Lightfoot on Commercial Success

[Wesley]

I belong to a group about the rock band Chicago and I learned how the late guitarist Terry Kath seemed to from the beginning was against it. There were songs Beginnings, Does Anybody Know What Time It Is? and ? 67 68 which were off the 1st album released in 69, sung by Kath and eventually did get released as singles 2 years later in 71 and you didn't hear much lead singing from him after that and the band kind of paid for their commercial sucess when by the mid and late 70s when their singles were more on the softer side than their jazz/rock songs. Kath of course was not happy about that.
I know hit singles often help hit music people noticed, help their album sales but then again at the same time some might feel because of it, they may only get noteriety for certain songs or a song depending. To me it's ashame of music industry and radio is set up the way it is and even though there are some freeforum stations or radio shows that exist there's probably not many of them. these days the internet is your best source for that. There are also to many internet stations that cater to commmercialisum. I'm glad durring Lightfoot's big time in the 70s he had 1 serious song, The Weck Of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a song about a real life event which is how I've always interpited folk music and not goofy love songs or whatever.

[Affair on Touhy Ave.]

I belong to a group about the rock band Chicago and I learned how the late guitarist Terry Kath seemed to from the beginning was against it. There were songs Beginnings, Does Anybody Know What Time It Is? and ? 67 68 which were off the 1st album released in 69, sung by Kath and eventually did get released as singles 2 years later in 71 and you didn't hear much lead singing from him after that and the band kind of paid for their commercial sucess when by the mid and late 70s when their singles were more on the softer side than their jazz/rock songs. Kath of course was not happy about that.
I know hit singles often help hit music people noticed, help their album sales but then again at the same time some might feel because of it, they may only get noteriety for certain songs or a song depending. To me it's ashame of music industry and radio is set up the way it is and even though there are some freeforum stations or radio shows that exist there's probably not many of them. these days the internet is your best source for that. There are also to many internet stations that cater to commmercialisum. I'm glad durring Lightfoot's big time in the 70s he had 1 serious song, The Weck Of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a song about a real life event which is how I've always interpited folk music and not goofy love songs or whatever.

[Sheryl]

I don't know whether you're saying that all love songs are "goofy" or that anything other than a "serious" song is worthwhile. In any event, I think it's pretty clear that all of Gord's songs are taken from his life's experiences -- many or most of which are common to most of us: losing love, making a mess of one's life, enjoying love, looking back at a lost love, remembering a really good time, etc. If you're classifying all love songs as "goofy" (or maybe you're not, it was hard to tell what you meant), it was just such a love song that shot him to stardom in the U.S. with "If You Could Read My Mind." I wouldn't classify that as goofy, not at all. It's purely and simply one of the most beautiful songs in the world. Although Gord had gotten plenty of notice in Canada prior to 1971 (with his breakout U.S. hit, IYCRMM), it was because of just such a song that many here had heard of him. (many, but, not all by any means)

The benefit (to a listener) of radio is a very simple one: to hear music (or whatever) for free. I suppose one could think of it as 'advertising' in a way for singers/songwriters. You listen, you like, you buy (or not). With the internet, many people are copying songs w/o paying for them. How do they suppose musicians make their living?? But, that's a whole other subject...

Radio's still free -- that is, unless you pay for XM radio (isn't that what it's called?)

I know that there are issues with what songs get air time and which ones don't. It's not a perfect world. But, obviously that's up to, I guess the record producer and the radio DJ's... I don't know how that really works. But, their obvious intention is to put on what they feel is the best work of the artist to get you to buy the album! The rest you have to discover yourself once you do buy the album. Many songs on most albums I've bought are like gefilte fish -- an acquired taste!! And then some songs are just duds. IMHO. (Uhh, present company excepted, LOL!!)

[Wesley]

I didn't mean to say all love songs are goofy. There are many love songs by artists that are based on real life siuations. I probably didn't find the best way of putting it into words.

[Affair on Touhy Ave.]

I didn't mean to say all love songs are goofy. There are many love songs by artists that are based on real life siuations. I probably didn't find the best way of putting it into words.

[Borderstone]

The only "goofy" love songs are one's that "don't" come from heartfelt songwriting.

The 1980's are the best example. A lot of Adult Contemporary love songs were hits then but the singers really didn't convey a true romantic sound when singing the words. In fact,most lyrics in that vein were cliche's by that time.

(Cliche': Overused expression to the point that it has no meaning) Like Peter Cetera's "Glory Of Love" for example! (My opinion).

Gordon's ballads are genuine,to some a bit old fahioned but the emotion that comes across is real. Otherwise,I wouldn't be a Lighthead! :D

[T.G.]

I'm a member of Chicago groups as well and can relate to the point about Terry Kath and commercialized music. Listening to the band's latest release, Chicago XXX, really drives that home - an embarrassingly bad piece of work compared to Chicago's early albums, from CTA to V.

[Borderstone]

T.G. ;Chicago bottomed out in 1991. After "kinda" nauseating radio listners in the 80s with their ballads (although I do like "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" w/the original jazzy ending).

When the 90s started,they had their last hit with "Chasin' The Wind" #39,which was similar to the annoying "Look Away".

Peter Cetera was lucky enough to last until 1996 but he simply teamed up with a then younger R&B group called Az Yet & their re-make of "....Sorry" which he sang part of. It made the top 10.

Now that's desperatly hungering for commercial success! :D

[T.G.]

Yep, I agree ... they sold out. Ex-drummer Danny Seraphine said quite correctly that Chicago could have been like the Grateful Dead, with legions of fans following them around on tour, if they had stuck to their early sound. Or like Gordon Lightfoot is these days ... a legend who has maintained his musical integrity through the years.