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SomewhereupinMichigan · 03-17-2004, 07:07 PM

Oh my...there are a bunch. Let's see...

1) Wild Strawberries (from WFY) because of the line about "all of these years, I have been wearing polka-dot underwear." My son was about 12 when this CD came out and he always cracked up uncontrollably over that line. Now, whenever I hear it, I think of him in a fit of giggles and, of course, I get a chuckle.

2) Partners (a staple of his 70s concerts, though never officially released on an album). The story of two partners in search of gold, trapped by snow in a mountain pass, when the food ran low the younger one made a meal of his "partner." Gord always sang "partners" in a falsetto voice between verses. That always brought a crowd reaction.

3) Divorce Country Style. Like Partners, another one that never made a commercial album release, but a staple of his 70s concerts. Humourous, as the title implies.

4) Cod Liver Oil. Another early tune that Gord recorded informally and used in concerts in the 60s. The story of a young man married to a "sick-ely" wife who consumes mass quantities of Dr. John's cod liver oil.

5) The General Store. Yet another early, but discarded, Gord tune. It was recorded for his Warner Arts Demos. A pleasant little ditty about the wonderous world of a General Store to a young boy (presumably Gord the child). It is so innocent it always brings a smile.

6) Calypso Baby (from the Two Tones album with Terry Whelan, c. 1962) This one is Gord in his short-lived duo days as a true folkie act. He and Terry whoop it up on this one as they try - desperately - to get into their Harry Belafonte feel. A great one to bring on laughter!

7) Daisy Doo (From the ill-fated and short-lived Early Lightfoot album, c. 1971. This is the one that Gord, reportedly, did all he could to round up -the copies on the market- and destroy.) It's Gordon Lightfoot meets the Big Bopper, recorded whilst our hero was still casting about for his own identity. As a matter of fact, pick any of the tunes on this one and you'll probably get at least a chuckle. The tunes Remember Me and It's Too Late, He Wins (contained on the Songbook boxed set)were from this period.

So...do you get the idea that Gord was a lot more humourous, as well as frivolous in his early years? Whether intentional or not? Then I suggest you listen to Uncle Toad Said from 1998 to see that Gord still has a fine-tuned sense of humour. Watch for a couple of the upcoming tunes on Harmony to be in this vein, as well.

03-17-2004, 07:07 PM	#6
SomewhereupinMichigan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Owosso and Houghton Lake, MI Posts: 403	Oh my...there are a bunch. Let's see... 1) Wild Strawberries (from WFY) because of the line about "all of these years, I have been wearing polka-dot underwear." My son was about 12 when this CD came out and he always cracked up uncontrollably over that line. Now, whenever I hear it, I think of him in a fit of giggles and, of course, I get a chuckle. 2) Partners (a staple of his 70s concerts, though never officially released on an album). The story of two partners in search of gold, trapped by snow in a mountain pass, when the food ran low the younger one made a meal of his "partner." Gord always sang "partners" in a falsetto voice between verses. That always brought a crowd reaction. 3) Divorce Country Style. Like Partners, another one that never made a commercial album release, but a staple of his 70s concerts. Humourous, as the title implies. 4) Cod Liver Oil. Another early tune that Gord recorded informally and used in concerts in the 60s. The story of a young man married to a "sick-ely" wife who consumes mass quantities of Dr. John's cod liver oil. 5) The General Store. Yet another early, but discarded, Gord tune. It was recorded for his Warner Arts Demos. A pleasant little ditty about the wonderous world of a General Store to a young boy (presumably Gord the child). It is so innocent it always brings a smile. 6) Calypso Baby (from the Two Tones album with Terry Whelan, c. 1962) This one is Gord in his short-lived duo days as a true folkie act. He and Terry whoop it up on this one as they try - desperately - to get into their Harry Belafonte feel. A great one to bring on laughter! 7) Daisy Doo (From the ill-fated and short-lived Early Lightfoot album, c. 1971. This is the one that Gord, reportedly, did all he could to round up -the copies on the market- and destroy.) It's Gordon Lightfoot meets the Big Bopper, recorded whilst our hero was still casting about for his own identity. As a matter of fact, pick any of the tunes on this one and you'll probably get at least a chuckle. The tunes Remember Me and It's Too Late, He Wins (contained on the Songbook boxed set)were from this period. So...do you get the idea that Gord was a lot more humourous, as well as frivolous in his early years? Whether intentional or not? Then I suggest you listen to Uncle Toad Said from 1998 to see that Gord still has a fine-tuned sense of humour. Watch for a couple of the upcoming tunes on Harmony to be in this vein, as well.