Any love for Gordon Lightfoot?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by TMegginson, Aug 13, 2019.

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  1. TMegginson

    TMegginson Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Ottawa
    As a Canadian growing up in the '70s, I couldn't escape Gordon Lightfoot. We have laws about Canadian content in domestic media, and along with Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and The Band, he was always in rotation on the AOR stations my Dad had on the car radio.

    Having returned to his records, which I inevitably find in dollar bins, I've gained a new appreciation for him. Especially his evolution from folk songwriter to country-rock FM radio staple, in the years 1966-1976.

    The man definitely drifted into the adult contemporary haze by the late '70s, but I saw him live about a decade ago, and he was quite good.

    But the thing about this Gord (we have a lot of Gords in Canada) is that, despite being covered by some of the top acts in the USA, he remained very much a Canadian dude.

    So my question, especially for the rest of the world, is what do you know about Lightfoot? Do you like him? The man is 80 years old, so we won't have him around forever. I wish he were better recognized by younger generations as an important part of music history.
     
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  2. c-eling

    c-eling They're made of light,We never would have guessed

    Absolutely!
    Quite a few threads on him and his music have been done over the years :)
     
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  3. bvb1123

    bvb1123 Rock and Roll Martian

    Location:
    Cincinnati Ohio
    I just bought his Complete Greatest Hits about a month ago and I've listened to it all the way through about 3 or 4 times. I knew all the big hits but there's a lot of great songs on it I'd never heard before. Very happy I picked it up. I like Gordon Lightfoot way more than I thought I did.
     
  4. TMegginson

    TMegginson Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Ottawa
    Well, let's have a new one. :)
     
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  5. Grant

    Grant Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me!

    I like a few of his hits.
     
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  6. Nice Marmot

    Nice Marmot Nothin’ feels right but doin’ wrong anymore

    Location:
    Tryon NC
    Yes. He needs some complete label box sets.
     
  7. vitorbastos123

    vitorbastos123 Forum Resident

    There’s one song that I remember my mom listening to when I was a kid in the 90’s, the song was Beautiful, and I love it to this day. Was it a hit back in the day?
     
  8. pbuzby

    pbuzby Senior Member

    Location:
    Chicago, IL, US
  9. carlwm

    carlwm Forum Resident

    Location:
    wales
    To my ears one of the three greatest singer-songwriters to ever walk the planet (along with Dan Fogelberg & Al Stewart).

    Finally got to see him live a couple of years ago and, despite his advanced age, he (and his band) were outstanding.
     
  10. Blue Cactus

    Blue Cactus Forum Resident

    Location:
    Illinois
    Love Gord.

    He needs the audiophile treatment. Where are you Mobile Fidelity?
     
  11. tineardrum

    tineardrum Forum Resident

    Location:
    91765
    Been collecting his stuff since 1974. Saw him live in 70s and 80s. Now have most of it on CD. Great artist !
     
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  12. carlwm

    carlwm Forum Resident

    Location:
    wales
    Not sure if it was a hit. It's parent album, Don Quixote, was only mildly successful - despite being a candidate for his album - but it is one of the songs he plays at every concert!

    Edit: Just checked. It got to #13 in Canada and #58 in the States.

    Pretty successful then! :righton:
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2019
  13. gregorya

    gregorya I approve of this message

    Always a big fan of his early years up through the 70's. And as much as I've heard it through the years, I still think "If You Could Read My Mind" is a great song.

    I've seen him in concert several times.
     
  14. Sneaky Pete

    Sneaky Pete Flat the 5 and That’s No Jive

    Location:
    NYC USA
    I love his work. I saw him live last year and it was well worth it. He’s older and weaker but he gave 110%. The crowd loved him. Go see him now, while you still can.
     
  15. Dylancat

    Dylancat Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    A great songwriter, artist, and performer.
    Up there with Mitchell, Van, Neil, Wonder and Bob.
    To those who care about these things,,the Rock HOF needs to get him inducted.
    Taylor, Simon, and Cat are in.
    Gord should be also.
     
    No Bull, longdist01, Remy and 9 others like this.
  16. Carl Swanson

    Carl Swanson Senior Member

    Yes, especially like his UA albums.
     
  17. Gramps Tom

    Gramps Tom Forum Resident

    Major fan here, from the United Artists years through current. Seen him live twice.
     
  18. Gramps Tom

    Gramps Tom Forum Resident

  19. skinnyev

    skinnyev Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto
    I always regretted not seeing him at Massey Hall in Toronto before they renovated it. His music didn't didn't appeal to me until I was a bit older, but I think he's a legend.

    This BBC concert has some great versions of some of his music:

     
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  20. Michael

    Michael I LOVE WIDE S-T-E-R-E-O!

    extreme love for Gord since I was a teen...so happy he is still with us. Does he still have an office in Toronto?
     
  21. Nice Marmot

    Nice Marmot Nothin’ feels right but doin’ wrong anymore

    Location:
    Tryon NC
  22. Gramps Tom

    Gramps Tom Forum Resident

    It's hard to imagine equaling a winning streak of:

    If You Could Read My Mind (Sit Down Young Stranger)
    Summer Side of Life
    Old Dan's Records (A REAL hidden gem)
    Don Quioxte
    Sundown
    Cold On The Shoulder
    Gord's Gold (reworked some prime UA songs + hits)
    Summertime Dream (Listen to The House You Live In)
     
  23. Gramps Tom

    Gramps Tom Forum Resident

    Yep. I've owned it for years, and it's great. Informative and nice quality booklet as well. Really nice package for $25.....I pd more for it used.
     
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  24. carlwm

    carlwm Forum Resident

    Location:
    wales
    Outstanding albums!

    I play Don Quixote & The House You Live In (along with a few other Gord songs) at open mics & singarounds, and even with my meagre talents, they go down a storm.

    Happy to say I've converted a whole bunch of people to Gord's cause!
     
  25. ManFromCouv

    ManFromCouv Employee #3541

    The finest Canadian artist ever, with the possible exception of Oscar Peterson.
     
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