Anyone heard or read anything else from GL himself?[/B][/QUOTE]

I remember reading in the Songbook that Gord isn't crazy about "Summer SIde of Life", which is a bummer since it's one of my favorites...

Classicmix, I do have admit that I like Spanish Moss more now than when I first heard it. Guess it has "grown" on me some.

It is pretty narrow-minded of me to suggest that Gordon should only write about the north country. Shoot, I know I'd be thrilled if he wrote a song about the great plains. Guess he does make references to the Canadian prairie in some of his songs. Anyway, I know Gordon is capable of writing about anything he puts his mind to. Mary Ann, thanks for the info about trees and soil in the South. That was really interesting.

Topic: Dislikes?

Interesting topic. I dislike most of the UA albums although all are packed with amazing songs. To me they're just collections without much unity. I especially dislike all of the 'new' material from "Sunday Concert" ('cept "Yarmouth Castle" which I think is brilliant and an interesting template for later epics).
I'm partial to the Reprise albums which I 'grew up with' but would (grudgingly) give up "Your Love's Return", "Nous Vivons Ensemble", "Christian Island", "Circle of Steel", "Too Late for Prayin'", "Bells of the Evening" and "Never Too Close". My reasons vary.
After the album "Endless Wire", I stopped buying but continued to be intrigued by what made it to the radio or my friends' stereos.
I'm joined this amazing site to (perhaps) broaden my view on the later albmus.
Thanks for reading; I look forward to continued discussions.
Dean

you know? i can't believe i'm saying this out loud, but ode to big blue has never been my favorite song. unfortunately i never liked it as a kid and it stuck with me....i don't even have a reason...the lyrics are great, i think it's the melodie..something strikes me a little funny.....
oh well just me i guess!!

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-----and as i wander to the cities and the towns, i get so lonesome knowin' you could be around. and when the show is over there's a holiday motel, another empty bottle, and another tale to tell----

"Waiting For Me" is the one GL album I´ve never developed even a trace of a liking to. To me all of the songs sounded like they were coming from someone ready to depart this world, pretty pessimistic stuff. I was really afraid that this would be Gord´s swan song - not to mention the dreadful cover photography...

The album itself was quite a disappointment after such a long hiatus, and Dylan´s "Ring Them Bells" is - in my opinion - the weakest track ever recorded by Gordon. "Wild Strawberries" clocks in at second place here, and I´m so glad 1998´s "Painter" was so much better than the prior album.

Christian

Gina - I'm right there with you on Big Blue... we had a pretty good discussion about this under another topic a few months back.

Tom - I gotta say, it breaks my heart to hear that someone dislikes the Watchman's gone.

It is really tough to admit not liking some Gord songs, but when it's all put in perspective, even my least favorite tunes are 100% better than most of what other artists put out.

I gotta run - it's 10 degrees and gettin' colder on this topic

For some reason, May I never did all that much for me. It's good. But I never really got into it

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When the green dark forest was too silent to be real.

I've never been too fond of "The Auctioneer", mainly because it seemed very much out of place with the rest of "Dream Street Rose", and I feel it unsettled the whole of the album in a way. One other that springs to mind is "May I". What is that about?!

You people are a bunch of whiners, all Gord's songs are excellent and unique.

leboeuf: While we appreciate your love for ALL things Gord it is not necessary to call anyone or all of us a whiner. We ALL do love ALL things Gord as well! Some more than others however and we discuss/banter without name-calling. Sort of like loving one child more than another I guess - it's not more or less - it's just different! LOL
char
mother of two kids

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bobo:


Tom - I gotta say, it breaks my heart to hear that someone dislikes the Watchman's gone.

bobo:
I aplogize for this gaffe. Since I posted this, I have since fell head over heels in love with this song. One of my all time favorites! Maybe I'll switch Sundown's least favorite with "The List".

Well Dan, I think you can be saved with regard to disliking The Auctioneer, since Gord didn't write it. The original version by Leroy VanDyke I think is better. As for May I, well I have to confess I don't know that one. Being a student I don't yet have the money to own every Gord album, so there are some I don't know yet. But my collection is coming along.
One song that surprises me is Cotton Jenny. Now I know a lot of people like this song so don't get mad at me. I didn't like it at first because it was so country sounding. Now, I still don't really love it, but it's a fun song to sing. If I am in the car, I will play this one just to sing along, I can't explain it.
Tom, I wholeheartedly agree. I want people to be honest and if someone doesn't like The Watchman's Gone, well, that's really interesting. We all have such different tastes. But I must admit, I don't understand. Not only do I like this tune, I am with you, it's one of my all time Gord favorites. What happened to you has happened to me before. Many times, I will hear a tune for the first time, but not really LISTEN. This happened with Pussywillows Cat-Tails. I used to skip over it, but then it grew on me and I really like it now.

[This message has been edited by young stranger (edited February 15, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by young stranger (edited February 15, 2001).]

Sorry.....didn't mean to offend,I just think that anyone who is a true Gord fan should take the good with the mediocre

Sorry......didn't mean to offend anyone...Its just that I'm such a big fan that I see merit in everything Gord has done, there is probably not one song that doesn't move me in some way.

leboeuf,
I think you are missing the point of this topic. Everyone who takes time to logon to this site and spends time reading and replying on even a semi-regular basis is, in my opinion, a true Gordon Lightfoot fan. I listen to other music, but for me Gordon Lightfoot's music is, hands down, the best I have ever heard. But that doesn't mean I will like every single song he ever wrote. Hell, Gord doesn't like every single song he ever wrote. Even some of the ones the fans seem to love. Most everyone has read or heard him say that he doesn't like to do Summer Side Of Life that much (just read the booklet from Songbook), but the fans seem to want to hear it. I just started this to see what some of the tunes are that other fans are not that crazy about. Some of them agree with my opinions and some have surprised me quite a bit. That is the point of this exchange. I think it's very interesting to learn the opinions of other people around the world.

I do agree with your last reply, though, when you stated that every song moves you in some way. I said this when I started the topic, that even though there are some tunes that I don't listen to that much, they are still a cut above most other songs out there. Whether or not I really like a particular song, Gord always sings very well and the band plays with equal quality. But believe me, the number of Gordon Lightfoot songs that I skip over on a regular basis can be counted on one hand. I don't have every album yet, but when I do I can still guaranty that that number will not increase beyond what I can count on my two hands. So be honest, I think Gord himself would appreciate a fan who doesn't "ooh and aah" over everything that comes out of Gord's mouth.

[This message has been edited by young stranger (edited February 15, 2001).]

as for dislikes, the only ones i don't like are pussywillows.. now and then (not bad, but not as good as the rest of COTS), and too late for praying. i don't see why people don't like the auctioneer. it's ends the album off on a happy note (DSR is my fave album). i don't mind May I either. I've noticed alot of people don't like the upbeat stuff as much for some reason. Maybe cause i'm a bit younger, i prefer the more upbeat stuff that haunts radio these days :)

Hated to copy the WHOLE quote by midnightmisty, however I wanted to respond to her comment on "Shadows". I feel it's my favorite album also and if you read this maybe you could tell me if it was ever available on CD?

As for less favored songs they would have to be Make Way for the Lady and I can't think of another.


quote:Originally posted by midnightmisty:
When I told Gord that my all-time favorite LP was "SHADOWS" he was amazed and happy that
someone had actually purchased it because it
it had not done very well commercially. I told him that I had purchesed 2. We talked about it at length from both of our perscpectives.

Then I asked him which LP was HIS all-time
favorite and he said, "Sunday Concert" (live)
because it's the only one that hasn't been
mixed in the studio to perfection. He liked
the way it was "genuine". Much like himself, I must add!

BTW... that was in the early to mid 80's, so
I don't know if it's still his favorite.

And please forgive me. I know this is a
"dislikes" topic, but I didn't know where else to post this and I thought some might find it a little interesting.

midnightmisty

[This message has been edited by midnightmisty (edited August 23, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by midnightmisty (edited August 23, 2000).]

I'd have to divide this into two categories:
1) Songs I dislike
2) Arrangements I dislike.

I'll address #2 first:
Make Way For The Lady---Imagine being at a baseball game and the pitcher just keeps holding onto the ball and won't make a pitch, won't throw to first, won't confer with his catcher. By the time the percussion track and bass come in a good 2/3 of the song is behind it. They should have come in a verse earlier at least. I mean, the paralell guitar and piano parts aren't exactly B.B. King and Ray Charles, so let's not linger on too long. And I don't want to start another argument about Terry Clements' abilities on guitar. He's a good picker!

Song For A Winter's Night (on GG1)---Rather than have 2 guitars fingerpicked, we have 2 guitars fingerpicked plus Gord's 12-string over the top of it.

Steel Rail Blues (on GG1)---Read above comments.

Gord's Gold vol.2---All of the remakes where the steel guitar has been avoided. I would have said "deleted" but these were new recordings.

I'll Be Alright---Sounds like it was recorded in a linen closet. No resonance.
(If you purchase Bear Family's release of "Sunday Concert" it includes an unreleased version of "I'll Be Alright". Much better.)

The Way I Feel (the second time)---If Go-Go Round is dated because of its reference to "Go-Go Girls", "The Way I Feel" is embarassing due to its attempt at a "hip" 1960's feel. It even sounded silly then.


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Hi Friends,

I agree with Janice, about Sundown. I can't put my finger on it, about why. I remember buying the album when it came out and not playing that side because of that song. Maybe to me it was commercial sounding to me.

I also don't really care for Blackberry Wine. I think this is because of how alcohol nearly ruined his career, thank God it didn't. It seems that this song is a contradiction to the success of this man.

Please don't sue me.
I love this man intensely.

Kim

Here's another one that will probably aggravate people -- but Old Dan's Records has never done anything for me! Gord must love it, since he seems to encore with it consistently. And Borderstone on Songbook doesn't get much airplay in my house! But there's so much to love, who can complain?

that's funny. i love both of those songs!

Wow, thanks Kim. It's not often that someone agrees with me or is brave enough to admit it http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif