I don't care too much for "Spanish Moss."

On the songbook issue,the reason ALL the ultimate best material isn't chosen is because it would harm the sales of the original albums or any others.
For example if Minstrel of the Dawn and Circle of Steel were included there would be no need to purchase Gords Gold if you have songbook.
This is only a theory I may be wrong.

Actually, I think there may be something to your theory, Frank. There are some strange ommissions from Songbook. All teh absolutes are there but the near absolutes are mising...

Of the albums I've heard, here are my least favorites from each album:

Old Dan's Records - Mother of a Miner's Child
Sundown - The Watchmans Gone
Cold On The Shoulder - Bells of the Evening
Summertime Dream - Spanish Moss
Endless Wire - Sweet Guinevere
Dreamstreet Rose - Whisper My Name
Shadows - Thank You for the Promises
Salute - Broken Dreams
East of Midnight - Ecstasy Made Easy
Waiting On You - Wild Strawberries
Painter Passing Thru - Red Velvet

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"...If YoU fEeL iT yOu BeTtEr BeLiEvE iT, yOu'Re GoNnA sEe It, YoU nEeD tO kNoW/iT iS rIsInG lIkE a FeAtHeR, dIpPiNg & DaNcInG fRoM bElOw/ThErE's A nEw WaVe ThAt Is BrEaKiNg In ThE wAkE oF a PaSsInG sHiP/eVeRy NaTiOn'S gOnNa Be ShAkEn, PuT iT tOgEtHeR, dOn'T lEt It SlIp..."

My Pony Won't Go
Song The Minstral Sang
Big Blue
Endless Wire
Baby Step Back (makes no sense)
Sometimes I Don't Mind
Biscuit City
Blackberry Wine

Wes

I had a hard time thinking of what songs I don't love (<------ the best way to put it) but here goes:

Make Way for the Lady
Red Velvet (hey, he didn't write it, anyway)
Uncle Toad Said (on the fence on this one)
Too Many Clues in This Room

There may be more but I doubt it. I love the guy!

Such interesting responses. I was thinking the same thing Margaret was, it is so interesting to see the differences of opinion. I agree that overexposure can make you not want to listen to a song, although I don't have that problem with "Sundown". But some differences of opinion are striking. For instance, I can't imagine having "The Watchman's Gone" on my list of songs I am not all that crazy about. It's definitely one of my favorites!

How about this twist: What have you heard from Gord himself about his own dislikes of his work? Here is one that you all may or may not have read already (I don't know what info is "old news" to Gord fans since I've only been on the forum since the beginning of this summer). This I found in an article on the website for RollingStone magazine. It refers to Songbook:

Q: I noticed there was no "Black Day in July"
(Lightfoot's song about the 1968 race riots
following Martin Luther King's assassination).

A: I don't like to open up old memories best left
undisturbed. I don't like to be a s--- disturber. I don't
do that one. It's not one of my favorite songs anyway
to play live. I go by what goes over best with the
crowd and they don't request that one too much
anymore. No, I don't like it.

Anyone heard or read anything else from GL himself?

When I told Gord that my all-time favorite LP was "SHADOWS" he was amazed and happy that
someone had actually purchased it because it
it had not done very well commercially. I told him that I had purchesed 2. We talked about it at length from both of our perscpectives.

Then I asked him which LP was HIS all-time
favorite and he said, "Sunday Concert" (live)
because it's the only one that hasn't been
mixed in the studio to perfection. He liked
the way it was "genuine". Much like himself, I must add!

BTW... that was in the early to mid 80's, so
I don't know if it's still his favorite.

And please forgive me. I know this is a
"dislikes" topic, but I didn't know where else to post this and I thought some might find it a little interesting.

midnightmisty

[This message has been edited by midnightmisty (edited August 23, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by midnightmisty (edited August 23, 2000).]

Repy to Margaret:

Margaret, I didn't say I disliked those songs...I was just picking my least favorite from each album. For example, I love the SALUTE album from beginning to end, however, if I had to pick the song I liked least it would be "Broken Dreams". I still like the song, but compared to other songs on that album its not my favorite. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

I have to qualify my answer regarding Baby Step Back - I enjoy it on the album - not live in concert. I don't know why. I enjoy the story about Gord's brother-in-law playing golf and not stepping up to the tee and all, but the song in concert doesn't thrill me. I know Gord loves the TOE-TAPPERS and I love most of them too but this one in concert grates on me for some reason.
On the album - okey dokey!

Char, It is funny about BABY STEP BACK, it is one of two least favorite but at the last concert it sounded really pretty good. Maybe I was just on a Lightfoot High.

I can't stand the saxaphone on "A lesson in love." It sounds cheesy to me, and I guess it just doesn't sound like Lightfoot to me. Guess he wanted to try something new, but every time I hear it I'm incredulous that he put that on there.

I also don't care for Spanish Moss. Actually I don't dislike it intensely, but it doesn't do much for me. What always runs through my mind when I hear it is, (with all due respect) "Gord, stick to Canada. You're better off not trying to sing or write about the South." !!!Eeek! Dare I say that? Well, I said it. Sorry if I offended anyone. I just think Gord is out of his element on that song and I think it shows, though I do think he is one of the greatest singer/songwriters/storytellers of all time.

Midnightmisty, Maybe I missed something but how did you make the acquaintance of our beloved Gordon? I am very envious of all the times you have talked to him.

To m___________e:

I too thought that about "Spanish Moss" but after awhile the song grows on you (pardon the pun). Anyway, "I wish ya' knew what I was sayin'". "I think I'd better go."

monebalone, classicmixdj,
Oh, I kinda like the attempt Gord made at writing songs about the South in both Cotton Jenny and Spanish Moss. Yes, he was a bit off the mark on a few things but not being from around these parts- how would he know. For example in Spanish Moss, he talks about Georgia pines in Savannah. Very few pine trees grow that far south- the sandy soil can't support their massive root system. You would have to travel back up north a bit to see some REAL Georgia pines. And there again, the soil is a greyish-yellow in Savannah. The red clay is farther north. And in Cotton Jenny, its hot and sticky, not hot and sickly . . . and I have never in all my born days said "Well, shut my mouth". (LOL) But even with those irrelevent and inconsequential errs, I found it endearing and flattering that he thought so much of my neck of the woods to write about it.

Mary Ann

Anyone heard or read anything else from GL himself?[/B][/QUOTE]

I remember reading in the Songbook that Gord isn't crazy about "Summer SIde of Life", which is a bummer since it's one of my favorites...

Classicmix, I do have admit that I like Spanish Moss more now than when I first heard it. Guess it has "grown" on me some.

It is pretty narrow-minded of me to suggest that Gordon should only write about the north country. Shoot, I know I'd be thrilled if he wrote a song about the great plains. Guess he does make references to the Canadian prairie in some of his songs. Anyway, I know Gordon is capable of writing about anything he puts his mind to. Mary Ann, thanks for the info about trees and soil in the South. That was really interesting.

Topic: Dislikes?

Interesting topic. I dislike most of the UA albums although all are packed with amazing songs. To me they're just collections without much unity. I especially dislike all of the 'new' material from "Sunday Concert" ('cept "Yarmouth Castle" which I think is brilliant and an interesting template for later epics).
I'm partial to the Reprise albums which I 'grew up with' but would (grudgingly) give up "Your Love's Return", "Nous Vivons Ensemble", "Christian Island", "Circle of Steel", "Too Late for Prayin'", "Bells of the Evening" and "Never Too Close". My reasons vary.
After the album "Endless Wire", I stopped buying but continued to be intrigued by what made it to the radio or my friends' stereos.
I'm joined this amazing site to (perhaps) broaden my view on the later albmus.
Thanks for reading; I look forward to continued discussions.
Dean

you know? i can't believe i'm saying this out loud, but ode to big blue has never been my favorite song. unfortunately i never liked it as a kid and it stuck with me....i don't even have a reason...the lyrics are great, i think it's the melodie..something strikes me a little funny.....
oh well just me i guess!!

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-----and as i wander to the cities and the towns, i get so lonesome knowin' you could be around. and when the show is over there's a holiday motel, another empty bottle, and another tale to tell----

"Waiting For Me" is the one GL album I´ve never developed even a trace of a liking to. To me all of the songs sounded like they were coming from someone ready to depart this world, pretty pessimistic stuff. I was really afraid that this would be Gord´s swan song - not to mention the dreadful cover photography...

The album itself was quite a disappointment after such a long hiatus, and Dylan´s "Ring Them Bells" is - in my opinion - the weakest track ever recorded by Gordon. "Wild Strawberries" clocks in at second place here, and I´m so glad 1998´s "Painter" was so much better than the prior album.

Christian

Gina - I'm right there with you on Big Blue... we had a pretty good discussion about this under another topic a few months back.

Tom - I gotta say, it breaks my heart to hear that someone dislikes the Watchman's gone.

It is really tough to admit not liking some Gord songs, but when it's all put in perspective, even my least favorite tunes are 100% better than most of what other artists put out.

I gotta run - it's 10 degrees and gettin' colder on this topic

For some reason, May I never did all that much for me. It's good. But I never really got into it

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When the green dark forest was too silent to be real.

I've never been too fond of "The Auctioneer", mainly because it seemed very much out of place with the rest of "Dream Street Rose", and I feel it unsettled the whole of the album in a way. One other that springs to mind is "May I". What is that about?!

You people are a bunch of whiners, all Gord's songs are excellent and unique.

leboeuf: While we appreciate your love for ALL things Gord it is not necessary to call anyone or all of us a whiner. We ALL do love ALL things Gord as well! Some more than others however and we discuss/banter without name-calling. Sort of like loving one child more than another I guess - it's not more or less - it's just different! LOL
char
mother of two kids