http://www.funcoast.com/article/theater/1840051
Gordon Lightfoot takes on Sandusky State Tuesday
We talked to Lightfoot, who is naturally remembered for his song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” about his upcoming Go Coast visit, his latest album release and the future.
JOHN BENSON
JUN 18, 2013
When you’re an artist of Gordon Lightfoot’s stature, decade after decade of touring the globe to large audiences, there aren’t many things left unaccomplished.
However, the Canadian artist, as far as he believes, is about to do something for the first time – play a concert in Sandusky. It’s been quite a career for the 74-year-old who has recorded 20 albums, had five No. 1 singles and received five Grammy Award-nominations. Aside from his success in writing, singing and performing his own songs, Lightfoot had his songs recorded and performed by Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Jr., Marty Robbins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Judy Collins, Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand and more.
Want to go?
WHAT: Gordon Lightfoot at Sandusky State Theatre
WHEN: 8 p.m. June 19 (A happy hour will begin at 6 p.m. before the show in the State Room)
WHERE: Sandusky State Theatre, 107 Columbus Ave., Sandusky
TICKETS: $49 to $64
INFO: Call 419-626-1950 or visit
www.sanduskystate.com
FC: First of all, what do you have against Sandusky?
Gordon Lightfoot: Nothing whatsoever [laughed]. I played all over Ohio but we’ve never played in Sandusky. It’s a lovely town on the southern shore of Lake Erie.
FC: Naturally saying Lake Erie brings up your hit song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Is there a special connection made when you play the tune near the Great Lakes?
Gordon Lightfoot: It’s the whole Great Lakes area, of course. It’s mainly for a folk song I wrote onetime. Really “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” prolonged my career, although I didn’t think of it at that particular time. Honestly, I didn’t think of it as being released as a single. I never expected that to happen.
FC: Your latest album is 2012’s concert recording “All Live,” which includes songs such as “Sundown,” “Early Morning Rain,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” and, of course, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Why did you decide the time was right to put out the live album?
Gordon Lightfoot: It was sitting there since 1998-1999. I recorded a lot of our concert performances at [Toronto’s] Massey Hall. It was really the best of what we did around 1998 before I had this [stomach] illness. Back then I had really strong vocals. It was supposed to come out posthumously at one point but here I am 10 years still walking around. So here it is.
FC: Is there anything special about these batch of live tracks?
Gordon Lightfoot: I like the idea of putting out raw mixes because when I was going through this material I was looking for all kinds of things – lack of errors, quality of vocal, intonation, feel, tempo. I just found the best takes I could find from 18 performances that we did in Massey Hall over a span of six years.
FC: What’s so unique about Massey Hall?
Gordon Lightfoot: Massey Hall is a gracious old hall that dates back to the time when I sang there when I was 13 years old. It’s tradition for us to play there. We do play there every year and a half. It’s got a good sound and it’s a sound that’s equal to any of the sounds that I’ve heard in any of the other great halls I’ve played in.
FC: Is there any new music in the mix from Gordon Lightfoot?
Gordon Lightfoot: No, not really. I wish I could say there was, but I’m at a tender age. I have a quite a few responsibilities with my life.
FC: Finally, how long can you keep up the touring grind?
Gordon Lightfoot: If we don’t have any health issues, we’ll stay on the road as long as we can.
pictures at Rick's facebook page -
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rick-...941591?fref=ts
SANDUSKY OH article june 18-2013
