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vlmagee · 11-03-2003, 07:21 AM

I don't want to repeat the answers, because they have all been good ones. But I would like to comment. The tracks on Songbook resulted from a process begun by Thane Tierney, who put together his list (and he is a certified Lighthead, just like us), as a starting point. Lightfoot was very involved with the project and brought his own choices, not to mention the material from the archives. And the decision was made early on to include only original songs, so The Auctioneer and Me and Bobby McGee - two well loved covers - were not candidates.

Beyond that, Lightfoot chose to omit some songs (Minstrel Of The Dawn for one that I know of) because he didn't like something in the recording. Perhaps something that only he could hear, but that was a choice he made. Since the song is on two other CDs, it is hard to be too upset about it. In the case of Spin, Spin - and I have NO inside information - I would guess that he just doesn't like that song very much. It is an early song and he didn't like it enough in the 60s to include it on an album. While it did do nicely on the charts in Canada, I would guess that it just isn't one that he likes.

In the case of Salute, I have to agree that it is unique in that it is the only title song that is NOT represented on Songbook. So we will have to assume that there is something about it that he doesn't like. If it were my decision, it would have been on the boxed set - it was always one of my favorite tracks on that album. Thankfully, the Salute CD was finally released, so I can live with that decision too.

Beyond that, I would guess that there are some songs that Lightfoot omitted because of what they are about, rather than something in the recording. For example, some people would have wanted to include Black Day In July - a noteworthy song, even chosen by The Tragically Hip for the tribute CD. But Lightfoot has long said that the song had its time and I think that was a factor in that song not being included.

Finally, when Songbook was released, A Painter Passing Through had only been out for a year. Perhaps the fact that it was a "current" record was a factor in the choice to include only one track from it.

Lots of speculation here, but that's how I see it.

------------------
Valerie Magee

Visit my GL web site at gordonlightfoot.com and Cathy Cowette's site at cathycowette.com

[This message has been edited by vlmagee (edited November 03, 2003).]

11-03-2003, 07:21 AM	#4
vlmagee Senior Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Ballston Spa, NY Posts: 724	I don't want to repeat the answers, because they have all been good ones. But I would like to comment. The tracks on Songbook resulted from a process begun by Thane Tierney, who put together his list (and he is a certified Lighthead, just like us), as a starting point. Lightfoot was very involved with the project and brought his own choices, not to mention the material from the archives. And the decision was made early on to include only original songs, so The Auctioneer and Me and Bobby McGee - two well loved covers - were not candidates. Beyond that, Lightfoot chose to omit some songs (Minstrel Of The Dawn for one that I know of) because he didn't like something in the recording. Perhaps something that only he could hear, but that was a choice he made. Since the song is on two other CDs, it is hard to be too upset about it. In the case of Spin, Spin - and I have NO inside information - I would guess that he just doesn't like that song very much. It is an early song and he didn't like it enough in the 60s to include it on an album. While it did do nicely on the charts in Canada, I would guess that it just isn't one that he likes. In the case of Salute, I have to agree that it is unique in that it is the only title song that is NOT represented on Songbook. So we will have to assume that there is something about it that he doesn't like. If it were my decision, it would have been on the boxed set - it was always one of my favorite tracks on that album. Thankfully, the Salute CD was finally released, so I can live with that decision too. Beyond that, I would guess that there are some songs that Lightfoot omitted because of what they are about, rather than something in the recording. For example, some people would have wanted to include Black Day In July - a noteworthy song, even chosen by The Tragically Hip for the tribute CD. But Lightfoot has long said that the song had its time and I think that was a factor in that song not being included. Finally, when Songbook was released, A Painter Passing Through had only been out for a year. Perhaps the fact that it was a "current" record was a factor in the choice to include only one track from it. Lots of speculation here, but that's how I see it. ------------------ Valerie Magee Visit my GL web site at gordonlightfoot.com and Cathy Cowette's site at cathycowette.com [This message has been edited by vlmagee (edited November 03, 2003).]