Any love for Gordon Lightfoot?

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

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  1. ManFromCouv

    ManFromCouv Employee #3541

    And as good as those are, I always loved his UA albums more. The winning streak essentially lasted a full decade.
     
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  2. TMegginson

    TMegginson Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Ottawa
    I met Oscar. One of my fondest music memories.
     
  3. carlwm

    carlwm Forum Resident

    Location:
    wales
    I think that Canada has punched above its weight musically, over the years but even with that extraordinary wealth of talent, Gord has pretty much risen to the top.

    Even with his massive catalogue, the duff songs are in single figures.
     
  4. carlwm

    carlwm Forum Resident

    Location:
    wales
    I'd take it at least as far as Waiting For You and the albums that followed are pretty decent too.
     
  5. idleracer

    idleracer Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    :kilroy: I agree. This double CD set should be in everybody's collection. The image is also a link:

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Dylancat

    Dylancat Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Pick up his individual albums..
    others on this thread have made excellent recommendations
     
  7. Holy Diver

    Holy Diver Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    I love him. Great talent.
     
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  8. DavidD

    DavidD Forum Resident

    I have the greatest admiration for Gordon Lightfoot, and he's been in my world since the early 1970s, a staple on Canadian radio. When I met my wife, she didn't speak English and I first introduced her to the language through Gordon Lightfoot songs. Fifteen years later, she immediately recognizes most everything in his catalogue. Thank you, GL!

    Without doubt, GORDON LIGHTFOOT is my favourite singer songwriter from Canada (Sorry, Joni), and contends with the best anywhere.
     
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  9. carlwm

    carlwm Forum Resident

    Location:
    wales
    Lovely story. Really cheered me up! :righton:
     
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  10. Dylancat

    Dylancat Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Great collection.
     
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  11. Fender Relic

    Fender Relic Forum Resident

    Location:
    PennsylBama
    I'm a Gordonite. Saw him around 1976 and I count it as one of my top shows ever. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand. It's the only concert I remember seeing at the old Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh where even the security was standing there totally focused in on the performance in awe. When he came out for the encore dozens of requests were shouted out for a minute or so and he stood there seeming to take it all in and steps up to the mic and says....I think we'll leave you with this one...or something like that... and when the crowd recognizes The Pony Man there's brief applause and then the deep silence as Gord put a comforter over everyone and tucked us in for the night. Of course, it's show biz and there was wild applause when he was done that broke the spell but it was such a special show that I'll always treasure.
     
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  12. Trader Joe

    Trader Joe Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Hampshire
    I always loved hearing Gordon Lightfoot on the radio. Many years ago I had a chance to see him in concert. He never played any of his radio hits. His fans in attendance (myself included) were very, very disappointed. I never attended another concert of his.
     
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  13. Jo B

    Jo B Forum Resident

    Location:
    Minnesota USA
    He sang at my friends wedding
    True story
     
  14. Tjazz

    Tjazz Breakfast at (a record store)

    Location:
    USA
    Sure, it was a hit. I was listening to Complete Greatest Hits today. (it's on that CD too)
     
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  15. eelkiller

    eelkiller One of the great unwashed

    Location:
    Northern Ontario

    The Canadian 3 CD version features the same mastering but adds the live album. A better buy IMO.
     
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  16. Frozensoda

    Frozensoda Forum Resident

    “The lake is blue, the sky is gray, the leaves have turned to gold
    The wild goose will be on her way, the weather's much too cold
    When the muskie and the old trout too have all gone down to rest
    We will be returning to the things that we love best
    Do ya get that restless yearning when you think about your dad
    And the scrimshaw that he had
    Of an old schooner rovin' 'neath a sky that's ironclad.”

    -Gordon Lightfoot, Restless

    That is one of my all time favorite group of lyrics.
     
  17. pool_of_tears

    pool_of_tears Searching For Simplicity

    Location:
    Midwest
    The 4 cd box set “Songbook” is a great set to have. Highly recommended and reasonably priced, too
     
  18. qwerty

    qwerty A resident of the SH_Forums.

    A perfect album: Sundown

    [​IMG]

    Perfect folk song with a story: "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

    Most cringe-worthy title for a great compilation album: Gord's Gold.
     
  19. QuestionMark?

    QuestionMark? 4TH N' GOAL

    Location:
    The End Zone
    Great song with a lot of great pics:

     
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  20. RandyP

    RandyP Forum Resident

    I have been a fan since I was around 9 or 10 and "If You Could Read My Mind" came on the radio. I bought the 45 which I still have. Then I followed him all the way through the 70s, at least from the standpoint of buying 45s since albums were too expensive for a kid in school. Later I bought several albums and Sundown probably remains my favorite. The deep cuts on that album are essential, especially "Is There Anyone Home" and "The Watchman's Gone."
    Of the CDs, the United Artists Collection is great but the first one I bought was Gord's Gold. I think I read somewhere that he hates his early singing so he redid some of those tracks on Gord's Gold. I suppose I prefer the re-recordings but it may just be because I am more familiar with them. I have never seen him in concert but would love to do so.
     
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  21. Rock66

    Rock66 Forum Resident

    I got to know Lightfoot's music when I was entering my teens in the early 70s. I didn't like the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald because it seemed to me to be too ponderous. Now that I'm (much) older I have an appreciation for what he was doing with that epic. I would suggest that his most underrated song is the Canadian Railroad Trilogy. Released on UA in the 60s it is a great song. Finally, the Rhino box set is a good source for getting a career-spanning view. I know it's already been said, but it really is a good set. The Bear Family UA realeases are nice as well.
     
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  22. tineardrum

    tineardrum Forum Resident

    Location:
    91765
    I remember hearing "if you could read my mind" on the radio as a kid and didn't know who it was. I couldn't get enough of it. Years later I bought Sundown and discovered his "Sit down young Stranger" album. His discography is huge and just knows how to write songs. Incredible talent. Recently picked up his songbook 4 CD set which had quite a few extra tracks that have never been released, many of these are gold!
     
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  23. lightfootfan

    lightfootfan Forum Resident

    I"m a fan since around 1971 or so. Seen him 130+ times - most at Massey but have travelled to see him. Photo of me and Gordon on the front page of The Toronto Star in Nov.2014 when they did a piece on me/fans and Gordon. The Toronto Sun did ne in Dec.2005.. Proud and honoured to be a part of his social media team and an acquaintance of his, his wife and his family as well as the guys in the band. A finer gentleman you'll never meet, a man of deep devotion to his craft and a proud Canadian who continues to tour as he has for 5+ decades but for a few years when he fell ill in Sept. 2002. lightfoot.ca has tour info-albums/singles/charting info-owned and run by a super fan in the Maritimes and corfid.com has a discussion board online since 1998/99 that I moderate and update. There are fan based Lightfoot Facebook pages as well as the official FB, TWITTER and Instagram. He will be back on tour in September having to postpone some dates due to an injury that happened at his gym where he goes daily and has for decades. He continues to fill halls/theatres/auditoriums standing centre stage with his band backing him as they have for decades, performing to a hushed crowd in their seats to say thank you for the music..and there are fans of all ages at the shows. I'm blessed to have him perform a song he no long plays and hasn't for many, many years but for once in a while when I am in attendance..- his thoughtfulness is so appreciated.. - I'll Tag Along is "OUR song"..lol.. The greatest song of his is If You Could Read My Mind.. a perfect song in every way.. Many videos at lightfootfan channel on Youtube. His voice is not the voice of the 70's Gord but it's a voice that reveals the life lived, the loves lost and the music that lives on. See him while you can... he's out there for the fans to say thank you. Say it back to him while you can.. .Gordon Lightfoot superfans cherish every show | The Star
     
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  24. conjotter

    conjotter Forum Resident

    Gord's music was a staple on Canadian radio for many years.

    AM stations would play the full version of Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald at a time when most songs were under 4 minutes in length.

    And then there is Canadian Railroad Trilogy -- amazing song. What a story teller.

    There was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run
    When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
    Long before the white man and long before the wheel
    When the green dark forest was too silent to be real

    But time has no beginnings and hist'ry has no bounds
    As to this verdant country they came from all around
    They sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forests tall

    Built the mines the mills and the factories for the good of us all

    And when the young man's fancy was turnin' to the spring
    The railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring
    Their minds were overflowing with the visions of their day
    And many a fortune lost and won and many a debt to pay

    For they looked in the future and what did they see
    They saw an iron road runnin' from sea to the sea
    Bringin' the goods to a young growin' land
    All up through the seaports and into their hands

    Look away said they across this mighty land
    From the eastern shore to the western strand
    Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
    We gotta lay down the tracks and tear up the trails

    Open 'er heart let the life blood flow
    Gotta get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow
    Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
    We're gonna lay down the tracks and tear up the trails

    Open 'er heart let the life blood flow
    Gotta get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow
    Get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow
    Behind the blue Rockies the sun is declinin'
    The stars, they come stealin' at the close of the day

    Across the wide prairie our loved ones lie sleeping
    Beyond the dark oceans in a place far away
    We are the navvies who work upon the railway
    Swingin' our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
    Livin' on stew and drinkin' bad whiskey
    Bendin' our old backs 'til the long days are done

    We are the navvies who work upon the railway
    Swingin' our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
    Layin' down track and buildin' the bridges
    Bendin' our old backs 'til the railroad is done

    So over the mountains and over the plains
    Into the muskeg and into the rain
    Up the St. Lawrence all the way to Gaspe
    Swingin' our hammers and drawin' our pay
    Drivin' 'em in and tyin' 'em down

    Away to the bunkhouse and into the town
    A dollar a day and a place for my head
    A drink to the livin' and a toast to the dead
    Oh the song of the future has been sung

    All the battles have been won
    O'er the mountain tops we stand
    All the world at our command
    We have opened up the soil
    With our teardrops and our toil

    For there was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run
    When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
    Long before the white man and long before the wheel
    When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
    When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
    And many are the dead men too silent to be real
     
  25. padreken

    padreken Senior Member

    Location:
    San Diego
    Agreed, one of Gordon’s finest. I was thrilled that it was in his second set when we saw him in San Diego this year. Waiting For You is a great album, every bit the work of a master.
     
    carlwm likes this.
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