Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post

johnfowles · 03-16-2004, 09:19 AM

quote:Originally posted by Shazia:
I start wanting to have their whole collection, so even if I did get Shadows I still might want to get the one coming in May, you know what I mean?

Anyway, I am trying to get the albums in which his voice still has that "sound" to it before it starts to change, that's why.
Great Shazia How we all envy you who has so much great music yet to be savoured
You said you wanted him before his voice changed.In my book that is more than enough justification to immediately acquire the first five "United Artists" albums.
That way you start with the first 5 of his 19 original albums (soon to be 20 of course)
I used to think this was best done by buying the handsome Canadian-issue black three CD box set "Original Lightfoot"

of which there seems to be an inexhaustable supply being offerred on ebay currently item:- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...3&category=307
has a "buy it now" fixed price of only US$24.93 plus $5.99 shipping
Alternatively on sale at Amazon is the equivalent US 2-CD "United Artists collection" set

which covers just the first 4 U.A.albums
you can then add Eitherthe basic GL Live CD

This fabulous album was the only official (non-bootleg) live recording until the 2000 Reno concert for a PBS special and its
subsequent issue as a video in both VHS and DVD formats another "must-have" item
Or the German Bear Family issue of the same Sunday Concert but with 5 Bonus tracks added
I have just received that CD as a birthday present:-
this is a scan of the back cover so you can readily see the track listing

If you shop around you can also on the Bear family label get the first four albums as a pair of cds each containing two complete albums:-

The two "Plus" CDs also sport very worthwhile booklets indeed the Sunday Concert plus booklet includes all the text and photos that were a feature of the original gatefold LP sleeve.
There is a German Bear Family home page in English at:- http://www.bear-family.de/index_english.htm
click on artist listing "L" all 3 cds are listed with track lists and reviews
Note rather quaintly the English and German reviews are all in a single paragraph
Also note that the two different (Nashville/New York) versions of the very first of Gord's songs that I myself ever heard "Spin Spin" are included as "bonuses"
I have taken some trouble to research this response because this matter has been regularly cropping up recently due to a number of posters building up their collections and I feel very strongly that these 5 albums which were such a solid foundation for the success that followed with IYCRMM in 1971 are a must to really appreciate all that Gordon has to offer
In addition Shazia I think you were earlier advised to get the simply magnificant box set "songbook" which is so much more than a "greatest hits" package,especially the brilliant booklet

This has some 72 remastered tracks from previously issued albums plus a great collection of 16 new tracks many of which are
so good that it is amazing to realise that they were outtakes from earlier albums.
I hope this gives you a little food for thought

------------------
My Gordon Lightfoot webring
starts at
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited March 16, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited March 16, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited March 16, 2004).]

03-16-2004, 09:19 AM	#11
johnfowles Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Jersey U.S.A. ex UK and Canada Posts: 4,846	quote:Originally posted by Shazia: I start wanting to have their whole collection, so even if I did get Shadows I still might want to get the one coming in May, you know what I mean? Anyway, I am trying to get the albums in which his voice still has that "sound" to it before it starts to change, that's why. Great Shazia How we all envy you who has so much great music yet to be savoured You said you wanted him before his voice changed.In my book that is more than enough justification to immediately acquire the first five "United Artists" albums. That way you start with the first 5 of his 19 original albums (soon to be 20 of course) I used to think this was best done by buying the handsome Canadian-issue black three CD box set "Original Lightfoot" of which there seems to be an inexhaustable supply being offerred on ebay currently item:- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...3&category=307 has a "buy it now" fixed price of only US$24.93 plus $5.99 shipping Alternatively on sale at Amazon is the equivalent US 2-CD "United Artists collection" set which covers just the first 4 U.A.albums you can then add Eitherthe basic GL Live CD This fabulous album was the only official (non-bootleg) live recording until the 2000 Reno concert for a PBS special and its subsequent issue as a video in both VHS and DVD formats another "must-have" item Or the German Bear Family issue of the same Sunday Concert but with 5 Bonus tracks added I have just received that CD as a birthday present:- this is a scan of the back cover so you can readily see the track listing If you shop around you can also on the Bear family label get the first four albums as a pair of cds each containing two complete albums:- The two "Plus" CDs also sport very worthwhile booklets indeed the Sunday Concert plus booklet includes all the text and photos that were a feature of the original gatefold LP sleeve. There is a German Bear Family home page in English at:- http://www.bear-family.de/index_english.htm click on artist listing "L" all 3 cds are listed with track lists and reviews Note rather quaintly the English and German reviews are all in a single paragraph Also note that the two different (Nashville/New York) versions of the very first of Gord's songs that I myself ever heard "Spin Spin" are included as "bonuses" I have taken some trouble to research this response because this matter has been regularly cropping up recently due to a number of posters building up their collections and I feel very strongly that these 5 albums which were such a solid foundation for the success that followed with IYCRMM in 1971 are a must to really appreciate all that Gordon has to offer In addition Shazia I think you were earlier advised to get the simply magnificant box set "songbook" which is so much more than a "greatest hits" package,especially the brilliant booklet This has some 72 remastered tracks from previously issued albums plus a great collection of 16 new tracks many of which are so good that it is amazing to realise that they were outtakes from earlier albums. I hope this gives you a little food for thought ------------------ My Gordon Lightfoot webring starts at http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot [This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited March 16, 2004).] [This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited March 16, 2004).] [This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited March 16, 2004).]