Good afternoon. I am a long-time follower of this site, posting today for the first time. A friend has alerted me to the posting of three songs from the Harmony CD ("River of Light," "Flyin' Blind," and "Inspiration")on Apple's iTunes music store. I'm a bit technology-challenged, but you apparently need to download the iTunes software (free) in order to access the three songs. You can then listen to 30-second segments of each, or for 99 cents each purchase and download them. He played them for me, and not surprisingly they were most fine. Hopefully the actual CD will be issued soon.

Good afternoon. I am a long-time follower of this site, posting today for the first time. A friend has alerted me to the posting of three songs from the Harmony CD ("River of Light," "Flyin' Blind," and "Inspiration")on Apple's iTunes music store. I'm a bit technology-challenged, but you apparently need to download the iTunes software (free) in order to access the three songs. You can then listen to 30-second segments of each, or for 99 cents each purchase and download them. He played them for me, and not surprisingly they were most fine. Hopefully the actual CD will be issued soon.

The official release date is May 11 2004 (and the third song is "Inspiration Lady").

The official release date is May 11 2004 (and the third song is "Inspiration Lady").

FANTASTIC!!! For those who may not have Itunes or a broadband connection for downloading...the three tracks on the preview EP are very, very good! Whets my appetite for the full CD in May!! Thanks To GJC for the head's up on the availability through iTunes.

River of Light is a poignant little tribute to Gord's fondness for canoeing and, given his health problems, there are some lyrics that will "moisten your eyes" (to use DMD's terminology).

Flyin' Blind tells the story of Jessie Joe's advice not to go "to the place with the snow and the ice." I need ya now, Jessie Joe, cause I'm flyin' blind tonight.

Inspiration Lady is, as you might expect, another of Gord's great love ballads; a musical tribute to Elizabeth? Most likely. "She's my Inspiration Lady. Inspiration everywhere. She's my situation every day."

All three tunes are solid and Gord's voice is stronger on at least two of the three than on any of the tracks on WFY or APPT.

Excellant! They downloaded flawlessly and I can hardly wait for the full cd.

Thanks for posting this.

Everyone, go there quick!
Kimberly

Excellant! They downloaded flawlessly and I can hardly wait for the full cd.

Thanks for posting this.

Everyone, go there quick!
Kimberly

WOW. I can't thank you enough for posting this! I believe itunes pays the licensing fees and such, so we shouldn't be ruffling any feathers by downloading these.

I have to say, just from the quality of these three songs, I can't wait to hear the rest. This is fabulous!
Jenney

PS. Gord is continuing to do well.

WOW. I can't thank you enough for posting this! I believe itunes pays the licensing fees and such, so we shouldn't be ruffling any feathers by downloading these.

I have to say, just from the quality of these three songs, I can't wait to hear the rest. This is fabulous!
Jenney

PS. Gord is continuing to do well.

Yes, iTunes is a "legitimate" online music download source. There is nothing considered illegal about downloading music and/or books from their site.

quote:Originally posted by Jenney:
PS. Gord is continuing to do well.

Glad to hear it.

quote:Originally posted by Jenney:
PS. Gord is continuing to do well.

Glad to hear it.

What is the web address to download them?

quote:Originally posted by TheWatchman:
What is the web address to download them?
http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview.html

You have to register with a credit card then do a search for Gordon Lightfoot, then look for Harmony.

quote:Originally posted by TheWatchman:
What is the web address to download them?
http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview.html

You have to register with a credit card then do a search for Gordon Lightfoot, then look for Harmony.

Thanks Jenney.

quote:Originally posted by Jenney:

Quote:

Originally posted by TheWatchman: What is the web address to download them? http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview.html You have to register with a credit card then do a search for Gordon Lightfoot, then look for Harmony.

This is probably old news to some of you but I suspect that if you think the file you download is as ubiquitous as an mp3 they probably saw you coming the file format is actually m4p which an initial cursory look at google search results is apparently a file format carefully designed to limit its playabily to whomsoever paid for and downloaded it. I think I read corectly that each file has the payee's i-tunes account details embedded in it. But as the person who alerted me to this surprise preview said it is worth 100 times the 3 bucks it cost her.

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

quote:Originally posted by Jenney:

Quote:

Originally posted by TheWatchman: What is the web address to download them? http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview.html You have to register with a credit card then do a search for Gordon Lightfoot, then look for Harmony.

This is probably old news to some of you but I suspect that if you think the file you download is as ubiquitous as an mp3 they probably saw you coming the file format is actually m4p which an initial cursory look at google search results is apparently a file format carefully designed to limit its playabily to whomsoever paid for and downloaded it. I think I read corectly that each file has the payee's i-tunes account details embedded in it. But as the person who alerted me to this surprise preview said it is worth 100 times the 3 bucks it cost her.

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

quote:Originally posted by johnfowles:
This is probably old news to some of you but I suspect that if you think the file you download is as ubiquitous as an mp3 they probably saw you coming the file format is actually m4p which an initial cursory look at google search results is apparently a file format carefully designed to limit its playabily to whomsoever paid for and downloaded it. I think I read corectly that each file has the payee's i-tunes account details embedded in it. But as the person who alerted me to this surprise preview said it is worth 100 times the 3 bucks it cost her.



I have an iTunes account but had not thought to look for Gord's new material on it. It actually has been available there since Feb. 17th. However, if you register and have a valid iTunes account, and a cd burner on your computer, you can burn an audio cd with the tunes you download from iTunes...and you can burn them as many times as you choose. Once you have paid your .99 a tune, or roughly $10 per cd, you can do anything with it you please, just as when you buy a cd in a music shop and then burn your own copies for your use. I generally have multiple copies of much of my music. One for home, one for the office, one for the summer cottage, one for my car, one for my wife's car, etc. The iTunes format does not preclude burning multiple copies of what you've paid for.

I was able to register and was not asked a cc # at all. You have to do some fancy left and right clicking with the mouse to bring up the 30 seconds of music.
He sounds more fragile than the Painter sessions, but again, he sounds like no one else. The 3 songs I heard sound complex and a bit like the Waiting for You sessions. Just what I was hoping for. Does Gord have full producer credit on this album...does anyone know?

I was able to register and was not asked a cc # at all. You have to do some fancy left and right clicking with the mouse to bring up the 30 seconds of music.
He sounds more fragile than the Painter sessions, but again, he sounds like no one else. The 3 songs I heard sound complex and a bit like the Waiting for You sessions. Just what I was hoping for. Does Gord have full producer credit on this album...does anyone know?

quote:Originally posted by Rob1956:
I was able to register and was not asked a cc # at all. You have to do some fancy left and right clicking with the mouse to bring up the 30 seconds of music.
He sounds more fragile than the Painter sessions, but again, he sounds like no one else. The 3 songs I heard sound complex and a bit like the Waiting for You sessions. Just what I was hoping for. Does Gord have full producer credit on this album...does anyone know?

Correct Rob. Anyone can register and download the iTunes software for free. However, if you wish to then download full tunes, rather than the freebie :30 excerpts, you will need to provide a credit card and pay for the downloads.

ok, I get it now. I can wait till May, been waiting since May 12, 1998 anyhow!

ok, I get it now. I can wait till May, been waiting since May 12, 1998 anyhow!

Can you believe it? Canadians cannot use itunes. You may only download the songs if you are in the United States, so it says. Are there any other ways to hear these previews? Does anyone know?

quote:Originally posted by Rob1956:
I was able to register and was not asked a cc # at all. You have to do some fancy left and right clicking with the mouse to bring up the 30 seconds of music.
He sounds more fragile than the Painter sessions, but again, he sounds like no one else. The 3 songs I heard sound complex and a bit like the Waiting for You sessions. Just what I was hoping for. Does Gord have full producer credit on this album...does anyone know?

My understanding is that Rick Haynes is listed as co producer on Harmony.

quote:Originally posted by Rob1956:
I was able to register and was not asked a cc # at all. You have to do some fancy left and right clicking with the mouse to bring up the 30 seconds of music.
He sounds more fragile than the Painter sessions, but again, he sounds like no one else. The 3 songs I heard sound complex and a bit like the Waiting for You sessions. Just what I was hoping for. Does Gord have full producer credit on this album...does anyone know?

My understanding is that Rick Haynes is listed as co producer on Harmony.

quote:Originally posted by Rob1956:
ok, I get it now. I can wait till May, been waiting since May 12, 1998 anyhow!OK Rob you were lucky I had to wait until 25th June 98 before I found APPT in the huge HMV store on Oxford street in London.
anyway after 1 hour 29 minutes I now have the 3.06MB Inspiration Lady.m4p sitting enticingly on my desktop such is the speed or lack of it on a 56K modem on a dial-up.Further Googling conformed my initial analysis of the built-in m4p protection. So tomorrow I'll be a good boy and cough up my 99 cents and get the software and download a fully-legal version of my own. Then I can burn it into a CD-R and if I wish make my very own mp3.but you are quite correct Rob the anticipation is half the pleasure so I won't be getting the other two at this time. It rather makes me think "what is the point of knowing the sex of a new baby early anyway!!"
Oops did I mention "sex"??


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

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited March 02, 2004).]

quote:Originally posted by Rob1956:
ok, I get it now. I can wait till May, been waiting since May 12, 1998 anyhow!OK Rob you were lucky I had to wait until 25th June 98 before I found APPT in the huge HMV store on Oxford street in London.
anyway after 1 hour 29 minutes I now have the 3.06MB Inspiration Lady.m4p sitting enticingly on my desktop such is the speed or lack of it on a 56K modem on a dial-up.Further Googling conformed my initial analysis of the built-in m4p protection. So tomorrow I'll be a good boy and cough up my 99 cents and get the software and download a fully-legal version of my own. Then I can burn it into a CD-R and if I wish make my very own mp3.but you are quite correct Rob the anticipation is half the pleasure so I won't be getting the other two at this time. It rather makes me think "what is the point of knowing the sex of a new baby early anyway!!"
Oops did I mention "sex"??


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

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited March 02, 2004).]

John:

Are you able to download the song? According to the itunes website, you may only download the songs in the United States. Are you using itunes?

Well John now lives in New Jersey.
Matthew

Well John now lives in New Jersey.
Matthew

quote:Originally posted by GJC:
Good afternoon. I am a long-time follower of this site, posting today for the first time. A friend has alerted me to the posting of three songs from the Harmony CD ("River of Light," "Flyin' Blind," and "Inspiration")on Apple's iTunes music store. I'm a bit technology-challenged, but you apparently need to download the iTunes software (free) in order to access the three songs. You can then listen to 30-second segments of each, or for 99 cents each purchase and download them. He played them for me, and not surprisingly they were most fine. Hopefully the actual CD will be issued soon.

I just tried to download itunes and it said it will not download for any windows applications but 2000 or XP. I have Millineum (sic)!!!

quote:Originally posted by GJC:
Good afternoon. I am a long-time follower of this site, posting today for the first time. A friend has alerted me to the posting of three songs from the Harmony CD ("River of Light," "Flyin' Blind," and "Inspiration")on Apple's iTunes music store. I'm a bit technology-challenged, but you apparently need to download the iTunes software (free) in order to access the three songs. You can then listen to 30-second segments of each, or for 99 cents each purchase and download them. He played them for me, and not surprisingly they were most fine. Hopefully the actual CD will be issued soon.

I just tried to download itunes and it said it will not download for any windows applications but 2000 or XP. I have Millineum (sic)!!!

I have similar problems. I have Windows 98, and you have to be in the United States to purchase the song. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/frown.gif

quote:Originally posted by Minstrel Man:
John:

Are you able to download the song? According to the itunes website, you may only download the songs in the United States. Are you using itunes?
Yes well thereby hangs a tale
As Matthew said I am now in New Jersey
the reason my web site has an English (.uk)domain name is that at the time I started it johnfowles.com was held by some imposter, as was my second choice johnfowles.co.uk. I visited http://www.ukreg.com after I saw their advert in a UK Internet Magazine I read in our local Barnes and Noble (a splendid store who do not mind you spending all day using their magazine racks as a reference library). From that site I discovered that it was significantly cheaper to register a .uk domain than the plain version. Hence my .org.uk site
Ah yes Well all Right
now about getting this m4p file itself
Interim Report
=============================================
Doug (plumguru2)
on the Newsgroup made it seem deceptively simple
"You can download the iTunes App here:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/"

as earlier so had Jenney on corfid:-
"What is the web address to download them?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview.html
You have to register with a credit card then do a search for Gordon Lightfoot, then look for Harmony." "

Here is a running commentary on my efforts to get somewhere with itunes and the harmony preview tracks if only to hear the free 30-second clips!!
WARNING this procedure is most definitely
not for the faint hearted:-
I started as per Jenney's reply at:- http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview
And found that first I had to find and click on an almost hidden hyperlink:-
itunes
I then had to register free then download the software. But I did observe about this time that "you must have Windows 2000 or XP"
I registered with my ISP e-mail address and thought "I'll tag along" even though "I'd rather press on":-

the file downloading is:-
iTunesSetup.exe a mere 19MB only 5 1/2 hours on a 56K dial-up
I then clicked on the most obvious tab "store" which conveniently has a search box so I entered GL first result not impressive only one item was listed under "software"
"Batman Justice Unbalanced Ages 7 - 10
$24.95
With Gotham City and the life of
Commissioner Gordon (Gordon who geddit) at stake, will Batman solve the mystery in time?"
which was hardly what I was looking for!!
I tried again clicking "ipod + itunes" tab
took ages to load the page which duly trumpetted claims for 100 million free songs on the 1 in 3 Pepsi-cola bottle cap scheme
there is a link to the top 100 songs but no search box. But had I been so inclined I could have downloaded Britney Spears with no further ado. I then spotted that right under the "ipod and itunes" tab is a sub-menu which includes "music Store"
"could this be it" I mused
Not quite! There is then a further again almost hidden link to "shop for tunes" which is what I had thought I had been doing for the last 10 minutes!!
so it's not too a-mused-ing after all
next page invites you to "Buy Music for a song"
Tee Tee hee hee chortle chortle snigger!!!
A very nice screenshot:-
http://a772.g.akamai.net/7/772/51/d9...pc10162003.jpg ]
showing a page headed "itunes" with enticing links arrowed to
"preview any song" and at long last a promising looking search box
But it looks like I will get nowhere until itunes completes downloading 55 % so far and only another 2 1/2 hours to go.
After which presumably all I have to do is sit back and install my single copy of Windows XP,setup an account and download the m4p file again (another 2 hours or so)
Blimey as silverheels/Bruna said earlier it will be quicker to do nothing and twiddle my thumbs until May 11th!!!
Later file downloaded in 3 1/2 hours such patience has to be seen to be believed
Right trying to install itunes abruptly comes to a halt to remind you rather late in the day that it must have Windows 2000 or XP
Now to fight XP. Luckily I have a spare desktop here to experiment with!!!
wartch this space!!!

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

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited March 03, 2004).]

quote:Originally posted by Minstrel Man:
John:

Are you able to download the song? According to the itunes website, you may only download the songs in the United States. Are you using itunes?
Yes well thereby hangs a tale
As Matthew said I am now in New Jersey
the reason my web site has an English (.uk)domain name is that at the time I started it johnfowles.com was held by some imposter, as was my second choice johnfowles.co.uk. I visited http://www.ukreg.com after I saw their advert in a UK Internet Magazine I read in our local Barnes and Noble (a splendid store who do not mind you spending all day using their magazine racks as a reference library). From that site I discovered that it was significantly cheaper to register a .uk domain than the plain version. Hence my .org.uk site
Ah yes Well all Right
now about getting this m4p file itself
Interim Report
=============================================
Doug (plumguru2)
on the Newsgroup made it seem deceptively simple
"You can download the iTunes App here:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/"

as earlier so had Jenney on corfid:-
"What is the web address to download them?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview.html
You have to register with a credit card then do a search for Gordon Lightfoot, then look for Harmony." "

Here is a running commentary on my efforts to get somewhere with itunes and the harmony preview tracks if only to hear the free 30-second clips!!
WARNING this procedure is most definitely
not for the faint hearted:-
I started as per Jenney's reply at:- http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview
And found that first I had to find and click on an almost hidden hyperlink:-
itunes
I then had to register free then download the software. But I did observe about this time that "you must have Windows 2000 or XP"
I registered with my ISP e-mail address and thought "I'll tag along" even though "I'd rather press on":-

the file downloading is:-
iTunesSetup.exe a mere 19MB only 5 1/2 hours on a 56K dial-up
I then clicked on the most obvious tab "store" which conveniently has a search box so I entered GL first result not impressive only one item was listed under "software"
"Batman Justice Unbalanced Ages 7 - 10
$24.95
With Gotham City and the life of
Commissioner Gordon (Gordon who geddit) at stake, will Batman solve the mystery in time?"
which was hardly what I was looking for!!
I tried again clicking "ipod + itunes" tab
took ages to load the page which duly trumpetted claims for 100 million free songs on the 1 in 3 Pepsi-cola bottle cap scheme
there is a link to the top 100 songs but no search box. But had I been so inclined I could have downloaded Britney Spears with no further ado. I then spotted that right under the "ipod and itunes" tab is a sub-menu which includes "music Store"
"could this be it" I mused
Not quite! There is then a further again almost hidden link to "shop for tunes" which is what I had thought I had been doing for the last 10 minutes!!
so it's not too a-mused-ing after all
next page invites you to "Buy Music for a song"
Tee Tee hee hee chortle chortle snigger!!!
A very nice screenshot:-
http://a772.g.akamai.net/7/772/51/d9...pc10162003.jpg ]
showing a page headed "itunes" with enticing links arrowed to
"preview any song" and at long last a promising looking search box
But it looks like I will get nowhere until itunes completes downloading 55 % so far and only another 2 1/2 hours to go.
After which presumably all I have to do is sit back and install my single copy of Windows XP,setup an account and download the m4p file again (another 2 hours or so)
Blimey as silverheels/Bruna said earlier it will be quicker to do nothing and twiddle my thumbs until May 11th!!!
Later file downloaded in 3 1/2 hours such patience has to be seen to be believed
Right trying to install itunes abruptly comes to a halt to remind you rather late in the day that it must have Windows 2000 or XP
Now to fight XP. Luckily I have a spare desktop here to experiment with!!!
wartch this space!!!

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

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited March 03, 2004).]

So much for the idea of "user friendly"! You could only be a true fan John. To go through all that hassle for a simple preview. That act is one of dedication and true faithfulness. An act of devotion to a true legend of Canadian Music.

You're a brave brave man John. I took one look at the "Must have Windows 2000 or XP" and said nevermind. I run Windows 98. But judging by your issues with dial up it would take me all day to download even if I had 2000.

You're a brave man John.


quote:Originally posted by johnfowles:
Right trying to install itunes abruptly comes to a halt to remind you rather late in the day that it must have Windows 2000 or XP
Now to fight XP. Luckily I have a spare desktop here to experiment with!!!
wartch this space!!!




------------------
Born once - Got it right the first time. )O(

You're a brave brave man John. I took one look at the "Must have Windows 2000 or XP" and said nevermind. I run Windows 98. But judging by your issues with dial up it would take me all day to download even if I had 2000.

You're a brave man John.


quote:Originally posted by johnfowles:
Right trying to install itunes abruptly comes to a halt to remind you rather late in the day that it must have Windows 2000 or XP
Now to fight XP. Luckily I have a spare desktop here to experiment with!!!
wartch this space!!!




------------------
Born once - Got it right the first time. )O(