RT- The Life and Music of Richard Thompson is a 5-CD box set by Richard Thompson, released in February 2006. It gives an extensive overview of Thompson's long career without including content from any of his mainstream albums. While many of the songs included are familiar to Thompson fans, the tracks are mostly live, nearly all of them previously unreleased, and the arrangements are often different from those of the original recordings. Thompson himself granted the compilers access to his personal archives of recordings and photos, and other collectors of Thompsonia (most notably American record producer Edward Haber) also contributed to the set. Thompson retained (and exercised) the right of veto over any aspect of the set. Of particular interest are live tracks by Richard and Linda Thompson (including a few from the 1982 "tour from hell"), songs demo-ed for his first solo album Henry the Human Fly as well as several of Thompson's comic songs ("Madonna's Wedding" and his lampooning of Janet Jackson's infamous breast-baring moment at the Super Bowl) and several songs that Thompson himself had never released. The set also includes a 168-page book – consisting of a biography, an exclusive interview and track notes – and a reproduction of a Vincent Motorcycles catalogue (a reference to Thompson's best loved song “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”). As with the actual track selection Thompson had input into the book and was involved in the proofreading and supplied some of the photos that are included. There are numerous typographical errors. The five CDs are themed, which gives each disc a specific focus and helps to give this large set some cohesion. A sixth CD "RT on FR" is offered free of charge by returning a coupon included in the box.

Track listing

All songs written and performed by Richard Thompson except where noted otherwise

Disc 1: 'Walking The Long Miles Home' - Muswell Hill To LA

Disc 2: 'Finding Better Words' - The Essential Richard Thompson

Disc 3: 'Shine In The Dark' - Epic Live Workouts

Disc 4: 'The Songs Pour Down Live Silver' - The Covers & Sessions

Disc 5: 'Something Here Worth More Than Gold' - Real Rarities

Disc 6: RT on FR