Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post

geodeticman · 06-30-2006, 08:48 AM

This idea has had some variations and much discussion under other threads with different premises. The difference here is to focus first on the covers, and then, if whomever replies wishes to, the comparisons to the music in the album versus the cover are sought as well.

In a nutshell - what do you think of what's ON the album, and if so, what is the connection to what's IN the album ?

Art for Music's sake. Connections ?

No "valid" justification is necessary in your reply! i.e. your idea need not have a rationalization, as the subject is intrinsically fuzzy stuff, anyway.

I am curious which old LP/old45/CD/DVD-CD cover art is your favourite ! Just cause... is good enough, but any insights to the music are welcome.

Also, if it comes to mind, how did it (cover art)affect your first purchase, or later, listening-while-reading impression of your first GL purchase, or subsequent ?

As suggested already, Cold On the Shoulder is my opener.

It seems noteworthy as it stands out to me as having the appearance of a canvasse oil-painting. Not being an artist myself, I don't know, but I can picture a photo being taken, and an artist re-touching (?) over it to make it a painting so to speak. OR, one he** of a good artist start to finish. If That's the case, WOW !

On the COTS album, Gordon looks classic 70's rough--and-ready (in his own words), the woman behind his right SHOULDER (this tie-in to the name possibility was raised in another thread as well), versus SHOULDER of the road.

While I do not wish to expand here on what is "Cold", and which "Shoulder" here as explained above, which would clearly be unfairly borrowing from another post on COTS and the "shoulder, what's cold," and other aspects that were well covered for that particular album cover, from essentially those two key words point of view in another thread.

Rather, with that thought starting with two words and ALL they could mean on just ONE album cover in a great thread, think of all the other aspects of the cover of that album ALONE. That is inspiring for me to consider cover art in general.

With the COTS cover, what of the candle burning low and long, the woman looking admiringly, the music in progress as evidenced by the scratch sheets on the table ?

And Gordon looks quintessentially mid 70's for him, as on Sundown and Gord's Gold, but is not engaged in being "photographed" or "drawn" by an artist; rather, we seem to be catching him in the middle of "the process" (of writing).

Does that mean we are in fact looking at the man at work for real ? Or are we seeing an artist's conception of the process.

It is so photo-realistic, plus (just guessing) re-touched art over the photo, maybe a combination of all the above, make for a real piece of art in my opinion.

And that's before we even BEGIN to approach his REAL artwork - his music !

The denim and lots of Native-American-Art- appearance silver-and-turqoise (medallions ?) on his shirt are characteristic for COTS,and the cover of Dream Street Rose the most IMHO, and to a lesser extent on Sundown, I think. (for mid 70's)

I bought the album on a lark as maybe my 4th choice I could afford in about '75. The wax candle melting in the Chianti-bottle suggests time spent writing the sheet music scratch notes on the table....

Gordon looks very serious, almost dark and depressed... and yet there are so many bright and cheery songs on the album. And, conversely, so many introspective poetry songs (The Soul Is The Rock), story songs (Cherokee Bend), and just plain FEEL-GOOD songs (Bend In The Water).

Enough of my starter. What of:

Don Quixote cover art ?

Does the photo correspond to the contents ? I'd like to see a Cervantes-based Man of La Mancha theme myself, or something Arthurian.

So what do you think of ANY of his albums' covers, and anything else that ties in to them ?

Your thoughts ? no wrong answer. no vast knowledge necessary. just "works for me, because..."... or "I don't like it because....its a photo taken from the floor, and there is gum on his boot soles..." LOL j/k

BTW - thanks to Florian and Charlene and our leaders who made so much work and change over the last...several hours/days/?.

What album cover and what thoughts I ask you...?

- geo Steve

[ June 30, 2006, 11:04: Message edited by: geodeticman ]

06-30-2006, 08:48 AM	#2
geodeticman Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado Rockies- Rampart Range Posts: 261	This idea has had some variations and much discussion under other threads with different premises. The difference here is to focus first on the covers, and then, if whomever replies wishes to, the comparisons to the music in the album versus the cover are sought as well. In a nutshell - what do you think of what's ON the album, and if so, what is the connection to what's IN the album ? Art for Music's sake. Connections ? No "valid" justification is necessary in your reply! i.e. your idea need not have a rationalization, as the subject is intrinsically fuzzy stuff, anyway. I am curious which old LP/old45/CD/DVD-CD cover art is your favourite ! Just cause... is good enough, but any insights to the music are welcome. Also, if it comes to mind, how did it (cover art)affect your first purchase, or later, listening-while-reading impression of your first GL purchase, or subsequent ? As suggested already, Cold On the Shoulder is my opener. It seems noteworthy as it stands out to me as having the appearance of a canvasse oil-painting. Not being an artist myself, I don't know, but I can picture a photo being taken, and an artist re-touching (?) over it to make it a painting so to speak. OR, one he** of a good artist start to finish. If That's the case, WOW ! On the COTS album, Gordon looks classic 70's rough--and-ready (in his own words), the woman behind his right SHOULDER (this tie-in to the name possibility was raised in another thread as well), versus SHOULDER of the road. While I do not wish to expand here on what is "Cold", and which "Shoulder" here as explained above, which would clearly be unfairly borrowing from another post on COTS and the "shoulder, what's cold," and other aspects that were well covered for that particular album cover, from essentially those two key words point of view in another thread. Rather, with that thought starting with two words and ALL they could mean on just ONE album cover in a great thread, think of all the other aspects of the cover of that album ALONE. That is inspiring for me to consider cover art in general. With the COTS cover, what of the candle burning low and long, the woman looking admiringly, the music in progress as evidenced by the scratch sheets on the table ? And Gordon looks quintessentially mid 70's for him, as on Sundown and Gord's Gold, but is not engaged in being "photographed" or "drawn" by an artist; rather, we seem to be catching him in the middle of "the process" (of writing). Does that mean we are in fact looking at the man at work for real ? Or are we seeing an artist's conception of the process. It is so photo-realistic, plus (just guessing) re-touched art over the photo, maybe a combination of all the above, make for a real piece of art in my opinion. And that's before we even BEGIN to approach his REAL artwork - his music ! The denim and lots of Native-American-Art- appearance silver-and-turqoise (medallions ?) on his shirt are characteristic for COTS,and the cover of Dream Street Rose the most IMHO, and to a lesser extent on Sundown, I think. (for mid 70's) I bought the album on a lark as maybe my 4th choice I could afford in about '75. The wax candle melting in the Chianti-bottle suggests time spent writing the sheet music scratch notes on the table.... Gordon looks very serious, almost dark and depressed... and yet there are so many bright and cheery songs on the album. And, conversely, so many introspective poetry songs (The Soul Is The Rock), story songs (Cherokee Bend), and just plain FEEL-GOOD songs (Bend In The Water). Enough of my starter. What of: Don Quixote cover art ? Does the photo correspond to the contents ? I'd like to see a Cervantes-based Man of La Mancha theme myself, or something Arthurian. So what do you think of ANY of his albums' covers, and anything else that ties in to them ? Your thoughts ? no wrong answer. no vast knowledge necessary. just "works for me, because..."... or "I don't like it because....its a photo taken from the floor, and there is gum on his boot soles..." LOL j/k BTW - thanks to Florian and Charlene and our leaders who made so much work and change over the last...several hours/days/?. What album cover and what thoughts I ask you...? - geo Steve [ June 30, 2006, 11:04: Message edited by: geodeticman ]