I had a spare moment yesterday and decided to give it a go with the internet and try to contact Elliot Mazer regarding the status of the recordings from Massey Hall in the mid 70s. He was in charge of the recording sessions, and lo and behold, I found his website -
www.elliotmazer.com - sent him an email and got a reply within 12 hours. Here is his take on the quality of those recordings.
First my email to him
On Oct 20, 2008, at 3:04 PM, david gledhill wrote:
Dear Elliot,
I was a young usher at Massey Hall in Toronto during the time you were
overseeing the recordings of Gordon Lightfoot for a planned live album
that was never released - I think maybe it was 1975 March. I met you
up on stage between concerts and I remember you showing us, a bunch of
ushers, the sound recording equipment. Thanks for taking the time.
Unfortunately, the recordings were never released due to Lightfoot
having a broken fingernail. With all the technology available today it
must be possible to clean up the slight marring of sound a fingernail
would have created.
There is talk of Lightfoot releasing his live recordings since 2000
but I am just wondering ,considering he was in his prime back then
whatever happened to the tapes? What was your opinion of them?
Neil Young released his Massey Hall concert to great aclaim - do you
think Gordon will ever do the same?
thanks in advance
David Gledhill
his reply
Dear David,
Thank you for this note.
You are correct. Gordie was not pleased with his performances.
I don't think technology could repair the problems with those recordings.
There are many wonderful moments but I must agree with Gordon.
I have not heard anything about these tapes in years.
cheers
Elliot