This may seem trivial.
But,just who is that lady on the cover of "COTS".
Is it a painting on a canvas?

Its a contender for the best album cover.

The worst?
It has to be "Shadows".

Just goes to show you should never judge the content by the packaging.
{Its such a great album}

In your opinion which is the best and worst album cover?

The woman on the cover of COTS is I believe Cathy Evelyn Smith, the same one who was convicted of murdering John Belushi. Gord dated her years ago and I remember seeing her stroll down the aisle at Massey Hall back in 88 along with Pee Wee Charles. I agree worst cover is Shadows, doesn't look like Gord. Best cover IMHO has to be Summertime Dream, a great LP and the best one to get autographed.

According to the notes on the album cover, if I remember correctly, the woman is Jan Stephanson.
Jenney

Right on Jan Stephanson.

Best cover - I always liked "Summer Side of Life" - that big close-up of Gord in his "handsome young stud" days.

Worst cover? "Waiting for You." He looks like Joe Cocker's grandfather. I was greatly relieved when I saw the pictures on "Painter Passing Through" - he looks like the older guy that the "handsome young stud" grew up to be.

I like the cover of "Back Here on Earth" a lot.

The worst ever is "Hubda a slova" (Czech release of Cold on the shoulder)

My vote for worst album cover goes to Salute. What's the deal with that outfit, and doesn't he look like he's been drunk for two weeks straight? The only thing worse than that picture are most of the album's songs. Biscuit City, what the hell was he thinking?
The best is probably Old Dan's Records.

Gord is one of the finest songwriters of the second half of the twentieth century.

-- snip --

Hi Frank v,

I was changing your email address in your profile as requested . During that process, I posted this message and did not notice that it came up under your name.

Sorry.

-Florian

[Note: This message has been edited by Florian Bodenseher]

Don Quixote to me is the best album cover. Take a look at the background. It's beautiful. I would like to know where that was taken.

There are no bad ones. Every cover has a message or a theme.

The "Endless Wire" cover is interesting. The picture was taken from the hotel room he was staying at in Las Vegas. The road that you see is the road that is next to the old Ceasars Palace.

They only used half of his face for the "Old Dan's Records" because he had the problem with the Bells Palsey. That is one of my favorite's also.

Florian, I can't believe you don't like the cover for "Hubda a slova". It's great. Do you like the cover for the Italian album "Easta De Menza Note Midnight"?

Every album cover looks great but my all time favorite one is the one you find when you are casually looking walking through the record store, checking out the GL section, and to your surprise, GL has a new ablum out. That has happend to me with, "East Of Midnight", "Waiting For You", "Cold On The Shoulder", "Shadows", as well as a couple more. Hey, we didn't have the internet to tell us what was going on.

I can remember the anticipation of taking the album home and listening through it the first time.

Wes

Wes, et al,
I agree. I still remember that feeling of walking into the record store, saying to myself "I bet there won't be anything here" just so I wouldn't be too disappointed, and then finding one! I love the Don Quixote cover also. It's interesting that you see that jacket show up in other photos over the years. Well, interesting to me anyway. The only one I'm not wild about is Dream Street Rose, I think because it's not a real photo. By the way, the cover photo on Endless Wire was taken by Cathy Coonley, she is credited somewhere in the liner notes for it. I also disagree on Salute -- I think that is a great soulful picture that says alot, as Wes has pointed out. I even like Shadows because it seems to be reflective of that time in GL's life. But speaking of great covers -- how about LIGHTFOOT! Now that's a great photo. Interesting topic.

chris

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"It took most of my time to do what never was done" -- GL

[This message has been edited by chris (edited April 25, 2000).]

Hi stormshadow,

quote:My vote for worst album cover goes to Salute. What's the deal with that outfit, and doesn't he look like he's been drunk for two weeks straight?


I've find this cover to be one of the better ones, it's theme is very well chosen.

In my opinion, the picture tells us that Gordon Lightfoot was obviously the first to arrive behind the stage. It's probably around lunch time and he waits for his crew to assemble the soundset on stage.

Look at the empty green chairs in the back - in a few hours they will be filled with people who are happy to hear the Minstrel sing. I can almost hear them cheering as he enters the stage.

Now that's what I call a good theme for an album cover, given the fact that Gordon Lightfoot enjoys touring/performing very much.

I will not comment at all about Gordon Lightfoot looking drunk - that remark is too stupid to rectify a response.

I also like the Summer Side Of Life cover but another cover from the "hansome young stud" stage comes to mind...Gord's Gold. Same pensive eyes and pout. To my eye, the beard's a plus.

Janice

Well Stormshadow,
We're going to have to disagree about Salute the album!
(What's the weather like on Mars at the moment?On Earth it's been raining the last couple of days.)


Sorry Florian...
By the way,those Parisian nights couldn't compensate for the loss of your website!

It's just as well nobody's mentioned Sunday Concert,it could have been confusing.At the last count,there have been five different covers.In the UK the blue one was the original.I quite like that one.He looks like a scholar with his glasses on,aginst the Massey Hall background.
Dream Street Rose is good because it's got the band members on the back.If ever they release it on CD,I hope they stick with the original packaging.

Frank v.

I love the Gords Gold II photo of Gordon. Again, no smile, but there is a hint of happiness in his face, and a satisfaction in his eyes and stature (arms folded across his chest). Very nice...

I love the Gords Gold II photo of Gordon. Again, no smile, but there is a hint of happiness in his face, and a satisfaction in his eyes and stature (arms folded across his chest). Very nice...

Terry Clements said that Gord thinks he looks like Victor Newman from the Young and Restless on the East of Midnight Album cover! That's exactly what I thought!

Worst....Salute. Just doesn't hit me right for some reason.

I know this is going to sound out there, but the cover I'm fondest of is the UA cover of Gordon Lightfoot Hits, Vol I. Someone painted an unbelievable painting of Gord. It really captures him, I think.

I have to agree with FEZO there; it actually came as a shock when I took my first look at the "Waiting For You" cover. I really thought Gord was terminally ill, especially when leafing through the lyrics after having passed the check-out.
Not only is the photography very unfortunate; I think all of the WFY artwork looks like a rush job.
I was also very relieved upon seeing a familar face on the APPT cover five years later again.
My vote for favorite cover goes to "Cold on the Shoulder", by the way. Both the cover and the artwork seem to reflect a lot of the person behind the songs.

The covers can be divided into smoking and non-smoking, and guitar playing and non-playing. 'Smoking' covers include some of his best: Summertime Dream and Sundown; guitar playing are also good: Don Quixote (which actually seems as if he is singing the tracks to you), Cold on the Shoulder, and the backs of Shadows and Salute. The Gibson 12 string features in Sundown and the back of Endless Wire. My favourite is the back of East of Midnight, happy and yet self-effacing(with a rather strange seat with an apple on it!).

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As cool as the breeze on the last days of April

I have not studied all of the album covers, although I could thanks to this wonderful website, but I do like the photos on the 'Waiting For You' cover. GL appears relaxed and contented in the photos, as if he has come home safely from a long journey.

I also am partial to the back of the 'Salute' LP with Gordo adourned in his patchwork denim, white cowboy boots, and what appears to be ball fringe jeans.

potter

'And maybe someday things will change
And come with in range and be laughable
Everything is okay
I can tell by the way that you dance
They say that people don't try
That's just a lie, they work miracles
It's a gift from above
When we talk about love and romance'

GL

I would have to say that my favorite GL album cover picture would have to be "Summer Side Of Life" the close up of a long haired Gordon Lightfoot in black and white, his head tited. I can't seem to figure out what that white bloch is on his shoulder. That cover photo reminds me a little of Engelbert Humperdink. He also has a grey shadow shading his face, it really makes me want to look at it longer. I never seem to get my eyes off of it. It's just too attracting. My least favorite GL cover photo would have to be Gords' Gold II. He seems to look very disgusted. Almost like he's mad at somebody. The fact that he has his arms cross-folded expresses being defensive towards someone or something. I would imagine he was going through a real bad time, when that picture was taken.

I like "Biscuit City"! Best cover's got to be "Salute", worst: "Dream Street Rose". Although I love the album.

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Dan O'Malley

Best Cover? Tossup between these two:
Lightfoot! --- Like James Dean with a guitar. Very cool.
Gord's Gold II --- Very classy. Nice to see him looking well again (after Salute).

Worst Cover? Tough to say because they al have so much character. But I would say the worst is Summer Side of Life --- He looks like he has a cramp. Nevertheless, it's an excellent album, easily in my personal top five.

Best Cover? Tossup between these two:
Lightfoot! --- Like James Dean with a guitar. Very cool.
Gord's Gold II --- Very classy. Nice to see him looking well again (after Salute).

Worst Cover? Tough to say because they al have so much character. But I would say the worst is Summer Side of Life --- He looks like he has a cramp. Nevertheless, it's an excellent album, easily in my personal top five.

The Shadows cover is terrible, a visual joke that did not need to be made (the ODR cover approach would have fit it better). Waiting for You is bad, but saved by the picture on the back. But the one I dislike most is Back Here on Earth. It looks so phony.

Best? What about Songbook? The cover is a great selection. A retreat from the shock of the two prior releases. (I don't like to be reminded that I'm getting older. Actually, I'm not, but seeing Gord grow older makes me question whether I'm right.) I think the Songbook cover pictures a mature, evolved Gord, one who has survived a wild youth without losing the spark of interest in life. IMHO.



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"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by." - SDYS

The Shadows cover is terrible, a visual joke that did not need to be made (the ODR cover approach would have fit it better). Waiting for You is bad, but saved by the picture on the back. But the one I dislike most is Back Here on Earth. It looks so phony.

Best? What about Songbook? The cover is a great selection. A retreat from the shock of the two prior releases. (I don't like to be reminded that I'm getting older. Actually, I'm not, but seeing Gord grow older makes me question whether I'm right.) I think the Songbook cover pictures a mature, evolved Gord, one who has survived a wild youth without losing the spark of interest in life. IMHO.



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"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by." - SDYS

I read all posts and just had to reply. I'm familiar with every album (CD) cover and I would put them in best to least order like this:Sundown/
Don Quixote/
Back Here On Earth/
Songbook/
Gord's Gold/Gord's Gold II/
Sit Down Young Stranger/Summertime Dream/Endless Wire/East Of Midnight/
Summer Side Of Life/Classic Masters/Lightfoot/Did She Mention My Name?/
Cold On The Shoulder/The Way I Feel/Old Dan's Records/Shadows/Dream Street Rose/
A Painter Passing Through/
Waiting For You and Salute.

I put Salute last because,to me,it's dull. Someone said it looks like Gordon before the show. I disagree,being 1983 when his popular status was on the wane,this picture makes it look as if no one showed up for the show! If he was wearing what he had on for the weather,that's okay.

...but if they were trying to update his look for the 80's they did not succeed. I put the Shadows cover higher because I feel the fact that it alters his look is kind of spooky in a somehow interesting way. (Actually,it makes him look like David Crosby!) The way his eyes look on Dream Street Rose,he looks as if he just stubbed his toe or something!

http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Sundown to Endless Wire,I like beacuse they are either outdoor locations or kind of look like Gord has the very late afternoon sun on his face. Those pictures are very elemental in saying what Gord's music is. Honest and open and right out there,without the profanity of today's music.

Gord sings about the Canadian outdoors,the ocean and sailing and other outdoor or country metaphores. The covers in black & white are after these because they are B&W and evoke a more serious mood."LIGHTFOOT" to "O.D's Rec."-they are kind of interesting but not spectacular to me.

"Waiting" should have put the back picture on the front and "Painter" looks like Gordon sitting somewhere with just the sun coming in through the window. That's kind of depressing to me for it's not the same as the other LP's that use daylight. Well,that's my LP cover revue,if you disagree,you have a right to. Catch ya on the flipside of Sundown! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/cool.gif

[ August 03, 2005, 20:19: Message edited by: Borderstone ]

That's interesting about Salute. I always felt it was after a concert, Gord was packed up and ready to head out. He looks a bit weary like he's about to go out and spend a while signing autographs, shaking hands, and of course the inevitable slaps on the back. Not that he doesn't like it, but he's gone thru it so many times. The album is a bit pared down, no strings, or fancy arrangements, so is the photo.

That's interesting about Salute. I always felt it was after a concert, Gord was packed up and ready to head out. He looks a bit weary like he's about to go out and spend a while signing autographs, shaking hands, and of course the inevitable slaps on the back. Not that he doesn't like it, but he's gone thru it so many times. The album is a bit pared down, no strings, or fancy arrangements, so is the photo.

What the . . .

Gordon watches the Young and the Restless? Ye Gods what is this world coming to?

quote:Originally posted by Catharine:
Terry Clements said that Gord thinks he looks like Victor Newman from the Young and Restless on the East of Midnight Album cover! That's exactly what I thought!



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Born once - Got it right the first time. )O(

I did a quick Google for "young and restless" and could find no song containing those exact words but I did find on this site:- http://prismcanada.com/albums.php
that that phrase is the title of a 1980 album by Canadian group Prism. Hope that helps
John Fowles
P.S. the lyrics to the song of that name are at http://prismcanada.com/showlyric.php...ungandrestless
I searched the site but found no mention of Victor Newman as either a current or past member of that group??

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited July 03, 2003).]

Gordon mentions the Young an' the Restless in the song Restless.
With regard to album covers, I have often wondered about the artefacts pictured on Lighfoot Do they tell a story? Something like Dylan's Bringing it all Back Home.
The sailing ship reminds me of Restless 'Do ya get that restless yearning when you think about yer dad, And the scrimshaw that he had, Of an old schooner rovin' neath a sky that's ironclad'

Although the ship is not a schooner, and Gordon hadn't written the song then http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

Glad to do so Brink! When I can't come up with a fresh topic or I just go to the old postings for the heck of it,I sometimes find a topic woth starting again. Either for that reason or it just looks incomplete. In 2000,it seems,there were only a handful of people up here. Now there's 100's,so more poeple can reply.//// Also,I tried posting this message here earlier but somehow it got on a different thread.> I stated that I thought the back picture on Salute might have made a better cover picture and also that I forgot Sunday Concert. I think it's an okay picture but the lighting makes his shirt appear pink! I also said that the Best of or Greatest Hits covers were not all that spectacular. His picture's on the front of them all but that's about the extent of it. To see all I did say go to "A Little Different". It's been the B! Catch ya on the flipside of Sundown! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/cool.gif

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Borderstone (Also known as,"The B!")

I have two different copies of Sunday Concert and neither have a picture of Gord with glasses, which one is the pic on?
Thanks Ben Dover I drew a blank on what song that was from.

The best cover is Sundown. The 12 string guitar looks realy cool standing by Gordon's side. This was also the beginning of Gordon's extensive use of the 12 strings.

The best cover ever has to be Don Quixote and there is no worst, only somewhat less than the best. The cover shot shows Gordon at his peak. Go get all the albums or CDs off the shelf and line them up and you'll see what I mean.

Bill http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

stormshadow, salute album was a change for gord's sound songs like "someone to believe in' and "gotta get away" may be different but they're still good to listen to and after all its gord right now i am listening to "castles in the air" by don mclean, wonder what that would sound like if gord sang it

Billw, I totally agree. Not only is Don Quixote my favorite album musically, it also has the best cover. Gord looks so handsome and enthusiastic, you just have to listen to it!

Y&R is an American soap opera. Victor Newman is one of the long running characters on it, and a rather ruthless one to boot. And yes, there's a passing resemblance between Eric what's his name who plays Victor and the picture on the cover of East of Midnight. But Gordon would have to grow a mustache or Eric would have to shave one off. Plus I think Eric what's his name wears a rug.

Can ya tell I wasted a few years in my twenties watching the Young and the Restless?

quote:Originally posted by brink:
Thanks Borderstone for bringing this topic back up.
I really don't like the pictures on Waiting for You, I guess I am just a fan of the hairy lip.
Violet-this is the second time that I heard of the Y&R, its a line in one of his songs (title escapes me right now).
I like the picture on the GGII, but I like most of the covers too.

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Born once - Got it right the first time. )O(

[This message has been edited by violet Blue Horse (edited July 04, 2003).]

Good question Brink!
Glasses what Glasses??
I often saw the UK issue of Sunday Concert with its blue cover while doing the periodical check for new Lightfoot releases when I was back in the UK. But I am sure that that cover does not show Gord with glasses.The little pic on Wayne's site http://www.lightfoot.ca is not clear enough to check but occasionally the UK album comes up on ebay and I have saved several jpegs used there none show glasses but maybe a circular shadow or "rings under his eyes" effect fooled Frank V there is for example a narrow scan on a current auction at:- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=1598
which I think proves my point.If Gord ever wears glasses there would surely be photos showing that fact in existance?
Of course he is wearing (sun)glasses on the "Endless Wire" cover and also they seem to me to be evident on the Early Lightfoot AME album cover. Also Frank if you read this how did you deduce that the "blue" SC cover has Massey Hall as its background the curtains might be from there but Gord I think does not usually sing on stage in front of said curtains!!!
John Fowles

A Painter Passing Through is my favorite album cover. The warmth of the photograph matches well the warmth of the production of the music. Seeing the Endless Wire cover always makes me groan, so it is probably my least favorite. I don't care much for that album, musically, either (though the title track is definitely one of Lightfoot's coolest).