"Songbook" is a classy box-set..."88 songs, 36 years, 4 CD's, 1 Canadian". I really like the booklet, Gordon talks about each song. The unreleased songs are the best reason to purchase. Disc One is the older stuff, but still fasinating to hear the *original* versions. I have owned "Gord's Gold vol.1" since around 1982, so its interesting to hear the subtle differences between the two.
The unreleased songs are the real goldmine here..."Station Master" is a folk-rocker that Gord says he tried to write like a Bob Dylan song. I like the line about.."so I rocked her too sleep/Then I got back on my feet" Another gem is "Heaven Don't Deserve Me" a self-righeous song about believing he did everything he could for his wife, yet she still ends relationship. Great guitar playing! "Stone Cold Sober" is a must-have, he writes some beautiful poetic lyrics in this one. "...that our points of view will blend into each other/Like the sea & the horizon/And the sun will shine upon us/As we live our lives forever..." Other standouts include "Borderstone" "Canary Yellow Canoe"(I like how this songs starts with the loon sounds-like on Salute's "Whispers Of The North"-then all hell breaks loose!) "Never Say Trust Me" "Always On The Bright Side" and another unreleased song that sparkles is "Forgive Me Lord".
It's nice to hear the *original* version of "...Edmund Fitzgerald" with moog synthesizer used perfectly in song.
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