The 25-year anniversary is approaching of one of my most memorable days in my Gordon fandom: The release of the "Shadows" album.
I remember marching through bitter cold and snow on Feb. 9, 1982 near the University of Minnesota to get the LP version of "Shadows." I wore that album out and my college friends pleaded with me to get with the times and listen to something more hip.
Gord had just appeared at the U of M's Northrup Auditorium the previous October and had debuted about half the album. I still remember him having a music stand brought to him on stage where he performed "Heaven Help the Devil" from sheet music.
The album, after all these years, is still my favorite because of this memory and the fact that there is not a below average song on the entire album. After 25 years, the album has stood the test of time and the songs are among the most played in my car. I think Gord feels the same way because 6 of the 11 songs have had many concert appearances the past decade or so.
The albums from the 1970's clearly are outstanding. The post-Shadows albums have been mostly good but maybe each of those albums might have a song or two that I could take or leave. I can truly say that I have never been tempted to fast forward through Shadows. About a week after I listened to Shadows I said that it was his best and I haven't changed my opinion since.
Glad to hear Gord appears to have largely recovered from the scare he gave us here in Minnesota last September with his mini-stroke. Hopefully, he will be back here soon.
John- Minnesota
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