Fill-in Licks

[dad2mak]

Does anyone know if the band members compose their own fill-in licks, or does GL write them for them?

Terry's backup for IYCRMM is different than Red Shea's. Is that his doing or GL's?

[Cathy]

I think they compose them and Gord has the last say. Gord probably gives them an idea of what he wants.

Cathy

[Doug]

Originally Posted by dad2mak

Does anyone know if the band members compose their own fill-in licks, or does GL write them for them?

That is a question I always wanted to ask Lightfoot but have forgotten to ask.

I originally thought as Gordy is a perfectionist he may want to do them all, but that just doesn't make sense. There must be some collaboration. It's probably some combination of the person with the instrument and varying levels of input from other band members and GL, hashing stuff out till most are happy. But I like Cathy believe GL will have the final approval.

[imported_Next_Saturday]

From Terry Clements in the Lead By Ben Elder
http://www.corfid.com/gl/press/press50.htm


...After three decades of working with Lightfoot, Clements says his job is not that complicated. "If Gord has specific idea, he'll tell me. Otherwise, it's, 'Come up with something,'" he explains, The ideas can flow in either direction, and "In My Fashion" from Waiting For You [sic]was built on a Terry Clements idea. "That was one of my riffs," he recalls. "Gordon said, 'Hey, can I use that I said, 'Sure,' and we ended up building that song around that riff."...

--Not sure about the reference--it actually might refer to the riff in "Waiting For You" itself.

[spocksbrain]

The first time I met Terry back in 1998, this was the first question I asked. He replied that he makes a great deal of the leads up, but Gordon does indeed have the final say. That was a good surmise. He did say, though, that The Wreck leads were Gordon's.

I would like to see some of those guys be able to get some songwriting credit for their ideas, though. Then they would be able to recieve residuals. But, Gordon does have his own way of working things out with the band, I suppose.

[jj]

Originally Posted by spocksbrain

The first time I met Terry back in 1998, this was the first question I asked. He replied that he makes a great deal of the leads up, but Gordon does indeed have the final say. That was a good surmise. He did say, though, that The Wreck leads were Gordon's.

I would like to see some of those guys be able to get some songwriting credit for their ideas, though. Then they would be able to recieve residuals. But, Gordon does have his own way of working things out with the band, I suppose.

yes, things have worked out very fine for them...a coveted full time salary (probably even received full salary while Gord was out of commission)...but this investment in members over the years always guaranteed their availability for rehearsals, live gigs, recordings sessions over the years when these might otherwise conflict with band members alternative commitment to conflicting non-Gord gigs or non-Gord studio work sessions ...I would think PeeWee misses that sort of steady 'band' pay

this salary agreement probably also has the musicians forgoing any mechanical royalties for their recorded performances

but typically no songwriting credit applies for these riffs and licks or creative percussion work or bass lines...these are not deemed to be a substantial component of the musical work (ie. the backbone of the song consisting of the main melody, the chord progressions, the structure and the lyrics.)


In My Fashion is from "Shadows", no?...my opinion is that the In My Fashion guitar "riff" is a signature chord progression and part of the musical work, hence Gords asking permission to use and build on it

whereas the lick (however memorable) in Waiting for You is not...that's my perception of how Gord Inc. likely operates but just mainly based on my experiences

I thought it was PeeWee who came up with the Wreck lick, perhaps instead it was the sound effect captured on the original recording

all this aside, I truly do feel that Red's 'fills, riffs, works' in the early, bare boned band era were very integral to those song's compositions ...I would think in that day, the musicians were paid on a per gig and per studio session basis but still treated like family by Gord, but I'm not so sure about Grossman...Richard from the newsgroup would likely know all this stuff

[joveski]

i reallt like the guitar lick on Waiting for you. it follows the vocal melody, which is great on its own

[JohninCt.]

Being that they rehearse almost every week when not on tour, I expect they would work on songs and Gordon would have the final say on which solos, fills or riffs to use. He does have very strong control of what goes down. All in all, they all seem very happy with the way it has worked out.

[spocksbrain]

I agree totally. When all is finally said and done, and the cap is put on Gordon's career, I believe they can all die happy and fulfilled. Most of us don't get the chance to contribute to significant pieces of art like the Lightfoot Band have. That's quite a privilege.

I hope when I reach the end of my days that I will be able to look back on a life of achievements that have helped enrich others.

Sometimes when I think about the talents that God has given some of us, I am truly amazed. I am glad that we have all been blessed to live in a time where technology has made it possible for us all to get to know Gordon's music, and to an extent, the man himself.