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Sundreme · 11-02-2000, 02:26 PM

quote:Originally posted by DB:
Sorry Clementine, but I have to disagree with you on that topic. When Red had left, Lightfoot had not had a chart topping hit. Yes Terry is a good guitar player, but it was Red's guitar that really embellished his recordings. It's really too bad that you had to miss Gordon's success and his best years, but if Terry is your cup of tea so be it. Sorry, "Terryites" but it's too bad that you became fans late in his career, and had to miss the Lightfoot that was.

DB, I don't know if you're trying to say that when Red left, Gord HADN'T YET had any chart topping hits, or that when he left, Gord NO LONGER had any hits. Either way, your assertion is incorrect. "If You Could Read My Mind" was recorded before Terry came aboard. The credits of "Sundown" list Terry playing acoustic and Red handling the electric guitar duties. "The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald" was after Red's departure. So it appears that Red Shea and Terry Clements played on an equal number of hits. Not that I think how many hits one has or plays on, is really an accurate measure of one's talent or a song's worth. Gord had lots of great songs that weren't chart climbers, but I'm just addressing your point.
If you're saying that since Red was earlier, the only reason anyone could possibly prefer Terry, is if they became fans later in GL's career and didn't get a chance to hear Red's playing, that is not quite correct either. First of all, many fans of Terry's have been listening to Gord since Red was GL's one and only ax man. Secondly, quite a few of us who became GL followers later on, have nearly ALL of Gord's songs...from the UA years to Painter Passing Through. So we didn't miss either guitarist's recordings, as they last forever. Some of us just happen to love Terry's playing because his sound is unique, stirring, soulful and downright brilliant. Not that Red's isn't and I certainly don't want to sound like I am putting him down, far from it... but when I heard "Wreck", it was Terry's lead guitar that first captured my attention. The notes he pulls from that instrument seem to conjure up not only an aural, but a visual image of the events playing out in the song. He can take a meloncholy song like "Stone Cold Sober" and make it absolutley heart wrenching. His guitar sounds as if its almost weeping in sympathy with Gord's broken hearted lyrics. "Dream Street Rose" becomes infused a with sonic color when he adds his masterful touch to it. If you think Red is the bomb, fine..because he's certainly worthy of much praise. But to refer to Terry as merely a "good" guitar player is just an insult to an awesome talent. Terry isn't just good, he's fantasic. Many of us think he's all that and a bag of chips AND a snickers bar too!!
Erica(and a pint of Ben & Jerry's!)

11-02-2000, 02:26 PM	#41
Sundreme Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 132	quote:Originally posted by DB: Sorry Clementine, but I have to disagree with you on that topic. When Red had left, Lightfoot had not had a chart topping hit. Yes Terry is a good guitar player, but it was Red's guitar that really embellished his recordings. It's really too bad that you had to miss Gordon's success and his best years, but if Terry is your cup of tea so be it. Sorry, "Terryites" but it's too bad that you became fans late in his career, and had to miss the Lightfoot that was. DB, I don't know if you're trying to say that when Red left, Gord HADN'T YET had any chart topping hits, or that when he left, Gord NO LONGER had any hits. Either way, your assertion is incorrect. "If You Could Read My Mind" was recorded before Terry came aboard. The credits of "Sundown" list Terry playing acoustic and Red handling the electric guitar duties. "The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald" was after Red's departure. So it appears that Red Shea and Terry Clements played on an equal number of hits. Not that I think how many hits one has or plays on, is really an accurate measure of one's talent or a song's worth. Gord had lots of great songs that weren't chart climbers, but I'm just addressing your point. If you're saying that since Red was earlier, the only reason anyone could possibly prefer Terry, is if they became fans later in GL's career and didn't get a chance to hear Red's playing, that is not quite correct either. First of all, many fans of Terry's have been listening to Gord since Red was GL's one and only ax man. Secondly, quite a few of us who became GL followers later on, have nearly ALL of Gord's songs...from the UA years to Painter Passing Through. So we didn't miss either guitarist's recordings, as they last forever. Some of us just happen to love Terry's playing because his sound is unique, stirring, soulful and downright brilliant. Not that Red's isn't and I certainly don't want to sound like I am putting him down, far from it... but when I heard "Wreck", it was Terry's lead guitar that first captured my attention. The notes he pulls from that instrument seem to conjure up not only an aural, but a visual image of the events playing out in the song. He can take a meloncholy song like "Stone Cold Sober" and make it absolutley heart wrenching. His guitar sounds as if its almost weeping in sympathy with Gord's broken hearted lyrics. "Dream Street Rose" becomes infused a with sonic color when he adds his masterful touch to it. If you think Red is the bomb, fine..because he's certainly worthy of much praise. But to refer to Terry as merely a "good" guitar player is just an insult to an awesome talent. Terry isn't just good, he's fantasic. Many of us think he's all that and a bag of chips AND a snickers bar too!! Erica(and a pint of Ben & Jerry's!)