What do you think?

[ricky Jay]

All of us are aware that some people may not be as into GL as we are, even if they have heard a couple of songs of his from the radio. Of course, we can't do much about how they feel, perhaps.

But have you ever felt that some people could be missing out on some of the best songs ever made, because of not going beyond what is on the radio and sampling a couple of his albums, to see that GL is really all about?

This is a bit subjective, but I guess it is difficult not to be when GL is in the picture. Oh well. If the people sample a couple of his albums repeatedly, and then still cannot get into GL, for whatever reason, then so be it (although the subjective part of me wonders how that can be). But it's really sad in a way how some people who love all sorts of music have not exposed themselves to this guy's work, to the depth in which we are, at least. I listen to so many songs of his and I tell myself, "Why don't more people know about these songs? It's hard to beat these kinds of songs."

Just my opinion :D :D

[Shazia]

All of us are aware that some people may not be as into GL as we are, even if they have heard a couple of songs of his from the radio. Of course, we can't do much about how they feel, perhaps.

But have you ever felt that some people could be missing out on some of the best songs ever made, because of not going beyond what is on the radio and sampling a couple of his albums, to see that GL is really all about?

This is a bit subjective, but I guess it is difficult not to be when GL is in the picture. Oh well. If the people sample a couple of his albums repeatedly, and then still cannot get into GL, for whatever reason, then so be it (although the subjective part of me wonders how that can be). But it's really sad in a way how some people who love all sorts of music have not exposed themselves to this guy's work, to the depth in which we are, at least. I listen to so many songs of his and I tell myself, "Why don't more people know about these songs? It's hard to beat these kinds of songs."

Just my opinion :D :D

[Wesley]

it is a shame in a way. I feel this way with any artist or group of any kind. you hear these so called singles on the radio and if they make a full album you only hear just what single is rleased. I've had a good deal of familliarity with his work due to the albums my parents have. such as the 1975 GG released. the IYCRMM album, the best song off that 1 is baby it's alright. the Summertime Dream LP and while I don't want to put down the Edmunton Fitzgerald song I probably like some of the other track like I Do It Again and the title track. we still have out Phonogragh Record at home and I was going to put that 1 on along with the UA best of release I didn't know existed in our house and had been blessed to have heard the original recordings of EMR, W&W CRT, never heard BDIJ till playing this 1. Now the Phono doesn't work. bummer!

[Affair on Touhy Ave.]

it is a shame in a way. I feel this way with any artist or group of any kind. you hear these so called singles on the radio and if they make a full album you only hear just what single is rleased. I've had a good deal of familliarity with his work due to the albums my parents have. such as the 1975 GG released. the IYCRMM album, the best song off that 1 is baby it's alright. the Summertime Dream LP and while I don't want to put down the Edmunton Fitzgerald song I probably like some of the other track like I Do It Again and the title track. we still have out Phonogragh Record at home and I was going to put that 1 on along with the UA best of release I didn't know existed in our house and had been blessed to have heard the original recordings of EMR, W&W CRT, never heard BDIJ till playing this 1. Now the Phono doesn't work. bummer!

[Sentimental]

Shazia, I believe that if I had just found GL and was interested in his whole library, I would be overwhelmed. Having grown up with the anticipation of every new album (yes, I said album), and then the total emersement of listening to it over and over untill I could know and feel every word being sung. Then that album becomes part of you in that block of time. Then you wait for the next one and the next one. Always having the last one memorized in your brain. I can't imagine what it must be like knowing there are upteen cd's and albums that are waiting to be heard.

All I'm saying is that I would give each one it's own time. Just absorb it as though it's the only one you have. It would take me at least 2 weeks to fully know the feel of each one. Otherwise, I could see myself blurring them all together.

I don't know why people don't go beyond the radio songs. My h is one of them, he just dismisses GL and doesn't see what I see. His ears must be on backwards. I'll never figure it out.

[DJ in MJ]

Interesting.

My wife and I both love folks like GL and Dan Fogelberg, yet we completely split on our love of Al Stewart (me) and John Denver (her). We both recognize the other as being a talented artist, but we just can't get into the others one's enjoyment.

So while we all may be missing out on something someone else thinks is magnificent, it all comes down to personal taste anyway.

[Long River]

Speaking of learning a new album, playing it over and over until you know every word. It’s okay if you had to wait months for a new album, cause you so much enjoyed this one and you still have the previous ones to play. Then a new album comes out, your excited, you’ve only heard maybe 1 song from it on the radio and then you think, how am I going to learn all these songs? And you remember, that’s what I thought with the last album and I learned all of those. Hey, I can do it. (It also helped that the words were printed on most if not all of his record sleeves.)

[mnmouse]

Shazia, great topic. I have my own opinions about why so many people are unaware of the truly great songwriting/storytelling that makes up the body of Gord's work, and the work of other artists who are not receiving the type of recognition they deserve. It would take a very long post to articulate it.

Suffice it to say that too many people out there are happy to swallow whatever the marketing executives feel is worthy of selling, instead of developing and expanding their own musical tastes and thus creating a demand for higher quality in popular, mainstream music. When you have a taste for junk food, the desire to look for something more substantial just isn't there.

Sharron

[mnmouse]

Originally posted by TheWatchman:
I've been listeing to FolkAlley.com a lot lately and there's a lot of great music that I otherwise never would have heard of.

Thanks for the tip on the website! I'll be checking it out shortly. I myself have been looking into what the Canadian artists have to offer of late, particularly those from the East Coast/Maritime region. I have found some singer/songwriters who are amazing.

Sharron

[Borderstone]

Unfortunatley there are people out there who think the way that I used to. "If they didn't last very long on the charts,then they can't be worth buying a whole LP!" (To quote myself so long ago.)

Some folks just have to hear even just a few bars and they're like,"**** that sucks!" Proving that ignorance certainly is not bliss.

[cody]

Hahahahha...I FORCE FEED it to my wife until she whines, "Not more Gordon..." heh heh But like me, she cannot help but be touched by his song. And my boy too, who is only two and already has his first guitar is already singing along with Gord.

This topic reminds me of how everyone knows Gord by "If You Could Read My Mind"...or as that "Sundown guy." Some even actually confuse him with BEING Edmund Fitzgerald!

I got a kick out of that Seinfeld episode where Elaine said she LOVES Edmund Fitzgerald's voice...where Jerry corrects her by saying that "Gordon Lightfoot is the singer and Edmund Fitzgerald was the ship you idiot." She then disagreed by saying, "no...I believe Gordon Lightfoot was the ship," followed by Jerry adding, "yeah...and it was hit by the Cat Stevens."
HO HO HO!

[WanderLust]

Hahahahha...I FORCE FEED it to my wife until she whines, "Not more Gordon..." heh heh But like me, she cannot help but be touched by his song. And my boy too, who is only two and already has his first guitar is already singing along with Gord.

This topic reminds me of how everyone knows Gord by "If You Could Read My Mind"...or as that "Sundown guy." Some even actually confuse him with BEING Edmund Fitzgerald!

I got a kick out of that Seinfeld episode where Elaine said she LOVES Edmund Fitzgerald's voice...where Jerry corrects her by saying that "Gordon Lightfoot is the singer and Edmund Fitzgerald was the ship you idiot." She then disagreed by saying, "no...I believe Gordon Lightfoot was the ship," followed by Jerry adding, "yeah...and it was hit by the Cat Stevens."
HO HO HO!

[nelsonaddison]

Hi Santa Claws,
Where's your toys?

[Patti]

Hi Santa Claws,
Where's your toys?