SONGS ABOUT GL

[Dan]

I remember a song by a Canadian Pop group from the late 60's or early 70's entitled 'Lightfoot'. Was it the Guess Who?

I remember some of the lyrics:

'Side men come out first...
....
Lead guitarist Red Shea he's really come a long long way....
....
Then Lightfoot, edwardian?? silver stripe....
....
He is the image of Alberta...'

Does anyone remember this song and who sang it?

Have there been other songs about GL and if so what are they and who recorded them and when?

I just discovered this forum and have been enjoying all of you for the last few days. I never knew that so many people were as nuts about this Canadian as me! I drive my wife and kids crazy with his music all the time.

[This message has been edited by Dan (edited May 11, 2000).]

[charlene]

I don't remember that song but I know Burton Cummings of the Guess Who does a killer imitation of Gord as does Billy Joel.
char

[Sundreme]

Yes Dan it was indeed by the Guess Who. It was recorded in the late sixties as a tribute to Gord who was already well on his way to becoming a legend in Canada. I have it somewhere on my hardrive complete with Randy Bachman's commentary on it. According to Randy when they played it for Gord he was so overwhelmed by it, he had tears in his eyes.

As far as the Burton Cummings imitiation of Gord...I believe he does Gord as Rod Stewart,not Billy Joel. That can be found on Burton's Up Close and Alone CD, it features Burton as Gord singing Maggie May. Its hillarious!
Erica

[Florian]

Hi,

Speaking of parodies:

here is one:
John Valby - Gordon Lightfoot Parody of Sundown.mp3

Warning: Adult language!

[This message has been edited by Florian (edited May 13, 2000).]

[charlene]

Burton does an imitation of Gord as if Gord were singing Maggie May. (a Rod Stewart song)
Billy Joel does Gord singing a couple of different Gord tunes.

They have both done them for at least the 20 or so years I've seen them perform in Toronto and always draws a huge response from the audience.

Char

[Sundreme]

Oops, Sorry Char...I misread your original statement where you wrote that Burton does an imitation of Gord AS DOES Billy Joel and thought you were saying that Burton does Gord AS Billy Joel. Sorry for the mix-up, my bad. Any yes, you're correct, he doesn't do Gordon sounding like Rod Stewart, he does Gord sounding like Gord singing a Rod Stewart song..Wow, I hope this post doesn't sound like an Abbott and Costello's who's on first routine!:-D I vaguely recall reading about Billy Joel's imitations of Gord, but had forgotten about it till reading it here. I've never heard Joel's take on GL;does anyone know where I can listen to it?
Erica

[Dan]

quote:Originally posted by Sundreme:
Yes Dan it was indeed by the Guess Who. It was recorded in the late sixties as a tribute to Gord who was already well on his way to becoming a legend in Canada. I have it somewhere on my hardrive complete with Randy Bachman's commentary on it. According to Randy when they played it for Gord he was so overwhelmed by it, he had tears in his eyes. Erica


Sundreme,

Is it small enough to e-mail to me?
Dan

[Dan]

quote:Originally posted by charlene:
Billy Joel does Gord singing a couple of different Gord tunes
Char

Char,

What Lightfoot songs does Billy Joel do? Has he recorded any of them?

Dan

[charlene]

I can't for the life of me think what they are right now. I'll ask my husband in the morning. He just performs about 8-10 lines but he is right on and is very funny. The crowd goes wild when he does it. He also does a killer Elvis. He's a great artist and performer. When I find out I will post it here for you.
Char

[Rob Wells]

Charlene,

This you have got to get to Us because if it's as funny as the John Valby parody, it would be great!!!!!

[Rob Wells]

I did a little research on John Valby. He's better known as Dr. Dirty. His songs are all pornographic paradies. His shows, could put a Roman orgies to shame. He did do a parody of the Fitz. To clean it up a bit, and I really hope I don't offend anyone with this, but the twist he used at the end of the song is pretty clever.

The last verse is a about two gay guys named Eddy and Jerry and the line goes,

"I just love the way Edmund fits Gerald."

Rob



[This message has been edited by Rob Wells (edited May 20, 2000).]

quote:Originally posted by Dan:
I remember a song by a Canadian Pop group from the late 60's or early 70's entitled 'Lightfoot'. Was it the Guess Who?

I remember some of the lyrics:

'Side men come out first...
....
Lead guitarist Red Shea he's really come a long long way....
....
Then Lightfoot, edwardian?? silver stripe....
....
He is the image of Alberta...'

Does anyone remember this song and who sang it?

Have there been other songs about GL and if so what are they and who recorded them and when?

I just discovered this forum and have been enjoying all of you for the last few days. I never knew that so many people were as nuts about this Canadian as me! I drive my wife and kids crazy with his music all the time.

[This message has been edited by Dan (edited May 11, 2000).]


Hi Dan,

The "Guess who" album this is on is called Wheatfield soul" The titile of the song is indeed "Lightfoot". the album I believe is not on CD by itself but in a combo anthology thing i believe. Costs around 50 bucks I think.

Bill

two versions of "Lightfoot" (one is a 2nd take rehearsal version, or something like that) on the Guess Who: Ultimate Collection, 3 CDs ...only about $20 CDN or so at Costco ...that's probably about 5 bucks US eh?

FYI, there's a 30 sec sampler real audio file at cdnow.com

Lightfoot (Bachman/Cummings/Matheson)
---------
Sidemen come out first
John Stockfish base guitar
Looks at the world through the eyes of Nashville,
The Riverboat and Charlie McCoy
He's just a boy

The lead guitarist Red Shea who's really come a long, long way
since rythym rocker jingle jangle
And go Red!

And Lightfoot
Edwardian, suddenly striped
His hair blondish and poetic
He is less than vinyl perfect
His foot is a precise anchor for the husk and vibrance of his voice

He is the image of Alberta
The side street near Chicago
The grim beauty of Toronto

He is an artist
He is an artist
He is an artist painting sistine masterpieces of pine and fur and backwoods
Still echos long ago the winter night of black july and then the outcome
Of an early cleveland rainfall

I sit softly among the rest waiting there for him to paint his pictures
And as the go-go girl went round and our heads were in a spin I thought about
The Crossroads, In the Early Morning Rain and Rosanna

I'm not saying that I'm sory
I'm just telling you this story
And when Lightfoot's magic calls
You can write it on your walls
'Cause that's what walls are for

He is an artist

[Dan]

Talbot,
Thanks for the info. Since I made that post my wife downloaded Lightfoot from Napster. My brother-in-law who is a music savant also told us it was on Wheatfield soul album.

Thank you though, it was nice of you to let me know!
Dan