True Life Gordon Lightfoot Songs

[Painter]

"Daylight Katy" written about "Cathy Smith" a Toronto woman who was a very close friend of Gord's. It was Smith who administered the lethal drug cocktail that ended John Belushi's life. Smith spent seven months in jail for her part in Belushi's O.D. The Belushi family to this day, feels she got off too lightly.
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"Old Dans Records." Does anyone have definitive information on this one? I believe the "Old Dan" may have been a childhood neighbor or family friend of the Lightfoots, in Orillia Ontario, Canada. It may very well have been "Old Dan" that inspired Gord to become the great writer/singer he is.
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Can anyone add to other GL songs?

[Ladysbird]

"Daylight Katy" written about "Cathy Smith" a Toronto woman who was a very close friend of Gord's. It was Smith who administered the lethal drug cocktail that ended John Belushi's life. Smith spent seven months in jail for her part in Belushi's O.D. The Belushi family to this day, feels she got off too lightly.
---------------
"Old Dans Records." Does anyone have definitive information on this one? I believe the "Old Dan" may have been a childhood neighbor or family friend of the Lightfoots, in Orillia Ontario, Canada. It may very well have been "Old Dan" that inspired Gord to become the great writer/singer he is.
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Can anyone add to other GL songs?

[char]

It's also been said that "Old Dan's Records" is a play on words to "old Dance Records".
char

[Painter]

quote:Originally posted by char:
It's also been said that "Old Dan's Records" is a play on words to "old Dance Records".
char

[Ladysbird]

quote:Originally posted by char:
It's also been said that "Old Dan's Records" is a play on words to "old Dance Records".
char

[Painter]

Hello Char, thank you for that. I was hoping there may have been a real life "Old Dan" that would add a little more romanticism to the GL story.

[Ladysbird]

Hello Char, thank you for that. I was hoping there may have been a real life "Old Dan" that would add a little more romanticism to the GL story.

[Bahama Star]

Char, I remember you once told us that you had found " Old Bill Skinners Stream " ??

Keep Smiling.. Ron. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[catmanron]

Char, I remember you once told us that you had found " Old Bill Skinners Stream " ??

Keep Smiling.. Ron. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[char]

it could be the stream up in Marchmont, outside of Orillia where the old mill was and where Lightfoot used to go fishing on his bike.
Lots of pussywillows and cat-tails along the way.....
char

[Painter]

This site is a delight!
I'm learning more and more about GL and his sometime curious lyrcis and wonderful music.
Thank you so much.

[Ladysbird]

This site is a delight!
I'm learning more and more about GL and his sometime curious lyrcis and wonderful music.
Thank you so much.

[Painter]

Yes she was, in Toronto I believe. And wasn't she a singer as well? Either in a back-up group, or solo?

[Ladysbird]

Yes she was, in Toronto I believe. And wasn't she a singer as well? Either in a back-up group, or solo?

[Bahama Star]

Welcome Ladysbird http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

Please ask us any questions you like, we will all answer, then argue about who is correct... lol.

I believe that Cathy Smith was one of Gords backup singers for some time. Some people say that she is pictured behind Gord on the cover of "Cold on the Shoulder", others say that the person pictured is actually Jan Stephenson ( not the golfer ), maybe someone out there can shed some light on this.

Keep Smiling Ron http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by catmanron (edited February 13, 2002).]

[catmanron]

Welcome Ladysbird http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

Please ask us any questions you like, we will all answer, then argue about who is correct... lol.

I believe that Cathy Smith was one of Gords backup singers for some time. Some people say that she is pictured behind Gord on the cover of "Cold on the Shoulder", others say that the person pictured is actually Jan Stephenson ( not the golfer ), maybe someone out there can shed some light on this.

Keep Smiling Ron http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by catmanron (edited February 13, 2002).]

[Painter]

Hello Ron, I love your attitude re: posting any questions, then we'll argue the accuracy of the answer(s).
So many questions, and so little Lightfoot.

"Old Dans Records" is at the top of my list,
given I could meet him in person, and pry gently into his mind. Until someone confirms otherwise, I'll keep my vision of Old Dan as a somewhat reclusive neighbor of the Lightfoots, who shared his stack of 78's with a pubescent Gordon. That's so much more romantic a beginning of greatness, than just listening to scratchy old "dance records."

[Ladysbird]

Hello Ron, I love your attitude re: posting any questions, then we'll argue the accuracy of the answer(s).
So many questions, and so little Lightfoot.

"Old Dans Records" is at the top of my list,
given I could meet him in person, and pry gently into his mind. Until someone confirms otherwise, I'll keep my vision of Old Dan as a somewhat reclusive neighbor of the Lightfoots, who shared his stack of 78's with a pubescent Gordon. That's so much more romantic a beginning of greatness, than just listening to scratchy old "dance records."

[Bahama Star]

You know I think a good song is like a good book, It inspires our imagination. We all see different things, depending upon our own experiences.
The amazing thing about Gords songs are that as we grow older, they grow with us, and we see totally different things in the Lyrics, how does he achieve that ??.. He's a genius.

Have a great weekend everyone
Keep Smiling.. Ron http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[catmanron]

You know I think a good song is like a good book, It inspires our imagination. We all see different things, depending upon our own experiences.
The amazing thing about Gords songs are that as we grow older, they grow with us, and we see totally different things in the Lyrics, how does he achieve that ??.. He's a genius.

Have a great weekend everyone
Keep Smiling.. Ron http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Painter]

So many of GL's lyrics have a thread of "real life" woven through them. Old Dan's Records:

" I remember my aunt Bea,she danced with Dan till two or three."
"If old Dan could see us now, he'd be so proud."
"Back to 1935, jitterbug and jive."
"High above the fireplace, there's a smile on Old Dan's face."

You're so right Ron, about the good book parallel and our imagintions. I believe Old Dan lived. And so did aunt Bea. And I'd love to see that painting above the fireplace.

[Ladysbird]

So many of GL's lyrics have a thread of "real life" woven through them. Old Dan's Records:

" I remember my aunt Bea,she danced with Dan till two or three."
"If old Dan could see us now, he'd be so proud."
"Back to 1935, jitterbug and jive."
"High above the fireplace, there's a smile on Old Dan's face."

You're so right Ron, about the good book parallel and our imagintions. I believe Old Dan lived. And so did aunt Bea. And I'd love to see that painting above the fireplace.

[vlmagee]

www.rhino.com/features/liners/75802lin5.html (http://www.rhino.com/features/liners/75802lin5.html)

------------------
Valerie Magee

Visit my GL web site at gordonlightfoot.com (http://gordonlightfoot.com)

[Painter]

I wish I knew how to post a HUGE smily in here, to reflect my feelings when I surfed your site. The MOTHERLODE of GL lyric information! So, there wasn't a real "Old Dan," but fairly close. Somehow "Get out old Uncle Jacks records" wouldn't have cut it.

Thanks Valerie .. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/redface.gif)

[Ladysbird]

I wish I knew how to post a HUGE smily in here, to reflect my feelings when I surfed your site. The MOTHERLODE of GL lyric information! So, there wasn't a real "Old Dan," but fairly close. Somehow "Get out old Uncle Jacks records" wouldn't have cut it.

Thanks Valerie .. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/redface.gif)

[Brenda]

quote:Originally posted by catmanron:
Welcome Ladysbird :) :)

Please ask us any questions you like, we will all answer, then argue about who is correct... lol.

I believe that Cathy Smith was one of Gords backup singers for some time. Some people say that she is pictured behind Gord on the cover of "Cold on the Shoulder", others say that the person pictured is actually Jan Stephenson ( not the golfer ), maybe someone out there can shed some light on this.

Keep Smiling Ron :) :) :)

[This message has been edited by catmanron (edited February 13, 2002).]

I believe Cathy Smith sang harmony on "High And Dry" (from the "Sundown" album). Other than that, I don't know that she was active with his career.

[Westernstar9]

quote:Originally posted by catmanron:
Welcome Ladysbird :) :)

Please ask us any questions you like, we will all answer, then argue about who is correct... lol.

I believe that Cathy Smith was one of Gords backup singers for some time. Some people say that she is pictured behind Gord on the cover of "Cold on the Shoulder", others say that the person pictured is actually Jan Stephenson ( not the golfer ), maybe someone out there can shed some light on this.

Keep Smiling Ron :) :) :)

[This message has been edited by catmanron (edited February 13, 2002).]

I believe Cathy Smith sang harmony on "High And Dry" (from the "Sundown" album). Other than that, I don't know that she was active with his career.

[CanadaGirl38]

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Right you are! That's her. I'll swear she's somewhere else doing backup but High and Dry I know. One of the sleepers of the Sundown album - there are actually a lot of those...

[fezo]

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Right you are! That's her. I'll swear she's somewhere else doing backup but High and Dry I know. One of the sleepers of the Sundown album - there are actually a lot of those...

[joveski]

i wouldn't classify high and dry as a sleeper. for some reason it was one of the first songs that i really got into on that album (i prefer it over the title track or carefree highway). Too late for prayin' tends to be more of a sleeper for me, but that's just my opinion!

[Brian 57]

High and Dry is really neat. It's an anthem for any guy that had a girlfriend stolen away by somebody who turned out to be a bum, and is real easy to sing at the top of your lungs (even sober).

[jj]

Char, I remember you once told us that you had found " Old Bill Skinners Stream " ??

Keep Smiling.. Ron. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

i was searching for something unrelated but came across this post...a few months ago a family member mentioned she was doing some hairdressing for Bev Lightfoot's BFF and she mentioned how young Gord used to hang about and try annoy them the way little brothers do:)

a few weeks later she was doing hair for the widow of the late Bill Skinner (i guess it's still a small town after all)...I'll ask if there's an upcoming appointment and have her casually ask more about the stream....not sure, but i believe they show a clip of it as well as old Bill in the old Telescope documentary...you can certainly see that old mill

this is of course hear say, only her hairdresser knows for sure

[charlene]

I have pics (I lost ALL of my 'stuff' on my computer-10 years worth) so will scan what I took of a stream and mill back in 2000 when I went to Mariposa..

I salvaged a few pics and some folks have sent me stuff via e-mail and on discs..sadly it won't come close to getting my inventory up to what it was..
:(