Thread: GL questions.
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Old 06-22-2004, 02:40 AM   #16
Borderstone
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Phoenix,Arizona -America
Posts: 4,427
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Mike! Oh Mike!!!! Easy big fella! One question at a time!!

Okay,on the back of Summer Side Of Life's album jacket the "voices" (as they're referred to)are Gordon Stoker/Neal Matthews/Hoyt Hawkins/Ray Walker/Laverna Moore & Mildred Kirkham,most likely studio session singers. By the way,that LP was recorded from 12/1970 to 4/1971.

The 1st version of The Circle Is Small (I Can See It In Your Eyes) is on the 1968/69 "Back Here On Earth" LP,the second version was specifically recorded for the "Endless Wire" LP in 1977. That version became Gord's last hit. It hit the top 40 the 3rd week of March 1978 and peaked at #33 before the end of it's 3 weeks in the Top 40. Gord has not been in the Top 40 since Saturday,April 8th,1978. (Saturday is the last day any artist would have anyway.)

As for Black Day In July,most protest songs of the 60's didn't stand much of a chance at radio to begin with. I've listened to it and it's not so much of a protest song as it is a tribute to those who were killed or injured in the riots themselves. In some people's eyes at that time,it most likely seemed too political and yes,the killing of Martin Luther King Jr. certainlywas a factor.

Protocol is a commentary on not just Vietnam but war itself and the duties and tasks they had to take part in. War is a little different now than it was then but for most peopl that are anti-war,it still rings true today,given our soldiers in the Middle East.

I'd answer more questionsMike but my recommendation to you is go check out the album list here on the site and get all of Gordon Lightfoot's albums (or CD's) and give 'em all a listen and enjoy. It's nice that you want to know the Wherefore and Why's of his music but I know you'll learn even more about it by owning and listening to it all yourself. Once you know the songs,the messages and just the great feel of the music,it really wont matter as much about when or why they exist. It will matter that the music is just there to enjoy. Aurevoir,dude!

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



[This message has been edited by Borderstone (edited June 22, 2004).]
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