[charlene]

part 2

After the set was over, Gordon came right up to all of us (while the band broke down the equipment), and engaged us in some nice conversation. He mentioned he wanted to take a brief break and come back but that never happened. He just stayed. I wish he had gone ahead and taken a breather, but I think we kind of just sucked him in with conversation and questions that he felt compelled to stay in the studio. We all met him one by one, posed for pictures, and had him sign some things. Like a dumb dumb I whipped out my professional-type camera and began shooting pics and didn’t realize until much later that I hadn’t flipped up the flash. Duh!

Anyway, when I met Gordon I practically bowed, shook his hand, and told him what a tremendous honor it was to meet him. The fellow from Montreal (can’t remember his name) took my pic with Gordon using my iPhone, which is not so good for taking quality pics. I was talking with Gordon, telling him my story about following him since 1969, and that the first concert I saw was in 1976, when I in the US Air Force and stationed at Duluth, Minnesota. This was right after “Wreck” came out, and I distinctly remember that concert because of the hecklers.
Yeah, I know, hecklers at a Gordon Lightfoot concert – what?!? I asked Gordon if he remembered several people at the concert shouting out, as he sang “Wreck,” about capitalizing on the terrible tragedy. It is important to note that Duluth, Minnesota/Superior, Wisconsin were home to a number of the men that went down on the Edmund Fitzgerald. So there were some raw feelings in the audience. Of course they didn’t know how gracious Gordon (and the band) were/are and what happened to the proceeds from “Wreck,” with a great deal donated to maritime organization(s) in the area. As I was telling Gordon how shocked I was by the hecklers that night, he remarked that these things kind of “go with the territory.” Very gracious.

On a side note, when I was in the US Air Force I worked as a weather observer, and was stationed in Duluth, Minnesota at the time that the Edmund Fitzgerald went down. We monitored all maritime chatter as it played into our weather observations and forecasting. I was working the night the Fitz went down, and clearly remember the radio transmissions from Capt. McSorley. It was eerie. Little did I know that Gordon would later memorialize the tragedy. Wow.

As for signing, I brought a number of clipping from Billboard, Rolling Stone, and other trade magazines that I had saved over the years. My favorite one-page clippings and a couple of mini-posters. Probably ten in all – I realized that there was no way I was going to ask him (and the band) to sign all of them, so I picked two. He signed both, one to me and the other to my son, Empoy (who happens to be deaf and has never heard anything he’s played). I probably shook Gordon’s hand about 5 times – yeah, I was a bit nutty. I wanted to hug Gordon but for some reason I didn’t. Oh well. I didn’t want to hog Gordon’s time so excused myself so he could move onto others there. Of course!

A few people did not bring anything to sign, so I asked them to please pick something from what I brought with me. So we all walked away with some cool, signed stuff.
As for the other band members, Barry Keane left rather quickly and I never got a chance to meet him. So did Carter, but I did manage to meet him and shake his hand – no autograph. I spoke with Rick and Mike for a bit. Both were so very nice. Mike and I were talking about the various venues where they played and the acoustics of some of the places, how some were much better than others. Most of that conversation is a fog right now. Rick and I spoke briefly about the parking lot next to Grant Avenue Studio (of all things!). Now related to that, when I pulled into the very narrow parking lot before the session (about 7:30) I grabbed one of the last parking spaces, right next to this huge Dodge truck that was the size of a tank. It must have been a ¾ ton, long cab, etc. Anyway, I barely got around this truck to park my car diagonally. As I parked I said to myself “I just know this person is going to hit me when they try to get out of here.” Anyway, I was telling Rick this saga and he said “Oh, that’s my truck” or something to that effect. Funny. I asked him to be careful when he pulled out – or did I? Can’t remember. I probably said something fairly dumb.

Oh, Rick and Mike also signed my stuff for me and my son. Very cool.
As for the other 11 lucky people there, I met most of them. I met Harry, Joan, Helena, and Lydia, as well as others whose names I cannot remember. I am awful with names. I don’t know how this happened, but everyone seemed to have left with the exception of me and Lydia (of the 12), Bob, Amy, Chris (Amy’s husband?), and a fellow who I do not know, did not meet, but has to be part of the inner circle of Gordon Lightfoot.

I was getting ready to leave and Amy said “Don’t go, join us for some wine. Chris is going to break out this wonderful ’98 red” or something to that effect. I’m no fool, I did not leave, and went back to the room where the wine and food were. Sure enough, there was THE wine, and I poured myself a glass and sat in a kind of semi-circle with those above. By the way, the wine was the best wine I have EVER had – wow! Anyway, we were all talking about the studio, their hopes for things to come, and other small talk.

Bob Doidge and the “fellow I don’t know” where exchanging some technical stuff which was interesting but went completely over my head. Bob also opened up a guitar case and showed us this beautiful guitar commissioned for Gordon by Martin Guitar (I posted a pic of this previously). I don’t play the guitar, but I can appreciate the beauty of this guitar – wow!

I eventually left, basically because I felt these people must be tired. As I was leaving a met Bob Doidge on the sidewalk returned from a short walk. He stopped me and engaged me in conversation. Such a nice guy. Bob is an amazing musician in his own right – an honor to meet him for sure.

I then walked to my car. Oh, Rick did a good job pulling out of his parking space. Jake (my dog) was happy to see me!

Last, I want to say how thankful I am to Grant Avenue Studio, Gordon Lightfoot and his band, and to everyone else who made this night possible. I am very lucky, I know it, and I wish you all could have been there with me.