NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Harison
 

ONCE UPON A RED EYE - Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot, written by Richard Harison.

Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot - and much more...
Published by Friesen Press - TBD 2019

ISBN-978-1-5255-5463-6 (Hardcover)
ISBN-978-1-5255-5464-3 (Paperback)
ISBN-978-1-5255-5465-0 (eBook)

MY REVIEW:
Richard has given the Lightfoot fan an exceptional, informative, up close and personal accounting of life on the road and in the air with Gordon and his band of music makers when he was at the pinnacle of his musical success story.
Memories of specific concerts, venues, cities, meetings of other renowned artists, details about sound mixing, stage lighting and guitar tuning are but a few of his stories told in a way that had me recalling concerts past and how I marveled at the seamless perfection I saw and heard happening onstage. There was also the need to get everyone to the venues with airline and hotel reservations, car rentals, truck rentals etc. at a time when the internet was not around! Most of the time things went as planned but when they didn’t Richard has some tales to tell!
I never realized the immense amount of complex work involved in giving the fan the best concert experience possible and for quite some time almost all of the organization to have a successful tour was done by Richard himself!
Richard relates his memories about the band members and Gordon over the years with an ease and humour only someone who was really ‘’in the know’’ can tell. His tales of others in the Lightfoot circle as well as many artists he met along the way are told with the same comfort and consideration. Some are amusing while others are poignant and heart stirring. Many fill in the story of his own life as his journey with renowned and world famous Gordon Lightfoot find him marvelling at how serendipitous it really has been.
A wonderfully informative read that will educate the fans while making them laugh and also marvel at the immense amount of work Lightfoot and the dedicated, loyal people who surround him have done for over 50 years and continue to do to this day.
Char Westbrook

WAYNE FRANCIS has reviewed the book too! READ it here:
http://lightfoot.ca/biograph.htm

ONCE UPON A RED EYE

Take A Trip On Board A Musical And Cultural Time Machine

In my over fifty years as a touring concert performer I certainly have both
enjoyed and appreciated a good measure of success, which has allowed me to
visit places I might not otherwise have been able to, as well as to meet people
that I have long admired for their talents in musical and other fields. But
I think what remains foremost in my mind is that I have always loved just
being there. I think I could sum the whole experience up simply by saying, “I
love the work!” If I didn't, I wouldn’t keep doing it.
And while I wrote and performed the songs, I would be remiss if I did
not acknowledge the contributions of the people who were with me on these
tours. Primarily, I have been very fortunate over the years to have always had
a band with such loyal and talented musicians, and I am truly thankful for
their contributions.
I have also had some fine technical help: road managers, sound engineers,
and lighting directors. Of these, Richard readily comes to mind. He was
touring with me for almost twelve years in the seventies during the time
frame of “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown,” and “The Wreck of the
Edmund Fitzgerald.” During this time, at one point or another, he did all
three jobs mentioned above, sometimes simultaneously.
I know you will enjoy his accounts of our time together, which include
the humorous, the intense, and even the outright dangerous—things such as
airplane failures and three bomb threats. Yes, I love the work, and I will not
ever forget the contributions those close to me have made to that love.
—Gordon Lightfoot

NEXT POST - WAYNE FRANCIS REVIEW

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8c2ab1fd_o.jpgredeye by char Westbrook, on Flickr

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

WAYNE FRANCIS REVIEW:

And so begins this long awaited narrative - part biography; part social commentary; part music business insider; part travelogue, with a foreword by the central figure in this engrossing and mesmerizing ride through the 60's and 70's, Gordon Lightfoot. The author, Richard Harison, as Lightfoot's road and stage manager, was there as a first hand witness and participant in it all. If you were to try to write a fictionalized account of every twist and turn, while navigating the intersections and interactions Richard experienced in this tale, it might strain credulity to believe. But from the heady days of the 60's in New York's Greenwich Village folk scene, the Newport festival where Dylan went electric, the counterculture social and musical revolution of San Francisco and LA, Harison was indeed there through it all, with a one of a kind viewpoint he now shares. He was brushing shoulders with the likes no less of Dylan, Johnny Cash, the Byrds, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, Jack Nicholson, Art Garfunkel, Linda Ronstadt and a list of many other musical and cultural luminaries too long to list here.

Richard Harison spent his early years in California, raised in Connecticut and was roadie and equipment technician for the Byrds in the mid to late 60's, and as the early chapters illustrate, many unique and even tense situations develop in service to Roger McGuinn and the Byrds. But most notably, Harison performed his duties for iconic singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot from 1970-1981. He played a pivotal role in keeping the tight knit Lightfoot operation rolling smoothly along the carefree highways and flyways of the turbulent 1970's and beyond. Those were the years when Lightfoot was at the pinnacle of his box office and creative powers.

Harison came of age in the 1960's at the height of a musical and cultural upheaval. The Vietnam War was escalating with each passing year and loomed large over every facet of life for that generation's youth. The burgeoning music scene and the war combined to form a formidable fork in the road that was soon to determine how the author's life was about to unfold. Richard Harison comes across through his self-depreciating style of writing, as a loyal and reliable figure, who's inner compass is always pointing true north.

Richard's father worked in TV and Broadway productions and as a teenager Richard would often tag along with him to those studios and theatres. There he absorbed many aspects of live performance production that would, unknown to him at the time, provide an apprenticeship that would be the underpinning of his future endeavours, as he began to cast about looking for his calling in life.

The early chapters weave an intricate pattern of Harison's travels on both coasts, attending festivals and concerts, and in doing so he meets up with some of the top musicians of the day. Amid a myriad of vividly recreated scenes, he describes how each chance encounter strangely built upon the previous ones, collectively forging onward with what seems, looking back now, as an almost preordained destiny. His future begins to come into clearer focus while attending a Gordon Lightfoot concert in 1968 at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, where he meets Lightfoot's legendary guitarist, Red Shea. A friendship ensued, culminating several years later at Carnegie Hall in New York, where, at Shea's urging, Lightfoot hires Harison to be his tour manager.

The years with Lightfoot form the central core of the book. Tantalizing minutiae from the studio and the road are revealed that hard core fans will find irresistible! Lightfoot has always had a reputation for his generosity and Harison provides multitudes of examples of how that generosity manifested itself in the daily course of events, going a long way to explain the undying loyalty Lightfoot has engendered from those around him. Harison pulls the curtain back, allowing readers to see the interactions between Lightfoot and his entourage, far removed from the music business spotlight. Happenings, whether backstage; on planes; in hotel rooms; rented cars; in restaurants and more, are given the light of day, as Harison, being an integral part of those events, captures them for us in a way that only a first person perspective truly could. While many books on musicians' road exploits are generated from second or third hand accounts, giving readers a 20,000 foot perspective at best, Harison is there on our behalf to provide us with true "on the ground" reconnaissance. We are shown the group's camaraderie on full display, in all of its playful humour, juxtaposed against the ever present deadlines and pressure.

Harison also bears witness to some of the harrowing and difficult times that Lightfoot faced along the way. Crucial career decisions, bomb threats, midair engine failures, and in one of the most captivating chapters, we find Lightfoot touring through troubled Ireland in 1981. Amid the violence and chaos of Dublin and Belfast, with armed soldiers in the streets and barbed wire barricades in front of hotels and concert halls, Harison describes how Lightfoot presses on, even as explosions coming from the outside can be heard during the concerts and political events are developing at breakneck speed. In one instance Harison is invited pre-concert into a Belfast pub where he marvels at the warm and friendly environment he finds there, only seconds after stepping in from the war-like zone in the streets.

In the course of reading this book, one question was continually cycling through my mind, that being how was the author able to ingratiate himself in those early days, being a virtual unknown, into the confidences of these professional musicians that would help propel him along his forward trajectory? After all, aren't those celebrities notorious for erecting barriers around themselves to protect against grifters and worse? Part of the answer perhaps lies in the open nature of the 60's. But even so, as the book was winding down I was resigned to the fact that I would most likely be left to speculate on the matter on my own. But no, it turns out Harison himself had been asking that same question as he reflected on his journey. Following Red Shea's passing, the author asked Red's widow why she believes Red, and by extension so many others, went out on a limb for him, as in Red's case by recommending Harison be hired by Lightfoot. Her answer was succinct and illuminating - but sorry, I'm not inclined to reveal the answer here.

Discover for yourself as you take your seat and buckle up to enjoy Once Upon A Red Eye!

- Wayne Francis

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

OMG! Another book to get once it's released! Thanks, Char & Wayne!



Gail

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

Awesome! The only thing lacking now is a book focusing on Lightfoot's music alone -- everything that went into composing, producing and recording his songs over the decades. I sure hope he takes on that project before it's too late to do so!

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

PUBLISHER WEBSITE: BOOK COMING SOON!
https://books.friesenpress.com/store...Upon-a-Red-Eye

Life on the Road with Gordon Lightfoot by Richard Harison

Once Upon a Red Eye is a compelling memoir that offers rare insight into the behind-the-scenes life of a Canadian musical icon. Here are the colourful recountings of Richard Harison, who spent a dozen years serving as Gordon Lightfoot’s road/stage manager, concert sound engineer, and lighting designer/director. In the time of his employ with Lightfoot, Harison enjoyed all manner of adventure. He accompanied the famed singer/songwriter and his band on concert tours of the world, celebrity meetings, thrilling performances in halls grand and small, and travel mishaps, including three bomb scares and two consecutive aircraft engine failures.Woven expertly into the background of Harison’s stories of music, tours and elaborate pranks, history plays out in iconic bursts. The Vietnam War, an encounter with the Black Panthers, and a UK tour during the serious political/religious upheaval in Ireland all provide context to Lightfoot’s international presence in this epic stretch of time.

Between 1970 and 1981, Richard Harison was part of Lightfoot’s remarkable story, serving as a source of friendship, personal, and practical support for Lightfoot and basking in his special glow.

Richard Harison was a worthy and very capable road manager for me and my band throughout the seventies. Together with Rick Haynes, Red Shea, Terry Clements, Barry Keane and Peewee Charles we toured all over Canada, the United States, the UK and Europe. And believe me, Richard has many interesting memories of untold stories to convey in this very thorough account of life on the road. — Gordon Lightfoot

Once Upon a Red Eye by Richard Harison is a fascinating behind the scenes account of a young man's journey through the Folk Music movement of the 1960s. He struck up a friendship with Joan Baez, was a roadie for the Byrds and eventually landed the position as road manager for Gordon Lightfoot which he has maintained for many years. You will hear his reaction to Bob Dylan going electric at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 and follow him through many exciting and mysterious adventures.

— Roger McGuinn (Leader of the Byrds)

I cannot wait to read Richard Harison’s book about his years on the road with our iconic superstar, Gordon Lightfoot. As Gord’s long time tour manager, Richard was given a unique window through which he witnessed all the fascinating, stressful, and at times crazy situations going on behind the scenes with the man who sold out concert halls and stadiums in the 70’s and is still doing so. Having been part of his North American tours for over four years as Gordon’s “opening act”, and having written about the various strange and wonderful experiences in my own autobiography, I’m sure Richard’s account of Canada’s legendary and beloved singer/songwriter will make for a most intriguing read. This is a book that I shall have a hard time putting down.”

— Liona Boyd, C.M., O.Ont., B. Mus., LLD

Gordon Lightfoot has toured the world-over. There are millions of people who know who he is through his music and travels but only a handful really know the man. Gordon’s long time road manager Richard Harison is of the latter. You might say he has the inside scoop. If there are stories to be told about this legendary songwriter and entertainer, Richard should be the one to tell them.

—Bruce Good, The Good Brothers

In 1974, Gordon Lightfoot ascended to the top of Billboard's album and single charts with his song “Sundown,” displacing even Paul McCartney.

Set in the socially and politically charged days of the 60's and 70's, Lightfoot's right hand man was none other than Richard Harison. Get a backstage pass when Lightfoot performed as part of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue. With that same pass, follow Lightfoot on tour throughout North America, the UK and Europe, as well as in the studio.

Being such a close up, personal witness to events involving one of the great singer-songwriters of our time at the height of his powers, “Once Upon A Red Eye” takes you on a journey that can only be revealed from Richard's unique position and perspective. You will be riveted by Richard's meticulously woven accounts of life inside the orbit of Gordon Lightfoot!

—Wayne Francis, Creator/administrator of www.lightfoot.ca

As long-time tour manager for the iconic Canadian singer/songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot, Richard Harison has a unique perspective of life on the road with Gordon during the 70’s.

These authorized stories could only be told by someone who was there for all of it, and Richard is certainly the one to share his up close and personal accounts with all Lightfoot admirers.

A respectful and inside glimpse of Gordon Lightfoot and his band that fans have never seen.

—Char Westbrook, moderator of the popular Lightfoot website/discussion board www.corfid.com and editor/co-administrator official Gordon Lightfoot Facebook page.

Richard Harison was just a young man from California looking for his path when his close association with the Byrds led to a longtime gig with an emerging Canadian musician named Gordon Lightfoot. Harison spent twelve years as an integral member of a crew dedicated to showcasing the talents of this exceptional musician.

Today, Harison lives on a hill overlooking Georgian Bay, in Ontario, Canada, with his wife of 25 years and a headful of memories of those magical times.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

This is most interesting and I'm really looking forward to the read.
I know Richard was with the Lightfoot entourage for many years and through some turbulent times as well. I've seen him from time to time at the Massey Hall concerts and could see he was always working.
I'd say he's paid his dues over the years.
Reflecting back on some of the posts during the newsgroup days when he and I interacted a few times it's clear he's a talented musician as well.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

I agree, it was my only criticism of the Jennings bio.

That does not mean that I won't get this one! I intend to hit the "buy" button the moment I find it listed for sale. Those of us who were around in the USENET newsgroup days, remember that Richard would drop in some anecdotes from time to time. Also, anyone who earned a photo and mention in the Gord's Gold liner notes... well...!

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

check online tomorrow..
there is hope by the publisher that it will be available ''by weeks end''.. PUBLISHER WEBSITE:
https://books.friesenpress.com/store...Upon-a-Red-Eye

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

Yes, come on we need a musical bio, Gord. As a writer, I was trying to put that bug in his ear but didn't hear back ...

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

well... as promised, I dropped the payment bomb!

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

NOW AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM and AMAZON.ca

as well as:

https://books.friesenpress.com/store...34000104779561

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

I've avoided this thread since I bought it - I wanted rather instant gratification and got it on pdf, which is rare for me since I prefer to hold a book in my hands.

It was worth it though, I already sort of knew Richard through online newsgroup interaction, so it was nice to have the "bigger picture" laid out before me.

The end was kind of an anti-climax, because I thought there might be some leadup to his parting ways with EMP. And the remembrances at the end were bittersweet to me, triggering memories of my own.

Still glad I bought and read it!!

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

It's a lovely read, well written with little surprises throughout..
Richard is a terrific raconteur and his recollections let us in on some of the unknown side of touring.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

One thought I had after reading it... It seemed to me that the book was intentionally written around a PG-13 rating, makes me wonder what the R-rated version would be like!

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

Knowing Richard, I'm sure he would never tell or write any stories/memories that would besmirch, even if true, the legacy of Gordon Lightfoot. He's not that person.. I am sure there are stories many could tell but it won't be Richard telling them..

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

yeah I was being flippant above, but I'm sure there was some, uhh, "deeper content" and that the language presented in the published story may have been soft-pedalled a bit.

The fact that I got this vibe from the book does not in any way decrease my enjoyment of reading it! Like I said, I knew RH from the old newsgroup, and was very glad to be able to buy a book of his memoirs.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

READER REVIEW:
One thing I wanted to tell Mr. Harison is this: I saw Gordon Lightfoot in concert for the first time in 1972 at Avery Fischer Hall. The one thing I remember about that concert is when he sang Sit Down Young Stranger. At the end of the song, the stage went completely dark, and it took my breath away. That was the moment I fell in love with Gordon Lightfoot. Having read Once Upon a Red Eye, I'm sure it was Mr. Harison who made that moment happen for me, and I am forever grateful. If you could forward this to him, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,
Cathy Marczyk

Richard says:Her statement about my lighting cue is correct.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

fan mail !!
"Dear Richard,
I just finished your book Once Upon a Red Eye. I could hardly put it down I was enjoying it so much. I was also texting with Pee-wee during the whole time. We were going back and forth about a lot of things which made us both laugh. I asked him if he thought it would be okay if I emailed you because I was enjoying the book so much and he was kind enough to give me your email address.

I would highly recommend it for anyone to read. You certainly don't have to be a Lightfoot fan to thoroughly enjoy it.
I loved all the personal stories and tidbits not only about the band but you yourself. I am a huge Joan Baez fan and I could not believe that you knew her so well.
As a huge Lightfoot fan again I have to tell you how much I loved the book and the way it was written. Thank you for sharing the stories about your travels on the road.

Yours Truly,

Barb

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

Just received our copy of the book. Looking forward to reading it!



Gail

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

Just finished reading this book. It was great! Such a great insight to the management side of musician concerts. Richard Harison was articulate in his praise of Gordon's generosity and creative talents and the team. I would recommend this book to any GL fan.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

REVIEW from Bill Amatneek, stand up bass player for Peter, Paul and Mary:

Richard, I just finished reading “Once Upon a Red Eye” and wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it.

You write VERY well, and showed us Gordon, his generosity, your love of him and all the guys in the band, and the warm camaraderie shared by you all. The book was a page-turner for me; I read it in maybe five sittings. You showed us your work and ALL it entailed, in technical detail that made it understandable to all. You were the Swiss army knife of Gordon’s shows and biz.

It also showed us you and what a stand-up guy you are: diplomat, empathetic friend, fan of Gordon, supporter of Gordon in all he wished to accomplish. Your remembrances of the band members and friends towards the end of the book was very well done.

And the design, layout and typesetting of the book were quite excellent. I know that can be a tedious part of the process, but you accomplished it quite well.

You kinda blew me away, Mr. Harison, on all counts. Bravo on a book excellently done.

Best regards,
Bill
Heart of a Man: Men’s Stories for Women

P.S. Thank you for listing me in the Special Thanks section, and for mentioning me and my association with PP&M in the Freeze and Thaw Tour section. U b a prince, Brother Richard.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

Just finished reading the book. Fascinating & well done!



Gail

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

re-reading!!

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

This really is a wonderful book. Being a slow methodical person I too am back for a second read.
Also as a huge Gord fan since the sixties it was most interesting reading about how Richard came into the group and how he ended his journey. It sure is a well written account. Very down to earth. The Gord way.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

from Pee Wee's wife:
Hello Richard... I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed reading your book! It was a great account of your life. I learned a lot from the early days and then the days with Gordon. It was such an easy read packed with great information which any fan would greatly appreciate knowing what the life was like for yourself and the band. It brought back so many memories which we experienced early in our marriage. Thank you for telling your story! I hope you are well and enjoying your life after all the craziness! Kathy

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

FRIESEN BOOKS - publisher

Congratulations, Richard!

Your book, Once Upon a Red Eye, has been selected as a Staff Pick by a member of the FriesenPress publishing team!

For the next several months, Once Upon a Red Eye will be included as a featured title on the Bookstore’s Staff Picks section. Your listing now also features a permanent badge to notify your customers of your Staff Pick status. Be sure to share this big news on social media and tag us @friesenpress!

Thank you for choosing FriesenPress to help you share your story with the world.

FriesenPress
Suite 300 - 990 Fort St.
Victoria, BC V8V 3K2

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

^Way to go, Richard!



Gail

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

I have the book on my bookshelf. Have not started it yet. I'm 'in a funk' lately with all the pandemic 'stay-at-home' crap. Then also waiting to find out my re-scheduled concert date for Champaign, IL (which was also a re-schedule from Gord's leg injury last year).

Also have had 'Solo' album for probably a week and have not even opened it yet!!! I am a big Gord fan, believe it or not!!! (25 concerts / met him 22 times!!)


Not liking 2020 so far.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

My brother recently dropped by. He returned to me my copy of the Jennings Bio... Having it handy, I went and re-read that book, and was rather dismayed when I got to the end-credits not to see Richard Harison mentioned anywhere. WHAT, how does one write a comprehensive biography, and not talk to Richard in the process? Was Gord's long serving road manager that unimportant? (Or maybe Richard refused to talk to him? Or was the technical side of Gord's live performances not considered important for the context of that book? BB-Class Road.)

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

Hi Andy - Richard saw your post and was touched by it - He sent me this to post:
''I was never contacted or interviewed by Jennings. Indeed, Bruce Good was very disappointed
that I was not mentioned. (Read his back cover endorsement) Liona Boyd was also puzzled.

It reminded me of what happened during the taping of PBS Soundstage when the band was being interviewed and someone chimed in that "if you really want to know what is going on, you should be talking to Richard and
Charlie...not us!"

Thanks, Andy.

Ironically, his link to "BB Class Road" was performed by the Byrds! Small world!!

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

FROM MY LATEST PHONE CHAT WITH GORDON: http://corfid.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=29014 CW – Did you read Richard Harison’s book, “Once Upon A Red Eye” ??
GL – I was going to say, Yes I am! And it’s so good!! I really LOVE it! I’m on Page 100.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

Thanks Char for passing that on!

Now, I threw in a specific Easter-Egg above, not sure if anyone got it. A link to a song that I only know of, because I'm a Gene Parsons fan and it was on a Gene Parsons compilation that I own. I think it came around a little bit after Richard left the Byrds, but still... it was a Byrds song that Gene helped write and sang, "B B Class Road", which was a reaction to another bandmember disrespecting the road crew, so they wrote a song that talked about the lives of the roadies... "...this song is dedicated to all the Road Managers who are worth a dang..."

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

Richard had this in his message... I added it to the original post I made:

''Ironically, his link to "BB Class Road" was performed by the Byrds! Small world!!''

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

more from Richard -
"BB Class Road" came out in 1971. Although primarily working for Gordon at that time, I was still moonlighting with the Byrds
in the summers of 1971 and 1972 when Gordon went on his canoe expeditions in the summer. In 1973 they broke up for good.
So you could say I never left them. They just left. I spent that summer playing lead guitar with the Good Brothers.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

Awesome, thanks for the additional commentary. I knew that the peeps behind mikes and behind the scenes when "B.B Class Road" was produced, were likely the same people that Richard worked with back then.

Now, tying this back to Gordon. How do I even know this song exists? Well I'm not a big fan of the Byrds. So what gives? Well in the mid to late 80s lots of record collections got dumped on thrift stores. I shopped Goodwill and Salivation Army back then. I'm pretty sure I bought Gene Parsons' album "Kindling" at Goodwill for 60 cents. Why did I buy it? First of all, it had a gatefold album cover and inside was only an image, no text. The image made a point (a poorly deforested area with lots of tree stumps, with a portable TV sitting on a tree stump displaying an image of a living forest) that I appreciated the irony of. I then looked at the album credits... I saw some names I recognized, Russ Titelman and Lee Hershberg. I knew those names from reading GL album credits, and I figured I should give a chance to anyone who those names were attached to. I liked the album, quite a bit. Years later I looked online to see if I could get it on CD. Turns out Sierra Records had re-issued it as The Kindling Collection, on a gold CD of all things, along with bonus tracks of all the songs that Gene had done in the years just prior to and after his solo record. That included B. B. Class Road, with a liner note from Gene telling how that song came to be.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

FROM RICHARD - "Sorry to hear you are not a Byrds fan. That being said, I know you will acknowledge their trendsetting importance.
When McGuinn, Crosby, and Gene Clark went to see "A Hard Day's Night," that sealed the deal.
As renowned music critic, Ralph Gleason put it:
"The Beatles brought melody back to popular music, and the Byrds gave it intelligence."
For example: "The Bells of Rhymney" and "Turn! Turn! Turn!" Folk-Rock was born.
Not long after...Roger, Gene & Chris got into the semitonal music of saxophonist John Coltrane, while David was into Ravi Shankar.
The result was "Eight Miles High." Acid/Psychedelic Rock was born--long before Jefferson Airplane.
On their album, "Sweetheart of the Rodeo," Country Rock was Born.--long before Eagles.
One cannot deny the trendsetting of the Byrds!

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

Dang, I never meant it to come off that way. I never DISLIKED the Byrds! I just never got into them. But except some songs from the Gene Parsons/Clarence White era of the band, I never knew them beyond the tracks played on the radio. Those were fine enough that I would listen to them. But never strong enough that I actively sought out anything beyond them. I am not a 'hater' of the band by any means, and Richards' apt description of the various incarnations the band had are quite right, to the point where it's hard to categorize the band! I tend to lean towards liking "earthy" music, more like bluegrass and country rock, which is why my fandom of the Eagles ends when Bernie Leadon left. As for the Byrds, I simply never got into them, if I had I probably would be a fan. It's not like I don't have rare musical tastes, I am a huge fan of the late 60/early 70s psychedelic/progressive UK band Kaleidoscope/Farifield Parlour, and vocalist Nicky James (Mike Nicholls) from that era, both of which are nearly unknown in the USA.

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

Just finished 'Once Upon A Red Eye'.

Enjoyed every page. It would be wonderful if Gordon would sit down and finally pen his own memoir. He told me once, after I asked him about it, "You get to the point where it just doesn't matter anymore." I think he will eventually do it, though.

We do learn more about Gordon in this book. Even though Gordon didn't write it, we learn so many small details about Gordon's life. Someone else will always remember/recall things about you that you don't even remember.

Excellent book, Richard!!!!!!!

Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

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Re: NEW BOOK!-ONCE UPON A RED EYE-Life on the road with Gordon Lightfoot-Richard Hari
 

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