http://www.calgarysun.com/perl-bin/n...84318.html&a=1



HARMONY — Gordon Lightfoot
All’s well with Lightfoot


This time it is definitely life imitating art.
Gordon Lightfoot’s Harmony is a beautifully reflective offering that one would expect from a man who had recently won a battle with the Grim Reaper.

However, Harmony was written and primarily recorded before Lightfoot fell ill — though much of the final recording was done while Lightfoot was in the hospital.

“A couple of the nurses gasped when I suggested we name the album Soiled Linen, after the laundry hampers they keep in the hallway,” Lightfoot writes in the liner notes.

The 11 new songs, all written by Lightfoot, cement his position as one of Canada’s most prized songwriters.

Here he looks at several sides of love, regrets and in the touching (and yes, somewhat spooky) Shellfish, he sings about a man not yet finished what he wants to do.

And in the quietly catchy The No Hotel — which in the live introduction he explains he took nearly two decades to write — he shares his wit and insight.

Sure, age has stolen some of the smoothness from Lightfoot’s vocals, but the honesty, confidence and acceptance more than makes up for any loss.

Track Listing:
• 1. Harmony
• 2. River Of Light
• 3. Flyin' Blind
• 4. No Mistake About It
• 5. End Of All Time
• 6. Shellfish
• 7. The No Hotel
• 8. Inspiration Lady
• 9. Clouds Of Loneliness
• 10. Couchiching
• 11. Sometimes I Wish

Sun rating (4 1/2 out of 5 stars)

EXACTLY! That was a wonderful way to phrase it. There is an honesty to the vocal quality of this album and also a confidence. Yes, he doesn't have the same voice he had twenty years ago, but he seems to finally be comfortable with the voice he does have.

quote:Originally posted by Next Saturday:
Sure, age has stolen some of the smoothness from Lightfoot’s vocals, but the honesty, confidence and acceptance more than makes up for any loss.

On Much More Music Lightfoot said that he didn't think he started to sing well until about 1990.

One thing that is evident while listening to the title track from Harmony is that he is still capable of hitting some of the lower notes quite well. His voice sure is unmistakable. When you hear it, you know exactly who it is.

He didn't sing well until '90? So what he's saying is that when he recorded,"Beautiful",he was just fakin' it? http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

By the way,why is it no glowing record review I ever read can give the artist 5 stars? They go on about how really great it all is and then they downplay all they've said by gowing below that. Is it so tough to say someone did it exactly right? Just my opinin. Aurevoir! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/cool.gif

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"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm." ;) - Borderstone