Gordon Lightfoot

[Onomea]

Whatta ya think?

For a long time, I thought him a lightweight. But in recent years, I have begun to think of him as a great artist.

And, I am not talking, only, about the "Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald," which is a great classic by anyone's measure.

For example, among lesser knowns that appeal to me, "Shadows."

I looked him up this evening, and learned that he died last year.

Rest in peace.

I was never a big fan, but I do like that "Shadows" song a lot.

https://youtu.be/x9IbBC5Dt_8?si=f0M_t3tlMmdLzOg8

 

[bobsguns]

He was a strong drinker for decades. Probably contributed to his early demise, IMO. I think it probably held back his greatness too.

I think his best songs were If You Could Read My Mind & Sundown.

 

[Xfuzz]

He was a strong drinker for decades.
I think his best songs were If You Could Read My Mind & Sundown.

He was 85...
That was his two best.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Gordon wrote some great songs!
One of my favs is Ribbon of Darkness.
Especially like it when the great Marty Robbins does it.
https://youtu.be/794cfJsgAsY?si=-trIPWuKtT_mU_N9

 

[dockmurgw]

Always one of my favorites. And my favorite is an unpublished song that can only be heard on the Harry Tracy soundtrack. I'll never understand why he never recorded this song.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijaB1pEONLY[/ame]

 

[Bald1]

Well he was Canadian so yeah he liked to drink. Early Morning Rain is another good one. He’s on my Pandora channel list. Along with Blue Rodeo. There are a lot of good Canadian artists that don’t get the recognition they deserve. Legend of the Edmunds Fitzgerald is one of my all time favorites. Maybe because I grew up on the Great Lakes. I know first hand how quickly they can kick up. Especially Erie because it’s so shallow.

 

[old bear]

A belated RIP, to the man.

 

[WR Moore]

I tried listening to the song, unfortunately the piano overwhelms the voice. Not unusual with rock bands but really detrimental here.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Another Gordon Lightfoot song I really like is Early Morning Rain.
First recorded by Ian and Sylvia.
Ian being Ian Tyson, another great Canadian Singer- Song Writer.

 

[djohns6]

When I think of Gordon Lightfoot I think of the that Edmund Fitzgerald song , which I despise . Just not a fan .

 

[nodpete]

Check out his "Sunday morning coming down". Another good one. He wrote a lot of songs that others had hits with. He also was a Rhodes Scholar !

 

[mtgianni]

I liked Alberta Bound and several of his songs. I saw him in Salt Lake in concert about '73. He was wearing a tee shirt and levi's, said that the airline had lost his luggage. He claimed to have hit pawn shops until he found a guitar he liked. Cordial and on key throughout, he did at least one, maybe two encores.

I always thought his music was easy to listen to. The opening ceremonies of the Calgary Olympics with he and Ian Tyson dueting is a great classic of Canadian pride and a good time.

I have been to the Canadian Music Hall of fame in Calgary. I learned that in the early 60's they passed a law that a majority of the music played on radio in Canada had to originate in Canada. That lead to the ride of many artists, that we also enjoy.

 

[VictorLouis]

I got to see him in downtown PHoenix in the late 90's. Poor guy looked like death-warmed-over back then. Here's a snippet about our local connection:

Your browser is not supported | azcentral.com

You should be able to delete the subscription request to read it for free

 

[jeffrefrig]

Check out his "Sunday morning coming down". Another good one. He wrote a lot of songs that others had hits with. He also was a Rhodes Scholar !

I think you have him mixed up with Kris Kristofferson, who was also an Army Ranger and had an IQ of 165. Kris also dated Janice for about a month or so, which is about all the longer I'd be able to handle that party!

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

He was a strong drinker for decades. Probably contributed to his early demise, IMO. I think it probably held back his greatness too.

I think his best songs were If You Could Read My Mind & Sundown.

He was 85...
That was his two best.

I think 85 is a pretty good run for a hard drinking Canadian musician. Eh.

 

[nodpete]

I think you have him mixed up with Kris Kristofferson, who was also an Army Ranger and had an IQ of 165. Kris also dated Janice for about a month or so, which is about all the longer I'd be able to handle that party!

You are right! Both were good in my book, I still play their songs on my guitar.

 

[venomballistics]

In Detroit they prayed
The church bell rang 30 times, the day Gordon joined the men of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

 

[Heinz]

The house you live in

"The House you live in' was one of my Lightfoot favorites
Gordon Lightfoot - The House You Live In Lyrics & Meanings | SongMeanings

 

[Rule3]

He had so, so many great songs!


Complete List Of Gordon Lightfoot Albums And Discography - ClassicRockHistory.com

 

[lihpster]

Grew up on Mr. Lightfoot's music. I must have worn out the groove in my mom's copy of Summertime Dream. While I loved his hits, I tended to like deep cuts. I'd Do it Again, Cobwebs and Dust, and the aforementioned The House you Live In are favorites.