1964 - LISTEN to Gordon's recordings from 1964
The Canadian Talent Library #5049
1964
Track
1. Harbour Le Cou
2. The Auctioneer
3. Betty Mae's A Good Time Gal
4. Long River
5. Turn, Turn, Turn
6. Cod Liver Oil
https://www.mixcloud.com/ttboxcar/go...-library-1964/
AND read more about the songs:CANADIAN TALENT LIBRARY
by Wayne Francis
Here is another in my series of reviews of rare Lightfoot recordings. This one is the Canadian Talent Library recordings, which are from 1964 and contains songs from various Canadian artists. Lightfoot checks in with six songs. Distribution of this record was only to subscribing Canadian radio stations.
There are two original songs among his selections and four covers. The album is well recorded, with Lightfoot's voice very clear and his guitar playing very crisp. He is backed only by a bass guitar.
Lightfoot sounds as if he's enjoying recording these songs, as especially on the humourous tunes, you can detect a trace of playfulness creeping into his singing. On The Auctioneer, he almost lets a laugh slip out during one of his auction calling breaks.
HARBOUR LE COU
This is a very fine Newfoundland folk song delivered beautifully by Lightfoot. The song is about a sailor who is courting a girl in Harbour Le Cou, only to have his true idenity as a married man be given away by a fellow he formerly had sailed with, as he was out walking with his "maiden from Harbour Le Cou." It turns out his wife was also from Harbour Le Cou! Very funny song (as are many Newfoundland folk songs).
THE AUCTIONEER
No, Dream Street Rose does not contain the first recorded version Lightfoot did of this song. Here Lightfoot does his auctioneering in a voice reminiscent of Dylan of that period.
BETTY MAE'S A GOOD TIME GAL
Now here's a Lightfoot original that is a throwback to the traditional type of folk song you might expect from Woody Guthrie. A good song, but it would seem out of place on his first UA album, so perhaps he found a proper outlet for it on this album.
Well now Betty Mae's a good time gal
Well now Betty Mae's a good time gal
Betty Mae's the end, but she's losing her last friend
She's crying now as he walks out the door
She says, "Don't forget to call before you go"
She said, "Don't forget to call before you go"
'Cause darling if you do, well I'll lose my faith in you
You'll find me at the place where we always met before
Well now get aboard a coach downtown
Well get aboard a coach downtown
Get aboard sweet Bill and travel where you will
But Lord above, old pal pick up that phone
Well now Billy boy's a gambling man
Well now Billy boy's a gambling man
Billy boy's allright, but now he's out of sight
He's heading for a far and distant land
She said, "Don't forget to call before you go"
She said, "Don't forget to call before you go"
'Cause darling if you do, well I'll lose my faith in you
You'll find me at the place where we always met before
Well now put a dime in that there phone
Well now put a dime in that there phone
Put a dime there in, by the numbers one to ten
And don't forget to call before you go
She said, "Don't forget to call before you go"
She said, "Don't forget to call before you go"
'Cause darling if you do, well I'll lose my faith in you
You'll find me at the place where we always met before
LONG RIVER
An alternate version from the UA release, differing by the fact that there is no second guitar on this track and Lightfoot adds a few extra bars during the whistling break.
TURN, TURN, TURN
Lightfoot does a very solid 12-string rendidtion of this hit for the Byrds. Lightfoot often performed this song live back during this period.
COD LIVER OIL
Another Newfoundland folk song. Lightfoot really milks the humour out of this popular folk story about a man saddled with a sickly wife who consumes cod liver oil by the gallon.
https://www.lightfoot.ca/ctrrev.htm?...ay-iFaqj02nOBI