more sense to embrace tradition than fight it" acknowledging that comparisons would be made to Richard and Linda Thompson by making a folk-rock record and releasing it on Island Records.<ref name="guardRSD" />
==Members==
*Kami Thompson – vocals, acoustic guitar *James Walbourne – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, organ, accordion, dobro, mandolin, piano, lap steel, Wurlitzer electric piano
'''Guest musicians''' *Cody Dickinson – drums, percussion, washboard *Danny Williams – bass, double bass *Eliza Carthy – fiddle *Jim Boquist *Eric Haywood *Carwyn Ellis *Rob Walbourne
==Discography== ===Albums=== *''Fair Warning'' (2014, Island; CD, vinyl, digital download – the album came with the ''West Heath EP'' if obtained from Rough Trade) *''Other People'' (2017, Psychonaut Sounds; CD, vinyl, digital download) *''Cancel the Sun'' (2019, Psychonaut Sounds)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/in/album/cancel-the-sun/1467330559|title=Cancel the Sun by The Rails|website=Apple Music|accessdate=24 August 2019}}</ref>
===Singles and EPs=== *''2 EP'' (2012) – iTunes exclusive *"Bonnie Portmore" (2014) – Island Records– Record Store Day limited 7" single & digital download *"Breakneck Speed" (2014) – Island Records – limited 7" single & digital download *''The Mark Radcliffe Folk Sessions'' (2014) – digital download only *''Australia'' (2015) – limited edition seven track EP
==Awards==
===BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards===
*2014: Horizon Award for Best Newcomer – '''winner'''<ref name="TeleBBCFA" />
===Mojo===
*2014: Folk Album of the Year – '''winner'''<ref name="mojo" />
{{commonscat}} ==References== {{reflist}}
== External links ==
*{{Official website|therailsofficial.com}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rails, The}} Category:English musical duos Category:Folk rock duos Category:English rock music duos Category:English folk rock groups Category:Island Records artists Category:Male–female musical duos Category:Married couples Category:Musical groups established in 2013 Category:Rock music groups from London Category:2013 establishments in England Category:Thirty Tigers artists