End of subject; We all love, Gordon Lightfoot... :) [img]tongue.gif[/img] :rolleyes: :eek: ;) :cool: :redface: :D

End of subject; We all love, Gordon Lightfoot... :) [img]tongue.gif[/img] :rolleyes: :eek: ;) :cool: :redface: :D

We better, or else...

I admire GL for staying true to his roots, and I can understand the respect his fellow Canadians have for his doing so. Still, from a Yankees point of view, I can't help but wonder if Gordon had lived in the US if far more people would be benefitting from and influenced by his music today. Maybe it wouldn't have taken me so long to discover what a gifted artist he is?? However, I must admit if that had happened his sound might have changed, no doubt. So in that respect, I am glad he has chosen to stay in Canada. And if it took me longer to "find" him?? Well, better late than never I guess! :)

Forgot to mention...

I was in Walmart Sunday and was perusing through the CD selection when I came across a 2 CD set: United Artists Collection. It was the only copy and the price was right so I snatched it up right away. After listening to the first disc I was elated. It's worth the price alone to hear Steel Rail Blues, I'm Not Sayin' and Ribbon of Darkness in their stripped down acoustic form, not to mention a whole slew of songs that had yet to fall upon my thirsty ears! Woo-hoo! :eek:

The songs that were re-recorded for Gord's Gold sound even better here, without the orchestral arrangements. And I am really liking "Oh Linda." What a song! I can't help but envy some of you who have known of this stuff for years and years.

I have owned this disc set for 2 days and can already see I will treasure it for years to come, along with the rest of my small but growing library.

Simply wonderful. :cool:

It always frustrated me growing up that no one else around "here" knew or appreciated his music. I always thought of him and his music as something that just me and my family shared and I guess that probably made it even more magical and special to me. I grew up listening to him and just thought that everyone knew of him until I got to Jr. High School. I guess they all thought I was a freak! I was into Gord, Chet Atkins, Kingston Trio, Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly, Sergio Mendez, etc. Now I did get into the 80's rock and New Wave and still enjoy some of that "OLD" stuff. But no one has ever come close to Gord's style and Brilliance. I get burned out on most music after I hear it a few times. I have hundreds of cassettes and CDs from the late 70's, 80's and 90's and most I haven't touched in years. It's kinda strange now that I think about it, but I could (and do) listen to Gord all the time. I never get burned out on his sound. When I pull out an old Gord album its like hearing it for the first time. Ok, that reminds me...I havn't listend to Dream Street Rose in a while! I'm outta here.......

Jennifer: I do envy you discovering new GL music ! I remember very well and written long bits on my first few albums, so I don't want to bore the majority. But I DO know what you mean, "like a kid in a candy store"-as I recall you saying as a relatively new listener. :)

One question, regarding "Oh Linda" - I like that song as well from "Lightfoot!" - the album. I am no jazz expert, but that song struck me as experimenting in jazz for GL. Question is, do you hear similarities between that song and the first 1/2 of "Make way for the Lady" ? - from the Dream Sreet Rose album ?

I love both songs, and recall reading once, if memory serves, that Gord spoke fondly of testing the waters hear and there of jazz being a little enjoyment of his, spoken of as a rainy day thing to sorta play with.

As a drummer way back, if not jazz, at least the kind of song you can play on the hi-hat with the classic " (pedal-closure)-click, (open & strike twice) tzz-tzz, click tzz-tzz, click tzz tzz ,etc, onward, as in here is "Mr. Cool" -an excerpt from GL's lyrics

O man I love that beat. Done best in the 50's-60's in a tux, martini in one hand, cig in the other, and that hi-hat beat in the background !
Not Gord's style per se, but a fun image with those two tunes, more so with Make Way...

I'd say he could have done a few more in that vane to the delight of many fans.
What do you think ?
geo Steve

Hey Steve. How are ya?

Yes, somewhere along the way I recall reading on the net that Lightfoot did express some interest in jazz but I didn't know he had actually experimented. When I first heard the dissonant bass chords of Oh Linda punctuate the air I was immediately taken back to one of the jazz clubs in Chicago I used to enjoy. Groovy, man, groovy :cool: Admittedly it took me off guard. But I found it to be a wonderful surprise and loved it almost immediately being a lover of jazz and blues to begin with. And his "dabbling" within this genre is pretty impressive. So a definite *yes* to your question, it would have been very interesting if he had produced a few more songs like this. He captured that jazz mystique quite well!

Unfortunately DSR is not yet a part of my collection but now I'm curious to hear this similarity you mention. Yes, I am much like the kid in a candy store, not sure which way to turn next!

Another one that has quickly become a favorite is Sixteen Miles (To Seven Lakes)

Jennifer

I don't get burned out either. There have been days where I've played GL on the way to work, on my Walkman during the daily walk I take on my lunch break, and then again on the way home and throughout the evening when doing chores, walking my pooch, etc. I mean, is there a time or place where GL's music doesn't make that moment and experience just soooo much better? :D

Especially, for me, after a long cruddy day at the office; the difference between an equally long cruddy drive and a relaxed cruise home is often my Lightfoot CD's. After a few minutes into Don Quixote... Bad day...? What bad day???

Maybe thats why I don't tire of it easily, because it makes me feel happy. Hard to *not* like what makes you happy, don't you agree?

Of course one must cleanse the palate and venture out, enjoy other artists from time to time. But I always come moseyin' on back before long. :)

Peace

Jennifer

Im the exact same way, as Im sure a good bunch of us are. In the past The "Dead Heads", as they were known, would follow The Grateful Dead around, simply worshiping them. It was hard to comprehend. But what I feel for Gordon Lightfoot, I do understand The dead heads now. We are Lightheads...

:D

Im the exact same way, as Im sure a good bunch of us are. In the past The "Dead Heads", as they were known, would follow The Grateful Dead around, simply worshiping them. It was hard to comprehend. But what I feel for Gordon Lightfoot, I do understand The dead heads now. We are Lightheads...

:D

Jennifer, Sixteen Miles to 7 Lakes was my father's favorite Lightfoot song. When he had a stroke and was in rehab, I took my guitar over one day and was singing with some of the therapists an nurses. Dad asked me to sing that song, and I couldn't remember all the words. I'm not sure that he noticed, anyway. He seemed to enjoy it.

Cathy, how sweet of you to play for your dad while he was not feeling well. I bet that really lifted his spirits.

Steve, I will be able to make my own comparison between "Oh Linda" and "Make Way for the Lady" sooner than later, because I just ordered DSR and Cold on the Shoulder from Amazon.com

<giggle> I am positively giddy... Oh cripes, which should I listen to first!?!?! :eek:

It lifted his spirits alright. But soon after, all our spirits bottomed out when his brain started bleeding again, and he died. It was a shock to all of us, because he was a very young, active 68 year old man.

Cathy,
I am so sorry for your loss at his young, vital age. I don't think you and I discussed this loss off line, but more our individual struggles medically.

Forgive me if I am remembering wrong, with what transpired recently my way, you know I sympathize with your loss of your Dad. I am happy for you that you were able to see him enjoying you sing 16 Miles. :) geo steve

Yes, I remember that day with a few smiles. Dad had a hard time sitting up and had to have a strap placed around his waist, so he wouldn't fall out of the chair. He became so lively during 16 Miles he ended up slumped way down in the chair. When I finished the song, he said, "Would someone pick me up?" Jonathan (his favorite nurse) and I came to the rescue.

Cathy,
May I extend my deepest sympathies regarding the loss of your father. I am glad you have some very nice memories to look back upon, and you shared your love of Gordons music together.

Jennifer

Thanks, Jennifer. I keep thinking, if he'd have had the aneurysm 4 or 5 years later, he might have lived through it, just as I did a year ago. Technology has advanced so much. And I don't know why they didn't move him to Mass Medical when he was stronger. They have one of the most experienced staffs in the world for dealing with brain injuries. Dr. Olgilvy, a world famous surgeon, operated on my aneurysm. Without his help, I think I'd be with Dad right now.