In these days of CDs we lose track of the way albums used to be put together. You could have favourite sides as well as favourite LPs. Each side had to be put together as an entity, almost self-contained.

Is there a better side of an LP than the first side of Don Quixote?

Starting with the Don as a fascinating and mystical opener, you have a classic run of tracks each of which is a model of its type, which have seldom been bettered in modern popular music. Chistian Island has to be the ultimate relaxing summer theme, Alberta Bound is sure to get your foot tapping, Looking at the Rain-THE slow love-lost song, Ordinary Man unselfconsciously autobiographical, finishing with Brave Mountaineers-a hymn to childhood.

What do you think, is there a better side?

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Hi derry day in the month of May

quote:Originally posted by rainydayperson:

Is there a better side of an LP than the first side of Don Quixote?


No, absolutely not. Well, in my opinion anyway...but it is well known that is my favourite album....and the first side...to me, is perfection.

You nailed it...that side of Don Quixote is absolute best.

Now here I am getting ready to say "but how about..." but no - side one of Don Quixote is about as good as it gets. I'd give some points to side one of "Summer Side of Life," too but I'm still going with Don.

Yep, Rainday, you said it. Don Q; side one. No matter how many times you play it, it just keeps getting better.

Two thumps up for side-1 of DQ...killer wax.

Well, I hate to rock the boat here, but I'm afraid I must cast my vote for side 2 of SDYS/IYCRMM. Only five songs there, but among them are the two title songs. So even if they were the only songs on the side, it would have to rank way up there, as they are two of the finest songs ever written. The "weakest" track is probably "Baby It's Alright". The others: Your Love's Return (Song For Stephen Foster) and The Pony Man. So, even though DQ is one of my very favorite songs, I don't think that's my favorite side! Of course, I don't mind trying out all the alternatives.

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Valerie Magee

My goodness - a dissenter in the ranks! I was wondering how long that would take. Have been quite amused at how much agreement there was.

Now, Valerie - I don't agree with you, but that is a fine side indeed - particularly coming right out of the box with the two title songs (I like that description). My thing with Don Quixote, side one is that I don't think it lets up the whole side. There's not a tune on it that you don't find yourself totally immersed in.

Another great "jumps at you right out of teh box" side is Summertime Dream - side 1 -"Race Among teh Ruins," "Edmund Fitzgerald" and "I'm Not Supposed to Care." Yow! If you put something else where "I'd Do it Again" was you might have another full candidate. It's a good song and appropriate where it is (he obviously wanted to put something that jumps in that spot) but not up to the writing quality of the other songs. That said trying to nit pick any of the albums from "Sit Down Young Stranger" through "Summertime Dream" is a complete waste of time. It's a string of albums of astounding quality that I don't expect to se matched by anyone.

Well Valerie, I guess that if someone is going to disagree about DQ, IYCRMM is a good way to go....especially with SDYS, which I think is about my all time favourite GL song (did I mention yet that I am incredibly jealous that you saw him perform it?). Another fine choice (though I'm still with DQ side 1 as the best side of an album).

I thought I was the only one who liked the first side of Don Quixote. "Looking at the Rain" reminds me of the times I spent in Louisiana during the spring (what spring?, you mean rain), thinking of my love way up north. "Ordinary Man", reminds me of my times on the road, searching. A great side of an album.

BUT!

And I say but hesitantly.

How about side one of Shadows?

"14 Karat Gold" should have been a hit.
"In My Fashion" a great song. One of his best.
"Shadows", its so good it is scary.
"Blackberry Wine", In my opinion, keep it.
"Heaven Help The Devil", one of his best.
"Thank You For The Promises", Keep it.

Wes

Oh as long as we're at it - how about either side of Sundown? Weakest songs - side one - "Is There Anyone Home?" side two - "The List." Please note these are both very good songs. What an album! And any side that starts with "The Watchman's Out".....

I have to say side one of DQ is great ,but don't forget side two of Summertime dream. That is a great line up of songs. Thats all i got.

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"If people could look into each other's eyes
What a wonderful place this world would be"
GL

You know anytime "The Watchman's out" is mentioned I have to pipe up loudly. That is really a great side - I can't believe none of those songs are more famous!

I also have to heap accolades on side 2 of Summertime Dream. I remember the 2nd time I saw Gord in concert he dusted off 'The house you live in'. I nearly went nuts, as I love that song and in fact every song on that side of that album. "Spanish moss", " Too many clues"...they're all great!

Ditto for SD's second side. Gotta think COTS and Sundown are virtually greatest hits packages. After all, who is it that we allow to dictate what a hit is...popular radio? http://www.corfid.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif God forbid!

Great Grooves from A-Side of COTS:

Bend in the Water, Rainy Day People, COTS,
The Soul is A Rock, Bells of the Evening,
Rainbow Trout.
Need I say more?

Wes you beat me to it. I was going to add Shadows side one to the list as there was too much agreement about DQ! Ditto side 2 Sundown, but any takers for side 1 East of Midnight - rarely mentioned?

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Hi derry day in the month of May

I don't know one East of Midnight, but give a star for side one of COTS!

Allow me to venture back into the United Artists era. Although I do not own the LP, only the United Artists collection on CD, I think highly of side B of the 'Did She Mention My Name' LP. The imagery in 'Mountains and Marian' is consistent with many of the great GL tunes. 'Pussywillows, Cattails' is a beautiful journey through the seasons. I love the brass section in 'I Want To Hear It From You'. 'Something Very Special' is a simple tune, and 'Boss Man' conjures up images of the great Richard Harris, Sean Connery film The Molly McGuires, a must see. The title track strikes a personal thread for me as I am sure it does for many.

I enjoy all of the album sides mentioned above and also side B of the sometime maligned 'Salute' LP.

potter

'It'll be murder in the first degree
If you ever lay your hands on me'

GL

This is a toughy...but...

Side one of East Of Midnight is awesome,
a change of pace from the tried and true
formula. This album is mostly ignored..
I consider it Gordon's masterpiece...

"Smoke rings rising 'till they disappear,
in the sky above, if you ask me I'll tag along."

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Ever Onward...

Can't dispute the quality of the Don side one, but let me suggest three other sides, not yet mentioned, that are its equal, perhaps superior.

First: Lightfoot! side one (even the songs he didn't write are beautifully performed);

Second: the Don, side two, starting with "Big Blue," which is better every time you listen to it, "2d Cup," a toe-tapper with great lyrics, the peerless "Beautiful," perhaps the best song GL has ever written, and finishing with "Susan's Floor" and "Patriot's Dream", which are the equal of the lesser songs of DonQ side one; and

Third, and possibly my favorite of all: ODR side one, beginning with "Annabelle" with guitar and banjo that pour over you like a river, followed by "SameOldObsession" and its waltzing chord progressions, then "ODR" itself, a song no other artist would even dream of making (among other joys, I love the bell rung on the upbeats); then "Lazy Morning," which I dismissed when I first heard it but have grown to love for the way it evokes its subject, and gets you all relaxed for the toe-tapping finale of "UR What I Am."

By the way, Sunday Concert side 2 is another perfect side, but since that album consists of performances of songs from other albums, perhaps it shouldn't be counted.

My vote? a tie between DonQ2 and ODR1.

Any dissenters?
2Much2Lose

Addendum to Bobo -

Saw GL in the APPT concert in Jersey earlier this year (my fifth GL concert but first since the 70's - Yes, I also heard SDYS and most of the great songs from the early Warner era in concert). At the concert this year, GL noted that "House U Live In" was his mother's favorite song of his. He then mentioned that his mother had passed away. Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he turned to the band and quipped, "so what the heck are we doing it for?"

All this attention on the DQ album. Yes, it is great music, but I do not consider it the peak of his career.

Please consider side 2 of Shadows. Triangle is perhaps one of his very best. Baby Step Back has grown on me. The other songs show Gordon at his best.

Also, what about side 1 of Salute??? Perhaps it is not "folkie" enough for some fans. Whispers of the North is right up there. The title cut rocks!!!

That is a very good album. Christian Island is a good song! When I listen to that song, I think of the motor life boat that I will be driving in the Coast Guard next year http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif Another good song for that is High and Dry.

That's a very good album. When I listen to Christian Island I always think about the motor life boat that I will be driving next year in the Coast Guard http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif A good song for that is High and Dry too. Looking at the Rain is a good song too. All of them are good http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

My vote goes to side 2 of Sunday Concert (in spite of the position that 2MUCH2LOSE takes that it shouldn't be counted). The whole album/disc is lovely and does have some songs that I do not find elsewhere such as Apology, Leaves of Grass, and Yarmouth Castle.

Consider this lineup: the extraordinary Ballad of the Yarmouth Castle ("Like a toy ship on a mill pond she burned all thru the night/Then slipped 'neath the waves in the mornin'"); Softly ("Softly she comes/Whispers the breeze/With her passing . . .");Boss Man ("You're gonna tear the skin right offa my back!!!"); Pussywillows/Cattails ("Reveling, dissheveling,the summer nights do bring . . ."); and finish with the one and only CTR (listen carefully to the start of this song "Right . . . hmmm. . .(guitars). . .(applause). . . "There was a time in this fair land. . .")!!!!!
Top that!!!!
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Motorcycle Tires

Jay:

You've convinced me that Sunday Concert (Side2) should be counted. You will note that I called it a "perfect side."

Thanks for the feedback.