Gord won't play at Vancouver Olympics in January or put out more albums

[charlene]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/can...fAXPwBossVXMQg

Gordon Lightfoot says new material 'not likely,' won't play at Olympics
By Nick Patch (CP) – 2 hours ago

TORONTO — Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot says it's "not likely" he will ever release another album of new material.

Lightfoot says his last record - 2004's "Harmony" - fulfilled his recording contract and he does not foresee putting together anything new. "Not necessary," Lightfoot told The Canadian Press as he arrived at the 20th annual SOCAN awards gala on Monday.

"All of my recording obligations are completed."

Lightfoot has released 20 studio albums since emerging from Toronto's Yorkville folk club scene in the 1960s.

The 71-year-old has collected 17 Juno awards, received an Order of Canada citation in 1970, was inducted into the Canadian Recording Industry Hall of Fame in 1986 and won the Governor General's award in 1997.

While Lightfoot doesn't anticipate recording anything new, he has a typically rigorous tour schedule planned for the next year.

He will begin a tour of Eastern Canada in St. John's, N.L., on March 29 with shows planned through April 15.

He says he's focusing on performing live.

"New shows, new travel, new concerts, new people," he said.

His travels will not, however, take him to Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Games, he said.

Lightfoot performed at the opening ceremonies at the '88 Games in Calgary, but says he won't make the trip to Vancouver.

"No, no, I will not be attending this time," he said.

[BendRick]

I saw in a recent interview newspaper article that GL has no interest in future albums, he has concluded his contracts.. Is this true?
Gordon Lightfoot says new material 'not likely,' won't play at Olympics TheRecord.com - Entertainment_Wire - Gordon Lightfoot says new material 'not likely,' won't play at Olympics

Nick Patch, THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO - Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot says it's "not likely" he will ever release another album of new material.
Lightfoot says his last record - 2004's "Harmony" - fulfilled his recording contract and he does not foresee putting together anything new. "Not necessary," Lightfoot told The Canadian Press as he arrived at the 20th annual SOCAN awards gala on Monday.
"All of my recording obligations are completed."
Lightfoot has released 20 studio albums since emerging from Toronto's Yorkville folk club scene in the 1960s.
The 71-year-old has collected 17 Juno awards, received an Order of Canada citation in 1970, was inducted into the Canadian Recording Industry Hall of Fame in 1986 and won the Governor General's award in 1997.
While Lightfoot doesn't anticipate recording anything new, he has a typically rigorous tour schedule planned for the next year.
He will begin a tour of Eastern Canada in St. John's, N.L., on March 29 with shows planned through April 15.
He says he's focusing on performing live.
"New shows, new travel, new concerts, new people," he said.
His travels will not, however, take him to Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Games, he said.
Lightfoot performed at the opening ceremonies at the '88 Games in Calgary, but says he won't make the trip to Vancouver.
"No, no, I will not be attending this time," he said.

[gretschviking1967]

Oh well. I guess one has to reach that summit sometime. However, I am sure there's plenty of unreleased material spanning his entire career to create many "new" albums. If any are unadorned- which I'd wager many are- he could go back into the studio at his own pace and finish them up. A collection of rarities would be a nice addition and a great way to round off his already incredible catalogue of albums.

[BendRick]

One of my brothers suggested an Instrumentals album. I don't think that can be done as Red Shea is no longer with us. Terry Clements is an awesome musician but can he replicate Red Shea's work? Don't get me wrong, I'm a total fan of Terry Clements.
Also I suggested to my older brother to check out Tony Rice's work, he's a great bluegrass musician who has converted some of GL's work to bluegrass. Some of it works, some of it does not, in my opinion.

[timetraveler]

I wonder if there would be anyone out there who might remember what he played at the '88 Olympics?

[charlene]

He and Ian Tyson sang Alberta Bound..and a young "Feist" was one of the hundreds of dancers on the field..

[Jesse Joe]

A bit of "Four Strong Winds" & "Alberta Bound." I did not know that about Feist... she must have been really young.

[charlene]

She was a young one..I think in this bunch somewhere:
http://www.youtube.com/user/thisisab...13/mfyopBgEqf8
and
http://www.youtube.com/user/thisisab...12/E-NyrDDLuf8
I can't find any footage of Gord/Ian. This link is the Olympics of 1988 in Calgary..This was an ABC broadcast and they probably went to commercial..lol

[jj]

Originally Posted by charlene

I can't find any footage of Gord/Ian. This link is the Olympics of 1988 in Calgary

go to 1 minute and 3 minute marks for start of each tune

http://www.youtube.com/user/thisisab...16/ppDMGX3EnqA

they did go to interview during 4SW and eventually to commercial for last chorus of AB but MacKay and Jennings did a decent job and seemed to enjoy the frigid fun...RIP both

[charlene]

I must have slid the slider too fast!
lol
Peter seemed to be really enjoying himself back home in other clips..
AB at 2:58... they leave just after Mike's big solo...lolol
damn it was cold...

[Shade of a Maple Tree]

Originally Posted by gretschviking1967

Oh well. I guess one has to reach that summit sometime. However, I am sure there's plenty of unreleased material spanning his entire career to create many "new" albums. If any are unadorned- which I'd wager many are- he could go back into the studio at his own pace and finish them up. A collection of rarities would be a nice addition and a great way to round off his already incredible catalogue of albums.

Even with the technology we have today, where virtually everybody and his dog can record music and distribute it far and wide, quality albums are still expensive and time-consuming things to produce. Especially if you need to hire a producer, an arranger, and studio musicians and other specialists. At age 71, Gord doesn`t have a lot of time left, and while I can`t speak for him, I get the distinct impression that he feels his time and money are better spent elsewhere.

I also sense that he has reached the point where he feels he has said all that he can say, both lyrically and musically.

My suspicions were borne out in a recent interview I saw where CBC News anchor Peter Mansbridge was interviewing Gordon, who admitted that he had destroyed the sheet music and lyrics for his extensive catalogue of unpublished and unrecorded work.

When a singer songwriter gets to the point where they destroy their unpublished stuff, they`re probably thinking about their legacy. It could be the case that Gord didn`t think his back-catalogue stuff lived up to what he thought his legacy should be and so it got tossed. Either that, or he didn`t want one of the record labels he dealt with in the past to somehow acquire all that material and profit from it.

As for the rarities, the ones he wanted to release found their way onto the Songbook box set.

I personally would be thrilled to bits to hear some new stuff from him, even if it was just a few songs in an EP format. But I don`t think it`s likely to happen.

[Bill]

It is very easy for us to second guess and design projects in this new technology world. Digital releases, all sorts of ways to do it cheaply and effectively. But alas, it ain't our career or legacy, and clearly Gord is not comfortable in that world...or just not interested. But when you think of how older artists have teamed up for stripped down projects (Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn...even Ringo Starr)...it's hard not to wish for more. Like the venues and the whole approach to concerts...his voice is getting to where bigger venues aren't that advantageous...something more intimate would allow him to really connect. But it won't happen.

[Moosedog]

Gordon may not be performing at the Olympics, but Burton Cummings WILL!

Vickie

Originally Posted by Moosedog

Gordon may not be performing at the Olympics, but Burton Cummings WILL!

Vickie

YAY Burton

Originally Posted by Shade of a Maple Tree

Even with the technology we have today, where virtually everybody and his dog can record music and distribute it far and wide, quality albums are still expensive and time-consuming things to produce. Especially if you need to hire a producer, an arranger, and studio musicians and other specialists. At age 71, Gord doesn`t have a lot of time left, and while I can`t speak for him, I get the distinct impression that he feels his time and money are better spent elsewhere.

I also sense that he has reached the point where he feels he has said all that he can say, both lyrically and musically.

My suspicions were borne out in a recent interview I saw where CBC News anchor Peter Mansbridge was interviewing Gordon, who admitted that he had destroyed the sheet music and lyrics for his extensive catalogue of unpublished and unrecorded work.

When a singer songwriter gets to the point where they destroy their unpublished stuff, they`re probably thinking about their legacy. It could be the case that Gord didn`t think his back-catalogue stuff lived up to what he thought his legacy should be and so it got tossed. Either that, or he didn`t want one of the record labels he dealt with in the past to somehow acquire all that material and profit from it.

As for the rarities, the ones he wanted to release found their way onto the Songbook box set.

I personally would be thrilled to bits to hear some new stuff from him, even if it was just a few songs in an EP format. But I don`t think it`s likely to happen.

yeah Gordon has been clear about his current/future work pertaining to recording and also writing (for publication, anyway). Anything currently unpublished (i.e., writing) may or may not be publically available/released in the future. For sure, anything he had going (drafts, completed works) that he worked on while under contract had to be contended with. He never submitted a copyright for these either and I have yet to find any copyrights for anything 'unreleased', etc.

Seems as though the only possibility for a new recording may be a live performance...for which the talk of has been floating around for some time. I did find some potential 'proof' that gives a vague hint that this was or may still be a possibility...Gordon submitted a copyright for the arrangement of "Beautiful" in 2005 referred to as "Beautiful 3"...as this is the 3rd rendition and is the one he now performs. This copyright submission can be interpreted as an intent to record...and/or may be just to establish the copyright for the current version as it may be recorded by others (with or without permission) during performances.

If the public database I perused is up-to-date (I'm pretty sure) there's nothing new around the corner anytime soon.