Discogs / Gordon Lightfoot Talks About Shadows

[Borderstone]

This interview recording looks like a really cool, GL fan's gotta have it ,item!

I'd certainly like to buy it and hear all about how the project went.

Weird thing,no price is listed! Here's the track listing from the site anyhow .
================================================== =================
Gordon Lightfoot‎– Gordon Lightfoot Talks About Shadows

Label:Warner Bros. Records ‎– GORD 1982 Forma t: Vinyl, 12", Promo, Interview

Country: Canada

Released : 1982
Genre:
Non-Music
Style:
Tracklist .
A1
Tour Plans For 1982
1:04
A2
The Audience
0:25
A3
Living In Canada
1:31
A4
Canoe Trips
1:46
A5
Video Projects
2:08
A6
Promotion
0:32
A7
Production
1:54
B1
Songwriting
1:25
B2
The Album Cover
0:48
B3
14 Karat Gold
1:03
B4
In My Fashion
0:52
B5
Shadows
0:48
B6
Blackberry Wine
0:21
B7
Heaven Help The Devil
0:59
B8
Thank You For The Promises
1:02
B9
Baby Step Back
0:27
B10
All I'm After
0:36
B11
Triangle
0:50
B12
I'll Do Anything
0:19
B13
She's Not The Same

[joveski]

it is good. he chats between songs and they play album track by track

[Borderstone]

Sounds great J. !

Do you own a copy of it yourself or have you only heard it someplace?

Certainly,if Discogs would issue a price,I'd see if I could afford to get it too.

[joveski]

i've got a copy somewhere.. the dirty B word - bootleg!

[Andy T.]

13 years ago I transcribed all the interview bits and posted them on the GL newsgroup. A quick search found it, here it is - I didn't include very may of the "uhhhhs" though.

-Andy

GORDON LIGHTFOOT TALKS SHADOWS

on the 1982 Tour : ….. As soon as the record comes out, of course, we're not
gonna hit the road and start plugging it - because, we've already, in a sense,
done that - because we've been doing a lot of this material on stage, already,
and checking the audience's response on it. What we will do is, when we tour
we'll do it in a piecemeal type of way we've done it in the past - we go out
and do three or four dates at a time, and fly back and home and wait five or
six days and go out again, that type of deal. We're playin' western Canada
sometime in the spring, I believe it's in April, and our American tour, which
is quite large, takes up a lot more of our time - and we'll probably start that
in .. uhhh the end of July, and that'll take us right through to the end of
1982.

The Audience : ….. I always see couples, always. I see couples, and they're
holding hands, and , I don't know, our particular audience is a very very nice
kind of people - we don't have any 'ya-hoos' hanging around.

Living in Canada:……… When I originally began to make it in the music
business, which was many many years ago, some of the most important contacts I
established were American managers. And as a result of this, they were
establishing American deals. So I was able to work there under an H-1 visa -
which is what you have to have - you have to show some reason for being there.
You still have to pay, like, your income taxes - we pay taxes to the American
government, as well the Canadian government. And you had to show some reason
for usurping someone's job. So it was not necessary for me to move down to the
United States at that point. The other reason, is that, uhh, this is gonna
sound kinda phony, but I really like Toronto, a lot. I've been living here for
22 years. I like my city, a lot. And I like one of my hobbies, a lot, and
that's canoeing. And I like to go canoeing up in the far north, and that sort
of thing. And that's probably the main reason I stay here, is that I like my
city and I like going canoeing.

Going Canoeing: Yeah, this summer, we're doing the Cazaan(sp) river, from the
Snowbird lake. About 200 miles north of Flin Flon Manitoba, to Baker Lake.
It's a good trip…. I wouldn't advise it though, it's a (chuckles), it's a
trip for experts. We plan to start that about July the 1st and we hope that we
don't run into ice, because it's been a cold winter. What you have to do is
just simply carry everything around the ice if you ever encounter ice. Its
usually drift ice that's drifting out of lakes and into the rivers. In some of
these lakes that are long and narrow, the ice will collect, as in a funnel. The
lake becomes a funnel and the ice will collect. But you take the number of
days in consideration. The rule-of-thumb is you should go about 20 miles a
day. Irregardless of what kind of obstructions you might run up against. Which
could be rapids, or any number of things- wind ….. So it's an interesting
thing - it's really good for your health, and now I've done about 3500 miles of
it, but I'm pushing for the 4000 mile mark this summer on the Cazaan which is
about a 500 mile trip….. If you have anything like, go wrong, that's very
serious, we carry an emergency locator. Which we would use only in certain
instances - like you wouldn't use it if a guy had a toothache, you'd give him a
"222" or something.

Audio/visual (music videos) . We're going to make an audio-visual
presentation which could like become an item for a cable TV slot, in the United
States, or it could be used as a promotional device, it could be played as a
mini-concert on PBS, which would be received here in Canada, there are many
outlets. They are expensive to make. But we're going to make one. And its
all in the framework of the new audio-visual disc business, which is beginning
to develop. I was approached/asked if I wanted to get involved in this,
several months ago, and I decided to do it, so we're going to make one of
those. Its going to cost us probably about 85,000 to make one, it's very
expensive. There are three or four different avenues it could be used in. As
a matter of fact, I'm making it a policy to make of those with each album that
I make from now on. 'Cause you want to get in to that, If you want to take the
effort, make the effort, get involved in it, you'll have a much better chance
of succeeding with your record, because one helps the other. And I'm just a
very conscientious guy, and we like, run a big business here, a big company, a
lot of people work in this company. There's all the guys in the band, the
sound people, everybody and uh, we try to do what we can to keep things rolling
along. I've been doing it so long that - probably 22 ..23 years now, it's
just like keeping it rolling along, keeping things the momentum up and looking
after things. And playing good music and making people happy, and that sort of
thing, that's what it's all about.

Production of records…. You can't think about being the producer when
you're cutting your basic tracks. And everything that's ever going to be
there is going to be in the basic track. And you don't put your producer's hat
on until it comes time to do the post production. Well… you start before
that, of course, but you don't really get seriously into it until the post
production - the mix, the overdubs, and all that sort of thing. We use all of
our basic musicians on our basic tracks, which is just where we sit
down………. like I don't go and put my whole vocal on a record - like when I
sing that thing when I sing it. Unless I might mess up a line or two, I might
go back and correct that. But I sing that vocal the first time I ever walk on
the studio floor. I don't come in like three months later and stand in a
booth, and sing it. (talks about "wreck" - see my post from a few weeks ago)

On Promotion ….. If I have something I really believe in that I've done, such
as I've done with this record, and the amount of effort and work that has gone
into this record - The only reason I'm doing a promotional tour is that I want
to make sure that people aware of it. I could go and comparing it to other
things - I wouldn't compare it to other people, but I could compare it to my
own work, and I could say that it's as good as anything I've done since
SUNDOWN, for instance.

On Songwriting….. Songwriting is a complicated process. It takes a lot of
time. It's done gradually. It's done by bits of information, bits of strings
of ideas which I presently would be feeling. I keep track of these things on
scraps of paper, and that sort of thing, and when it comes time to "do the
job", you figure, well, let's take three or four months and let's write some
songs. And then you go and take a look in your wallet, your briefcase, and
find these little bits of ideas you've written down. I always carry a few
sheets of manuscript with me, I might write like one line, and leave it there.
Terry and I might come up with something while we are getting in tune for a
show. And I just save these little pieces of information up and when it comes
time to go, you just take the tiny string of material and develop it. I also
sometimes, like to tape little bits of information, but that is usually done
out of my home, or in my office, or something like that, because I don't go
running all over the place with a tape recorder on me, you know. If I get an
idea, I'll write it down, usually.

On the LP cover art….. The cover of the album, is a uhh….. I have a
friend in Los Angeles, who's done a lot of photographic work on me, Tom Burt,
and he wanted to do something that would sort of illustrate this "shadows"
idea. So this is a very special process, that he uses here. Since we are
talking about album jackets, album jackets are important! He's a very bright
guy, he does a lot of photography, he's a professional, very professional
photographer, and he wanted to get something that would create this idea of
'shadows' so that's where this picture comes from.

=================

Looks like this post is too long, need to break it into two sections....

[Andy T.]

Here's the rest of it:
===============================

Song: ….14 Karat Gold is surrealistic. It has to do with the relationship,
with the human relationship, what is says is that you don't know everything
there is to know, about everybody else, or about each other, or about anything
for that matter. But what you say is that you're saying that you appreciate
your lady in very positive terms. It's kind of a departure from some of the
other stuff that I've done. Some of this stuff will be rather prevalent on
this record. It's a different kind of texture, and it's a kind of texture that
I've used in this album, at least three or four times, with the bass drum. And
the certain musical approach that we use on it. And it's a song that works
extremely well on stage, because I've sung it many times.

Song: ….In My Fashion is a philosophical song, of which I've attempted to
write many, I don't if I've every really succeeded at it, but I've tried. It
recognizes my responsibilities as a human being, the people I've been very
closely related to in my life, like my family, my relatives, my two kids by my
former marriage, and that sort of thing. It's a sort of song about where you
recognize that you've not cut all…… even though things have not worked out
the way people would have liked to have had them work out, that everything is
being looked after, and things have not just been cast to the wind.

Song: …. Shadows, well, at the time, about six months ago, I really
wasn't sure, if I had everything that I needed to make a great album out of
this thing. That was one of the very best songs that I had, it was just about
the premiere tune that I thought that I had. It was a song that dealt also
with a very special problem that I through in my life, as many people have gone
through. It dealt with nature, and the relationship between the man and the
woman and that whole sort of thing. And, the result of it, I thought the tune
was so darn good that I said "this is going to be my title song" and it still
is.

Song: …. Blackberry Wine is a song that I wrote about 2 or 3 years ago,
which is a lively bright little tune that we have a lot of fun with, which
works very well onstage. It's about a very light topic, as a matter of fact,
it's about drinking if I may be so bold.

Song: …. Heaven Help the Devil. In my quest for topical material, which
is something I always go for in a big way. I like to write topical songs, but
with being a Canadian, I can't really comment upon what happens in other
countries, because, after all, it's none of my business, when you come right
down to it. But that song was written for the hostages, after their return.
And it is a commentary on the fact that they were returned and that everything
was alright. I wanted to prove that I wasn't trying to capitalize on the fact
that they were imprisoned, I didn't want to do that, so I waited until it was
over with. But the idea came to be before they were released.

Song….. Thank you for the Promises. It has the very kind of sort of
romantic type of approach. The music is interesting. The rhythm pattern is
very interesting in it, and it deals with the same type of situation that we
find in a lot of these songs, except that it is done with much more
sophistication. About the relationship between the man and the woman. And
their mutual regard for one another, but mostly both totally "devote to one
another to each other as long as we both shall live" kind of situation. It
reminds me of Leonard Cohen, if anybody influenced a tune like that, I'd say it
would have to have been Leonard Cohen. I was quite a fan of his, for a number
of years, still am.

Song….. Baby Step Back. If I were to tell you the story behind that song
you wouldn't even believe me. I was out playing golf one day, with my
brother-in-law, Bob Ayers up in Orillia, whose name is credited on the album,
by the way. And it came time to go on the first tee, and he said "either step
up or step back" and that was where that song originated.

Song….. All I'm After, it was one of the very last songs that I wrote for the
album. And it was one of the last songs that made it into the roster. It has
a certain thing about it that is very nice. It's also written in 6/8 time,
which is sort of an interesting to get into, I've done it before but have not
been successful. It deals with the human relationship, and how honesty pays
because if you're not honest, you're going to have to pay for it somewhere down
the road.

Song…. The song Triangle. The song was written, specifically, about the
Bermuda Triangle. And it …. I've actually known someone who got lost down
there, in my life, I've known a person who disappeared down there. I think
what it is, is a system of wind and rocks that causes these things to happen
down there - some folks say that it's extra-uhhh-terrestrial…. So what I did
was try to make a general blanket statement about it. And it's a completely
philosophical song - it's a sea chantey. Of which I've written many, as a
matter of fact, one day, I would like a whole album of sea-songs, and songs
about the water, I'd like to have them all "published" on one album.

Song… I'll do Anything. Probably, I would think, would have been my "most
unlikely to succeed" but, the guitar work and everything that has gone into the
song has made it very acceptable. It would be the closest thing to a country
song that we have on this record.

Song….. She's not the Same. This one is our "mystery tune." It's a song
about unrequited love, and I consider it to be a very good song.

[T.G.]

I like this one LOL

Originally Posted by Andy T.

... our particular audience is a very very nice kind of people - we don't have any 'ya-hoos' hanging around.

[Dave, Melbourne,Australia]

Originally Posted by Andy T.

I could say that it's as good as anything I've done since SUNDOWN, for instance.

Gee, as much as I love the SHADOWS album, I'd argue that SUMMERTIME DREAM got dismissed prematurely here.

[Dave, Melbourne,Australia]

Originally Posted by Andy T.

It's a sea chantey. Of which I've written many, as a
matter of fact, one day, I would like a whole album of sea-songs, and songs
about the water, I'd like to have them all "published" on one album.

The following collection would make a reasonable album:
Long River
Peaceful Waters
The Ballad of Yarmouth Castle
Christian Island (Georgian Bay)
Ode to Big Blue
High and Dry
Seven Island Suite
Bend in the Water
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Ghosts of Cape Horn
Triangle
A Passing Ship
Boathouse
Canary Yellow Canoe
River of Light
Couchiching.

(I've ignored some songs which suggest waterways but aren't really about waterways.)

[JohninCt.]

Rick, once mentioned to me that they thought the Shadows album was going to be a big seller. They were surprised that it wasn't. I still think it is one of his better albums.

[Borderstone]

Well,folks. A member of Corfid has done me the ever wonderful favor of shipping me copy on a "legit" CD collection. "Shadows ReDux" w/Gordon Lightfoot Talks About Shadows.

The first disc has the interview snippetts and songs played in full,the other has the full intrview and "snipetts" of th songs. Either way,it's nice to finally have "Shadows" on CD.

As well as the bonus tracks :
Tattoo
Salute
Gotta Get Away
I'll Tag Along
If It Should Please You
Restless
Wild Strawberries
Waiting For You
Forgive Me Lord



(I don't have the CD with me,I beleive that's all the B. tracks. Again,another place "My Love For You" cold have been included.))

[Borderstone]

Johninct. said (a few weeks ago) :

Rick, once mentioned to me that they thought the Shadows album was going to be
a big seller. They were surprised that it wasn't. I still think it is one of his better albums.

No question there John. When i finally 1st heard it in 2002,
I couldn't believe it wasn;t as successful as it should have been in '82 either.

The only track I wouldn't pick for a single (and WB did) would be Blackberry Wine. WB attempt to make Gordon "more 80s",in both music and video. Otherwise,to me,every song's a classic.

Many acts in the 80s got 5,6, or 7 hits off their albums and "Shadows" should have been no exception. The end of the 1970s hurt a lot of acts in 1981 - 1983. Many of them were being pushed out by the new sounds and of course MtV. Any act that did want to stay afloat,had to pretty much 'sell out" (see Heart 1985-1990).

[JohninCt.]

Funny thing about Blackberry Wine. This is what Gordon said about it on the song list from the above post.

"Blackberry Wine is a song that I wrote about 2 or 3 years ago,
which is a lively bright little tune that we have a lot of fun with, which
works very well onstage. It's about a very light topic, as a matter of fact,
it's about drinking if I may be so bold."

I remember that often in his live concerts in the early 80's, people would bring bottles of blackberry wine and leave them on the stage for him to drink, which he did. In all reality, it sure didn't help him at that time. I guess because of that, I never really liked the song. I also think Borderstone is right, with the timing release of the Shadows LP being at the birth of MTV and all that kind stuff with it, hurting the sales of Shadows.