Favorite Lightfoot Song & Why? II

[Mist O' The Morn']

Favorite song? That is really tuff. There are so many, over so many years, over so many stages of life. There are too many that transcend life’s stages and endure forever, and too many that can be looked at from so many vantage points. This is really tuff. As someone who has performed most of his catalog since 1969, going back to material that dates to “64, I can think of many songs that have personally evolved as they were learned, that emotionally resonate within, that strike a chord or two in the heart, which somehow emerge from the voice and guitar with the utmost feeling.
Conversely, as a listener, I can think of songs that cause any number of reactions and stir so many feelings. This is really tuff. I started listing songs as both a listener and a performer, and I had to stop at Cold On My Shoulder because I had already identified 36 favorite songs.

In retrospect, what is interesting is that most albums carry a heavy weight of classic, or memorable, material: Lightfoot, The Way I Feel, Back Home On Earth, Sit Down Young Stranger, Summer Side of Life, Don Quixote, Sundown, Cold On My Shoulder, Don Quixote, Old Dan’s Records (particularly), Summertime Dream, even Endless Wire and Dream Street Rose contained some great material. Now, to continue, there was Shadows, an underrated yet real classic, East of Midnight, Waiting for You, and Salute (very much welcomed). I stop here, for no other reason than I am not quite certain of the personal impact of A Painter Passes Through.

[walls]

Favorite song? That is really tuff. There are so many, over so many years, over so many stages of life. There are too many that transcend life’s stages and endure forever, and too many that can be looked at from so many vantage points. This is really tuff. As someone who has performed most of his catalog since 1969, going back to material that dates to “64, I can think of many songs that have personally evolved as they were learned, that emotionally resonate within, that strike a chord or two in the heart, which somehow emerge from the voice and guitar with the utmost feeling.
Conversely, as a listener, I can think of songs that cause any number of reactions and stir so many feelings. This is really tuff. I started listing songs as both a listener and a performer, and I had to stop at Cold On My Shoulder because I had already identified 36 favorite songs.

In retrospect, what is interesting is that most albums carry a heavy weight of classic, or memorable, material: Lightfoot, The Way I Feel, Back Home On Earth, Sit Down Young Stranger, Summer Side of Life, Don Quixote, Sundown, Cold On My Shoulder, Don Quixote, Old Dan’s Records (particularly), Summertime Dream, even Endless Wire and Dream Street Rose contained some great material. Now, to continue, there was Shadows, an underrated yet real classic, East of Midnight, Waiting for You, and Salute (very much welcomed). I stop here, for no other reason than I am not quite certain of the personal impact of A Painter Passes Through.

Don Quixote is my favorite so far. It's themes are timeless and poignant and many are so easily reflected in our society. the battle goes on...KJ

Don Quixote is my favorite so far. It's themes are timeless and poignant and many are so easily reflected in our society. the battle goes on...KJ

quote:Originally posted by Steve R:
My favorite Gordon Lightfoot song was one that wasn't written by him. But no one has covered "Me & Bobby McGee" better than Gordon Lightfoot did. Not even Janis Joplin's cover surpasses Lightfoot's rendition of Kris Kristoffserson's country classic. Check it out on the "Sit Down Young Stranger" album. I also Don Quixote--one of the first songs I learned to play on the guitar. Great song!

That is truly a great song. It also has Ry Cooder on slide. Lightfoot and Cooder; wow. They teamed up on "Alberta Bound" too, with Cooder on mandolin.
Perhaps this is a new topic, but my favourite cover is "Changes," by Phil Ochs I think.

quote:Originally posted by Steve R:
My favorite Gordon Lightfoot song was one that wasn't written by him. But no one has covered "Me & Bobby McGee" better than Gordon Lightfoot did. Not even Janis Joplin's cover surpasses Lightfoot's rendition of Kris Kristoffserson's country classic. Check it out on the "Sit Down Young Stranger" album. I also Don Quixote--one of the first songs I learned to play on the guitar. Great song!

That is truly a great song. It also has Ry Cooder on slide. Lightfoot and Cooder; wow. They teamed up on "Alberta Bound" too, with Cooder on mandolin.
Perhaps this is a new topic, but my favourite cover is "Changes," by Phil Ochs I think.

My favourite Lightfoot song has always been The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald but after my divorce it went missing. If anyone knows where I can get a copy , I would die a happy man.

Whatever happened to him?

My favourite Lightfoot song has always been The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald but after my divorce it went missing. If anyone knows where I can get a copy , I would die a happy man.

Whatever happened to him?

[char]

If you clcik on HOME at the top of the page and check out the different sections of this website you will see what Lightfoot has been up to. www.gordonlightfoot.com has tons of info as well as his 2002 tour schedule.

Char

[Mist O' The Morn']

quote:Originally posted by Florian:
What is your favorite Lightfoot Song & Why?

(topic originated by Wes Steele)


[This message has been edited by Florian (edited February 26, 2000).]

I've been avoiding this one, however, since it's the New Year, here are a few (rather few) of what can be considered favorites:
A Lesson In Love Affair on 8th Avenue
Can't Depend on Love Christian Island
Dreamland Home From the Forest
If Children Had Wings I'm Not Suppose to Care
It's Worth Believin' Lazy Morning
Mother of A Miner's Child Never Too Close
Ode to Big Blue Ordinary Man
Patriot's Dream Saturday Clothes
Sit Down Young Stranger Softly
Tattoo That Same Old Obsession
Too Late for Prayin' You Are What I Am
Your Love's Return Watchman's Gone

Just a Few, but there are more.

[walls]

quote:Originally posted by Florian:
What is your favorite Lightfoot Song & Why?

(topic originated by Wes Steele)


[This message has been edited by Florian (edited February 26, 2000).]

I've been avoiding this one, however, since it's the New Year, here are a few (rather few) of what can be considered favorites:
A Lesson In Love Affair on 8th Avenue
Can't Depend on Love Christian Island
Dreamland Home From the Forest
If Children Had Wings I'm Not Suppose to Care
It's Worth Believin' Lazy Morning
Mother of A Miner's Child Never Too Close
Ode to Big Blue Ordinary Man
Patriot's Dream Saturday Clothes
Sit Down Young Stranger Softly
Tattoo That Same Old Obsession
Too Late for Prayin' You Are What I Am
Your Love's Return Watchman's Gone

Just a Few, but there are more.

I enjoyed reading at least 2 pages of this topic. Just bought the 4-disc set from Amazon and it did bring back a lot of memories from the '70s and also of seeing him live at the SF Opera House (I think it was). Favorite song is Seven Island Suite because it is complex and long, and also mysterious as far as the lyrics in parts. Also feel strongly about Carefree Highway because it captured so well the feeling of running away, and the music fit the words so well. The first one I ever heard was If You Could Read My Mind and I was blown away by the story it told - the vulnerability from a man. I would like to see him in Houston if he's still touring...

I enjoyed reading at least 2 pages of this topic. Just bought the 4-disc set from Amazon and it did bring back a lot of memories from the '70s and also of seeing him live at the SF Opera House (I think it was). Favorite song is Seven Island Suite because it is complex and long, and also mysterious as far as the lyrics in parts. Also feel strongly about Carefree Highway because it captured so well the feeling of running away, and the music fit the words so well. The first one I ever heard was If You Could Read My Mind and I was blown away by the story it told - the vulnerability from a man. I would like to see him in Houston if he's still touring...

[char]

www.gordonlightfoot.com has 2002 tour schedules and lots of info.

[BRY]

I also like "Seven Island Suite". The time signature and chord structure combined with the keyboard background create a surreal effect. The lyrics and music paint an incredible picture in my mind. Are there any discussions about this lyric and it's meaning online? I have my own opinion about what this song is about, but would like to hear other opinions.

Walter Farmer

[waltsongs]

I also like "Seven Island Suite". The time signature and chord structure combined with the keyboard background create a surreal effect. The lyrics and music paint an incredible picture in my mind. Are there any discussions about this lyric and it's meaning online? I have my own opinion about what this song is about, but would like to hear other opinions.

Walter Farmer

[Bill]

On Susan's Floor was written by Shel Silverstein..."Susan" helped out struggling musicians in Nashville in the 60s as I understand...back in the days when Roger Miller and Willie Nelson haunted lower Broadway around Tootsie's Orchid Lounge before the tourists took over.

I like to request all melodies that fans send,be played with a guitar!!!NOT ON KEYBOARD!!! PS.-- G.L. love your work!!

I like to request all melodies that fans send,be played with a guitar!!!NOT ON KEYBOARD!!! PS.-- G.L. love your work!!

My favorite Lightfoot song would have to be The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I live in Michigan, always loved the lakes and freighters as a child, and this song means so much to me that everytime I hear it I get chills. This is also my husband's favorite. Everytime we cross the Mackinaw Bridge, we sing a few bars, or play it.

My favorite Lightfoot song would have to be The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I live in Michigan, always loved the lakes and freighters as a child, and this song means so much to me that everytime I hear it I get chills. This is also my husband's favorite. Everytime we cross the Mackinaw Bridge, we sing a few bars, or play it.

[seahawk11]

So many good ones.
I first heard Never Too Close in 1995. My aunt had just died and I went back to NY for the funeral, then spent a week alone at her home, where I found her tape. I played it on a long (fruitless) drive to Boston to visit a long lost lover, and it seemed to reflect a sad, time slipping away feeling.
All the Lovely Ladies is pretty good too, and the Canadian Railroad, and, and...

------------------
Jennyh

[JenniferJames]

So many good ones.
I first heard Never Too Close in 1995. My aunt had just died and I went back to NY for the funeral, then spent a week alone at her home, where I found her tape. I played it on a long (fruitless) drive to Boston to visit a long lost lover, and it seemed to reflect a sad, time slipping away feeling.
All the Lovely Ladies is pretty good too, and the Canadian Railroad, and, and...

------------------
Jennyh

Right now, 'triangle'; i have the version on 'gord's gold 2'. beautiful and melodic; i just gor 'songbook' so i'm pleased as can be, but for some reason had to listen to triangle again even before hearing my new gl box! surprised that only one other person mentioned this song - of course there are so many good ones! maybe later i'll write in and say 'summer side of life'...

------------------
Robert Liebermann
Department of Geography
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
30602 3105 USA
http://rjl.info

Right now, 'triangle'; i have the version on 'gord's gold 2'. beautiful and melodic; i just gor 'songbook' so i'm pleased as can be, but for some reason had to listen to triangle again even before hearing my new gl box! surprised that only one other person mentioned this song - of course there are so many good ones! maybe later i'll write in and say 'summer side of life'...

------------------
Robert Liebermann
Department of Geography
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
30602 3105 USA
http://rjl.info