I understand what your saying scraphappy, for me it was in 1969 buying my first ~gl~ Album "Did She Mention My Name" because it had the song 'Black Day In July' on it the only Lightfoot song I knew from hearing it on the radio a lot back then.
But after listening to that entire Album over & over Ive been simply worship(p)ing this incredible human being {genius) ever since...
Every time he would put out a new recording I would quickly go & buy it.
It has always puzzled me how he remained thru it all... A simple man.
What a guy !