CEDAR RAPIDS newspaper review

[charlene]

Article published: Jul 1, 2007
Lightfoot concert brings back memories

Cedar Rapids Saturday night's Gordon Lightfoot concert at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids was a bittersweet event. Thankfully it was more sweet than bitter.

The goodness was a very appreciative nearly full house got to see and hear one of music's finest folk singers and songwriters. It was a laid-back, thought provoking, enjoyable way to spend two hours.

Not to be a ``Rainy Day People,'' but the only rub was, and it pains me to say this, Lightfoot's voice is still pleasant but overall, he's lost the range he once had, or at least he had Saturday night. Perhaps it was due to the Paramount being the last stop on a long tour, or getting older, he's 68, or after effects of a near fatal abdominal hemorrhage that left him in a coma for nearly two months in 2002. I talked to a few others who agreed Lightfoot sounded weaker than they remembered -- but they all emphasized they were glad they came.

Me too.

Many of Lightfoot's songs are intelligently woven word tapestries with thought provoking images. It's amazing he remembers all the lyrics since he's penned 218 over his career.

``In My Fashion'' was a good example of his writing talent. The tune is a bit faster than most and has a fuller sound with superbly intelligent lyrics. It was also well-suited to Lightfoot's vocal range Saturday night.

Naturally, the crowd responded the strongest to his hits, especially ``Sundown,'' the Canadian's only number one song on the U.S. charts and the ``Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,'' which made number two in 1976. The latter is Lightfoot's epic song story of a true incident in 1975 on Lake Superior when the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a storm killing 29.

The tempo on those two tunes is about as wild at Lightfoot got. Lightfoot who alternated between three acoustic guitars, including a 12-string, received excellent backing from his four piece band.

His 26 songs Saturday night ranged from very early to later in his career. ``Ribbon of Darkness,'' which was a hit for Marty Robbins in 1965 and ``Early Morning Rain,'' were two of the earliest. Lightfoot mentioned the latter was recorded by Elvis Presley, which he said helped song-writing royalties. However, Elvis' version did not chart as a single but the well-known folk trio of Peter, Paul & Mary's did in 1965. Not very high, number 91, but it did chart.

Overall, Lightfoot's show was a quality, intimate, relaxing show, and the Paramount was a great setting for it.

[charlene]

Article published: Jul 1, 2007
Lightfoot concert brings back memories

Cedar Rapids Saturday night's Gordon Lightfoot concert at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids was a bittersweet event. Thankfully it was more sweet than bitter.

The goodness was a very appreciative nearly full house got to see and hear one of music's finest folk singers and songwriters. It was a laid-back, thought provoking, enjoyable way to spend two hours.

Not to be a ``Rainy Day People,'' but the only rub was, and it pains me to say this, Lightfoot's voice is still pleasant but overall, he's lost the range he once had, or at least he had Saturday night. Perhaps it was due to the Paramount being the last stop on a long tour, or getting older, he's 68, or after effects of a near fatal abdominal hemorrhage that left him in a coma for nearly two months in 2002. I talked to a few others who agreed Lightfoot sounded weaker than they remembered -- but they all emphasized they were glad they came.

Me too.

Many of Lightfoot's songs are intelligently woven word tapestries with thought provoking images. It's amazing he remembers all the lyrics since he's penned 218 over his career.

``In My Fashion'' was a good example of his writing talent. The tune is a bit faster than most and has a fuller sound with superbly intelligent lyrics. It was also well-suited to Lightfoot's vocal range Saturday night.

Naturally, the crowd responded the strongest to his hits, especially ``Sundown,'' the Canadian's only number one song on the U.S. charts and the ``Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,'' which made number two in 1976. The latter is Lightfoot's epic song story of a true incident in 1975 on Lake Superior when the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a storm killing 29.

The tempo on those two tunes is about as wild at Lightfoot got. Lightfoot who alternated between three acoustic guitars, including a 12-string, received excellent backing from his four piece band.

His 26 songs Saturday night ranged from very early to later in his career. ``Ribbon of Darkness,'' which was a hit for Marty Robbins in 1965 and ``Early Morning Rain,'' were two of the earliest. Lightfoot mentioned the latter was recorded by Elvis Presley, which he said helped song-writing royalties. However, Elvis' version did not chart as a single but the well-known folk trio of Peter, Paul & Mary's did in 1965. Not very high, number 91, but it did chart.

Overall, Lightfoot's show was a quality, intimate, relaxing show, and the Paramount was a great setting for it.