My Lightfoot Connection...

[paredbear]

Well I have only been on this site for a few weeks now, but in reading some of the archives, I feel as though I have discovered Gord all over again. A lot of these posts are really interesting. My Lightfoot experience started back in grade school in the mid-seventies when I was about 8 or 9. At that time, we would have music class once a week to learn singing and music. Our singing teacher was an old Catholic nun who often lacked patience with kids. Even more disturbing was that she would like to bring her own records to class. Some of this music was rather boring, but on occasion she would bring in a Lightfoot album and put it on the portable record player. I can't remember which album it was, but as soon as she played it, she seemed to be more pleasant and less frightening. I can still see her by the piano with a big smile, "Now kids, listen to Gordon Lightfoot!" she would say.

[stationmaster]

Well I have only been on this site for a few weeks now, but in reading some of the archives, I feel as though I have discovered Gord all over again. A lot of these posts are really interesting. My Lightfoot experience started back in grade school in the mid-seventies when I was about 8 or 9. At that time, we would have music class once a week to learn singing and music. Our singing teacher was an old Catholic nun who often lacked patience with kids. Even more disturbing was that she would like to bring her own records to class. Some of this music was rather boring, but on occasion she would bring in a Lightfoot album and put it on the portable record player. I can't remember which album it was, but as soon as she played it, she seemed to be more pleasant and less frightening. I can still see her by the piano with a big smile, "Now kids, listen to Gordon Lightfoot!" she would say.

[stationmaster]

Well that was the beginning of my Lightfoot experience. For some years afterward, I lost contact with Lightfoot's music and got caught up in the classic rock of the eighties. Then one day, I listened to a cassette of Gord's Gold II. Well I was hooked! I had to buy my first Lightfoot cassette. Since then I have purchased several cassettes and CDs, my most recent being HARMONY. Well that's about all for me. What was your LIGHTFOOT EXPERIENCE?

[stationmaster]

Oh, I forgot to say that I saw Gord at the Peterborough Festival of Lights on August 11, 2001. He played for a couple hours at the free outdoor festival. It was great to hear and see him. He also gave autographs and signed CD,s afterward. I regret not waiting in the two huge lines for a signed copy of "APPT"

[This message has been edited by stationmaster (edited July 19, 2004).]

[T.C.]

Whilst getting prepared for a backpacking trip to Yosemite, my cousin (5 yrs older then me) put on his recently purchased album "Sundown". That was 1974. Since that time I have been a hardcore Lightfoot fan. GL's music has helped me through some tough times and continues to give me great pleasure through these great times.

I started seeing Gord in concert in 93. Mostly at Humphries in San Diego. BTW, except for being packed-in like a Sardine, Humphries is a great venue. Should Gord go back on the road, I highly recommend seeing him there. Now that I'm a NoCal man, Humphries is a little inconvienient.

One year while watching the bands sound check, Gord left the stage and was walking back to speak with the sound tech. To do this he had to walk right past me. I'm thinking...should I bolt up in front of him and introduce myself? What the heck! I may never get another chance in my life to do this so I do it. Gord stopped and introduced himself (duh). We talked for a few minutes. I have no idea what I asked him. I was so in awe. Probably said something stupid. Before leaving he asked if I was coming to the show, I said "of course" and asked if there was any chance of getting back stage passes. He said sure, I'll let Barry know. Sure enough, when he walked back onto the stage he pulled Barry aside and pointed to me (semi-hidden on the stairwell). I figure "I'm In"!

After the concert Barry didn't remember me from Adam. I had to recount to him Gord personally pointing to me that afternoon. All this while others are hounding him as well, so he was very distracted and only half listening. But finely he said to go on in and the rest is history!

Gord personally pointed to me...I like that!

That's my best Gord story. Tony

[T.C.]

Whilst getting prepared for a backpacking trip to Yosemite, my cousin (5 yrs older then me) put on his recently purchased album "Sundown". That was 1974. Since that time I have been a hardcore Lightfoot fan. GL's music has helped me through some tough times and continues to give me great pleasure through these great times.

I started seeing Gord in concert in 93. Mostly at Humphries in San Diego. BTW, except for being packed-in like a Sardine, Humphries is a great venue. Should Gord go back on the road, I highly recommend seeing him there. Now that I'm a NoCal man, Humphries is a little inconvienient.

One year while watching the bands sound check, Gord left the stage and was walking back to speak with the sound tech. To do this he had to walk right past me. I'm thinking...should I bolt up in front of him and introduce myself? What the heck! I may never get another chance in my life to do this so I do it. Gord stopped and introduced himself (duh). We talked for a few minutes. I have no idea what I asked him. I was so in awe. Probably said something stupid. Before leaving he asked if I was coming to the show, I said "of course" and asked if there was any chance of getting back stage passes. He said sure, I'll let Barry know. Sure enough, when he walked back onto the stage he pulled Barry aside and pointed to me (semi-hidden on the stairwell). I figure "I'm In"!

After the concert Barry didn't remember me from Adam. I had to recount to him Gord personally pointing to me that afternoon. All this while others are hounding him as well, so he was very distracted and only half listening. But finely he said to go on in and the rest is history!

Gord personally pointed to me...I like that!

That's my best Gord story. Tony

[Boat House AKA member]

I think the first album I ever I beilieve ever bought was Summer Side of Life or it might have been the "Best of Vol 1" (boy that was a long time ago) and I have been hooked ever since. One thing I like about Gord is he has never sold out, looking for some AM radio smash hit. You look at his writing and he has remained true to the "song"
____________________________________
Every day the same thing, variety

[Kilgore]

I think the first album I ever I beilieve ever bought was Summer Side of Life or it might have been the "Best of Vol 1" (boy that was a long time ago) and I have been hooked ever since. One thing I like about Gord is he has never sold out, looking for some AM radio smash hit. You look at his writing and he has remained true to the "song"
____________________________________
Every day the same thing, variety

[stationmaster]

Great stories folks! Lets see more...

[Janice]

T.C., the first time I saw Gord was at Humphries - it is a great venue!!! Although I'll agree with you that the seats force you to get to know your neighbor a little too well. I tend to ignore my assigned seat and sit over on the bench by the water - the view of the stage is just as good as any other seat and your not as scruntched. I actually flew out from NH to meet a few Internet friends for that show. I fell so in love with San Diego that within 10 months I came back out for three visits and the fourth time stayed http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif I've seen him one other time there and once at Massey Hall in Toronto.

[T.C.]

Hey Janice. I always sit on the wall near the water also. And your right, San Diego for being such a large city is very beautiful. I lived there for 44 years but moved away last year. Best thing I ever did.
If Gord ever does tour again and ends up at Humphries, go there around 3 pm and if your covert and not to obvious you will be able to watch Gord and the band on stage doing their sound checks. I did that every year he was at Humphries. Tony

[T.C.]

Hey Janice. I always sit on the wall near the water also. And your right, San Diego for being such a large city is very beautiful. I lived there for 44 years but moved away last year. Best thing I ever did.
If Gord ever does tour again and ends up at Humphries, go there around 3 pm and if your covert and not to obvious you will be able to watch Gord and the band on stage doing their sound checks. I did that every year he was at Humphries. Tony

[johnfowles]

quote:Originally posted by stationmaster:
Great stories folks! Lets see more...
"Lets see more..."
So at the risk of boring those who have read my story before In particular in a similar topic:-
"When/Where did you first see Gordon Lightfoot? " at:- http://www.corfid.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001419.html
But I can add few thoughts and a pair of pics now. So here goes:-
I spent 1964 to 1969 in Montreal, before returning to the UK
Although when I first arived it was fun to constantly hear The Beatles on the top 40 radio stations I soon tired of that and graduated to the FM service of CJAD-800 known then as CJFM but now I believe Mix96. They featured what would now be termed Adult Contemporary music, and in 1966 I was much struck by a hit single caled "Spin Spin" by some Lightfoot bloke
I found the Toronto CHUM radio station charts listing of Gord's singles at:- http://www.1050chum.com/Charts/1050ChumCORE.pnm?Page=ShowArtist&ArtistID=8344
showing "Spin Spin" at number 6 in October 1966
as confirmed at:- http://www.webfitz.com/lyrics/Charts/1966/Ch196610.html
I think that sometime after that I heard Gord's beautiful version of Ewen McCall's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". for many years when I heard something new like this I would buy the relevant album on spec to find out more. Usually the rest of such albums were stinkers but having before the end of 1966 bought the first United Artists (Mono) album "Lightfoot" (yes in those days the record companies decided they could charge more for a stereo version-can you believe that!!!) I was delighted to find that I loved the entire album. so began a collecting mania.As I previously reported through a friend I'd made playing badminton Dave Moxey who had started a folk-song group
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot/Dave_Moxey's_Group_1967.jpg
From the left Dave Moxey partly hidden, Rae, Dave Taggart, Peter Wright
It was Pete Wright (newly arrived from Toronto where he had seen Gord at the Riverboat) who got us to see Gord on Sunday May 21st 1967 at The New Penelope Coffee House In Montreal
http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/images/catalog/detail/NPN670518-PO.jpg
Whilst googling for the New Penelope I came acros this site http://www.doncullen.com/bohemianEmbassy.html
which mentions Joni Mitchell the Two Tones Barry Harvey and Gord's illness.
Anyway I was most fortunate to catch Gord three more times in 1968 and 69 before returning home in late 1969
But once back in England nobody knew Gord so I began educating my friends there.
At the time my favo(u)rite Disk Jockey was BBC Radio One's Noel Edmunds
In 1971 Noel began playing IYCRMM every day on his program(me)
and I believe was therefore responsible for making it a hit in the UK
In those primitive days news of concerts and new releases was hard to come by but I managed to get each new album up till "Waiting For You" and by scanning the Royal Albert Hall London adverts assiduously caught Gord's June 1972 and May 1981 RAH concerts only finding out recently that I missed another two in 1973 and and 1974.
I managed to convert a few friends into Lightheads.
Eventually in 1997 I got connected to the Internet only to discover as have so many fans here that I was strangely not the only Lightfoot fan on the planet. I made contact with Wayne Francis and successfully traded with him for some eagerly sought video tapes (after finding that it was unlikely that Gord would do a UK tour for some time I recall telling Wayne that I would probably have to make the pilgrimage to Canada "before Gord and I got too old". In those days UK internet access required expensive telephone calls. But after my mother died in 1999 I had money to spare and I began frequenting Rik Steven's original chat room, where I met Jenney then organising the highly successful November 1999 Massey Hall Convention and also a chatty Gordfan called Susan who having met in Toronto literally saved my life in that chat room after I had a stroke in January 2000. Hence I am now with her in New Jersey and my continuing efforts to keep the chat room going

------------------
My Gordon Lightfoot webring
starts at
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot

Edited to link to smaller group picture

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited June 08, 2004).]

[johnfowles]

quote:Originally posted by stationmaster:
Great stories folks! Lets see more...
"Lets see more..."
So at the risk of boring those who have read my story before In particular in a similar topic:-
"When/Where did you first see Gordon Lightfoot? " at:- http://www.corfid.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001419.html
But I can add few thoughts and a pair of pics now. So here goes:-
I spent 1964 to 1969 in Montreal, before returning to the UK
Although when I first arived it was fun to constantly hear The Beatles on the top 40 radio stations I soon tired of that and graduated to the FM service of CJAD-800 known then as CJFM but now I believe Mix96. They featured what would now be termed Adult Contemporary music, and in 1966 I was much struck by a hit single caled "Spin Spin" by some Lightfoot bloke
I found the Toronto CHUM radio station charts listing of Gord's singles at:- http://www.1050chum.com/Charts/1050ChumCORE.pnm?Page=ShowArtist&ArtistID=8344
showing "Spin Spin" at number 6 in October 1966
as confirmed at:- http://www.webfitz.com/lyrics/Charts/1966/Ch196610.html
I think that sometime after that I heard Gord's beautiful version of Ewen McCall's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". for many years when I heard something new like this I would buy the relevant album on spec to find out more. Usually the rest of such albums were stinkers but having before the end of 1966 bought the first United Artists (Mono) album "Lightfoot" (yes in those days the record companies decided they could charge more for a stereo version-can you believe that!!!) I was delighted to find that I loved the entire album. so began a collecting mania.As I previously reported through a friend I'd made playing badminton Dave Moxey who had started a folk-song group
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot/Dave_Moxey's_Group_1967.jpg
From the left Dave Moxey partly hidden, Rae, Dave Taggart, Peter Wright
It was Pete Wright (newly arrived from Toronto where he had seen Gord at the Riverboat) who got us to see Gord on Sunday May 21st 1967 at The New Penelope Coffee House In Montreal
http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/images/catalog/detail/NPN670518-PO.jpg
Whilst googling for the New Penelope I came acros this site http://www.doncullen.com/bohemianEmbassy.html
which mentions Joni Mitchell the Two Tones Barry Harvey and Gord's illness.
Anyway I was most fortunate to catch Gord three more times in 1968 and 69 before returning home in late 1969
But once back in England nobody knew Gord so I began educating my friends there.
At the time my favo(u)rite Disk Jockey was BBC Radio One's Noel Edmunds
In 1971 Noel began playing IYCRMM every day on his program(me)
and I believe was therefore responsible for making it a hit in the UK
In those primitive days news of concerts and new releases was hard to come by but I managed to get each new album up till "Waiting For You" and by scanning the Royal Albert Hall London adverts assiduously caught Gord's June 1972 and May 1981 RAH concerts only finding out recently that I missed another two in 1973 and and 1974.
I managed to convert a few friends into Lightheads.
Eventually in 1997 I got connected to the Internet only to discover as have so many fans here that I was strangely not the only Lightfoot fan on the planet. I made contact with Wayne Francis and successfully traded with him for some eagerly sought video tapes (after finding that it was unlikely that Gord would do a UK tour for some time I recall telling Wayne that I would probably have to make the pilgrimage to Canada "before Gord and I got too old". In those days UK internet access required expensive telephone calls. But after my mother died in 1999 I had money to spare and I began frequenting Rik Steven's original chat room, where I met Jenney then organising the highly successful November 1999 Massey Hall Convention and also a chatty Gordfan called Susan who having met in Toronto literally saved my life in that chat room after I had a stroke in January 2000. Hence I am now with her in New Jersey and my continuing efforts to keep the chat room going

------------------
My Gordon Lightfoot webring
starts at
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot

Edited to link to smaller group picture

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited June 08, 2004).]

[stationmaster]

Those are some great stories folks! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[stationmaster]

I just finished watching some video clips of Gord on the CBC archives. It's great to see some early footage as well as a timeline through the years. Although he looks and sounds a little different now, he still has a certain mystery about him. I guess it's part of his "reserved" personality, as he described himself in one clip. I think that's what draws me to him and his musical style. Although I could never compare myself to Gordon musically, I too have the same type of personality. I am amazed at how comfortable he is singing live on stage. I always wished that I could overcome my fears and sing in public. I love to sing and play guitar, (especially Gord's tunes) but I get really nervous at the center of anything. Maybe someday Gord could help me out...

[Borderstone]

...and much like John said about that other similar topic,if you've read my account before,feel free to pick another topic. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

Well stationmaster,yoooooou asked foooor it! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

When I was 5/6 years old I'd listen to WCCK out of Erie,PA in my hometown of Corry just 30 little miles southeast. One day in 1974 I heard Sundown. I didn't know who it was but I remembered hearing it for years afterward. In the late 70s or early 80s,I heard Carefree Highway (which I thought was called "Every Highway").

Not long after that time,I caught,"Wreck" on Kool FM here in Phoenix. (Only a 5 or 6 year old song and they call it an oldie? http://www.corfid.com/ubb/confused.gif ) Then about the mid 80s I heard,"Rainy Day People" on an AC radio station,K-Lite I believe. Then "finally",I bought a vinyl copy of Gord's Gold in I think,1985 or 86 (used). Next was GL's new song,"Anything For Love",although I wasn't aware of the LP "East Of Midnight",which I now have on CD,LP & Cass.

Until 1993 I only knew the hits and the few selections on GG. This is when I finally bought Sundown,COTS,SummerT. Dream and Endless Wire at a used vinyl store. Now I knew just a little bit more about his music!
After those,I really did not think to find more until 2000! (I don't know why.) I then acquired "IYCRMM" early that year.

In June of 2001,I saw,"Songbook" at Sam Goody's here at the mall and bought it on a payment plan! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif On Tuesday August 7th,it was mine and I played all 4 all day! (Much to the chagrin of my brother,then my roomate). Almost another year later,I heard he was coming here to Phoenix at the new Dodge theatre on Aug. 6th,2002. Before that happened though,I found $1 copies of "Lightfoot!" / "Did She Mention..." and a really great looking copy of GG!

To make the concert part "very" brief! After going downtown to the concert and watching the show,I got to meet Gordon and the band afterwards in an autograph session outside the theatre! He was cool and totally down to earth! After that night and until the end of the year,I went and got every available original LP I could get! (See "The Complete Borderstone Stash...OOOOOOh!" thread for the list.)

So,I now conclude with buying Harmony on it's very 1st day out! The first GL album I've had the priviledge to do so with and now receiving "Live In Reno" on the 13th.
Not the most exciting story but how many folks do you know that could recall all of that? http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Been me! Aurevoir! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/cool.gif OWWW~! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/eek.gif My fingers!! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/frown.gif Mommy!!!!

------------------
"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm." ;) - Borderstone

[Jim Dundee]

My story is somewhat similar to stationmaster. I was in Grade 4 in Vancouver in 1969 and a student teacher named Miss Dolan came to teach us for a few weeks. She brought in a record that I recognized from home (it was a copy of the brand new "Sunday Concert" LP).

Canadian history was in the Grade 4 curriculum then so she played The Canadian Railroad Trilogy. I was hooked. I went home and got my dad to get out his copy and I remember him sitting on the floor with me writing out the lyrics to the song. It was then that I learned the meaning of the words "verdant" and "navvies" which I'd never heard before.

So, thanks dad and Miss Dolan (wherever you are - I'd love to say thanks to you). I think I had a crush on Miss Dolan which lasted a few weeks but a love-affair with Gord's music that is going on 35 years. I've seen him 25 times in concert in Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa.

John

[donquixote]

My story is somewhat similar to stationmaster. I was in Grade 4 in Vancouver in 1969 and a student teacher named Miss Dolan came to teach us for a few weeks. She brought in a record that I recognized from home (it was a copy of the brand new "Sunday Concert" LP).

Canadian history was in the Grade 4 curriculum then so she played The Canadian Railroad Trilogy. I was hooked. I went home and got my dad to get out his copy and I remember him sitting on the floor with me writing out the lyrics to the song. It was then that I learned the meaning of the words "verdant" and "navvies" which I'd never heard before.

So, thanks dad and Miss Dolan (wherever you are - I'd love to say thanks to you). I think I had a crush on Miss Dolan which lasted a few weeks but a love-affair with Gord's music that is going on 35 years. I've seen him 25 times in concert in Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa.

John

[stationmaster]

Great stories folks! Lets hear more... http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Mair]

Well - here's my story!

I have people to thank too - two friends, thirty years apart - Gillian and Alison. And my story starts with "Canadian RR Trilogy" too. Just remember that I'm in the UK - things are different here. And my friend Gillian (where is she now?) when we were about thirteen years old somewhere around 1975 - she's very excited that she's found something new, and she explains this song to me in great detail in school - and later, when I'm a "captive audience" (literally!) - she practically ties me to a chair in her bedroom until I listen to this one album from start to finish - on reflection it must have been "Gord's Gold", though I don't really remember now, it was a compilation, anyway. I just remember being completely carried away. I was never so happy at being forced to listen to anything! I then buy everything that's available in the UK on vynil.

Jump now to 1981, and I'm at university. I've just come across "The Best Of" at my local record shop (in the middle of a "New Romantic" craze) and bought it on cassette. I have a couple of hours coach ride every weekend back and fore from my home, and this is the only cassette I play on my "new-fangled" Walkman! And my friend Christine and I - we just love this, and play it all the time ... and it means so much to us ... so much that I quote from "IYCRMM" when I sign her copy of my first published short story ...

Jump again - to just over a year ago (yes, I know that's more than twenty years!) Here I am, happily following my life, and the years have gone by, and now I've gone from short stories to novels and I've listened to so much music ... and then I meet this oh-so-wonderful woman on a message board (in Wales (yes, in "Welsh Wales", John!) - and we speak to each other in Welsh, as it happens!), and we start talking off line, and she asks "which music means the most to you? What makes you tingle?" And she sends me a collection of her tracks. And I start to think - think back over everything I have ever loved, everything that has ever meant anything to me, and for the first time in twenty years I think about Gord - and think "I have to include something by him on my CD" but I don't have anything on CD and can't even find my old cassette now! - so I go to my local Borders and find only one CD - IYCRMM. That's (more than) enough, and I send it to her, and she loves it, and ... I find I'm falling in love all over again.

And then I do a Web search - and realise what I've been missing! And then I find you all. And ... how can I miss twenty years?!? I just don't believe this, don't believe that this is possible!

But here in the UK - you have to realise that there is zero publicity, nothing since IYCRMM - he just disappeared here ... and until I went on line ... The Internet is what has made all this possible - where was I to get any recordings in the UK in the 80's and 9O's? How was I even to know that anything new had been released?

And Alison (I know she's lurking here, even if she doesn't post!) - if you hadn't asked me about the songs that had most influenced me I would never have found Gord all over again - and I thank you so much for this!!!! And since then I've had a "crash course" in everything that's happened between 1982 and now - amazing, isn't it? Just completely mad.

Well - that's my story, anyway! And (as you must all know by now) my "Harmony" arrived last week - I've come a long way in a very long, and also a very short, time! And Alison - "I saw two minds in the world set free ..."

M

[stationmaster]

Thanks Mair! That was a great story. Gord would be proud to read that one. I only wish he would read some of this stuff and see what an impact he still has on real people. Thank you Mr. Gordon Lightfoot!!!

[Shipwrecked_00s]

OH jeez, my first Lightfoot experienc was standing at a department store in 1974 wondering which album to buy. It was "Sundown" I've been hooked ever since.

[groban]

OH jeez, my first Lightfoot experienc was standing at a department store in 1974 wondering which album to buy. It was "Sundown" I've been hooked ever since.

[Mair]

quote:Originally posted by stationmaster:
I only wish he would read some of this stuff and see what an impact he still has on real people. Thank you Mr. Gordon Lightfoot!!!

Yes, a real impact, on real people. You know, when I heard "Carefree Highway" for the first time in twenty years I cried - and cried, and cried ... not because I was sad ... I was ecstatic, the feeling was one of "coming home" That was a moment I will never be able to re-create and will always remember. It just brought back so many things, so many times, so many people, and something that was definitely still alive in me and I realised that then. So many people, in places he hasn't even dreamed about, have gained so much from his music. I know I will never lose this again, and that I need to hear at least one song every day now - so important to me. There is a song for every occasion, for every mood - for every need. Forever.

[stationmaster]

Yes indeed, I too have felt emotion for one of Gord's songs. For some reason,"Harmony"(the song) has brought me to tears a few times since its release. I have never felt that way about a song before and can't seem to describe why. I am not one to show much in the way of emotion but this song is very powerful for me. Maybe I am going through male menopause or something! lol

[stationmaster]

FLASHBACK ALERT!!!

Well today was a good day! For some reason today has brought a lot of memories out of the closet. As I spoke about in the opening post on this thread, my first lightfoot experience was in grade school in the mid seventies. Well today I remembered that the old Nun's name was Sister Mary Aiden and her favourite song was "Summertime Dream" Well I guess that puts the timeline after 1976 and the release of the same album. Somehow I think that she may still be alive and listening to "Harmony". She may even be posting in this site under an alias! lol

[This message has been edited by stationmaster (edited June 21, 2004).]

[spacecase]

Well here I am, following Mair's message above. I'm honoured. Or: "what did I start? What am I responsible for?!" http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif No, honoured!! And how could I not join you now - after "discovering" Gord through Mair (Inspiration Lady...) and after hearing from her what a lovely lot you are... prove her right! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif
Mair - hello, how did I do? http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Alison (edited June 22, 2004).]

[Alison]

Well here I am, following Mair's message above. I'm honoured. Or: "what did I start? What am I responsible for?!" http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif No, honoured!! And how could I not join you now - after "discovering" Gord through Mair (Inspiration Lady...) and after hearing from her what a lovely lot you are... prove her right! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif
Mair - hello, how did I do? http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Alison (edited June 22, 2004).]

[Borderstone]

Tomorrow is June 23rd,2004. Doesn't sound all that exciting,right?

Well,one exciting thing happened for a week starting on that date,quite sometime ago.
What was it?..............................

It was 30 years ago on Sunday,June 23rd,1974 that,"Sundown" went to number 1 for a solitary week,ending on Saturday,June 29th,1974. It may have only been a week but at least he got there! Happy 30th anniversary to Gordon Lightfoot's Sundown LP and #1 hit! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif Aurevoir! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm." http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif - Borderstone

[This message has been edited by Borderstone (edited June 22, 2004).]

[johnfowles]

quote:Originally posted by Alison:
[B]Well here I am, following Mair's message above. I'm honoured. Or: "what did I start? What am I responsible for?!" http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif No, honoured!! And how could I not join you now - after "discovering" Gord through Mair (Inspiration Lady...) and after hearing from her what a lovely lot you are... prove her right! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif
Mair - hello, how did I do? http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

[B]
First a warm welcome to Alison great to see that Mair dragged you out into the open I reckon you did all right. Post some more
Then thanks to Walter Stoneborder for reminding me how important tomorrow June 23rd is for me. In my story above I memtioned that
"I met....a chatty Gordfan called Susan"
Susan's side of the story is at:-

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&selm =03e50698.ffa64d5d%40usw-ex0104-028.remarq.com (http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&selm=03e50698.ffa64d5d%40usw-ex0104-028.remarq.com)
complete with some of the lyrics of Whisper My Name that we played at our wedding in Sherborne, Dorset my gordness it is now four wonderful and action packed years since that most happy day of my life. To cap it all we have with Jenney just attended the wedding of Lauren the daughter of another lovely lady I met in the chat room back in 1999, Jenney's report is at:-

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&sel m=20040620111913.05741.00000338%40mb-m05.aol.com (http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&selm=20040620111913.05741.00000338%40mb-m05.aol.com)
Plus see Susan's reply saying that Jenney had omitted "our" song from her list of Gord songs played during Lauren's wedding reception

------------------
My Gordon Lightfoot webring
starts at
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited June 22, 2004).]

[johnfowles]

quote:Originally posted by Alison:
[B]Well here I am, following Mair's message above. I'm honoured. Or: "what did I start? What am I responsible for?!" http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif No, honoured!! And how could I not join you now - after "discovering" Gord through Mair (Inspiration Lady...) and after hearing from her what a lovely lot you are... prove her right! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif
Mair - hello, how did I do? http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

[B]
First a warm welcome to Alison great to see that Mair dragged you out into the open I reckon you did all right. Post some more
Then thanks to Walter Stoneborder for reminding me how important tomorrow June 23rd is for me. In my story above I memtioned that
"I met....a chatty Gordfan called Susan"
Susan's side of the story is at:-

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&selm =03e50698.ffa64d5d%40usw-ex0104-028.remarq.com (http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&selm=03e50698.ffa64d5d%40usw-ex0104-028.remarq.com)
complete with some of the lyrics of Whisper My Name that we played at our wedding in Sherborne, Dorset my gordness it is now four wonderful and action packed years since that most happy day of my life. To cap it all we have with Jenney just attended the wedding of Lauren the daughter of another lovely lady I met in the chat room back in 1999, Jenney's report is at:-

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&sel m=20040620111913.05741.00000338%40mb-m05.aol.com (http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&selm=20040620111913.05741.00000338%40mb-m05.aol.com)
Plus see Susan's reply saying that Jenney had omitted "our" song from her list of Gord songs played during Lauren's wedding reception

------------------
My Gordon Lightfoot webring
starts at
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited June 22, 2004).]

[stationmaster]

Happy 30th "Sundown"

[stationmaster]

Well I just finished listening to "Talking In Your Sleep". First time listening to it with the lyrics and chords. That is a great song. I just love those chord progressions. I will have to add this one to my ever growing favourites list!

[Rona]

I go back with Gord longer than I want to remember! I have seen him live in concert maybe ten times or so, but the best was a perfect summers night in the summer of maybe 1979 at the Garden State Arts center in New Jersey. It was a cool night, a soft breeze, at least three encores, and Gord was perfect, a super performance. My sister came with me and she started to listen to him and before long she was hooked too! I think the best though was visiting my sister a few years ago and stopping short when I heard my nephew practicing some chords on his guitar... I stopped short and smiled as he struggled through " Sundown". This guy is cool Uncle Paul he said. (meaning Gords music) Yes he is! There are very few artists that can span generations the way Gord has. This young man is a rocker and is only fifteen and 1979 is a long time ago.

[Paul H]

I go back with Gord longer than I want to remember! I have seen him live in concert maybe ten times or so, but the best was a perfect summers night in the summer of maybe 1979 at the Garden State Arts center in New Jersey. It was a cool night, a soft breeze, at least three encores, and Gord was perfect, a super performance. My sister came with me and she started to listen to him and before long she was hooked too! I think the best though was visiting my sister a few years ago and stopping short when I heard my nephew practicing some chords on his guitar... I stopped short and smiled as he struggled through " Sundown". This guy is cool Uncle Paul he said. (meaning Gords music) Yes he is! There are very few artists that can span generations the way Gord has. This young man is a rocker and is only fifteen and 1979 is a long time ago.

[James]

In 1970, I heard Gordon Lightfoot for the first time. I was in my '64 Dodge Dart equpited with only an AM radio and heard "If You Could Read My Mind." I still remember being almost entranced as I listened to it for the first time. Being a Folkie and playing an acustic guitar, well this fit right in with me. I did, however, believe he was new. I bought the album and I am sure wore my parents out playing it over and over. Well a short time later, "Summer Side of Life" came out and I bought that, too. One day while roaming through the record section at Treasure City in Haltom City, Texas, I saw the five UA releases and bought them, too. What a treasure those were. So many of these songs I had heard other sing but was unaware they belonged to GL. I wound up in Panama in '71-72 with Uncle Sam and bought Don Quixote while there. Well I wound up with about 16 or so LP's and almost as many GL books. I had the pleasure of seeing him in concert at The Dallas Convention Center and in Fort Worth at the Tarrant County Convention Center. I was standing back stage talking with a Fort Worth Police Officer who was providing security for the event. Barry Keene, Gord's drummer, came out and thanked us for providing secutiry. I told him that, although I was an officer, that I was not part of the security, that I was there for the concert and that I had all of GL's albums up to that time. Barry invited me to come back stage and meet Gordon. Gordon was extremely gracious and very friendly. We visited for several minutes and he thanked me for buying his albums and coming to the concert. I have all the vinyls still but have managed to get all of them on CD's as well, except for Harmony. I have looked for it and I am sure it will turn up somewhere soon. I can truly say that I have followed his music from start to present. It is almost amazing that you feel like he is a "good friend" after all these years, rather than just some singer/songwriter.

[James]

In 1970, I heard Gordon Lightfoot for the first time. I was in my '64 Dodge Dart equpited with only an AM radio and heard "If You Could Read My Mind." I still remember being almost entranced as I listened to it for the first time. Being a Folkie and playing an acustic guitar, well this fit right in with me. I did, however, believe he was new. I bought the album and I am sure wore my parents out playing it over and over. Well a short time later, "Summer Side of Life" came out and I bought that, too. One day while roaming through the record section at Treasure City in Haltom City, Texas, I saw the five UA releases and bought them, too. What a treasure those were. So many of these songs I had heard other sing but was unaware they belonged to GL. I wound up in Panama in '71-72 with Uncle Sam and bought Don Quixote while there. Well I wound up with about 16 or so LP's and almost as many GL books. I had the pleasure of seeing him in concert at The Dallas Convention Center and in Fort Worth at the Tarrant County Convention Center. I was standing back stage talking with a Fort Worth Police Officer who was providing security for the event. Barry Keene, Gord's drummer, came out and thanked us for providing secutiry. I told him that, although I was an officer, that I was not part of the security, that I was there for the concert and that I had all of GL's albums up to that time. Barry invited me to come back stage and meet Gordon. Gordon was extremely gracious and very friendly. We visited for several minutes and he thanked me for buying his albums and coming to the concert. I have all the vinyls still but have managed to get all of them on CD's as well, except for Harmony. I have looked for it and I am sure it will turn up somewhere soon. I can truly say that I have followed his music from start to present. It is almost amazing that you feel like he is a "good friend" after all these years, rather than just some singer/songwriter.

[ace224]

I can't recall exactly when I first made my Lightfoot connection. I started learning the guitar at 13, and i suppose i just waded into Lightfoot's music since it is, of course, so guitar oriented. The first album I bought was simply titled "Lightfoot", and my favourite song from that lp was "Peaceful Waters". Hope I am right about that song being on that record, if not, someone will correct me I am sure.

I think on my nineteenth birthday I went in to the local record store and bought every Lightfoot record they had. I guess that spells out hardcore fan lol. I was going to list some favourite songs, but that would take forever. I also spend a lot of time on www.lightfoot.ca (http://www.lightfoot.ca) with my guitar. I am perhaps not the best singer and guitarist in the world but I enjoy attempting to play his music. Guess that's my story, bye for now.

[Lonesome Trubador]

I can't recall exactly when I first made my Lightfoot connection. I started learning the guitar at 13, and i suppose i just waded into Lightfoot's music since it is, of course, so guitar oriented. The first album I bought was simply titled "Lightfoot", and my favourite song from that lp was "Peaceful Waters". Hope I am right about that song being on that record, if not, someone will correct me I am sure.

I think on my nineteenth birthday I went in to the local record store and bought every Lightfoot record they had. I guess that spells out hardcore fan lol. I was going to list some favourite songs, but that would take forever. I also spend a lot of time on www.lightfoot.ca (http://www.lightfoot.ca) with my guitar. I am perhaps not the best singer and guitarist in the world but I enjoy attempting to play his music. Guess that's my story, bye for now.

[Janice]

You know, this Internet thing has really proven how small the world really is and this thread really compounds that thought.

Not only did I find someone who saw Lightfoot concerts at Humphrey's, where I saw my first Lightfoot concert, but now I read James' tale and find that we were in Panama during the same time frame. I lived there from July of 70 - July of 72. Of course, I was only a kid as it was my father who had the relationship with that same Uncle Sam http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

James, at what base were you stationed? We were at Albrook the first year and Howard the second.


quote:Originally posted by James:
In 1970, I heard Gordon Lightfoot for the first time. I was in my '64 Dodge Dart equpited with only an AM radio and heard "If You Could Read My Mind." I still remember being almost entranced as I listened to it for the first time. Being a Folkie and playing an acustic guitar, well this fit right in with me. I did, however, believe he was new. I bought the album and I am sure wore my parents out playing it over and over. Well a short time later, "Summer Side of Life" came out and I bought that, too. One day while roaming through the record section at Treasure City in Haltom City, Texas, I saw the five UA releases and bought them, too. What a treasure those were. So many of these songs I had heard other sing but was unaware they belonged to GL. I wound up in Panama in '71-72 with Uncle Sam and bought Don Quixote while there. Well I wound up with about 16 or so LP's and almost as many GL books. I had the pleasure of seeing him in concert at The Dallas Convention Center and in Fort Worth at the Tarrant County Convention Center. I was standing back stage talking with a Fort Worth Police Officer who was providing security for the event. Barry Keene, Gord's drummer, came out and thanked us for providing secutiry. I told him that, although I was an officer, that I was not part of the security, that I was there for the concert and that I had all of GL's albums up to that time. Barry invited me to come back stage and meet Gordon. Gordon was extremely gracious and very friendly. We visited for several minutes and he thanked me for buying his albums and coming to the concert. I have all the vinyls still but have managed to get all of them on CD's as well, except for Harmony. I have looked for it and I am sure it will turn up somewhere soon. I can truly say that I have followed his music from start to present. It is almost amazing that you feel like he is a "good friend" after all these years, rather than just some singer/songwriter.

[johnfowles]

I just refound this old topic and thought our newer members should see it and if possible contribute
(also you stationmaster your postings here are notably delinquent and sadly missed).
As is [b]anything] by that once prolific Brit lass Gaby
(I'll try to remembeer to give her a steam type telephone call next week to check that she is OK)
John Fowles
Please help me stationmaster, is the evening train on time
The wells run dry up yonder there's another down the line

[johnfowles]

I just refound this old topic and thought our newer members should see it and if possible contribute
(also you stationmaster your postings here are notably delinquent and sadly missed).
As is [b]anything] by that once prolific Brit lass Gaby
(I'll try to remembeer to give her a steam type telephone call next week to check that she is OK)
John Fowles
Please help me stationmaster, is the evening train on time
The wells run dry up yonder there's another down the line

[Cathy]

Didn't Stationmaster move to Newfoundland or Labrador?

[Glenmark]

When I was 16 (1977) a friend of mine threw a party and asked me to bring my stereo and music for dancing. There was one girl there for whom a felt a particular warmth, if I may wax euphemistic for a moment, and I selected "Carefree Highway" as a slow dance song with her several times that night (it's a fairly long song, and "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" didn't seem like much of a potential make-out tune). No, nothing ribald happened. It was disappointingly innocent, but I do fondly remember burying my face in what I then thought was the most beautiful hair I had ever seen and dancing away in utter bliss to Gordon's voice. That was 28 years ago, but I've never forgotten it, and I still think of that girl and her hair whenever I hear or play that song. Gosh she smelled good! :)

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by johnfowles:

(also you stationmaster your postings here are notably delinquent and sadly missed).
As is anything by that once prolific Brit lass Gaby
(I'll try to remembeer to give her a steam type telephone call next week to check that she is OK)
Well All Right.
I have just telephoned Gaby in England and given her a proverbial kick up the backside
and she wishes to tell everybody that she is fine and intends returning to the fold.
I will also be leaving her a private message suggesting she looks at this topic and replies
with a suitable anecdote
John Fowles
Come in New Found Land
Your call
the train passengers are getting restless but not young and restless too!!!

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by johnfowles:

(also you stationmaster your postings here are notably delinquent and sadly missed).
As is anything by that once prolific Brit lass Gaby
(I'll try to remembeer to give her a steam type telephone call next week to check that she is OK)
Well All Right.
I have just telephoned Gaby in England and given her a proverbial kick up the backside
and she wishes to tell everybody that she is fine and intends returning to the fold.
I will also be leaving her a private message suggesting she looks at this topic and replies
with a suitable anecdote
John Fowles
Come in New Found Land
Your call
the train passengers are getting restless but not young and restless too!!!

[johnfowles]

I am bringing this thread (which for me suffers badly from the duplicated postings with a variety of inaccurate posting attributions syndrome, and which was started by our stationmaster), back to the top once again as it is an interesting thread for the newbies around here and also to refer to the picture I displayed on 7 June 2004 showing a friend's 1967-ish Montreal based folk singing group
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot/Dave_Moxey%27s_Group_1967.jpg
Taken at a Pirates and Prostitutes themed party
From the left my Montreal era friend Dave Moxey partly hidden (in Pirate headgear!), Rae, Dave Taggart, Peter Wright
Dave Taggart always reminded me of Dave Guard one of the original Kingston Trio
It was Pete Wright (newly arrived from Toronto where he had seen Gord at the Riverboat) who got us to see Gord on Sunday May 21st 1967 at The New Penelope Coffee House In Montreal

http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot/newpenelope.jpg
Dave subsequently bought a 12 string and very kindly lent me his 6 string to learn to "sort of" play guitar on.
I refound this thread on the old forum after I recently discovered that David Moxey was now in Australia

I went to Dave's s wedding in Marlborough UK in about 1982) and now know that he married a girl from Melbourne and as he has now retired they moved to Melbourne last year and he is having a house built in the suburb of Lower Plenty (no doubt a farm full of cows!!). I have phoned him and he is still a Lighthead (having received the box set for Christmas) (I have an old reel to reel tape with him rendering 'I'll Be Allright" that I now have on a CD so will be making an mp3 to pass on to him later) so I shall therefore try to put him in touch with the other fans I know of in Melbourne (Ron Peter and Mende we met up with last April)
I also noted that "our newest member" is "aussiejen", of course she might be an expatriate or might be yet another fan from down under, but there is no location information provided in her profile unfortunately and she has yet to post so perhaps she could now do so and tell us more so that we can welcome her into our friendly circle

[mandoann]

I first saw Gord in LA at the Troubadour in the late 1960s. I was hooked immediately. Bought every album (the vinyl kind) up to and including Dream Street Rose, as well as a number of song books (my sister gave me DQ for my birthday in 1972). Then I moved, sold my guitar, and somehow my music life went into hibernation. Then about a year ago I bought a mandolin (inspired by Sierra Hull) and it was in looking for music to play on it that I discovered the music books. Then of course I had to goodle him and discovered he was playing here (Portland) the next month (last August). Oh my gosh, was that a life-changing experience; now I'm a born-again Lighthead, listen to him all day at work, trying to make up for 27 years lost. I didn't even know he had been so ill; am so thankful he's still with us!
It's so great to know that all of you out there love him as much as I do...

Ann
Portland

[Jesse Joe]

Really wonderful to hear this Ann. Welcome back to this great music man. :)

[Dream Street Rose]

Welcome to our corner of Lightheads, Ann. I am sorry you missed all those years, but how nice you are making up for lost time. Hopefully you will be able to see a concert or two during GordQuest 2008. :clap: :clap: :clap: Be well. :)

DSR