James, I am sure we are all aware that you were not aware of Gordon's condition when you posted your request. I appreciate other comments here, thank you.
Here is the set list for Gordon,s Orilla concert Friday 6th September.
Triangle
All The Lovely Ladies
Never Too Close
Waiting For You
Beautifull
Let It Ride
Rainy Day People
The Watchmans Gone
Ribbon of Darkness
Sundown
Carefree Highway
The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
The Pony Man
Baby Step Back
INTERVAL
Harmony
Couchiching
Uncle Toad Said
Spanish Moss
Don Quixote
If You Could Read My Mind
Painter Passing Through
Cotton Jenny
Alberta Bound
Blackberry Wine
Canadian Railroad Trilogy
Old Dan's Records
When Gordon walked on stage he got a rousing welcome from his home town audience, he said that this was one show he has been anticipating as the 'Home town boy' he then went straight into 'Triangle' and the start of what turned out, for me, a great show.
When Gordon got to 'Ribbon Of Darkness' which he did on his 'standard tuned 12 string' he got to the last stanza of 'ribbon of darkness.......' then paused and looked at the audience, we all waited for 'o...ver me' We never got it, after a lenghty pause, he went into 'Sundown' Quite a moment.
I think it was after 'The Wreck' someone near the front asked for 'Second Cup Of Coffee' Gordon looked down and said "Second Cup, we haven't done that one for some time" he didn't do it.
After the interval Gordon came out with his 6 string, minus the band. He said that he is still writing the songs and stated "I intend doing one (he held 1 finger up to make the point) more album" This got a cheer. He then introduced a song which he said he wrote whilst in one of those troughs on life roller coaster. People had asked him if he can still write whilst feeling low, he said, the answer was, yes. He alluded to 'Ramblin' Jack' I took this to mean ' Ramblin' Jack Elliott', Jack had said by playing with harmonics, you can come up with tunes. Gordon then did a lovely song called 'Harmony'. After this he did what I felt was a 'pearl' in the treasure chest of 'Lightfoot' songs, 'Couchiching' a little song about the lake and Orilla. This song had the audience laughing. This solo moment for me was the high point of the evening. Should we see Gordon on stage again, I feel that we will, 'Couchiching' will, to quote a lyric, 'hit you with a ping'. The band returned and the show continued. Gordon did a very nice segue from 'Spanish Moss' to 'Don Quixote'. At this point I think some one asked for 'Second Cup Of Coffee' again. Gordon said "we are not going to do that song, we don't even know it". Before doing 'Painter Passing Through' Gordon mentioned the old joke, he never told it, but the punch line he gave was, " I thought you were the Doctor". "No I'm just the Painter Passing Through". It was here when somebody asked for a song, I think it was 'Cotton Jenny'. Gordon looked at the band, put his hands to his face in mock exasperation, and said, "If we were going to do that song, we would have done in the first half, when we had the 12 string, not this 12 string" (pointing to the 'F Gibson'on it's stand). "the other 12 string which is back stage. Songs are like tyres, they have to be rotated". It was soon after this that another request for a song came up from the stalls. Gordon put down his guitar, and went of stage, leaving the band to play amongst themselves. He returned with the other 12 string, and did 'Cotton Jenny' & 'Alberta Bound' when he finshed he said "and no Second Cup" Gordon did 1 encore, 'Old Dan's Record' and the show was over. This was my third Gordon concert, the oter 2 were very good, but for me this was the best. With hindsight I feel that Gordon must have been in some discomfort that night. Which says much for this Giant of the music worlds tremendous professionalism. I and my wife hope and pray that Gordon makes a complete recovery, and that once again we can spend some time in the company of this wonderful man.
Dave.
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