Where were you when?:

1. You heard your first Lightfoot song?

2. Attended your first Lightfoot concert?

3. Bought your first Lightfoot record?

With regard to the above what thoughts, feelings and experiences did you have?

As for me:
First Lightfoot song I remember hearing was in the car in the early 70's and I remember being mesmerized. I recall going out and buying the albumn (the vinyl variety) almost immediately and I was instantaneously hooked.
The album?..."Sundown" and it is still my fav. today along with "Shadows" although I love them all when it gets right down to it.

First couple of times I saw Gord in concert was in the early 80's at Cincinnati Music Hall. I took different dates to both shows and they both got hooked on his music. I introduced my wife to Gordon in 1988 in Milwaukee, WI. (name of theatre escapes me) and she was enamored immediately. We both left the concert that night with that drunk feeling one gets from being in the presence of such a profound performer. Sadly, to date, it was the last Gordon Lightfoot concert I've attended. Perhaps we'll catch him on May 13 in Tiffin, Oh. Pray that we do please. God Bless all of you, and have some fun with the above questions.


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She was all dolled up like a rainbox trout...

IYCRMM was so relevant to my "life" at the time in the early 70's I rushed out and bought the album. I loved all of it and have been hooked ever since. It was just a year or two later I ventured into the big city to see Gord at Massey Hall and have been addicted ever since. (check out "Char's Vault on this site - thanks to Florian for posting all the "stuff" LOL)- Gord put the hooks into me and hasn't reeled me in to the frying pan yet! Even took the kids trick or treating to Gord's house in '93! Oh my gosh am I a stalker??? NOT! Loved him all these years and weep by myself sometimes when he's singing to me. I have always cried when I have heard him sing Beautiful in concert. It was one of my wedding songs way back in the 70's. I love Gord for his being true to his talent, true to his friends, band, family and fans. But I love him most for being true to being Canadian. No offense to anyone but so many of our talents hit the road and I love that he is still the boy from Orillia, Ontario, Canada who did good and still has a Canadian address.
Gord still rocks my world and I think he always will.
That's just my opinion, I may be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
Char

Char,

Seems all I'm doing is following you around from post to post tonite, You stalker..you...or me! How lucky for you. I've read the other details of that Halloween. And thanks for all the goodies you've vollenteered to this site for all of us.

Gord hooked me in England, with Bitter Green. I was on the BBC while I was in the Air Force on duty north of London. I had never heard such an incredible voice before. Different, if you will, but utterly beautiful. The song got me. I actually memorised it right on the spot. I've never done that before and haven't since.

I still bear the GL hook marks to this day as a proud badge of fanship.


[This message has been edited by Rob Wells (edited April 27, 2000).]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by classicmixdj:
[B]Where were you when?:

1. You heard your first Lightfoot song?
The actual geographic location I am unsure of, but I do know I was in a 1973 Oldsmobile Omega (of course it wasn't so old back then, my dad bought it new for my mom) and I rather desperately wanted to listen to Pete's Dragon for what must have been the millionth time and my parents vetoed that and put in Don Quixote (we had a tape deck that we hooked up to the cigarette lighter back then) and I was hooked. By the end of the trip they were probably begging me to take out GL and put in Pete's Dragon. As I recall, I was quite curious about the line in Alberta Bound "and if you got the money you can get yourself a honey"....and of course my parents, when asked, were as perplexed as I was and had no idea what this line meant....

2. Attended your first Lightfoot concert?

ok, this was only two weeks ago in Tacoma, Wa.....the city where I was born.


3. Bought your first Lightfoot record?

well, the first actual GL I personally bought was when I moved to Ca. Before then I listened to my dad's records. So when I moved out I had to go about buying them all on my own.

Thoughts, feelings, and experiences....
1. life changing
2. awe inspiring
3. um...not too much for the third question.


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bottles, beads and cigarettes and lovers that i ain't found yet. Picking with a friend 'til dawn, singing all those hi'way songs.
-GL

1.(IYCRMM)A seaside resort called Brighton in 71.Every time i go back there it reminds me of Gord.I renamed it Gordsville.
Years ago my kids said to me."Dad are we going to Gordsville today".My neighbour chimed in and said "Where the heck is Gordsville"!

2.London 81(First and only)

3.SSOL(Album)Early 72.With a Christmas record voucher present.


Frank.

The first time I heard GL was about '75. My first album (yes those big round things) was Gord's Gold. First concert was Aug 1979, Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles. At a time when music was heading towards disco, I was amazed to find someone who could write a song about Don Quixote. It seemed out of sync with the rest of the world. The concert completely & totally hooked me. The next year I was at the Amphitheatre for 3 concerts & I've been hanging in there ever since. His intelligence, compassion & humor shine through all he does!

Great Topic!

1. Where was I? 1968, North Hollywood, Ca., 13 years old, my older brother brought home a recording of Softly and CRT, and I immediately fell in love with the man, his music and lyrics. Thirteen might seem a bit young, but aren't we all rather impressionable at that age? At about that same time I babysat for a couple who worked as agents for people in the entertainment industry. They had quite a few promo albums that included Did She Mention My Name, along with California Bloodlines by John Stewart and something by the Butterfield Blues Band. They encouraged me to listen to their records, and I couldn't wait to get their kids in bed so I could crank up The Last Time I Saw Her, and I would sit and cry over the hauntingly beautiful lyrics. Eventually this couple moved away, but they gave me their albums, most of which I still have.

2. First Concert with Gord was in the early 70's at the Universal Amphitheater at Universal Studios in So. Cal. There were several thousand people there, and many of them were calling out their favorite songs to be sung. I was too far back in the audience to be heard, so I silently sent a message to Gord to sing The Last Time I Saw Her, and to my great surprise, he sang it! From what I understand this is one song that he does not perform frequently in concert, as it is apparently difficult to do live. So with 2000 people sitting around me, I closed my eyes and listened to Gord sing that song just for me.

3. The first "album" that I bought (with the exception of Did She Mention My Name, that I inherited from the couple mentioned above)was Don Quixote, on 8-Track, and I played it so much it eventually wore out. I play the CD almost daily now, and it remains one of my favorites.

Like many others who frequent this discussion site, Gord has been a tremendous influence in my life. His songs have been a part of nearly every event in my life, through loves, loss, joy, sadness, and sometimes, just the every day things that we do that somehow Gord has the ability to put to words and music that we can all relate to.

For years I worked as a nurse in a neonatal intensive care nursery, and I used to bring in my Gord cassettes for some mellow music to listen to while we worked. I think the babies liked it too. I like to think I started out some new fans at a very early age! My fellow nurses and I used to play Gord trivia while we listened to the music and cared for the babies.

I last saw Gord this month in Lincoln City, Oregon, and as usual, it was great to be there and spend some time with this true treasure of an artist!

Anne

The first song that I remember hearing was The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald. I was in a cabin in Miles Standish state forest in Massachussettes. I was in the boy scouts at the time, and one of are scoutmasters told us to get in are sleeping bags close are eyes and listen to this song and just picture it in are minds. Needless to say i was blown away by the imagery the song produced, and it was also a familiar song. When I got home I asked my dad if he ever heard of Gord. He walked away and came back with Gord's Gold, and Cold on the Shoulder. He used to play the Wreck when I was very little, and thats where i remembered it from.

My first concert was actually cancelled. I was really ticked off about it. I had bought tickets for me and my dad for his birthday. Back in 94 I finally got to see Gord at Symphany Hall in Boston, again the tickets were for my dads birthday. it was a wonderful show,the best concert I have ever been to. I still have the ticket stub from that show.

My first cd I bought was "Early Morning Rain", the best of lightfoot. I found that cd at a musicland at the westgate mall in brocton mass back in 1990

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"If people could look into each other's eyes
What a wonderful place this world would be"
GL

1. You heard your first Lightfoot song?

Great topic! I remember I would listen to my radio very softly at night while trying to sleep. I heard IYCRMM and was hooked from that moment on. For years I kept that radio on at night right next to my ear to listen for more GL songs. Some of the happiest moments came when I heard that familiar guitar, familiar voice, and then the realization that there was a new lp out! I was 13 when I was hooked, and it hasn't let up. I hope it never will!

2. Attended your first Lightfoot concert?

For this I will be eternally grateful! I was a freshman in High school, 1970 or 71. He was appearing at the American Shakspere Theater in Stratford, CT. I was only 14 so I had no way of attending, but wanted to desperatly. My friends sister was a big GL fan, and didn't have anyone to go with. She was a senior in High School, and invited me to go with her. To this day I am grateful. She had the ultimate cool name of Starr Light. Terry Clements had just started with the band, and was a very skinny, young kid. Rick Haynes and Red Shea were also on stage.

3. Bought your first Lightfoot record?

1970, IYCRMM. It was the very first lp I ever bought for myself. I put the dates on all my lps back then so I have the historic date available! I rode my bike down to Myrtle Mills in Unionville CT to buy it. This was followed closely by SSOL, and then I got busy buying the back albums. One of the most difficult things I have ever attempted is to explain to someone else just what this music means to me. I'm not sure I could ever express it, but I have seen it on a few others faces.
Jenney

1. First song heard

It was back in 1973, on my first holiday away from my parents, at a holiday centre in North Wales. One of the cleaners there had recently been discharged from a mental hospital after spending a year for the crime(such was the punishment in those days) of taking some drugs. She had this record of a Canadian singer-songwriter-IYCRMM, which she found very helpful in contemplating her situation. The cover was reflective and thoughtful, but when I heard the record I was taken aback by the voice-mellow and noble. I put this to the back of my mind until I was able to buy records of my own.

3. First record.

After a few years of dabbling with the seventies supergroups like Yes, Genesis and Pink Floyd, I heard Daylight Katy and Endless Wire on the radio. I had to get a copy as it took me back to the 1973 encounter(note timelag), and things haven't been the same since! Basically I worked forward and backward from that point in his work so that I have nearly got everything. I can now appreciate that this LP marked a major change in his work.

2. First and only concert.

This was in Birmingham, England in 1981. I had just got my first job and was about to leave home. I went to the concert with my parents who weren't exactly fans but went along for the entertainment and to keep me company. My father particularly enjoyed the evening and I bought him one of the greatest hits LPs for his birthday the following month. He was really getting into the music at that point, but sadly died shortly afterwards. I took possession of the LP after that and often think as I play it of what might have been had he lived. As for the concert, as I recall it was perfect, although relatively quiet after all the supergroups. Little did I realise then the major changes that were to happen over the next few months, and how it was a turning point in my life.

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As cool as the breeze on the last days of April

What a great topic!
First heard Gordon Lightfoot?
I was working my summer hols with a theatrical office in London. Gord was booked to appear on the Rolf Harris tv series. Rolf harris had met Gord in Vancouver and heard him sing 'The Gypsy'. He invited him over to appear on his show. I had never heard him sing until Rolf Harris played me 'The Gypsy'track and I was in love - big time.
I can remember Gord coming into the office one time wearing his suede jacket (which I'm sure we all remember from some where) and jeans. Later he actually gave me two of his LPs. 'Early Lightfoot' and 'Lightfoot' which I still treasure although they are worn thin.

First recording bought:
'The Circle is Small' and my love affair with Lightfoot and his music was cemented.

Where did I first see him 'live': Royal ALbert Hall, London, June, l972. I had front row seats and sat mesmerised throughout.
I saw him each time he returned to the UK and travelled to Canada to see him several times in Montreal in later 70s.
In '72, he recorded several tv shows and I was fortunate enough to get tickets for these also. But I wasnt cute enough to get them recorded for me!

His music continues to soothe, stir and inspire me and I know it always will. Thank you God for allowing us to share his magic.
And please God inspire Gord to come back to Britain! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

Silver Heels...Is that the same Rolf Harris who recorded "Tie Me Kangaroo Down"?

Silver Heels and rainydayperson...you both mentioned collectively "Circle is Small" and "Daylight Katy". I was on the air (air talent) at a radio station near Cincinnati, Oh. when those songs came out. I remember what a refreshing change of pace those tunes gave my programming. I was partial to playing lots of Lightfoot. Any show that included the music of Gordon had to be a winner. Currently I play lots of dances, weddings ect. and always manage to slip in our friend, Gordon a time or two. It brings lots of smiles.


"I will prove my love to you
In everyting I say and in all I do"

quote:Originally posted by classicmixdj:
Silver Heels...Is that the same Rolf Harris who recorded "Tie Me Kangaroo Down"?

Silver Heels and rainydayperson...you both mentioned collectively "Circle is Small" and "Daylight Katy". I was on the air (air talent) at a radio station near Cincinnati, Oh. when those songs came out. I remember what a refreshing change of pace those tunes gave my programming. I was partial to playing lots of Lightfoot. Any show that included the music of Gordon had to be a winner. Currently I play lots of dances, weddings ect. and always manage to slip in our friend, Gordon a time or two. It brings lots of smiles.


"I will prove my love to you
In everyting I say and in all I do"
Classicmixdj, yes that is the same Rolf Harris and I can never thank him enough for introducing me to Gordon Lightfoot and his music.

'Do you like to go walking on the shore and listen to the sea' GL.

The first songs of GL I heard were "Did She Mention My Name", "Alberta Bound" and "Early Morning Rain". I lived in Montana, really close to the Canadian border, so I grew up listening to CJOC out of Lethbridge, Alberta. They played alot of Lightfoot and Ian and Sylvia and Tommy Hunter, etc. I fell in love immediately with his singing and style of writing.

The first concert I attended was in Portland, Oregon. Since that time, I have seen him 3 times in Oregon and 4 times in Iowa.

The first album I bought was "Sundown" and I received the boxed set for Christmas.

So, what GL song has affected you the most?

For me I have to say that the song that has had the most impact on me is "Rainy Day People". I consider myself to be a "rainy day" person, a "contemplative troubadour" I believe is how Gordon put it.

The first time I remember hearing Gordon's music was in either 5th or 6th grade. I went to a small public elementary school in Mid Michigan, and at recess, rather than play ball with the other kids, I'd walk along the outside of the school building till I came to the first corner to sit in, and listen to a little transister radio I'd brought from home. I can remember hearing Sundown most everytime I turned that radio on. It seems like it was always followed by Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" (another classic). Don't get me wrong....I could hit that baseball with the best of them, but always enjoyed my radio just a little more !

My first concert was back in the mid eighties at the St. Dennis Centre in Windsor, Ontario. Since then I've seen him at the Fox Theater in Detroit, and most recently at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasent, Michigan. All I can say is I was awestruck !!!


It's hard for me to put into words what his music does for me. Any true Gordon Lightfoot fan knows exactly what that feeling is, so I won't rack my already overloaded brain (life alone !) trying to explain what you all know already !

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The house you live in will never fall down, if you pity the stranger that stands at your door.....GL

Wow, does this topic ever bring back memories!

I first started listening to Gordon when I was about 4 or 5. My oldest brother was about 20 at the time, and he used to play Gord's Gold I all the time. (I guess that makes it sometime after 1975, and since I was born in '74, that makes sense.) It just seems that that album was sort of the sound track for my life when I was very small. My other brother, who was in junior high at the time, adn I used to spend hours playing with hot wheels cars in their room, and listening to GL. I remember being trained at a young age to walk softly, as not to make the record skip!

I didn't attend my first Lightfoot concert until Fall of '96 when I saw him at Massey hall with my brother. It was great - just like we were little kids playing hot wheels again! We attended at Massey again in spring of '98, and we also saw a concert at an outdoor pavillion in Lewiston, NY that summer.

I guess the first album I personally bought was Sunday concert. I was probably about 16, because I remember driving to the used record store to check out the GL selection. I was impressed, and I picked up that one because of the uniqueness of the scenario. I'm really glad that I did, because it was that which led me to call Massey Hall years later to find out if he was still performing there!

It's so interesting that even though my family and I have loved Gordon's artistry for upwards of 20 years, we really just started to learn the depth of his mastery within the last 6 years or so. I attribute this in large part to the rerelease of the United Artist collection, as well as to the widespread availability of his work on CD in the last few years. The distribution of his great musical storytelling is truly a gift to the world!!! I'm so glad to be able to come to know so much more of his copious work in recent years! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif!!!

BoBo
All around the world tonight
What a beautiful sight below
Too fine a time to stand in line
I'm gonna take my love to go

I decided to use this topic to mention an important note about today,August 6th.
2 years ago today,I attended my 1st Gordon Lightfoot Show at the Dodge theatre here in Phoenix on a nice balmy Tuesday night. Those that know this story know it already but if you don't,I not only saw a concert but met him and the band and got autographs too.

When the concert fell on August 6th,it seemed rather out of this world to me because that's also my late Grandmother's birthday. It was almost like a gift from her to me,if you think about it.

As for the other questions:I first heard GL on a radio station out of Erie,PA in the summer of 74. "Sundown" of course. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif I bought my first GL 45 (Sundown also) in 1988 at an oldies record store called The Prickley Pair. My first LP,"Gord's Gold" was at a yard sale sometime in the late 80s. (1st CD's were the Songbook one's on 8/7/01.)

Feel free,if you like and haven't yet,to mention your 1st GL concert experience and the other two. I can't believe it didn't go past one page! ....but then again,this topic is from only a few months after this site started. http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

Been me. Later! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/cool.gif

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"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm." http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif - Borderstone

[This message has been edited by Borderstone (edited August 06, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by Borderstone (edited January 25, 2005).]

Too long ago to remember when I heard my first lightfoot song. But let's see I think the first album I bought was Best of Gordon Lightfoot volume 1 (Warner Bros) or Summer Side of Life can't remember. Saw Gord at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver

OK, gonna give this a try:

1. first lightfoot song:
I was ten or eleven when I heard the lines "and I will never be set free, as long as I'm a ghost you can't see" and felt connected emotionally for the first in years (not a pleasant childhood).
I heard his music so seldom growing up that I never connected it was the same person.
When a highschool friend asked me what music I liked, I mentioned four songs: IYCRMM, Sundown, Carefree Highway, and "The Wreck",(my whole GL reportoire at the time) she said, that's all Gordon Lightfoot and lent me GG's. I had no idea they were all by the same person! On my 16th bday, she gave me the album, I think just so she could get hers back! I almost wore that thing out. My family didn't get the fascination,but it didn't slow me down.

2.First concert:
1990. Sat in the ochestra pit at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. About six feet away from him the whole concert. He smiled for one of my pics, talked a bit to me. Met them all outside the backstage door after the concert, Barry Keane told me, You're the girl (I was 26!) that knew all the words to the all songs, aren't you?
Got autographs, a hug from Gord, got my pic taken with him, nice. Then the band dragged him away so he wouldn't miss the plane. sigh.

3. First Lightfoot record:
Shadows. I bought it in 1982 when it came out. It was a cassette tape. I DID wear that one out. I was so so excited. I spent all the little money I had on it. I inhaled the lyrics like oxygen. I graduated later that year, left home and took all things Gordon Lightfoot with me.

4. Feelings: Swamped by a tidal wave of soul emotion. Connected at last. Perfect understanding of the lyrics, someone speaking what was in my soul. And all that other stuff there are no words for. I have to agree with Bob from Westphalia on this one!

great topic, exhausting though!

(edited for a typo-oops)


[This message has been edited by LSH (edited August 07, 2004).]

1. Summertime Dream 1976, at school singing class.
2. Peterborough Festival Of Lights 2001, Peterborough ON
3. Gord's Gold II 1989, Newfoundland

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"The station is for travelers even you must ride someday"

I heard the Trilogy when i was about 8 or 9.
I had to do a project on someone Canadian, guess who i picked! but the song that impacted me the most was Ordinary Man.

Unfortuntely, I haven't attented one yet, but i have seen him on TV once, soon to be twice.

About April or May of this year i bought my first Lightfoot album. before that I was borrowing my mom's albums.

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Sidney Freedmen

'Sit Down Young Stranger' and visit The Home Page Of Gordon Lightfoot

1. Heard my first Lightfoot song in the early 80's sometime, either IYCRMM or Sundown or Carefree Highway.I'm only 26. I used to play my Mom's Gord's Gold album when I was younger and then again in '91 and then by '96 I was finally hooked after hearing "Rainy Day People" on the radio.

2. My first Gord concert was at the Keswick Theater in Glenside PA May of 2001 (On Mother's Day) Gord said "What A Great Night To Do This Song" and the went into "All The Lovely Ladies"

3. My first Lightfoot album was Gord's Gold. I took it from my Mom's record cabinet (she'll never miss it) then I bought the CD in '96 when it was still available

my dad owns the GG album and that was probably the 1st time i ever heard recorded music and ended up being familiar with so much of his stuff. to bad CRT and others like it were re-reocrded. i don't know if my dad was ever knew about the original recordings of that song.

Where I heard my first song: In my livingroom is San Rafael, CA, when my older sister returned from college with Sit Down Young Stranger.

First concert: Cleveland, Ohio, where we moved my freshman year of high school (the fall after my sister brought SDYS home.

First album purchased: Summer Side of Life (That was the first one I bought-"Santa" had given me my own copy of IYCRMM, as it had been retitled, for Christmas after we moved to Ohio.)
In high school, I met another girl who was a big fan. Coolest thing: her dad was somehow in the music business, and one day she brought in for me a "promotional copy" of Sundown before it was available for sale-how cool is that??? I was very excited-don't recall how I managed through the rest of the school day!

I love this thread! I'm learning a lot about this group.

1. You heard your first Lightfoot song?
I was 12 or 13, at a summer horsemanship camp. I recall singing along to every song as we cleaned up the dining hall...it was the Lightfoot! record.

2. Attended your first Lightfoot concert?
1982, third row. Electrifying http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

3. Bought your first Lightfoot record?
Don't remember, but I owned them all, then upgraded to cassettes, now CDs...

>1. You heard your first Lightfoot song?

lying in bed at 5am on a really hot night, not being able to sleep. sundown came on on an AM station and the catchy tune struck me instantly. this was the summer of 97/98.. i'm in australia!

>2. Attended your first Lightfoot concert?

never.. gordon hasnt toured australia since 1974 and i was born in 77.

>3. Bought your first Lightfoot record?

veery early 98, i saw summertime dream LP in a 2nd hand record shop for 50 cents. snapped it up and played it repeatedly.. in the following months, i collected them all

1) no clue at all, no brain salad here

2) "it was back in '84, when i was one year old", i mean when i went to my first concert (thanks to Francis and Fowles I found the review of the concert) - now, may i get the setlist? http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

"Back in the saddle again, Gordon Lightfoot opened his week long concert for the sixteenth year in a row at Massey Hall last night. There is hardly a comparable display of fan loyalty in the entire entertainment world. Think of it: there are kids who were carried in their mother's arms when he first played there in 1968, who are old enough to get their driver's licences this year. And probably a few of them will be driving down to see him this week.

With no new album's worth of material to show off, it was a more or less predictable run through of the Lightfoot repertoire, digging into a few areas he hasn't touched in some time (Did She Mention My Name, Race Among The Ruins), but generally offering the usual line-up of rough-hewn emotionally-romantic lyrics and lilting melodies, with the same cluster of musicians (keyboards, guitar, drums, bass and steel guitar) straightforwardly serving up request after request.

If there's a major change, it's that he looks better - slimmer by a good twenty pounds, so that the cheeks have regained their hollows and the waistline has returned. Before the first intermission, he dressed in dark clothes, and when he emerged wearing white in the second half, the audience cheered as he walked out to pick up the dozen requests and roses at the foot of his microphone. After a slow start, the vitality grew as the evening moved along.

When the songs are matched side by side - If You Could Read My Mind next to The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald next to Christian Island - the lyrics spark off a series of remarably consistent images of lonliness, a quasi-religious search for acceptance and a romanticism so extreme it can only be described as unsalvageable.

Here and there, a lyric heard for perhaps the 1500th time, still has impact. From, The Last Time I Saw Her, for example, on which Lightfoot gave his most emotionally satisfying performance of the night, there's that extraordinary line: "And if time could heal the wounds, I would tear the threads away that I might bleed some more." The audience hung on every word and exploded with applause at the end of the song.

No easy or cynical explanation for his continuing popularity suffices. He is certainly not fashionable, but in some senses, he never was. In his awkward and romantic way, Lightfoot speaks for Canadians' secret, awkward and romantic selves in a way few artists are able to speak to any audience. His tunes about women, trees, drinking and sailing are vintage Canadiana.

He's not a national institution for nothing"

3) no clue on this either, we sort of had a family collection of Gord LP's, great having big bro and big sis's to take in the hand me downs... i do remember buying the album sheet music book for "Lightfoot" though, i just remember that it cost $2.50, pretty long ago it was, love that cover, Chuck Connors-ish http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[QUOTE]Originally posted by classicmixdj:
[B]Where were you when?:

1. You heard your first Lightfoot song?

2. Attended your first Lightfoot concert?

3. Bought your first Lightfoot record?

With regard to the above what thoughts, feelings and experiences did you have?

Surely Gordon is as much religion as recreation for me.

I first heard Lightfoot a week or 2 after my parents separated. It was New Orleans, where I spent the first 30 years of my life, December 1970, & I was 14.

My mother, who has always been gifted for song and animals, gave me the album "Sit Down Young Stranger". She circled the song "If You Could Read My Mind", which became a #5 hit and thus caused the album to be retitled. Mom had written from "DJM" (her initials) to HJM (my Dad's).

I was hooked completely and forever. I bought the next album "Summer Side of Life" when it came out, got all the early stuff on United Artists, and kept buying albums up through 1982's "Shadows".

I got caught up in raising children, work & other pathways, and didn't buy a new Gordon album 'til "Harmony" came out late this spring.

As a result, I've been listening for the first time to "Salute", "East of Midnight", "Waiting For You", and "A Painter Passing Through." I was initially shocked by the nasalization of Gordon's voice, partially because this is the first thing I noticed when I met him backstage in the 70s (more on this in a bit), but the melodies and lyrics are simply stunning!

My first (and regretably only) Lightfoot concert was Feb 15, 1978 in New Orleans. It was the "Endless Wire" tour and the ticket was $7.50. My wife was working, so my Mom (Donna), my 13 year old sister Gwen (now a professional singer herself) & myself went.

After the show we snuck backstage (what a different era!). Gordon was there drinking Heinekens & security was just about to throw us out. I said, "Hey Gordon, it's Donna". Gordon played along, throwing his arms open wide, embracing my mother with an gleeful and elongated "DONNA!". We got to stay.

I am looking at my autograph from that night (To Craig, Best Wishes, Lightfoot)and reading my scrawl beneath it:

"From Gordon Lightfoot concert, Feb 15, 1978, Wed. My mothe, sister, & myself met Lightfoot backstage after the show. Not nearly as remote, serious or ethereal as his photos and music suggests, Gordon spoke with a nasal twang quite rapidly, patted his beer gut, and made a few nervously corny jokes. Altogether, he came off like someone you'd meet at the office picnic, and I loved him."

So here I am, in joyful rediscovery of absolutely the most important recording artist of my life- 34 years, 6 children, 3 grandchildren after the initial discovery, keeping sane with Gordon in the midst of a campaign for the city council of Anaheim (home to Disneyland, Angels baseball, and Mighty Ducks Hockey.

Gordon played Anaheim the night before my wedding, August 3, 2002 (my sweet lady and I finally tied the knot after 14 years), but could not go due to the nuptial schedule. Really wish I has, since his health collapsed the next month.

This website is a pure joy for me, and I hope to hear from y'all soon!

------------------
Craig Merrihue

Hey Craig,

Great story. Welcome aboard !

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

When I was a kid, I used to have a fascination with trains. So my dad used to make me "Train Tapes" with music all about trains for the car. Steel Rail Blues was probably the first Lightfoot song I ever heard, as it is about a train that will take a lonesome guy back to his lover. He also included "Sixteen Miles" and "Early Morning Rain" on these train tapes, and I used to listen to these tapes not only in the car during our long summer holiday drives to Algonquin Park in northern Ontarion, but also when I fell asleep at night. This would have been about 1985 or 1986 when I was 5 or 6 years old. I kind of lost touch with Gord's music after the late 1980s as I moved to Germany for three years. Upon returning to Canada as a teenager, I took up the guitar and was reminded of these old songs I used to listen to while falling off into dreamland. I got the United Artists Collection for my 15th birthday, and from that moment on, I was captivated yet again with Lightfoot's music, and proceeded to buy every album, every bootleg, and go to every concert I could.

The first time I saw Lightfoot in concert was in Orillia in 1997 when the Orillia Opera House was re-named the "Gordon Lightfoot Auditorium". This night was a particular treat because Pee Wee Charles sat in for Mike Heffernan, and it was like seeing the music exactly as I had pictured it over the years. Wasn't able to get backstage after the show, but I waited by the stage door for what seemed like forever. Out came Gord and he autographed a bunch of records for me. It was a real treat! Since that time, I've seen Gord in concert about 10 times, and can't wait for him to come back to the stage! A highlight for me was getting to go back stage at Massey Hall in 2001 to meet Gord and the band!!! I'll never forget that!

Where were you when?:
1. You heard your first Lightfoot song?

2. Attended your first Lightfoot concert?

3. Bought your first Lightfoot record?

1. In my Dad's old Volvo. The year was probably '88 or '89, I was no older than 8 or 9. We where on our way home from my baseball practise and had just stopped to grab a ice cream. While driving and listening to a Jays game I began to fidget in my seat and open up his glove compartment box. Inside was a assortment of "Solid Gold Hits" tapes, a few others and one of Gordon's albums. I picked it out of the bunch and laughed at his moustache. My Dad turned to me and said something like " that is one of daddies heros", of course being a kid I wanted to know all about it. He put it on and sang every word of the album. I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen.

2. I have yet to experience that pleasure.
3. Haha, last night, Sonic Boom, Bloor st. in Toronto, thanks to some help from you all.

Some really nice stories in here guys.

1. 1st heard a Lightfoot song?

I'm sure I was vaguely aware of IYCRMM when it was big, and I saw Marty Robbins in concert, so I'm sure I heard ROD. But really it was when I stumbled on my brother's copies of Sundown, Don Quixote, and Lightfoot! I wore them out, then went out and bought Summertime Dream (it came out a few months after I first laid hands on the other albums).

First album: Summertime Dream...then it was a quest to go to all record stores in a large radius to get all old albums...took a few years, but I got 'em.

First concert: Nashville, TPAC auditorium 1982, then the next night in Louisville, KY at Majestic Theater. Then 1989 in Ft. Worth at Billy Bob's.

1. Heard first Lightfoot song...I was riding around in my Uncle Donny's huge Chrysler with a push button transmission (yes, I said a push button transmission). I must of been 7 or 8 and a song was playing on the radio and my Uncle was singing to it like a crazy man. I didn't care for the song or the singing but since I adored my Uncle Donny and driving around in his car I asked him what that song was and he said, "Steel Rail Blues by Gordie Lightfoot Mikey"! so I tried singing it too. Now it's the only memory I really have left of my Uncle Donny who drove the car into the lane of an oncoming transport, taking his own life, approximately 6 weeks later.

2. First Lightfoot concert I ever saw was in March 1981 at Old Massey Hall in Toronto. I saw him there 9 more times. I was so excited I nearly let my bladder go! LOL I sat on the right side, floor level, 4 rows back, and 1 seat from the aisle. I could see his nose hairs! It made my hair stand on end. He played 2 and a half SOLID hours with a 15 minute break with an encore to a huge standing ovation. He played Steel Rail Blues earlyin the second half of the show which made me remember my Uncle Donny thereby causing me to quietly bawl my guts out. The greatest concert experience of my life and I've had a lot. Pure entertainment magic.

3. First Lightfoot Album I bought...In 1976 I had finally procured a little cash of my own from a part-time job at Dominion so I went out and bought several. The first one picked out was Sundown, then in random order, Summertime Dream, Sit Down Young Stranger, Cold on The Shoulder, and Summer Side of Life. I picked up Lightfoot in a yard sale a couple of weekend's later which probably saw more play than any of the others, especially, "Steel Rail Blues."