instrumental parts in songs

[wmmartin]

One aspect I want to highlight about Gordon Lightfoot's songs are the instrumental parts. I like these parts a lot, they add the right pace to a song and put a spotlight on the wonderful melodies.

For example, the guitar play in the middle of Leaves Of Grass is utmost beautiful. Often, songs start and end instrumental. Cotton Jenny comes to my mind, as well as Never Too Close, two songs that have excellent beginnings.

I'm sure you all have your favorite instrumental sequence too, so please add them here.

[Florian]

One aspect I want to highlight about Gordon Lightfoot's songs are the instrumental parts. I like these parts a lot, they add the right pace to a song and put a spotlight on the wonderful melodies.

For example, the guitar play in the middle of Leaves Of Grass is utmost beautiful. Often, songs start and end instrumental. Cotton Jenny comes to my mind, as well as Never Too Close, two songs that have excellent beginnings.

I'm sure you all have your favorite instrumental sequence too, so please add them here.

[Shane]

All of his music is so well done it is hard to single out a particular instrumental part. One of my favorite guitar leads however is Red Shea's classical guitar in "Too Late For Prayin.'" Introduction wise I really like the start of "Second Cup Of Coffee."

[Scott Mac]

All of his music is so well done it is hard to single out a particular instrumental part. One of my favorite guitar leads however is Red Shea's classical guitar in "Too Late For Prayin.'" Introduction wise I really like the start of "Second Cup Of Coffee."

[Bill]

As I was learning to plat the guitar, the main instrumental riff in "Don Quixote" was my "Stairway to Heaven"...you know, the one EVERYBODY learns.

Also, the intro riff for "Rosanna".

"Did She Mention My Name" was very important to developing my skills.

[rainydayperson]

Love The intro's to "Dreamland", "Hey You",
"Sundown", "Carefree Highway" and "Cold On the Shoulder." The cold intro to "Somewhere USA" is great.

I agree that the bridge in "Don Q" is a nice place to take a mental trip.

I also enjoy the outro's on "Sundown" and "Hey You."

[classicmixdj]

Love The intro's to "Dreamland", "Hey You",
"Sundown", "Carefree Highway" and "Cold On the Shoulder." The cold intro to "Somewhere USA" is great.

I agree that the bridge in "Don Q" is a nice place to take a mental trip.

I also enjoy the outro's on "Sundown" and "Hey You."

[charlene]

The intro to "Beautiful" is gorgeous! That whole song as an instrumental would still be great!
Love it!
Char

[charlene]

The intro to "Beautiful" is gorgeous! That whole song as an instrumental would still be great!
Love it!
Char

[BlackberryWine]

The musicians playing along with GL have always been second to none.The guitar lick that comes after the first verse in "The minstrel of the Dawn" is recorded like it was coming from the backgrownd while the other instruments are more in the front.It gives a feeling of "way back when" to the song. The orchestration in "Does your Mother Know" seems to complete the words of the song, like if the strings section was telling of all the love she has.Who wrote the orchestration by the way? I've always been a fan of Pee Wee Charles. It's too bad that the steel- guitar has been pushed aside by the synths. Not that I don't like synths; I like Patrick Moraz and Rick Wakeman and so and so especialy the european players. To me the synths are irrelevant in GL music. Who will remember the names of the synths players in the last few albums GL made? Do you? ...and don't cheat! But as for the rest, that's just an oppinion.Salute.
...Drink yer glasses girls and boys it's time to hit the Sky...

[This message has been edited by k-leb (edited June 23, 2000).]

[k-leb]

The musicians playing along with GL have always been second to none.The guitar lick that comes after the first verse in "The minstrel of the Dawn" is recorded like it was coming from the backgrownd while the other instruments are more in the front.It gives a feeling of "way back when" to the song. The orchestration in "Does your Mother Know" seems to complete the words of the song, like if the strings section was telling of all the love she has.Who wrote the orchestration by the way? I've always been a fan of Pee Wee Charles. It's too bad that the steel- guitar has been pushed aside by the synths. Not that I don't like synths; I like Patrick Moraz and Rick Wakeman and so and so especialy the european players. To me the synths are irrelevant in GL music. Who will remember the names of the synths players in the last few albums GL made? Do you? ...and don't cheat! But as for the rest, that's just an oppinion.Salute.
...Drink yer glasses girls and boys it's time to hit the Sky...

[This message has been edited by k-leb (edited June 23, 2000).]

[charlene]

I miss Pee Wee also. I loved the steel guitar in Gord's music and it took quite awhile for me to get used to not seeing Pee Wee on stage and hearing his excellent playing. He's a radio DJ in Hamilton I believe. I prefer the steel guitar to the synthesizer myself and wonder how some of the newer stuff would sound with one.
Char
The instrumental parts in Pussywillows/Cattails are luscious and charming.

[charlene]

I miss Pee Wee also. I loved the steel guitar in Gord's music and it took quite awhile for me to get used to not seeing Pee Wee on stage and hearing his excellent playing. He's a radio DJ in Hamilton I believe. I prefer the steel guitar to the synthesizer myself and wonder how some of the newer stuff would sound with one.
Char
The instrumental parts in Pussywillows/Cattails are luscious and charming.

[Paul J B]

I agree charlene,
the intro to "Beautiful" is absolutley gorgeous!!

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Ever Onward...

[Chuck Darling]

I agree charlene,
the intro to "Beautiful" is absolutley gorgeous!!

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Ever Onward...

[Dan]

I love the haunting instrumental intro to Protocol!

Dan

Who are these ones who would lead us now
To the sound of a thousand guns
Who'd storm the gates of hell itself
To the tune of a single drum
Where are the girls of the neighborhood bars
Whose loves were lost at sea
In the hills of France and on German soil
From Saigon to Wounded Knee
Who come from long lines of soldiers
Whose duty was fulfilled
In the words of a warriors will
And protocol

[jennybryce]

How about the orchestration in The Last Time I Saw Her? (not to be confused with The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face). Such an early song of Gord's, and yet the orchestration is haunting and beautiful. It really makes the song. Next time you get a chance, have a good listen. The strings add a wonderful dimension to the song.

[Anne]

How about the orchestration in The Last Time I Saw Her? (not to be confused with The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face). Such an early song of Gord's, and yet the orchestration is haunting and beautiful. It really makes the song. Next time you get a chance, have a good listen. The strings add a wonderful dimension to the song.

[charlene]

The special bits in Song For A Winter's Night make even this Canadian who HATES winter, warm and cozy and mellow thinking of the falling snow outside the window and a beautiful fire burning as I sit by my love's side with a GrandMarnier SnoCone! No really - it is so evocative and real that I become nostalgic for the days when I enjoyed skiing, ice skating outdoors, sledding, walking in the snow, making snowmen and lying down and making snowangels.
Ahhh youth!
Char

[charlene]

The special bits in Song For A Winter's Night make even this Canadian who HATES winter, warm and cozy and mellow thinking of the falling snow outside the window and a beautiful fire burning as I sit by my love's side with a GrandMarnier SnoCone! No really - it is so evocative and real that I become nostalgic for the days when I enjoyed skiing, ice skating outdoors, sledding, walking in the snow, making snowmen and lying down and making snowangels.
Ahhh youth!
Char

Great Lightfoot Instrumentals? How bout the guitar intro to Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald? Or the wonderful guitar solo in Dream Street Rose..yah..that's some sweet axe work, me thinks.
Erica

Great Lightfoot Instrumentals? How bout the guitar intro to Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald? Or the wonderful guitar solo in Dream Street Rose..yah..that's some sweet axe work, me thinks.
Erica

[Tom]

The whole Summertime Dream album has great instrumental parts, whether its the intro, middle or ending of a song. Also, I like the jamming sessions in Hangdog Hotel Room and Blackberry Wine and the intros of Somewhere U.S.A. and Never too Close.

[Mary Ann]

The whole Summertime Dream album has great instrumental parts, whether its the intro, middle or ending of a song. Also, I like the jamming sessions in Hangdog Hotel Room and Blackberry Wine and the intros of Somewhere U.S.A. and Never too Close.

[rainydayperson]

Can I put in a good word for synthesizers and Mike Heffernan in particular. Try his instrumental in Much to My Surprise. Both synths and pedal steel have their place, and both feature in this excellent track.

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Hi derry doon in the month of June