BBC review of HARMONY

[charlene]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/.../harmony.shtml

GORDON LIGHTFOOT
Harmony
CNR Records 22 999062


If he'd done nothing else other than write Early Morning Rain and The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald, Gordon Lightfoot would have ensured his place in the infrastructure of the British Folk Club through innumerable renderings at floor spot level. Many will be aware of his poor health since the autumn of 2002 when an aneurysm nearly finished him off, but his has been a brave fightback helped in no small measure by a re-focusing on songwriting ("the only real refuge I've ever had anyway") with a vigour and passion that make this CD an utterly committed performance.

Harmony is Gordon's 20th album since 1966 and it's fair to say that since the mid-'70s, in much the same way as Tom Paxton, his material and delivery had become more safe, more pipe and slippers than angst and edge. That said, whilst many of his familiar themes are touched on - the natural world, people, places, love and loss - he still wields sufficient verbal precision to mark this out as a distinctive, impressive release which affords genuine pleasure.

An engrossing story teller, the spooky Flying Blind has as its subject an airman, his instruments useless, helplessly endeavouring to navigate the hazards of the great white North, whilst the gentle Couchiching celebrates his hometown of Orillia, Ontario in affectionate fashion.

The title track is a resigned piece of embracing self-knowledge and overall there's a dignity and a quiet stoicism that can only come when, as Richard Thompson would have it, you've got to the border. Thankfully fate turned Gordon Lightfoot back on this occasion to give him a renewed sense of purpose and to make Harmony the kind of record that earns an upgrade from mere 'enjoyable' to 'rated'.

Clive Pownceby - June 2004

[SilverHeels]

Thank you, Clive Pownceby!
Maybe I should invite him to the GordFest!

[charlene]

bloody right!
get on the phone and ring him up - Hello Clive-Bru here! Wanna party???
lol

[johnfowles]

quote:Originally posted by SilverHeels:
Thank you, Clive Pownceby!
Maybe I should invite him to the GordFest!
The least you can do is make up and send him a lapel pin Bru




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

[LSH]

I got up and did a little happy dance. It's about time! Most of the reviews I've seen are blah, blah, blah...But now, finally some much deserved credit.
This was fantastic! It was so nice to read the good things about Gord that all of us already know.
God bless Clive Pownceby for having ears to hear!

[brink]

DITTO!! WE love Clive.
quote:Originally posted by LSH:
I got up and did a little happy dance. It's about time! Most of the reviews I've seen are blah, blah, blah...But now, finally some much deserved credit.
This was fantastic! It was so nice to read the good things about Gord that all of us already know.
God bless Clive Pownceby for having ears to hear!

[Borderstone]

I left my review! 5 star again! Hope they use it. Best review I've read or seen in weeks! Even Rolling Stone didn't review Harmony! Later!!

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"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm." - Borderstone

[This message has been edited by Borderstone (edited July 24, 2004).]

[SilverHeels]

quote:Originally posted by charlene:
bloody right!
get on the phone and ring him up - Hello Clive-Bru here! Wanna party???
lol

OK! OK! I'll call him! And John, I am working on the pin idea ...

[Borderstone]

My review has been posted! Just click the above web address icon in message #1! It's cool to be quoted!

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"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm." - Borderstone

[LSH]

Nice going Borderstone! You're a celebrity.
I thought you did an excellent job reviewing the album.

[sundownbuff]

Life sends us curves that we don't expect. Early last spring my youngest daughter who is know 22 moved back home after breaking up with her boyfriend. They had planned on getting married in July. She found herself pregnant. Her father and I were devasted. She is in college and working. After serveral more curves in the road of life, a serious automobile accident that sent her into premature labor, that was stopped in the intensive care unit, she very quickly delivered a beautiful daughter only three weeks early on November 7th. Autumn is the light of our families life. Through this entire ordeal, Gord and his music was there to support on my many trips to the hospital and many doctors" visits. I find this new album to be a different type of albumn-maybe I mean a different flavor. This is a more mature albumn=maybe it provides us to reflect on the fact that we have had many different experiences in our life-many curves and detours on our journeys in life.
The title has a special meaning for me, Autumn's middle name is Harmoney, strange as she was born months before the album came out.

[Borderstone]

Thanks LSH! Sometimes,I kind of feel like one but...not for long. I don't have that kind of ego.

Sundownbuff,I know how you feel about unexpected events in life. I once thought life was fun & games & happiness 24/7,now I certainly know better! On the bright side though,I bet the baby is really cute! I truly believe with babies,there's no such things as "mistakes". Been me,God be with you.

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"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm." - Borderstone