Can any of you remember the first time you ever heard a Gordon Lightfoot song? Which one was it? Do you remember what you were doing at the time?

For me, it was "If You Could Read My Mind". I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was in my teens and I was in the garage (my grandfather's workshop) trying to fix a record player that had a problem (long live the days of "vinyl") when it came over the radio. It was right at the same time as "Loving Her Was Easier Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again" by Kris Kristofferson was a big hit. That was also my favorite song at the time. I loved "If You Could Read My Mind" because it was on the same order as Kris' song. I waited to hear who it was by and when the D.J. said Gordon Lightfoot, I figured he was American Indian (can you imagine!!). I went right out and bought the single. But, ironically, it wasn't until college several years later that I actually knew who he was and began to appreciate his other music. I didn't even know what he looked like until I was about 23! But I STILL have that old 45 to this day.

If everyone shares their "first time" experiences, maybe we can make up a portfolio or something and send it to him. He might get a kick out of it.

What do you think?

Can any of you remember the first time you ever heard a Gordon Lightfoot song? Which one was it? Do you remember what you were doing at the time?

For me, it was "If You Could Read My Mind". I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was in my teens and I was in the garage (my grandfather's workshop) trying to fix a record player that had a problem (long live the days of "vinyl") when it came over the radio. It was right at the same time as "Loving Her Was Easier Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again" by Kris Kristofferson was a big hit. That was also my favorite song at the time. I loved "If You Could Read My Mind" because it was on the same order as Kris' song. I waited to hear who it was by and when the D.J. said Gordon Lightfoot, I figured he was American Indian (can you imagine!!). I went right out and bought the single. But, ironically, it wasn't until college several years later that I actually knew who he was and began to appreciate his other music. I didn't even know what he looked like until I was about 23! But I STILL have that old 45 to this day.

If everyone shares their "first time" experiences, maybe we can make up a portfolio or something and send it to him. He might get a kick out of it.

What do you think?

Hello LMS. I love reading your "stuff". You sound like a typical GL "junkie". I think elsewhere on this board I mention about the first time I heard him but lets go at it again....
To be exact, December 15, 1970. I cut afternoon classes at my high school and went for a joy ride with my buddy to Erie, Pennsylvania which is about 90 miles east of Cleveland. We were listening to CKLW, radio station from Windsor, Ontario. It always came in very clear across Lake Erie and was very popular in the Cleveland area. They must have played "If You Could Read My Mind" 5 times in six hours and I fell for it, the first time I heard it. I couldn't get enough of it, bought the 45 and away I went.
As a sidelight, the first song I heard him sing in concert was "The List" at John Carroll University in 1974.
By the way, I thought his name was a "phoney made up" name and that he would never make it. That's the truth. Boy was I wrong....
It's funny how you don't forget certain things.
Anyway I love your posts, keep it up,
Wes.....

Wes,
Well, that's two of us who didn't take his name seriously. Do you know Gord and his family were the only "Lightfoots" in Orillia and surrounding areas who were NOT Indian? (Just a little FYI)

Hey, thanks for the compliment. Makes me feel better. I was starting to think I was getting too pesty and I'd better back off. What a confidence builder!!

Stay Loose!
LAMS

------------------
"Love and maple syrup
go together like the
sticky winds of winter
when they meet....
If you go into the forest
Gaze up through the trees
The sky is white.
You can understand
What makes the forest
Greet the man
Like a mother's only
child ..."

Wes,
Well, that's two of us who didn't take his name seriously. Do you know Gord and his family were the only "Lightfoots" in Orillia and surrounding areas who were NOT Indian? (Just a little FYI)

Hey, thanks for the compliment. Makes me feel better. I was starting to think I was getting too pesty and I'd better back off. What a confidence builder!!

Stay Loose!
LAMS

------------------
"Love and maple syrup
go together like the
sticky winds of winter
when they meet....
If you go into the forest
Gaze up through the trees
The sky is white.
You can understand
What makes the forest
Greet the man
Like a mother's only
child ..."

I don't remember the exact date, but it was IYCRMM. I too was in high school. I was in my room and my sister came running in yelling "turn on the radio". GL was singing that song and we both just stood there... I can still remember that feeling that this was something special. I remember her saying to me "His name is Gordon Lightfoot". I grew up in the D.C. suburbs and there was a radio program on Sunday nights on WMAL FM called the Soft Explosion or something like that. The DJ was John Lyons and he played GL alot- he was a real GL fan. So every Sunday night I listened and learned that while GL was new to me he was really big already in Cananda. I started checking record stores whenever I could and eventually ended up finding all of his United Artists albums here and there as he started to catch on in the States. Because I lived outside D.C. I was also able to see him pretty frequently in concert also. Its something my sisters and I still do together. Its funny how I can still remember that day and that feeling. I can't say that about any other performer. No other songwriter has that same pull on me that Gordon Lightfoot always has had still has.

Chris, that was a neat story. I enjoy the details, like the DJ's name and such. Did you start getting his earlier albums right after hearing IYCRMM? My first album was "Summer Side Of Life", "Old Dan's Records", "Don Quixote", then I starting getting the older ones.
GL must have had an impact on our lives, the way all of us remember certain things on how he touched our lives.
I like this topic.........Thank you again Florian for this great web site full of great people!
Wes

You're right, Wes. It's funny how it seems like everyone who likes Gordon can remember exactly the first time they heard him and exactly what they were doing. I can only say that about two other things in my life and that was when we first walked on the moon and when JFK was assassinated.

And another thing that's impressive is the impact Gordon's music has had on people's everyday lives. So many folks say how his music has gotten them through rough times. For me it was a few years ago when I had to go through some rugged bouts of chemotherapy for leukemia. There were times when it was only Gord's music that got me through. It was almost as if he had written some of those songs like he knew somehow ... even though, that sounds stupid. But other people with different problems have said the same thing about the same songs I depended on then.

Guess he's much more than a songwriter. He seems to have gotten to the core of us all somehow.

I wish there was some way we could all get together and give something back for all he's given to us -- without even realizing it.

Now, I've had my corny say, so I will leave you in peace.

Keep posting. I meant what I said about putting a portfolio together to give him. I know he would enjoy this. (And isn't it funny that so far, it seems like IYCRMM is THE song!)

I agree with Wes. You guys are a great bunch!

LAMS

You're right, Wes. It's funny how it seems like everyone who likes Gordon can remember exactly the first time they heard him and exactly what they were doing. I can only say that about two other things in my life and that was when we first walked on the moon and when JFK was assassinated.

And another thing that's impressive is the impact Gordon's music has had on people's everyday lives. So many folks say how his music has gotten them through rough times. For me it was a few years ago when I had to go through some rugged bouts of chemotherapy for leukemia. There were times when it was only Gord's music that got me through. It was almost as if he had written some of those songs like he knew somehow ... even though, that sounds stupid. But other people with different problems have said the same thing about the same songs I depended on then.

Guess he's much more than a songwriter. He seems to have gotten to the core of us all somehow.

I wish there was some way we could all get together and give something back for all he's given to us -- without even realizing it.

Now, I've had my corny say, so I will leave you in peace.

Keep posting. I meant what I said about putting a portfolio together to give him. I know he would enjoy this. (And isn't it funny that so far, it seems like IYCRMM is THE song!)

I agree with Wes. You guys are a great bunch!

LAMS

Yes, right after I got IYCRMM I started buying his old albums. I guess when that album was reissued under IYCRMM, those older ablums became more marketable for the record stores or maybe United Artists just decided to cash in, as it did for years after GL switched over to Reprise. One thing I remember distinctly about buying his albums is approaching the "L" bin with a sense of anticipation that maybe I would find one of his albums. And if I found one, to grab it and look at the spine to see if it was one of those "book" ones, you know the kind that opened up and had pictures and text. I think to this day there has been only one - I think its Sunday Concert.

I found album frames at a store called Restoration Hardware. You can slip an album cover in and hang it like a picture -- I bought myself one for xmas. His first album, Lightfoot!, has the greatest picture on the cover. Can't wait to hang it. Enough rambling-I'm supposed to be doing xmas shopping. Am greatly enjoying everyone's posts. Thanks.

I don't know. Maybe I'm crazy, but ... has anyone else noticed a slight resemblance to James Dean on that first album cover?

Could Gord be our modern-day "rebel without a cause"?

LAMS

I don't know. Maybe I'm crazy, but ... has anyone else noticed a slight resemblance to James Dean on that first album cover?

Could Gord be our modern-day "rebel without a cause"?

LAMS

Chris & Lams.....I first found the older albums on (rembember these?} those pirated 8-track tapes with the real plain label. I eventually bought the regular albums. Yes, I still have that one album that opens up with all the pictures.
GL really has changed over the years (not me, I've stayed the same, HA!). When I saw him here in Cleveland last, when he came out for his second set, he was wearing jeans and a T-shirt with running shoes. I looked at him closely, take the guitar away from him and he looks like he would work at a feed, grain & supply store in Northern Canada. Please take this as a compliment, he just looked like he was in great shape.
LAMS, I don't know about James Dean from that first album cover. Maybe....A little....
Wes....

Wes, That's Great!!! A feed store worker. LOL!

"All right, ma'am, that's six sacks of chicken feed, a 50-pound sack of corn and two tons of alfalfa ... will that be first or second cutting? Thank you, Ma'am and have a real fine day, eh?"

"....and I sold that hog for a 30-dollar bill ...."

LOVE IT, Wes.

Wes, That's Great!!! A feed store worker. LOL!

"All right, ma'am, that's six sacks of chicken feed, a 50-pound sack of corn and two tons of alfalfa ... will that be first or second cutting? Thank you, Ma'am and have a real fine day, eh?"

"....and I sold that hog for a 30-dollar bill ...."

LOVE IT, Wes.

Definetly a resemblance to James Dean -- but here I'm biased again -- GL's much better looking. My husband and I saw him in March in a smaller venue than I'd ever seen him in before and had good seats -- about 15 feet away so needless to say had a great view of the stage. We were amazed at his great physical condition. There's not an ounce of fat on him. I've read concert reviews that comment that he could put on a pound or two -- no way. We should all look that good at 61!

quote:Can any of you remember the first time you ever heard a Gordon Lightfoot song? Which one was it? Do you remember what you were doing at the time?

Well, I guess I can only share some second-hand experience, since Gordon Lightfoot's music has been with be all my life (I'm 25 years old).

My parents lived in Toronto from the mid 60's to the mid 70's and in 1968 or 1969 my father was shopping in Eglington Square Shopping mall at the "Bay Company". He wanted to get some towels (as far as he remebers).

What he does remember is that he heard a song played through the shopping mall's sound system that immediately appealed to him, so he went to the DJ of the shopping mall asking him what song he had played a few minutes ago.

I'm sure you can guess who's song that was - in fact he had played "Softly".

To cut a long story short, my father went straight for the next record store, picked up all Gordon Lightfoot records available.

At the time it must have been "Lightfoot!" and "The Way I Feel" (including Softly).

If he actually bought the towels, I cannot tell you. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

Ever since, my father has not lost contact with Gordon Lightfoot's music and has been purchasing every new album ever since.

As far as my personal memory goes, the first song I can actually remember having heard when I was very young is "Never Too Close". (That's the reason I chose this song as 'Song-Of-The-Month' for October.)

As you can see, I hardly had any choice but to become a devoted Gordon Lightfoot fan.

That's a great story Florian!! And welcome back - I thought this board disappeared and was more than a little disappointed. It's good to see you again.

That's a great story Florian!! And welcome back - I thought this board disappeared and was more than a little disappointed. It's good to see you again.

Hi Annette,

Here is the short email I have sent to every registered user of this discussion board:

quote:
Hi,

For the last several days you may have had difficulties to access the Gordon Lightfoot -discussion board on my website at www.corfid.com.

These difficulties were caused by a hardware problem at my webhosting company. They have informed me that all services are back to normal again.

Please kindly accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused,

I look forward to see you on the Discussion Board,

Florian Bodenseher


I had no way to contact you, since you have not registered yet. Maybe you would consider registering?

It's free and you will be able to edit messages after you have sent them (not that this is in any way necessary with the high quality of your messages http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif)

You will even have the opportunity to include a signature with every message.

And I will have the opportunity to inform you about technical problems like the one we've had (even tough I hope not to see that happen again very soon!) via email.

-Florian

Neat site! Just ran into it while doing a little research on the Edmund
Fitzgerald. Heard the song on the radio the other night and was telling
the kids about it. they didn't know the shipwreck actually happened!
Anyway back to the topic. The first time I heard Gordon Lightfoot I was
in my teens and watching the late night music show that used to come on Saturday nights-the name of the show escapes me. However, Gordon
Lightfoot was on and sang"Don Quixote" and I was hooked! when I
was in college living in the big city, listening to Gordon Lightfoot always
made me feel less homesick. thanks Peg

Neat site! Just ran into it while doing a little research on the Edmund
Fitzgerald. Heard the song on the radio the other night and was telling
the kids about it. they didn't know the shipwreck actually happened!
Anyway back to the topic. The first time I heard Gordon Lightfoot I was
in my teens and watching the late night music show that used to come on Saturday nights-the name of the show escapes me. However, Gordon
Lightfoot was on and sang"Don Quixote" and I was hooked! when I
was in college living in the big city, listening to Gordon Lightfoot always
made me feel less homesick. thanks Peg

IYCRMM of course. I first heard it when I was driving down the road in a pickup on the way to the field during harvest. I had to stop at the side of the road and pay close attention, and to stop during harvest was NOT done! The DJ said it was by "Lightfoot," and I didn't know his first name for a couple of years, because everyone here introduced this as a song by "Lightfoot." It blew me away then, and I still have to stop what I am doing and listen whenever I'm playing a CD with that song on it.

IYCRMM of course. I first heard it when I was driving down the road in a pickup on the way to the field during harvest. I had to stop at the side of the road and pay close attention, and to stop during harvest was NOT done! The DJ said it was by "Lightfoot," and I didn't know his first name for a couple of years, because everyone here introduced this as a song by "Lightfoot." It blew me away then, and I still have to stop what I am doing and listen whenever I'm playing a CD with that song on it.

The first Lightfoot song for me was IYCRMM, and I had just started working for
my current employer. I remember I thought the song was drawn out but haunting, and I met an engineer whose last name was Lightfoot. I thought this was an unusual coincidence. My first album purchase was Sundown followed by Summertime Dream, and then I was totally hooked on Gord's music. I have since purchased archive rereleases of some of the earlier works, and can't wait for the last 4 to be reissued on Cd. At one of his concerts I attended, the opening song was The House you Live in, and it brought tears to my eyes because he made it sound like he was singing only to you.

The first Lightfoot song for me was IYCRMM, and I had just started working for
my current employer. I remember I thought the song was drawn out but haunting, and I met an engineer whose last name was Lightfoot. I thought this was an unusual coincidence. My first album purchase was Sundown followed by Summertime Dream, and then I was totally hooked on Gord's music. I have since purchased archive rereleases of some of the earlier works, and can't wait for the last 4 to be reissued on Cd. At one of his concerts I attended, the opening song was The House you Live in, and it brought tears to my eyes because he made it sound like he was singing only to you.

I wish I could remember "the first time". What I do remember distinctly were Gord's incredible concerts at Tanglewood in the Berkshires during the mid 70's. I would do what I had to in order to get good seats. My girlfriend (now my wife of 23 years) would sit in awe as I drifted away enthralled by the music. That has not changed today. I am listening to The Soul Is The Rock as I type this. The music is timeless and moves my soul as much today as it did 30 years ago.

I wish I could remember "the first time". What I do remember distinctly were Gord's incredible concerts at Tanglewood in the Berkshires during the mid 70's. I would do what I had to in order to get good seats. My girlfriend (now my wife of 23 years) would sit in awe as I drifted away enthralled by the music. That has not changed today. I am listening to The Soul Is The Rock as I type this. The music is timeless and moves my soul as much today as it did 30 years ago.

It was '70 i believe - CHUM radio was playing it - If You Could Read My Mind - wow it was saying what I was feeling!! I was 15 and having boyfriend trouble. I fell in love with Gordon Lightfoot that day in my bedroom crying over a boy.
Been crazy about Gord ever since - dumped the boy!
I got special permission to go to Gord's concert in March '84 - I was 9 months pregnant and stood the whole time but that baby got indoctrinated that night. He's almost 16 and loves KORN and that stuff - he puts up with my obsession though. I loved Kris way back then too. When Rita and Kris were at Massey Hall one time Gord got on stage (a bit looped back then) and sang Bobby Magee with them. I got The Austin Sessions (Kris) for Xmas. He makes me weep.
Anyway it's nice to remember - I have so many "senior moments" about other things - not this stuff though. These are 14K gold.
char

Hi!

The first time I ever heared a Gordon Lightfoot song was while I was playing Lego in my room on the floor ( with 7 years or something)
My brother (Florian) has recorded a "Best of Gordon Lightfoot" Cassette. We were both having the same room, so he always played that cassette. And I liked it very much.
bye
Snob

Hi!

The first time I ever heared a Gordon Lightfoot song was while I was playing Lego in my room on the floor ( with 7 years or something)
My brother (Florian) has recorded a "Best of Gordon Lightfoot" Cassette. We were both having the same room, so he always played that cassette. And I liked it very much.
bye
Snob

Well, I guess I'm the 1st to say that it was SUNDOWN that lead to my discovery of Gordon Lightfoot & his music. . . . . . . . . . . . I was approx. 20 yrs. old at
the time, tired of what was being played on
the radio & looking for a different [tailored to my specifications] musician, group, etc. to hook unto. I fell in
love with SUNDOWN the first time I heard
it. I was driving in my 1967 Dodge Dart on
my way to class at Nassau Community College. It was a beautiful sunny spring
day. They had just played John Denver's
SUNSHINE over my AM radio [I didn't have
FM until several years later when I bought
a used Chevy Nova.] which I believe was
#1 on the charts at that time. Then came
SUNDOWN. I knew my search was over.
Unfortunately, I became so enthralled in the
song I didn't take notice of who was singing. And I remained ignorant until later that spring,when I started dating this guy that I met at a "Personal Awareness Conference":) sponsored by the College. After one of our dates we went to his place. We started talking about our favorite songs on the radio & I immediately mentioned SUNDOWN which was a fine move since
it turned out he was a big GL fan, had
all his albums up to that time & we spent
most the night together listening to Gordon.
The very next day I went & purchased the
album SUNDOWN & then another every
time it was payday for my part time job. I've
been hooked since then & 20+ years later
I have never gotten the urge to seek another muscian to satiate my musical
hunger. Unfortunately, I can't say the same
about the boyfriend.

I didn't know it at the time, but that was
not my 1st encounter with GL. When I was 16 yrs I attended a concert at a Church [which has fabulous acoustics, by the way]to see then contemporary gospel singer Robert Edwin[who became a friend- a whole other story in itself - don't
worry! I'm not going there ] .He included in his set "RICHMAN'S SPIRITUAL" & "PEACEFUL WATERS".
He accredited to GL & went on & on about
what a great songwriter GL is & how he felt
priveleged to have GL's permission to cover his songs [both in concert & on recordings].
Well, at that time, I was only interested in
Edwin getting on with the singing & didn't
pay close attention to what he was saying
about some Canadian guy. Edwin's album
KEEP THE RUMOR GOING , which I owned, included those 2 songs. I was amazed when,several years later, after purchasing Lightfoot's earlier stuff, I finally put 2 and 2 together.

On a last note, soon after my
discovering GL I mentioned SUNDOWN
[she didn't connect until I sang a few bars]
to my younger sister who exclaimed "Oh,
you mean the guy who did IYCRMM" &
sang a few bars for me. I remember her
saying that she thought the line "just like a paperback novel, the kind the drugstores sell" was most interesting. Then I purchased my next album. . . you guessed
it - IYCRMM.

Dorothea

Well, I guess I'm the 1st to say that it was SUNDOWN that lead to my discovery of Gordon Lightfoot & his music. . . . . . . . . . . . I was approx. 20 yrs. old at
the time, tired of what was being played on
the radio & looking for a different [tailored to my specifications] musician, group, etc. to hook unto. I fell in
love with SUNDOWN the first time I heard
it. I was driving in my 1967 Dodge Dart on
my way to class at Nassau Community College. It was a beautiful sunny spring
day. They had just played John Denver's
SUNSHINE over my AM radio [I didn't have
FM until several years later when I bought
a used Chevy Nova.] which I believe was
#1 on the charts at that time. Then came
SUNDOWN. I knew my search was over.
Unfortunately, I became so enthralled in the
song I didn't take notice of who was singing. And I remained ignorant until later that spring,when I started dating this guy that I met at a "Personal Awareness Conference":) sponsored by the College. After one of our dates we went to his place. We started talking about our favorite songs on the radio & I immediately mentioned SUNDOWN which was a fine move since
it turned out he was a big GL fan, had
all his albums up to that time & we spent
most the night together listening to Gordon.
The very next day I went & purchased the
album SUNDOWN & then another every
time it was payday for my part time job. I've
been hooked since then & 20+ years later
I have never gotten the urge to seek another muscian to satiate my musical
hunger. Unfortunately, I can't say the same
about the boyfriend.

I didn't know it at the time, but that was
not my 1st encounter with GL. When I was 16 yrs I attended a concert at a Church [which has fabulous acoustics, by the way]to see then contemporary gospel singer Robert Edwin[who became a friend- a whole other story in itself - don't
worry! I'm not going there ] .He included in his set "RICHMAN'S SPIRITUAL" & "PEACEFUL WATERS".
He accredited to GL & went on & on about
what a great songwriter GL is & how he felt
priveleged to have GL's permission to cover his songs [both in concert & on recordings].
Well, at that time, I was only interested in
Edwin getting on with the singing & didn't
pay close attention to what he was saying
about some Canadian guy. Edwin's album
KEEP THE RUMOR GOING , which I owned, included those 2 songs. I was amazed when,several years later, after purchasing Lightfoot's earlier stuff, I finally put 2 and 2 together.

On a last note, soon after my
discovering GL I mentioned SUNDOWN
[she didn't connect until I sang a few bars]
to my younger sister who exclaimed "Oh,
you mean the guy who did IYCRMM" &
sang a few bars for me. I remember her
saying that she thought the line "just like a paperback novel, the kind the drugstores sell" was most interesting. Then I purchased my next album. . . you guessed
it - IYCRMM.

Dorothea

TO BE HONEST I CAN'T REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I HEARD GORDON. MY FATHER USED TO LISTEN TO HIM AFTER WORK WHEN I WAS A BABY. FOR A FEW YEARS I NEVER HEARD ANY OF HIS SONGS UNTILL A CAMPING TRIP WITH THE BOY SCOUTS. ARE SCOUTMASTER TOLD US A STORY ABOUT A SHIPWRECK THE PLAYED THE WRECK OF THE EDMOND FITZGERALD. I RECOGNIZED THE SONG AND ASKED HIM WHO SANG IT. WHEN I GOT HOME I ASKED MY DAD IF HE HAD HEARD OF GORDON. HE SHOWED ME HIS VINLE COLLECTION OF GORDON. HE STOPPED LISTENING TO HIM BECOUSE OUR RECORD PLAYER BROKE , AND HE NEVER GOT A NEW ONE. I GOT A RECORD PLAYER AND STARTED LISTENING TO THOSE ALBUMS ,AND HAVE BEEN HOOKED SINCE. TO THIS DAY SUMMERTIME DREAM IS STILL MY FAVORITE CD.

TO BE HONEST I CAN'T REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I HEARD GORDON. MY FATHER USED TO LISTEN TO HIM AFTER WORK WHEN I WAS A BABY. FOR A FEW YEARS I NEVER HEARD ANY OF HIS SONGS UNTILL A CAMPING TRIP WITH THE BOY SCOUTS. ARE SCOUTMASTER TOLD US A STORY ABOUT A SHIPWRECK THE PLAYED THE WRECK OF THE EDMOND FITZGERALD. I RECOGNIZED THE SONG AND ASKED HIM WHO SANG IT. WHEN I GOT HOME I ASKED MY DAD IF HE HAD HEARD OF GORDON. HE SHOWED ME HIS VINLE COLLECTION OF GORDON. HE STOPPED LISTENING TO HIM BECOUSE OUR RECORD PLAYER BROKE , AND HE NEVER GOT A NEW ONE. I GOT A RECORD PLAYER AND STARTED LISTENING TO THOSE ALBUMS ,AND HAVE BEEN HOOKED SINCE. TO THIS DAY SUMMERTIME DREAM IS STILL MY FAVORITE CD.

I was around 10 years old and hear Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald at my grandmother's house on eight track. I have loved the music every since.

I was around 10 years old and hear Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald at my grandmother's house on eight track. I have loved the music every since.

Just like alot of you, it was IYCRMM. It was during one of the family car trips back in 1970, in some state or another. I remember dozing, lying flat on the back seat, the song comes on AND I SIT STRAIGHT UP! ("Who IS this? Mom, Dad! TURN THIS UP! Oh my god this is incredible!") Listened for the name afterwards and bought all the albums I could ASAP. I was in high school (summer between junior and senior...ok, that gave my age away...oh,well) and tried to "educate" everyone about Gord. Went on to college and saw him perform at the college (had my nose pressed up against the stage, of course) in '71, and countless concerts since then. I love all these Gord links. Love to have people sharing their thoughts so similar to mine about him. Wouldn't a Gord autobiography
be a fantastic read? (Gord - let's get ON that! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif)But "Beautiful" is really my all time favorite. (My college roommate's boyfriend was a DJ at the college radio station and he played it on the air for me at 7:00 am on my birthday- she woke me up to hear it - one of my fondest memories. It was a big sacrifice for her boyfriend to do this as this was NOT his type of music (jazz was)
but it meant alot to me.) I'm rambling, sorry. Anyway "from my head down to my shoes"
I love Gord, and always will, for making me feel good each and every time. (Now if he would just write a song about River Otters, my OTHER passion......)

Just like alot of you, it was IYCRMM. It was during one of the family car trips back in 1970, in some state or another. I remember dozing, lying flat on the back seat, the song comes on AND I SIT STRAIGHT UP! ("Who IS this? Mom, Dad! TURN THIS UP! Oh my god this is incredible!") Listened for the name afterwards and bought all the albums I could ASAP. I was in high school (summer between junior and senior...ok, that gave my age away...oh,well) and tried to "educate" everyone about Gord. Went on to college and saw him perform at the college (had my nose pressed up against the stage, of course) in '71, and countless concerts since then. I love all these Gord links. Love to have people sharing their thoughts so similar to mine about him. Wouldn't a Gord autobiography
be a fantastic read? (Gord - let's get ON that! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif)But "Beautiful" is really my all time favorite. (My college roommate's boyfriend was a DJ at the college radio station and he played it on the air for me at 7:00 am on my birthday- she woke me up to hear it - one of my fondest memories. It was a big sacrifice for her boyfriend to do this as this was NOT his type of music (jazz was)
but it meant alot to me.) I'm rambling, sorry. Anyway "from my head down to my shoes"
I love Gord, and always will, for making me feel good each and every time. (Now if he would just write a song about River Otters, my OTHER passion......)

The first time I heard a GL tune was in Hornepayne, Ontario in the winter of 1967. That goes back a little way. I was in the O.P.P. then. A Lithuanian game warden worked there also and asked me if Ihad ever heard this Canadian guy sing, I said no and the rest is history. I have every vinyl record made I think and am now getting caught up on the cd craze. Just got the songbook for Christmas and love it. Now own my own business in Sault Ste. Marie and still listen to the music almost daily. My sons age 28 and 30 cant get enough of it. I think GL spent a few blurry days in Hornepayne with someone I knew back then, Paul Gulley.
just a small piece of history for you.