CHat-SURPRISE call and I'll Tag Along-Mariposa/2010/50th SURPRISE

[charlene]

Ok – so I’m sitting here watch the Jays/Tampa ball game. Jays are up 2 – 0. All is right with the world.
It’s 7:40 p.m.

The phone rings..I look at the number on the tv screen..

omigoodness…it says LIGHTFOOT !
Hmmm. That’s odd. .I’m not expecting a call from Gordon..what could he possibly want? ! LOLOL

CW-Hello.

GL-Hello Char, it’s Gordon!

CW-Hi Gordon! How are you tonight?

GL-I’m doing well! Just wanted to call and let you know I don’t know if I can do your song for you at Mariposa. (“my” song is “I’ll Tag Along”)
I’m sitting here doing up the set list and I have too many G chord tunes! I’ve Got Sit Down young Stranger, Ponyman, Song For A Winter’s Night, Christian Island and I’m trying to get some variety in the list. I won’t have the whole band with me and I’ll have to cut a few tunes in G chord. I know you’re expecting your song and I’ll try to fit it in but wanted to let you know I might not play it.

CW-Omigoodness I never expect to hear it but I am thrilled when you do sing it. it’s your show so sing whatever you want! LOL
GL-Well I just wanted to call and let you know because I know you’ll be up there at Mariposa.

OKAY – this is where I think I may have had a major stroke and am now in some hallucinatory state just prior to my head blowing up.
Gordon FREAKING Lightfoot has just called me to discuss his Mariposa set list and let me know he may not sing a song I like to hear.
In what alternate universe am I in?

SO – to try to determine if I am indeed on my way to checking out I ask him how he’s doing and if he’s watching the Jays game or the hockey game. He says he’s just sitting down to do some practicing and thought he better call me but he’s not watching the hockey cuz last time with the Leafs he might have jinxed them and they lost. But he does have a bet with a fellow at the club for a twonie. (or 'toonie' - our 2 dollar canadian coin)

Oh – you’re a big bettor are you? LOL
GL-Yep – last of the big time spenders..LOL

So we chatted about the tour coming up, how many dates are already set and that there are still more fall dates to come –. I mentioned I’d love to see him out west this fall and he said to “keep watch for the new dates!”
He asked how the interview went over and I told him everyone enjoyed it a lot and thanked him again for chatting with me.

I profusely thanked him for his thoughtfulness and kindness in thinking of me and ‘my’ song and wished him safe travels. I told him about my summer plans and he said they sounded great.

ALRIGHTY THEN…
Lisa was sitting here throughout the whole phone call. When I hung up she said I should have told him it was my birthday when Mariposa is on.

SO …and here once again I leave my senses…..and I hit REDIAL….

OH LORDY the phone is ringing……4 times and then it’s picked up.

GL-Hello!

CW-Hello Gordon, it’s char calling back.

GL-Hi Char!

CW-Gordon!!, I know what song you can sing at Mariposa!!

GL-What song is that?

CW-HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! It’s my birthday that weekend! LOLOL!

GL-Oh jesus…LOL

CW-Okay Gordon, have a great evening, thanks again! Bye!

GL-Bye Char!

And THAT is what happened to ME tonight…

I think..
lol

[RM]

Originally Posted by charlene

In what alternate universe am I in?

I have no idea.......but it sounds like paradise.

Congrats !!

[Acadia]

Gordon Lightfoot is just a class act all the way. What a fantastic call, and so thoughtful of him.

[bjm7777]

Very cool that you share this with the rest of us mere mortals. What a great call....

[Jesse Joe]

Felicitation Charline !!!

It seems he is calling other Corfidians as well, the man (poet genius) seems to be more @ ease with talking to fan these days than say in the mid 70's, more time on his hands probably ?

If I had the guts that you have I would leave my phone number @ EMP just to see if I'd be getting a call. The late Barry Harvey once did it for me & it was great.

Imagine you could have done timetraveler a big favor here, about her 'Quilt' that she is so much speaking about as of late... lol !

You should invite him for your famous Charbeque & if he was to accept, not tell your other guests about it because you would probably have around a thousand people showing up. But for those that would attend imagine the great surprise they would have. Im thinking about that famous smart fellow..good guy,, jj for one... "It would be a scene man" is what I'd be saying from here.

All the best to you Char & Gord !

[Yuri]

Wow!!

[Jenney]

Wow is right!!! Seems like Gord has you on his speed dial now! Still think it would have been funny if you'd said "What the &*%$ are you talking about!? You'll do that song, and do it well!!".

Bet you'd get another phone call!

[formerlylavender]

Our Gord is conscientious! Most performers would just have gone on and played whatever or even have forgotten about it by now. He is too cute!

BTW I think you'll guilt him into it with the birthday reference.

[charlene]

Hey Sparky, I should have suggested that since we'e having this huge heat wave and mid July is a hot time of the year he could eliminate SFAWN and insert "my" song there...but hey, who am I to tell GFL (Gordon FREAKING Lightfoot) how to run his show..?
lol
I don't imagine he'll sing Happy Birthday...perhaps if I get a chance to speak to him before/after the concert he might remember and say Happy Birthday..but I doubt he'll sing it..maybe it's a "G" chord tune!
lol

[Patti]

Originally Posted by charlene

In what alternate universe am I in?

It's the universe of Gord showing he cares for Char.

[Peter Bro10]

Say Char, what were those funny looking mushrooms on your salad?? maybe you were tripping!!! ha ha
But seriously, that was very cool indeed!!!

[Unsettled 1]

That's just too cool. Thanks for the replay. Can a song with your name in it be far behind?

[imported_Next_Saturday]

Originally Posted by charlene

Hmmm. That’s odd. .I’m not expecting a call from Gordon..what could he possibly want? ! LOLOL

Hahahahaha...

[patybear]

Oh wow! How cool that you actually got to speak directly to "THE MAN! Hope he sings Happy Birthday to you at Mariposa,Char!
patybear

[JohninCt.]

Ok, place your bets, will he sing happy birthday to Charlene or not? Also will he sing her favorite song? I would place a buck on each that he will.

[KHester]

Char,
That was quite a night you had.. kudos to Lisa for getting for getting you to hit redail...
Since Gord is in quite a great mood...Erin and I are getting married this year. It's going to a small wedding... but maybe we should invite Gord to drop in and sing Beautiful, which we're going to use anyway.


Thanks for sharing your wonderful news.

Kevin and Erin

[MaryO]

Char,

How lucky are you ?? !! It makes me shiver! Thanks for sharing. We all love Gordie!

[johnfowles]

Further fame for Char
I am certain that she will this very day have received a Google alert about herself entitled
"Scene and Heard with Will McGuirk : Gordon Lightfoot and Whitby"
which links to a blog at:-
http://durhamregion.typepad.com/will...nd-whitby.html
I also anticipate that for once she is far too modest to post about it herself so I will!!
scroll down a tad and you will find this cosy photograph

[johnfowles]

I should have taken the opportunity to pont out a minor innacuracy in Char's caption as used when she added a very nice Video of Gord's SOLO I'll Tag Along in which with yet another striking act of modesty she used as the youtube video title:-
"Gordon Lightfoot - I'll Tag Along - sung for CHAR.mov"

YouTube- Gordon Lightfoot - I'll Tag Along - sung...

But her caption currently says:-
"Gordon Lightfoot - I'll Tag Along. Orlando-February 2008
sung for Char. He came out on stage after the intermission, alone with just his guitar..and said:."this is for Char".
sadly I could not make the concert but Gord didn't know and came out and did it for me as a surprise. wow.
video by Lori - she missed recording the 'dedication' at the beginning because no one knew he was going to do the song!..darn!"
Unfortunately Gord actually sang this to open the second half of the concert the following evening in Tampa Florida not Orlando
the inaccuracy is possibly the photographer (Lori)
I am however most pleased that Lori recorded this as it fills in one missing sound file from that Tampa concert
I attended both Orlando and Tampa the latter with my lifelong friend and ex schoolmate l Alan his wife and a friend and I wanted to burn a representative "bootleg" souvenir CD for them using contemporary recordings from other concerts
But there are two on the Tampa setlist that are missing
http://www.lightfoot.ca/080221.htm
I'll Tag Along
and
My Little Love
I could have used a sound file ripped from one of the several solo I'll Tag Along videos in circulation but now I can use one from this video recorded on the actual night
In the case of My Little Love
I had already noted that at least two corfiddlers have a complete video of the earlier concert in Columbus GA
which fortuitiously also included the rare My Little Love
　
plus youtube poster anodisasgoodasawink has uploaded a total of seven songs from the setlist and might conceivably therefore also have My Little Love
I will when time permits be contacting these three possible sources of the remaining missing sound file
　

[timetraveler]

Originally Posted by charlene

Ok – so I’m sitting here watch the Jays/Tampa ball game. Jays are up 2 – 0. All is right with the world.
It’s 7:40 p.m.
The phone rings..I look at the number on the tv screen..

omigoodness…it says LIGHTFOOT !
Hmmm. That’s odd. .I’m not expecting a call from Gordon..what could he possibly want? ! LOLOL

CW-Hello.
GL-Hello Char, it’s Gordon!
CW-Hi Gordon! How are you tonight?
GL-I’m doing well! Just wanted to call and let you know I don’t know if I can do your song for you at Mariposa. (“my” song is “I’ll Tag Along”)
I’m sitting here doing up the set list and I have too many G chord tunes! I’ve Got Sit Down young Stranger, Ponyman, Song For A Winter’s Night, Christian Island and I’m trying to get some variety in the list. I won’t have the whole band with me and I’ll have to cut a few tunes in G chord. I know you’re expecting your song and I’ll try to fit it in but wanted to let you know I might not play it.
CW-Omigoodness I never expect to hear it but I am thrilled when you do sing it. it’s your show so sing whatever you want! LOL
GL-Well I just wanted to call and let you know because I know you’ll be up there at Mariposa.

OKAY – this is where I think I may have had a major stroke and am now in some hallucinatory state just prior to my head blowing up.
Gordon FREAKING Lightfoot has just called me to discuss his Mariposa set list and let me know he may not sing a song I like to hear.
In what alternate universe am I in?

SO – to try to determine if I am indeed on my way to checking out I ask him how he’s doing and if he’s watching the Jays game or the hockey game. He says he’s just sitting down to do some practicing and thought he better call me but he’s not watching the hockey cuz last time with the Leafs he might have jinxed them and they lost. But he does have a bet with a fellow at the club for a twonie. (or 'toonie' - our 2 dollar canadian coin)

Oh – you’re a big bettor are you? LOL
GL-Yep – last of the big time spenders..LOL

So we chatted about the tour coming up, how many dates are already set and that there are still more fall dates to come –. I mentioned I’d love to see him out west this fall and he said to “keep watch for the new dates!”
He asked how the interview went over and I told him everyone enjoyed it a lot and thanked him again for chatting with me.

I profusely thanked him for his thoughtfulness and kindness in thinking of me and ‘my’ song and wished him safe travels. I told him about my summer plans and he said they sounded great.

ALRIGHTY THEN…
Lisa was sitting here throughout the whole phone call. When I hung up she said I should have told him it was my birthday when Mariposa is on.

SO …and here once again I leave my senses…..and I hit REDIAL….

OH LORDY the phone is ringing……4 times and then it’s picked up.

GL-Hello!
CW-Hello Gordon, it’s char calling back.
GL-Hi Char!
CW-Gordon!!, I know what song you can sing at Mariposa!!
GL-What song is that?
CW-HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! It’s my birthday that weekend! LOLOL!
GL-Oh jesus…LOL
CW-Okay Gordon, have a great evening, thanks again! Bye!
GL-Bye Char!

And THAT is what happened to ME tonight…

I think..
lol

All I can say is...You lucky, lucky girl!!!

[charlene]

Will sent me the article yesterday..got the GOOGLE alert today but just am now seeing it..been busy and out till now..
He's a local writer who I've 'e-mailed with a couple of times in the last year or so.. I'm quite excited for him that he's seeing Gord for the first time at the 50th anniversary of Mariposa.
I thought it was Orlando..my sis/family wasn't there that night...but perhaps it was Tampa..
I've just checked and it was Tampa so I will edit the info..

[Wheels]

Way cool, Char! Next thing you know he'll write tune for you!

[GJA]

I'm closing my eyes and pretending he is calling me!!!

[New 12 String Mike]

Char,

Your sharing is appreciated.

Thanks.

[charlene]

HE DID IT!!!!!!!
He did I'll Tag Along!
first song! walked out on stage all by his lonesome with his geetar and sang it!!

more later.

off to bed...