instrumental parts in songs

[wmmartin]

One aspect I want to highlight about Gordon Lightfoot's songs are the instrumental parts. I like these parts a lot, they add the right pace to a song and put a spotlight on the wonderful melodies.

For example, the guitar play in the middle of Leaves Of Grass is utmost beautiful. Often, songs start and end instrumental. Cotton Jenny comes to my mind, as well as Never Too Close, two songs that have excellent beginnings.

I'm sure you all have your favorite instrumental sequence too, so please add them here.

[Florian]

One aspect I want to highlight about Gordon Lightfoot's songs are the instrumental parts. I like these parts a lot, they add the right pace to a song and put a spotlight on the wonderful melodies.

For example, the guitar play in the middle of Leaves Of Grass is utmost beautiful. Often, songs start and end instrumental. Cotton Jenny comes to my mind, as well as Never Too Close, two songs that have excellent beginnings.

I'm sure you all have your favorite instrumental sequence too, so please add them here.

[Shane]

All of his music is so well done it is hard to single out a particular instrumental part. One of my favorite guitar leads however is Red Shea's classical guitar in "Too Late For Prayin.'" Introduction wise I really like the start of "Second Cup Of Coffee."

[Scott Mac]

All of his music is so well done it is hard to single out a particular instrumental part. One of my favorite guitar leads however is Red Shea's classical guitar in "Too Late For Prayin.'" Introduction wise I really like the start of "Second Cup Of Coffee."

[Bill]

As I was learning to plat the guitar, the main instrumental riff in "Don Quixote" was my "Stairway to Heaven"...you know, the one EVERYBODY learns.

Also, the intro riff for "Rosanna".

"Did She Mention My Name" was very important to developing my skills.

[rainydayperson]

Love The intro's to "Dreamland", "Hey You",
"Sundown", "Carefree Highway" and "Cold On the Shoulder." The cold intro to "Somewhere USA" is great.

I agree that the bridge in "Don Q" is a nice place to take a mental trip.

I also enjoy the outro's on "Sundown" and "Hey You."

[classicmixdj]

Love The intro's to "Dreamland", "Hey You",
"Sundown", "Carefree Highway" and "Cold On the Shoulder." The cold intro to "Somewhere USA" is great.

I agree that the bridge in "Don Q" is a nice place to take a mental trip.

I also enjoy the outro's on "Sundown" and "Hey You."

[charlene]

The intro to "Beautiful" is gorgeous! That whole song as an instrumental would still be great!
Love it!
Char

[charlene]

The intro to "Beautiful" is gorgeous! That whole song as an instrumental would still be great!
Love it!
Char

[BlackberryWine]

The musicians playing along with GL have always been second to none.The guitar lick that comes after the first verse in "The minstrel of the Dawn" is recorded like it was coming from the backgrownd while the other instruments are more in the front.It gives a feeling of "way back when" to the song. The orchestration in "Does your Mother Know" seems to complete the words of the song, like if the strings section was telling of all the love she has.Who wrote the orchestration by the way? I've always been a fan of Pee Wee Charles. It's too bad that the steel- guitar has been pushed aside by the synths. Not that I don't like synths; I like Patrick Moraz and Rick Wakeman and so and so especialy the european players. To me the synths are irrelevant in GL music. Who will remember the names of the synths players in the last few albums GL made? Do you? ...and don't cheat! But as for the rest, that's just an oppinion.Salute.
...Drink yer glasses girls and boys it's time to hit the Sky...

[This message has been edited by k-leb (edited June 23, 2000).]

[k-leb]

The musicians playing along with GL have always been second to none.The guitar lick that comes after the first verse in "The minstrel of the Dawn" is recorded like it was coming from the backgrownd while the other instruments are more in the front.It gives a feeling of "way back when" to the song. The orchestration in "Does your Mother Know" seems to complete the words of the song, like if the strings section was telling of all the love she has.Who wrote the orchestration by the way? I've always been a fan of Pee Wee Charles. It's too bad that the steel- guitar has been pushed aside by the synths. Not that I don't like synths; I like Patrick Moraz and Rick Wakeman and so and so especialy the european players. To me the synths are irrelevant in GL music. Who will remember the names of the synths players in the last few albums GL made? Do you? ...and don't cheat! But as for the rest, that's just an oppinion.Salute.
...Drink yer glasses girls and boys it's time to hit the Sky...

[This message has been edited by k-leb (edited June 23, 2000).]

[charlene]

I miss Pee Wee also. I loved the steel guitar in Gord's music and it took quite awhile for me to get used to not seeing Pee Wee on stage and hearing his excellent playing. He's a radio DJ in Hamilton I believe. I prefer the steel guitar to the synthesizer myself and wonder how some of the newer stuff would sound with one.
Char
The instrumental parts in Pussywillows/Cattails are luscious and charming.

[charlene]

I miss Pee Wee also. I loved the steel guitar in Gord's music and it took quite awhile for me to get used to not seeing Pee Wee on stage and hearing his excellent playing. He's a radio DJ in Hamilton I believe. I prefer the steel guitar to the synthesizer myself and wonder how some of the newer stuff would sound with one.
Char
The instrumental parts in Pussywillows/Cattails are luscious and charming.

[Paul J B]

I agree charlene,
the intro to "Beautiful" is absolutley gorgeous!!

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Ever Onward...

[Chuck Darling]

I agree charlene,
the intro to "Beautiful" is absolutley gorgeous!!

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Ever Onward...

[Dan]

I love the haunting instrumental intro to Protocol!

Dan

Who are these ones who would lead us now
To the sound of a thousand guns
Who'd storm the gates of hell itself
To the tune of a single drum
Where are the girls of the neighborhood bars
Whose loves were lost at sea
In the hills of France and on German soil
From Saigon to Wounded Knee
Who come from long lines of soldiers
Whose duty was fulfilled
In the words of a warriors will
And protocol

[jennybryce]

How about the orchestration in The Last Time I Saw Her? (not to be confused with The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face). Such an early song of Gord's, and yet the orchestration is haunting and beautiful. It really makes the song. Next time you get a chance, have a good listen. The strings add a wonderful dimension to the song.

[Anne]

How about the orchestration in The Last Time I Saw Her? (not to be confused with The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face). Such an early song of Gord's, and yet the orchestration is haunting and beautiful. It really makes the song. Next time you get a chance, have a good listen. The strings add a wonderful dimension to the song.

[charlene]

The special bits in Song For A Winter's Night make even this Canadian who HATES winter, warm and cozy and mellow thinking of the falling snow outside the window and a beautiful fire burning as I sit by my love's side with a GrandMarnier SnoCone! No really - it is so evocative and real that I become nostalgic for the days when I enjoyed skiing, ice skating outdoors, sledding, walking in the snow, making snowmen and lying down and making snowangels.
Ahhh youth!
Char

[charlene]

The special bits in Song For A Winter's Night make even this Canadian who HATES winter, warm and cozy and mellow thinking of the falling snow outside the window and a beautiful fire burning as I sit by my love's side with a GrandMarnier SnoCone! No really - it is so evocative and real that I become nostalgic for the days when I enjoyed skiing, ice skating outdoors, sledding, walking in the snow, making snowmen and lying down and making snowangels.
Ahhh youth!
Char

[SunErkie]

Great Lightfoot Instrumentals? How bout the guitar intro to Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald? Or the wonderful guitar solo in Dream Street Rose..yah..that's some sweet axe work, me thinks.
Erica

[SunErkie]

Great Lightfoot Instrumentals? How bout the guitar intro to Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald? Or the wonderful guitar solo in Dream Street Rose..yah..that's some sweet axe work, me thinks.
Erica

[Tom]

The whole Summertime Dream album has great instrumental parts, whether its the intro, middle or ending of a song. Also, I like the jamming sessions in Hangdog Hotel Room and Blackberry Wine and the intros of Somewhere U.S.A. and Never too Close.

[Mary Ann]

The whole Summertime Dream album has great instrumental parts, whether its the intro, middle or ending of a song. Also, I like the jamming sessions in Hangdog Hotel Room and Blackberry Wine and the intros of Somewhere U.S.A. and Never too Close.

[Anne]

Can I put in a good word for synthesizers and Mike Heffernan in particular. Try his instrumental in Much to My Surprise. Both synths and pedal steel have their place, and both feature in this excellent track.

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Hi derry doon in the month of June

[rainydayperson]

Can I put in a good word for synthesizers and Mike Heffernan in particular. Try his instrumental in Much to My Surprise. Both synths and pedal steel have their place, and both feature in this excellent track.

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Hi derry doon in the month of June

[gathrb]

I like the instumental part in "Lazy Mornin'" It seems to capture that feeling of nothing to do on a hot summer day.

[Tom]

I like the instumental part in "Lazy Mornin'" It seems to capture that feeling of nothing to do on a hot summer day.

[dill23]

I have to add that the guitars and cello's at the end of "Your Loves Return" is an outstanding example of this thread. I have always felt that Gordon has used his musical talents to the fullest extend during these instrumental interludes along with the help of some of the best arrangers and studio musicians in the business. This includes the talents of the band for which all the intrumentals seems to be build around.

[Rob Wells]

I have to add that the guitars and cello's at the end of "Your Loves Return" is an outstanding example of this thread. I have always felt that Gordon has used his musical talents to the fullest extend during these instrumental interludes along with the help of some of the best arrangers and studio musicians in the business. This includes the talents of the band for which all the intrumentals seems to be build around.

[Wingdrops]

I agree with all the above and would like to add some other great instrumentals that haven't been mentioned yet.

Cabaret
Ode to Big Blue (particularly the end)

and my personal favorites:

Old Dan's Records and
Hiway Songs

One of the highlights of Songbook for me was to have a copy of Hiway Songs in a format other than vinyl. It's not "the only time I'm flyin'" but it's one of the times.




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"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by." - SDYS

[2Much2Lose]

I agree with all the above and would like to add some other great instrumentals that haven't been mentioned yet.

Cabaret
Ode to Big Blue (particularly the end)

and my personal favorites:

Old Dan's Records and
Hiway Songs

One of the highlights of Songbook for me was to have a copy of Hiway Songs in a format other than vinyl. It's not "the only time I'm flyin'" but it's one of the times.




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"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by." - SDYS

[BigFitz_75]

I really like the intro to Rainy Day People and Sundown. actually all of his songs have good intro's those two I really like. And I like the elec. guitar going in Sundown. Thats pretty cool.

[BigFitz_75]

I really like the intro to Rainy Day People and Sundown. actually all of his songs have good intro's those two I really like. And I like the elec. guitar going in Sundown. Thats pretty cool.

[2Much2Lose]

I have always loved the guitar work in "Miquel".
Jenney

[Jenney]

I have always loved the guitar work in "Miquel".
Jenney

[SANDYO]

The guitar work in Cherokee Bend is fantastic!!

[SANDYO]

The guitar work in Cherokee Bend is fantastic!!

[Anne]

What about the start to Bend in the Water - such energy!

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Hi derry doon in the month of June

[rainydayperson]

What about the start to Bend in the Water - such energy!

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Hi derry doon in the month of June

[WillieMaysFan]

SANDYO, I agree wholeheartedly. Cherokee Bend has to have some of the best guitar work I've heard. This is one of those songs that I think sounds just as good on the Gord's Gold album. I hope I don't get too many rebuttals on that opinion, but I think the new (well, newer than the originals anyway) recordings on Gord's Gold Vol. 1 are really nice. In fact, in many ways I like that album's version of Song for a Winter's Night the best. Maybe that could be a new topic, I'd like to hear other people's opinions on the Gold Vol 1 album (most of the remakes on Gord's Gold Vol. 2 I don't care for compared to the original recordings).
Back to the topic, Carefree Highway also has some nice guitar work and I also enjoy the instrumentals in The Watchman's Gone.

If others would like to talk about Gord's Gold, I would be happy to start a topic or just go ahead and do it yourself. I guess I'll find out soon whether or not I am the only one who cares about it.

[young stranger]

SANDYO, I agree wholeheartedly. Cherokee Bend has to have some of the best guitar work I've heard. This is one of those songs that I think sounds just as good on the Gord's Gold album. I hope I don't get too many rebuttals on that opinion, but I think the new (well, newer than the originals anyway) recordings on Gord's Gold Vol. 1 are really nice. In fact, in many ways I like that album's version of Song for a Winter's Night the best. Maybe that could be a new topic, I'd like to hear other people's opinions on the Gold Vol 1 album (most of the remakes on Gord's Gold Vol. 2 I don't care for compared to the original recordings).
Back to the topic, Carefree Highway also has some nice guitar work and I also enjoy the instrumentals in The Watchman's Gone.

If others would like to talk about Gord's Gold, I would be happy to start a topic or just go ahead and do it yourself. I guess I'll find out soon whether or not I am the only one who cares about it.

[gathrb]

Big Fitz75: I don't think there was any "electric" guitar in SUNDOWN, I think it was a 12-string guitar. The booklet for SONGBOOK says that "the first album on which Lightfoot played electric guitar" was 1978's ENDLESS WIRE.

[Tom]

Big Fitz75: I don't think there was any "electric" guitar in SUNDOWN, I think it was a 12-string guitar. The booklet for SONGBOOK says that "the first album on which Lightfoot played electric guitar" was 1978's ENDLESS WIRE.

[CanadaGirl38]

Tom - Gord plays 12 string on Sundown, but Red Shea does just great lead electric on it.

That was a wonderful time - when both Red and Terry were appearing on te albums - gee, on Sundown you even have both Rick Haynes and John Stockfish (whatever happened to him?) on bass.

I don't argue with much of what I've read here so far. For something that's not an instrumental break but is some outrageous guitar playing listen to Red on the Sunday Concert version of The Canadian Railroad Trilogy. The combination of speed and control makes my hands hurt! By the way, tha's one song that I think suffers from the WB recuts of old UA songs. I like the Trilogy the way it was originally done - that concert version is my favorite - except for the bozo that claps before it's over (which seems to happen all the time....)

[fezo]

Tom - Gord plays 12 string on Sundown, but Red Shea does just great lead electric on it.

That was a wonderful time - when both Red and Terry were appearing on te albums - gee, on Sundown you even have both Rick Haynes and John Stockfish (whatever happened to him?) on bass.

I don't argue with much of what I've read here so far. For something that's not an instrumental break but is some outrageous guitar playing listen to Red on the Sunday Concert version of The Canadian Railroad Trilogy. The combination of speed and control makes my hands hurt! By the way, tha's one song that I think suffers from the WB recuts of old UA songs. I like the Trilogy the way it was originally done - that concert version is my favorite - except for the bozo that claps before it's over (which seems to happen all the time....)

[Jez]

I feel that the guitar work in " Wreck" tells an erie tale even if there were no words...now I think I know what the "witch of November" sounds like.

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The house you live in will never fall down, if you pity the stranger that stands at your door.....GL

[Bob from Westphalia, Mich]

I feel that the guitar work in " Wreck" tells an erie tale even if there were no words...now I think I know what the "witch of November" sounds like.

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The house you live in will never fall down, if you pity the stranger that stands at your door.....GL

[dill23]

Fezo,

You are so right on about the CRT on the Sunday Concert Album. I would never take anything away from Terry, but Red's guitar work is totally awesome. Like you said the control and clarity of each note is beyond description. It's like there was this one moment in time that all the energy in the Universe came together for Red to make that one performance something that every picker from here to the end of time stand in total Awe. Those runs in the last third of the number defy replication. Not even Terry can do it the way Red did it. A true Genius and Master of the instrument.

Rob

[Rob Wells]

Fezo,

You are so right on about the CRT on the Sunday Concert Album. I would never take anything away from Terry, but Red's guitar work is totally awesome. Like you said the control and clarity of each note is beyond description. It's like there was this one moment in time that all the energy in the Universe came together for Red to make that one performance something that every picker from here to the end of time stand in total Awe. Those runs in the last third of the number defy replication. Not even Terry can do it the way Red did it. A true Genius and Master of the instrument.

Rob

[Florian]

quote:Originally posted by fezo:
I like the Trilogy the way it was originally done - that concert version is my favorite - except for the bozo that claps before it's over (which seems to happen all the time....)

Hi fezo,

I agree with you on CRT, I also like the Sunday Concert version best. I have become so used to the clapping, that - strange enough - if I listen to another version, I miss it.

[SunErica]

quote:Originally posted by Tom:
Big Fitz75: I don't think there was any "electric" guitar in SUNDOWN, I think it was a 12-string guitar. The booklet for SONGBOOK says that "the first album on which Lightfoot played electric guitar" was 1978's ENDLESS WIRE.

Actually Tom, BigFitz75 is correct. There IS electric guitar in Sundown. If you check the album or CD notes, you'll see that the electric guitar is credited to Red Shea, while Terry plays the acoustic. It is probably true that the first time Gord himself played electric guitar on one of his albums was on Endless Wire, but it wasn't the first time SOMEONE had played electric guitar. He'd been utilizing electric guitar for years before that. One thing I've always wondered about is why Red played electric on Sundown, while Terry did the accoustic parts. I always believed that one of the reasons that Gordon brought TC into the band while Red was still there was because Gord wanted to add electric and Terry with his country rock background was more proficient with it, while Red was a master at the acoustic. But in Sundown the usual roles are reversed. Interesting.
Erica

[SunErica]

quote:Originally posted by Tom:
Big Fitz75: I don't think there was any "electric" guitar in SUNDOWN, I think it was a 12-string guitar. The booklet for SONGBOOK says that "the first album on which Lightfoot played electric guitar" was 1978's ENDLESS WIRE.

Actually Tom, BigFitz75 is correct. There IS electric guitar in Sundown. If you check the album or CD notes, you'll see that the electric guitar is credited to Red Shea, while Terry plays the acoustic. It is probably true that the first time Gord himself played electric guitar on one of his albums was on Endless Wire, but it wasn't the first time SOMEONE had played electric guitar. He'd been utilizing electric guitar for years before that. One thing I've always wondered about is why Red played electric on Sundown, while Terry did the accoustic parts. I always believed that one of the reasons that Gordon brought TC into the band while Red was still there was because Gord wanted to add electric and Terry with his country rock background was more proficient with it, while Red was a master at the acoustic. But in Sundown the usual roles are reversed. Interesting.
Erica