One aspect I want to highlight about Gordon Lightfoot's songs are the instrumental parts. I like these parts a lot, they add the right pace to a song and put a spotlight on the wonderful melodies.
For example, the guitar play in the middle of Leaves Of Grass is utmost beautiful. Often, songs start and end instrumental. Cotton Jenny comes to my mind, as well as Never Too Close, two songs that have excellent beginnings. I'm sure you all have your favorite instrumental sequence too, so please add them here. |
One aspect I want to highlight about Gordon Lightfoot's songs are the instrumental parts. I like these parts a lot, they add the right pace to a song and put a spotlight on the wonderful melodies.
For example, the guitar play in the middle of Leaves Of Grass is utmost beautiful. Often, songs start and end instrumental. Cotton Jenny comes to my mind, as well as Never Too Close, two songs that have excellent beginnings. I'm sure you all have your favorite instrumental sequence too, so please add them here. |
All of his music is so well done it is hard to single out a particular instrumental part. One of my favorite guitar leads however is Red Shea's classical guitar in "Too Late For Prayin.'" Introduction wise I really like the start of "Second Cup Of Coffee."
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All of his music is so well done it is hard to single out a particular instrumental part. One of my favorite guitar leads however is Red Shea's classical guitar in "Too Late For Prayin.'" Introduction wise I really like the start of "Second Cup Of Coffee."
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As I was learning to plat the guitar, the main instrumental riff in "Don Quixote" was my "Stairway to Heaven"...you know, the one EVERYBODY learns.
Also, the intro riff for "Rosanna". "Did She Mention My Name" was very important to developing my skills. |
Love The intro's to "Dreamland", "Hey You",
"Sundown", "Carefree Highway" and "Cold On the Shoulder." The cold intro to "Somewhere USA" is great. I agree that the bridge in "Don Q" is a nice place to take a mental trip. I also enjoy the outro's on "Sundown" and "Hey You." |
Love The intro's to "Dreamland", "Hey You",
"Sundown", "Carefree Highway" and "Cold On the Shoulder." The cold intro to "Somewhere USA" is great. I agree that the bridge in "Don Q" is a nice place to take a mental trip. I also enjoy the outro's on "Sundown" and "Hey You." |
The intro to "Beautiful" is gorgeous! That whole song as an instrumental would still be great!
Love it! Char |
The intro to "Beautiful" is gorgeous! That whole song as an instrumental would still be great!
Love it! Char |
The musicians playing along with GL have always been second to none.The guitar lick that comes after the first verse in "The minstrel of the Dawn" is recorded like it was coming from the backgrownd while the other instruments are more in the front.It gives a feeling of "way back when" to the song. The orchestration in "Does your Mother Know" seems to complete the words of the song, like if the strings section was telling of all the love she has.Who wrote the orchestration by the way? I've always been a fan of Pee Wee Charles. It's too bad that the steel- guitar has been pushed aside by the synths. Not that I don't like synths; I like Patrick Moraz and Rick Wakeman and so and so especialy the european players. To me the synths are irrelevant in GL music. Who will remember the names of the synths players in the last few albums GL made? Do you? ...and don't cheat! But as for the rest, that's just an oppinion.Salute.
...Drink yer glasses girls and boys it's time to hit the Sky... [This message has been edited by k-leb (edited June 23, 2000).] |
The musicians playing along with GL have always been second to none.The guitar lick that comes after the first verse in "The minstrel of the Dawn" is recorded like it was coming from the backgrownd while the other instruments are more in the front.It gives a feeling of "way back when" to the song. The orchestration in "Does your Mother Know" seems to complete the words of the song, like if the strings section was telling of all the love she has.Who wrote the orchestration by the way? I've always been a fan of Pee Wee Charles. It's too bad that the steel- guitar has been pushed aside by the synths. Not that I don't like synths; I like Patrick Moraz and Rick Wakeman and so and so especialy the european players. To me the synths are irrelevant in GL music. Who will remember the names of the synths players in the last few albums GL made? Do you? ...and don't cheat! But as for the rest, that's just an oppinion.Salute.
...Drink yer glasses girls and boys it's time to hit the Sky... [This message has been edited by k-leb (edited June 23, 2000).] |
I miss Pee Wee also. I loved the steel guitar in Gord's music and it took quite awhile for me to get used to not seeing Pee Wee on stage and hearing his excellent playing. He's a radio DJ in Hamilton I believe. I prefer the steel guitar to the synthesizer myself and wonder how some of the newer stuff would sound with one.
Char The instrumental parts in Pussywillows/Cattails are luscious and charming. |
I miss Pee Wee also. I loved the steel guitar in Gord's music and it took quite awhile for me to get used to not seeing Pee Wee on stage and hearing his excellent playing. He's a radio DJ in Hamilton I believe. I prefer the steel guitar to the synthesizer myself and wonder how some of the newer stuff would sound with one.
Char The instrumental parts in Pussywillows/Cattails are luscious and charming. |
I agree charlene,
the intro to "Beautiful" is absolutley gorgeous!! ------------------ Ever Onward... |
I agree charlene,
the intro to "Beautiful" is absolutley gorgeous!! ------------------ Ever Onward... |
I love the haunting instrumental intro to Protocol!
Dan Who are these ones who would lead us now To the sound of a thousand guns Who'd storm the gates of hell itself To the tune of a single drum Where are the girls of the neighborhood bars Whose loves were lost at sea In the hills of France and on German soil From Saigon to Wounded Knee Who come from long lines of soldiers Whose duty was fulfilled In the words of a warriors will And protocol |
How about the orchestration in The Last Time I Saw Her? (not to be confused with The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face). Such an early song of Gord's, and yet the orchestration is haunting and beautiful. It really makes the song. Next time you get a chance, have a good listen. The strings add a wonderful dimension to the song.
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How about the orchestration in The Last Time I Saw Her? (not to be confused with The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face). Such an early song of Gord's, and yet the orchestration is haunting and beautiful. It really makes the song. Next time you get a chance, have a good listen. The strings add a wonderful dimension to the song.
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The special bits in Song For A Winter's Night make even this Canadian who HATES winter, warm and cozy and mellow thinking of the falling snow outside the window and a beautiful fire burning as I sit by my love's side with a GrandMarnier SnoCone! No really - it is so evocative and real that I become nostalgic for the days when I enjoyed skiing, ice skating outdoors, sledding, walking in the snow, making snowmen and lying down and making snowangels.
Ahhh youth! Char |
The special bits in Song For A Winter's Night make even this Canadian who HATES winter, warm and cozy and mellow thinking of the falling snow outside the window and a beautiful fire burning as I sit by my love's side with a GrandMarnier SnoCone! No really - it is so evocative and real that I become nostalgic for the days when I enjoyed skiing, ice skating outdoors, sledding, walking in the snow, making snowmen and lying down and making snowangels.
Ahhh youth! Char |
Great Lightfoot Instrumentals? How bout the guitar intro to Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald? Or the wonderful guitar solo in Dream Street Rose..yah..that's some sweet axe work, me thinks.
Erica |
Great Lightfoot Instrumentals? How bout the guitar intro to Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald? Or the wonderful guitar solo in Dream Street Rose..yah..that's some sweet axe work, me thinks.
Erica |
The whole Summertime Dream album has great instrumental parts, whether its the intro, middle or ending of a song. Also, I like the jamming sessions in Hangdog Hotel Room and Blackberry Wine and the intros of Somewhere U.S.A. and Never too Close.
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The whole Summertime Dream album has great instrumental parts, whether its the intro, middle or ending of a song. Also, I like the jamming sessions in Hangdog Hotel Room and Blackberry Wine and the intros of Somewhere U.S.A. and Never too Close.
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Can I put in a good word for synthesizers and Mike Heffernan in particular. Try his instrumental in Much to My Surprise. Both synths and pedal steel have their place, and both feature in this excellent track.
------------------ Hi derry doon in the month of June |
Can I put in a good word for synthesizers and Mike Heffernan in particular. Try his instrumental in Much to My Surprise. Both synths and pedal steel have their place, and both feature in this excellent track.
------------------ Hi derry doon in the month of June |
I like the instumental part in "Lazy Mornin'" It seems to capture that feeling of nothing to do on a hot summer day.
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I like the instumental part in "Lazy Mornin'" It seems to capture that feeling of nothing to do on a hot summer day.
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I have to add that the guitars and cello's at the end of "Your Loves Return" is an outstanding example of this thread. I have always felt that Gordon has used his musical talents to the fullest extend during these instrumental interludes along with the help of some of the best arrangers and studio musicians in the business. This includes the talents of the band for which all the intrumentals seems to be build around.
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I have to add that the guitars and cello's at the end of "Your Loves Return" is an outstanding example of this thread. I have always felt that Gordon has used his musical talents to the fullest extend during these instrumental interludes along with the help of some of the best arrangers and studio musicians in the business. This includes the talents of the band for which all the intrumentals seems to be build around.
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I agree with all the above and would like to add some other great instrumentals that haven't been mentioned yet.
Cabaret Ode to Big Blue (particularly the end) and my personal favorites: Old Dan's Records and Hiway Songs One of the highlights of Songbook for me was to have a copy of Hiway Songs in a format other than vinyl. It's not "the only time I'm flyin'" but it's one of the times. ------------------ "And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by." - SDYS |
I agree with all the above and would like to add some other great instrumentals that haven't been mentioned yet.
Cabaret Ode to Big Blue (particularly the end) and my personal favorites: Old Dan's Records and Hiway Songs One of the highlights of Songbook for me was to have a copy of Hiway Songs in a format other than vinyl. It's not "the only time I'm flyin'" but it's one of the times. ------------------ "And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by." - SDYS |
I really like the intro to Rainy Day People and Sundown. actually all of his songs have good intro's those two I really like. And I like the elec. guitar going in Sundown. Thats pretty cool.
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I really like the intro to Rainy Day People and Sundown. actually all of his songs have good intro's those two I really like. And I like the elec. guitar going in Sundown. Thats pretty cool.
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I have always loved the guitar work in "Miquel".
Jenney |
I have always loved the guitar work in "Miquel".
Jenney |
The guitar work in Cherokee Bend is fantastic!!
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The guitar work in Cherokee Bend is fantastic!!
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What about the start to Bend in the Water - such energy!
------------------ Hi derry doon in the month of June |
What about the start to Bend in the Water - such energy!
------------------ Hi derry doon in the month of June |
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