I'd call Shadows a return to form. There were no radio hits, but this was s solid outing. I know nothing about Lightfoot's output after this record. I am aware of a false death reports on Facebook, and I caught part of an interview he did with Peter Mansbridge, but that's it. In truth, I rarely listen to Lightfoot these days. His music is really something that reminds me of my father.
The Who stole the title of this record! Well, it's likely that they were totally unaware of it. Anyway, the Allmusic critic hates this record:
"Endless Wire should have been called "Endless Touring Makes You Tired" for that is what these songs sound like. Lightfoot
began going through the motions here, and although there are some good
tunes here such as "Daylight Katy" and "Hangdog Hotel Room," others
appear to be weary without being arranges as such. He even re-records
"The Circle Is Small" without any better results than the original. The
downward slide had begun." [source]
I like this record very much. It's far better than the critic from Allmusic believes. Perhaps they should listen to it again.
Summertime Dream, Lightfoot's twelfth record, was clearly his peak, and that largely had to do with the mega hit The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. It's interesting to note that this tune hit number 1 in Canada and number 2 in the USA, despite it being 6:32 long, though the single version was edited down to 5:57. It defied the logic that singles must be three minutes. Lightfoot as never again so popular, though I think he held on to his loyal fans.
This is a good record filled with good tunes.
I can't mention The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald without also mentioning the Rheostatics, who recorded an impressive cover version of this song.
Gord's Gold is a compilation album released by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot in 1975. Originally a vinyl double album, it was reissued on CD in 1987 (with one track, "Affair on Eighth Avenue", omitted to allow the collection to fit onto a single disc).
It was the first Lightfoot compilation to feature music from his 1970s Reprise Records albums, and also includes re-recordings of his 1960s United Artists
hits (tracks 1-10). This served to update the earlier recordings to the
same style as his later work and gives the album a level of consistency
often lacking in similar compilations. Lightfoot's reasons for
re-recording the United Artists tracks were explained in the liner notes
as being because "he doesn't like listening to his early work".
Despite covering only the first decade of his career (and lacking one of his biggest hit singles, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", which was recorded the following year), Gord's Gold has remained the most commercially popular Lightfoot compilation. In 1988 Lightfoot released a second volume, Gord's Gold, Vol. 2, which also featured re-recordings of earlier hits. [source]
Rainy Day People is the big hit from this, Gordon's 11th record. It's a song that makes me think of my dad. I remember him playing this record from time to time. I have no idea what happened to his old records.
This is the LP on which Gordon added some country sound. I am not a fan of country music, with some exceptions. I think this is still really a solid record, and I like it. Lightfoot has an engaging voice, so I can usually listen to anything that he recorded. There are no huge hits on this record, but it did win a Juno in 1974, for some bizarre reason.
For me, the centerpiece of this record is the political song Black Day in July, a song about the Detroit riots in 1967. This song was banned in the USA. Go figure. Some of you might know that the Tragically Hip covered this tune on the album Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot. Lightfoot songs remind me of my father. He had a few Lightfoot records in his collection.
Gordon Lightfoot is one of the few artists whose records can sometimes be found at thrift stores. His records are worth picking up, unlike those of Anne Murray and James Last. I have to note that some thrift stores have increased prices to stupid amounts for giant piles of crap. I've seen moldy, scratched-up records that should have been melted down. I've also seen 7" 45 RPM records with price stickers applied directly onto the groves. There are other thrifts shops who have hired a record expert to examine everything (you know, remove the good stuff) before it hits the floor, thereby denying the thrill of finding something cool at a thrift shop. I also suspect that some employees might be holding things for themselves, but who knows if that is true? I rarely even bother to go in anymore.
But, back to Lightfoot, a true Canadian icon. He is probably best described as folk, but there are hints of country music, which interests me far less. Lightfoot is probably in the top five of best Canadian songwriters, after Leonard Cohen, Bruce Cockburn, and Neil Young, of course. Some might add Joni Mitchell. A long list of artists have covered his songs. One of the first covers I recall hearing was Olivia Newton John's rendition of If Your Could Read My Mind, a song I hated with a passion, until I heard Lightfoot's original. My brother had Olivia's record - If Not For You - on 8-track, and he played it over and over. I know she is dealing with cancer, and I hope she overcomes it. I was never a fan.
But, back to Lightfoot. His debut, recorded in 1964, was released in 1966. This record was released in mono and stereo versions. I have the stereo version. It contains two of his biggest hits, Early Mornin' Rain and Ribbon of Darkness. It's not a bad record for certain Sunday mornings.
