Somewhere in the late 70's my pardner and I, & friends, were on the bill in the lounge at Harrah's Tahoe. Sinatra was in the main room.
Since we were so VIP (that, and a $50 bribe to the Head Goon)Jim & I, w/ our ladies, were escorted to a stage side table. I watched Sinatra w/ one elbow on the stage. (Very worth the bribe.)
He did this piece of business on Send In The Clowns that was truly amazing. He had a scotch in one hand and a smoke in the other.
Just before he sang the lyric, "Isn't it rich - isn't it queer" he took a slug, drew a deep drag, inhaled. He then finished the phrase, "loosing my timing this late in my career."
Now, all the song was sung from a solitary stool w/ spot shining straight down. At the close of "career" he took another slug of scotch . . . and THEN exhaled - the smoke spiraling upward in the light of the spot.
Here's the point of all this. There are many folks who sing and sing well (like 'em or don't.) Then there was Sinatra and there was Brother Ray and there, thankfully, is Gord. These three are masters at a thing called "phrasing." And not usual or expected phrasing as w/ most others.
So, even as Sinatra's tone diminished w/ the
age, his phrasing and timing were always sharp - Sharp!
I figure Gord's tone has indeed taken it's blows from all those yrs of smoke. That, age and who knows what else takes it's toll.
But, like Sinatra & Brother Ray, Gord's phrasing is intact, unique and Sharp! I also figure that'll remain w/ him right on thru.
A little bit like Don Quixote, I suspicion. But still the shining knight.
So, come on April; come on Cerritos; come on Alan; come on Todd. We're gonna go see Lightfoot!
And ain't that just alright.
The Rez
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It was a Beautiful Rainbow
A Beautiful Time in my Life
A Thing to Share
A Time to Care
To Be Alive
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