[davidgledhill]

I was an usher in March 74 and 75 at Massey Hall for the Lightfoot concerts. Every so often, in the dark, you would see someone with a handheld mike and a large package on their lap etc. It goes without saying that the quality of that recording would be non-commercial - given all the clapping- and the hassle factor of going after while the concert was on was not really worth it.
Below is my previously published correspondence with Elliot Mazer who recorded the concerts which were not released due the the famous broken fingernail.
I have my doubts that there was any collusion with illegal recording and employees of Massey Hall.
As ushers we had free roam of the place - exploring all nooks and crannies.
There have not been a slew of great bootleg concert tapes released from Massey Hall during that era.
If you had gone to the trouble of putting illicit professional recording equipment in place for one concert - why not keep it in place and just keep the tapes running.
There were great rock/folk/jazz concerts there up to a dozen times a month.
It was the greatest job in the world - and I actually got paid for it.



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 1974 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