I'm Not Sayin' it's the Gordon Lightfoot listening thread (but it is)...new album every Thursday

Old Dan's Records - 1972

"Farewell to Annabel" – 2:59
"That Same Old Obsession" – 3:46
"Old Dan's Records" – 3:05
"Lazy Mornin'" – 3:43
"You Are What I Am" – 2:37
"Can't Depend on Love" – 3:12
"My Pony Won't Go" – 3:50
"It's Worth Believin'" – 3:24
"Mother of a Miner's Child" – 3:18
"Hi'way Songs" – 3:37

I must admit I don't know this album well at all, its probably the one I've listened to the least of all of his records up to and including Shadows so I am really interested to give it few listens this week. Considering it comes between two albums like Don Quixote and Sundown its strange how little time I've given it.

that's understandable, it's his only 'classic' period LP with no real single on it, and I don't even remember ever seeing it in the thrift store. looking forward to giving this a spin though because I remember it being quite good..."Can't Depend on Love" was a great one wasn't it? plus the pun in the title track is so corny I can't help but love it a little

I can’t believe I’m so far behind on this thread. One album a week shouldn’t be too onerous.

Just spun SDYS/IYCRMM. It’s a fine recording — sonically a lot more hi-budget than anything from the UA years. I’ve never really connected with it, though. Songs, playing, and production are all high quality but it just leaves me a little cold. It’s pleasant all the way through and it’s understandable why it was a hit at the time.

The only real missteps IMO are the busy band arrangement on “Baby It’s Allright”, and “Bobby McGee”, which would be merely inessential except for Gord’s unbearable bungling of the “Salinas” verse.

does anyone else think "My Pony Won't Go" is about erectile dysfunction

i'd never really thought about it but now i can't un-think it

This album doesn't do it for me as much as the last few.

It starts pretty strong with Farewell to Annabelle/That Same Old Obsession/Old Dan's Records (agreed the pun is excellent).

Then I find it really boring until It's Worth Believin' then it trails off. Hi'way songs is a decent closer but nothing special.

There are a pair couplets as bad as the Alberta Bound one for awkward rhymes. I can't think of them of the top of my head now but there are a couple moments I cringe while listening.

I think it's kinda the opposite, Side 2 is pretty strong and memorable, Side 1 sorta drags

Can't Depend on Love is one of his best tunes, happy to rediscover that one

Sundown - 1974

"Somewhere U.S.A." – 2:50
"High and Dry" – 2:12
"Seven Island Suite" – 6:00
"Circle of Steel" – 2:45
"Is There Anyone Home" – 3:15
"The Watchman's Gone" – 4:25
"Sundown" – 3:45
"Carefree Highway" – 3:45
"The List" – 3:00
"Too Late for Prayin'" – 4:15

A straight up classic this one of course.

I really love Circle of Steel, I'll write more later.

Ooooh, it’s sundown time. I’m gonna have to soak in this one a bit.

First thing that struck me was I forgot how excellent Seven Island Suite is. The twinkling between the changes in the 'suites' is a great touch.

I've always loved this couplet...

It's time you tried living on the high side of the bay, you need a rest
Any woman or a man with a wish to fade away could be so blessed

"The Watchman's Gone" is my pick for my favorite Lightfoot track that wasn't a single. Favorite lyric: "If I wait for the right moment/You can bet I'll climb aboard unseen/I've done it before/I know I can do it in my sleep"; kinda like "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" or "Edmund Fitzgerald", you can just picture it when he sings it like that.

Anyway, I think this is my favorite one so far. Every song on this one is great. I think it hits all his strong suits without feeling saturated. And the two singles are great. Classic cover shot, too. I was always amused that such a popular and successful artist would pick a shot that screamed "this is my only nice set of clothes"

ive been keeping up with the listening, not a ton to say. the last couple have been good but in a cherry-pick-a-few-tracks type of way. but.. this one is front to back great, and just enough variance in sound from song to song to separate it from earlier works/sounds. dont think i could ever get tired of the title track.

the production sounds pretty different on this, has a little more punch. lenny waronker still the producer tho. maybe the recording techniques changed for this one? love that synth in the background of seven island suite.

frogbs your whole post is otm. The Watchman's Gone is excellent. His delivery of I've done it before/I know I can do it in my sleep has always been a favourite.

I agree about the production too Spottie, Listening to these albums in succession makes me feel like this one is a culmination of the ideas they started trying on Summer Side of Life, but since that one failed commercially they backed off a little bit, made a couple hit records, then brought things back in for Sundown and its better than all of the others because it captures both sides.

Also, between the two singles I think I prefer Carefree Highway to Sundown, but its really hard to pick, both are top notch. Carefree Highway is unsurprisingly one of the better driving songs ever. But Sundown feels like you are being let in on a secret. Tough choice.

Circle of Steel is a favourite of mine, not only is it placed in and around Christmas it feels like a Chritmas Carol in parts. Especially the first verse. Something about the simplicity of the delivery, feels like anyone could pickup and sing it at someone's door. He has a great skill for writing songs that are both very specific in content but generic enough to feel relatable. I don't feel like a Canadian artist had that skill again (at least not used consistently) until the Rheostatics came along.

Just a couple more notes about Sundown... I love the triangle sound way down in the mix in CoS. The List is a really underrated track. I think the only song on Sundown that doesn't really do it for me is Too Late For Prayin' but I get why he wanted to end on a quieter note. If you switched Too Late For Prayin with It's Worth Believin' I think Sundown is pretty much perfect but it gets close enough anyway.

On to the next!

Cold On The Shoulder - 1975

"Bend in the Water" – 2:59
"Rainy Day People" – 2:48
"Cold on the Shoulder" – 3:00
"The Soul is the Rock" – 5:49
"Bells of the Evening" – 3:56
"Rainbow Trout" – 2:51
"A Tree too Weak to Stand" – 3:22
"All the Lovely Ladies" – 3:35
"Fine as Fine Can Be" – 2:58
"Cherokee Bend" – 5:02
"Now and Then" – 3:09
"Slide on Over" – 3:43

I feel like the change from Side 1 to Side 2 on this album marks a change in Lightfoot's music into the Adult Contemporary world.

This was the first one I got on LP. Really loved "Bend in the Water" but that song skipped a lot. I guess this one is a bit like Old Dan's Records - no real hits (I guess "Rainy Day People" was one?) and it's not quite as good as his better-known albums but it's still pretty good, despite having some odd stuff on it ("Bells of the Evening" - the only Gord song with no guitar?). It's maybe his most outdoorsy album, like half the songs come back to fishing somehow. Always loved "The Soul is the Rock", one of the most 'epic' tracks he did (outside of the obvious ones), and probably the best tune here.

Side 2 is sort of a bore to me...the music is pretty as always but I don't find many of these songs memorable ("Fine as Fine Can Be" maybe but it's sappy as hell). "All the Lovely Ladies" has that "wish I could know them one by one" line which kinda skeeves me out. "Now and Then" is a great tune though.

https://vimeo.com/228122562

Believe it or not, I'm new here. I'm sorry to double post, my link did not embed before. I too really love Gordon Lightfoot and am enjoying this thread.

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/228122562"; width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>

What gives

hey guys, apologies on missing this week, work and live have been nuts. We can keep enjoying Cold on the Shoulder until Thursday of this week and I'll move us on then!

life*

I'm pretty much in agreement with you on this one frogbs. The first side towers over the second. Bend in the water is a great opener. Rainy Day People is one I've liked less and less over the years. Still a good song but he's done better similar songs I think. The title track's alomst clip-clop rhythm is a nice touch, feels like the songs being sung on horseback during a cattle drive. The Soul Is a Rock is really great, I always took the song to be about Newfoundland broadly, but I'm not sure exactly what to make of it upon re-listening.

...and we're back!

Summertime Dream - 1976

"Race Among the Ruins" – 3:21
"The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" – 6:32
"I'm Not Supposed to Care" – 3:31
"I'd Do It Again" – 3:14
"Never Too Close" – 3:04
"Protocol" – 4:02
"The House You Live In" – 2:55
"Summertime Dream" – 2:30
"Spanish Moss" – 3:51
"Too Many Clues in This Room" – 4:49

One song here obviously towers over the rest, but I've always kinda liked I'm Not Supposed to Care. Race Among the Ruins & the Title Track are the two other big ones. I'm interested to give this one a re-listen.

this is definitely the one i've listened to most, it's good front to back imo. don't think the wreck even towers over it.

'protocol' is wonderfully haunting

I get this one & Summer Side of Life mixed up a lot...they even both have a monochrome headshot as the cover! but this is a much better album - don't have much to say about *that* song except A) I drive past Whitefish Bay all the time and B) is this the first appearance of a synthesizer on a Gord album? (that little twiddly line about 2:30 in)

"Race" has some of my favorite lyrics - "When you wake up to the promise/Of your dream world comin' true/With one less friend to call on/Was it someone that I knew?"

anyway, this album is fine...don't know if I really like the steel twang on nearly every track, but the songs are good. "Too Many Clues in This Room" was a nice tune to rediscover.

Protocol was my big find this week. Spanish Moss is pretty great even if it throws me off to hear him sing about the American South.

I've recently read a book about the history of shipwrecks on the great lakes so I found The Wreck particularly affecting lately.

Endless Wire

"Daylight Katy" – 4:18
"Sweet Guinevere" – 3:16
"Hangdog Hotel Room" – 2:35
"If There's a Reason" – 4:52
"Endless Wire" – 4:07
"Dreamland" – 2:53
"Songs the Minstrel Sang" – 2:49
"Sometimes I Don't Mind" – 2:53
"If Children Had Wings" – 3:50
"The Circle Is Small (I Can See It in Your Eyes)" – 4:03

I've got a lot of love for this and the next two albums. Which is about as far as I've ever gone in Lightfoot's catalogue. The title track is a favourite of mine. I like the first four songs as well. The retread of The Circle is Small isn't really necessary but always welcome.

I get this one & Summer Side of Life mixed up a lot...they even both have a monochrome headshot as the cover! but this is a much better album - don't have much to say about *that* song except A) I drive past Whitefish Bay all the time and B) is this the first appearance of a synthesizer on a Gord album? (that little twiddly line about 2:30 in)

― frogbs, Thursday, June 20, 2019 2:22 PM (one week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I was looking at the personnel lists on some of the albums and Gene Martynec that did the Moog work on Summertime Dream also did the work on Seven Island Suite & Is There Anyone Home. I think those two were the first two songs Lightfoot did with Synth on them. Then Gene is credited just generically for all songs on SD. Then the synthesizer doesn't appear again until Shadows after which he uses it on all his albums except Waiting for You. Assuming all of the personnel lists are accurate.

really sounds like Gord is starting to slide into middle age here. his voice is still in good form but it's undermixed and there's this feeling that his shtick is played out. I don't think any of the songs here are particularly great (and "Daylight Katy" is a remarkably flaccid album opener) but it's a solid album. hearing him do Chicago-style blues funk on "Songs the Minstrel Sang" is quite odd but I still like it. "Sometimes I Don't Mind" sounds like late-period Elvis! idk I'll have to listen to this one a few more times. I never really ventured out past Summertime Dream, though I had this one on vinyl - I think this one was the easiest one to get for a buck.

You know its funny, maybe I'm getting old, but I've really grown to love this album (and the next couple). But I really like Daylight Katy. Its feels more placid than flaccid to me, placid in a good way.

I like the title track a lot, it might be one of my ten favourites of his.

Sweet Guinevere has dropped in my estimation this week. I love Hangdog Hotel Room though, it's maybe not very good objectively though.

I have really come to appreciate the second half of the album a lot though. Dreamland is really relaxing and confident musically if a bit lyrically boring. Sometimes I Don't Mind is really excellent. I think I really wish Gord did an Elvis cover album.

...and we're in the 80s! I'm not surprised we've lost a fair bit of the following on this thread by now, but these albums have some nice underrated songs on them. His 80s music is the stuff I'm most excited to listen to again.

Dream Street Rose - 1980

"Sea of Tranquility" – 3:17
"Ghosts of Cape Horn" – 4:09
"Dream Street Rose" – 2:58
"On the High Seas" – 3:18
"Whisper My Name" – 3:12
"If You Need Me" – 2:50
"Hey You" – 2:53
"Make Way for the Lady" – 3:43
"Mister Rock of Ages" – 3:33
"The Auctioneer" (Leroy Van Dyke, Buddy Black) – 3:51

I'll give this one a few listens and get back with some thoughts.

Still reading the thread & interested to hear everyone’s thoughts. Can’t do listening club rn because of life constraints.

priorities...I can't do life because of Gordon Lightfoot listening club constraints

You know how to live, frogbs.

You know how to live, frogbs.

― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Friday, July 5, 2019 4:08 PM (two hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

I need to get my goddamn priorities straight myself. I've been following along, but am sorely behind on my listening. Need to spend a bit of time with 80s Gord. I've heard songs here and there, but I haven't ever actively listened beyond Endless Wire, which as has been suggested seems probably typical. But, surely a/c-era Gord has some hidden gems! Anyways, huge props to Will for keeping this going.

first thought about this album is the production on the faster paced songs is way too busy. I've heard the title track live and I like it much better than the album version. I can't seem to track down a live version of it anywhere online though, does anyone know of one?

okay this is where I'm truly hearing them for the first time. I don't think I've heard any of his post-Endless Wire albums, outside of Harmony - felt like I owed it to him to buy that one, since he quite literally cheated death to make it. Anyway...I'm actually digging this one, it's short and mostly sweet, and I actually kinda like the cluttered arrangements - by this time his band was incredibly tight, I don't care how many guitars they layer on. kinda amusing that there's another dead sailor song, "Ghosts of Cape Horn"...actually feels a bit like a Gord parody track, though I still think it's pretty good.

actually this strikes me as a better album than Endless Wire...feels like there are more ideas here (is "Make Way For the Lady" the first time he's ever tried jazz?) and it's less dreary. the title track is really nice, it's just one long chorus. I wish more people would write songs like that. I'd imagine the cover of "Auctioneer" was not so well received but I like it. It's like the "Scatman" of the 50's

Shadows - 1982

"14 Karat Gold" – 3:56
"In My Fashion" – 3:05
"Shadows" – 3:02
"Blackberry Wine" – 3:05
"Heaven Help the Devil" – 3:14
"Thank You For the Promises" – 2:53
"Baby Step Back" – 3:59
"All I'm After" – 3:23
"Triangle" – 4:10
"I'll Do Anything" – 3:25
"She's Not the Same" – 3:11

Been off on holiday, sorry for dropping this in the interim!

I've not had the chance to give this one a listen yet. But In My Fashion is my favourite 80s Gord song that I can think of off the top of my head. Very interested in giving this a re-listen.

oh yes in my fashion is very good, never heard it

blackberry wine is some proper dad rock

Baby Step Back is kind of Sundown Pt 2.

yeah "In My Fashion" is really nice

"Blackberry Wine"....lmao. I'm glad these 80s albums are at least entertaining.

overall I thought this was okay. maybe I should give it another listen or two but by the time I get to "Triangle" it's like...yeah, it's nice, but we've heard this a dozen times before. his voice is still in good shape though.

can't help but notice the cover resembles a boomer trying to snap a selfie for Facebook

Yeah I get that same feeling from this one, starts off with my attention, and I like the production better than Dream Street Rose but I lose the plot after Baby Step Back.

Specifically I like 14 Karat Gold as well as In My Fashion and the title track is solid, but I start losing the plot after that. Blackberry Wine is some intense dadrock, Heaven help the Devil floats by.

Thank You for the Promises sounds a lot like another of his songs but I can't think of what one. Is it a re-do from an earlier album?

Ρεμπετολογια you are totally right about Baby Step Back. To the point it feels like Gord was listening to his old albums and just re-arranging them and writing new lyrics.

Like you are saying frogbs, his voice and lyrics (mostly) are still good but his music isn't changing at all at this point.

Forgot to mention my favourite part later in this album, on All I'm After when he sings "I think I got it made" and holds the note for a few beats. That felt unique in his catalog.

Salute - 1983

"Salute (A Lot More Livin' to Do)" - 4:24
"Gotta Get Away" - 2:54
"Whispers of the North" - 3:20
"Someone to Believe In" - 3:32
"Romance" - 3:31
"Knotty Pine" - 4:00
"Biscuit City" - 2:55
"Without You" - 3:07
"Tattoo" - 4:28
"Broken Dreams" - 4:05

A day late, but here we are. Now I really do not know this album at all. I'm fairly certain I know at least a song or two off the rest of his albums but I don't recognize the names of any of these ones.

always avoided this for the cover shot alone. you can practically hear Gord's thoughts, "I'm not proud of this album, please don't take my picture for the cover"

Haha, Gord's all "I will NOT fucking salute" on this cover

oh man, Gord's voice aged pretty rapidly. he'd be around 45 when this came out but he sounds about 65. he can still sing but a lot of that richness is gone and there's sort of a whine on his upper register. weird because he sounded alright on Shadows, which only came out a year before.

anyway, this is sorta how I expected all his 80's albums to sound; I figured sooner or later he'd get a producer that 'punched up' the rhythms and blended the steel guitar & synths into a fine paste. It's a bit Huey Lewis sometimes ("Someone to Believe In") and the poppin' bass on "Gotta Get Away" is kinda hilarious. there's a couple of real pretty songs on this one though - I thought "Knotty Pine" and "Tattoo" were pretty good. "Tattoo" actually sorta works with his ravaged voice.

the album might've worked better with the sides flipped - the first side falls into pretty much every trap a 70s folk artist could fall into, but the songs on Side 2 ain't bad. incredibly corny sometimes but it's still an okay listen. I don't think I wanna hear it again, but still.