Question about The Auctioneer

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

I've always wondered, what inspired Gord to do a cover of "The Auctioneer"? Do you think he just wanted to see if he could do it? (It's kind of a hard song to sing, especially the original version)

[Peter Bro10]

I think this one is a favorite just because it's fun.

I've always enjoyed listening to it even though Gord didn't write it, and I think Gord just enjoyed playing it. Not every song has to be deep and full of metaphors and double entendres, etc., some can be just for fun... enjoyment.

Either that, or maybe Gord has always wanted to be an auctioneer!!!!

[vlmagee]

The Auctioneer is one of the songs that Lightfoot used to do back before he had written enough good songs to do only originals (or almost only originals).

The Auctioneer was a very popular song in those days; every folk/country musician knew it; and it was a great song to play with others, not just in performance. Those of you who have picked up the "Party Tape" from April, 1968, which sad to say has become a bootleg commodity, have heard Gord leading a group of musicians consisting of his then band (Red and John), plus Hoyt Axton and Doug Dillard, and I think a couple of others in a rousing rendition of that song.

I don't know when he included it in his live show, but it was always a big hit and he finally recorded it for an album on Dream Street Rose.

[Suzi]

The Auctioneer was first recorded for the Canadian Talent Library series back in 1964.

As for live concerts, I know he included the song as far back as January 1966 - with Paul Wideman on bass as backup.

[Borderstone]

Suzi are you saying Gord first recorded for the C.T.L. series?

....because,if your saying that was the first recording at all,that's not the case. It was a top 40 hit for Leroy Van Dyke in the late 1950s.

[brink-]

No B, Gord's first recording of the Auctioneer was for the C.T.L. At least that is the way I read it. If it hadn't been a hit for LeRoy Van Dyke, Gord may not have even knew it existed.

[Gitchigumee]

I grew up with that song (the LeRoy Van Dyke version), 'cuz my dad's a real auctioneer, and we had the 45. Imagine my surprise to learn that Gordon Lightfoot sang it too. How ironic for me.

[Suzi]

Sorry Borderstone, I forgot that a few folk need all the words. So, here goes: Gordon Lightfoot first recorded the song "The Auctioneer" - written by LeRoy Van Dyke (AND also recorded by LeRoy Van Dyke) in his own Gordon Lightfoot voice on the Canadian Talent Library record album.

In essence, Brink is correct. (Thanks, Brink.)

[Matthew Bullis]

I have a recording of Gord doing The Auctioneer on his 6-string in the La Cave concert, and I believe that show was May or June 1975, as he references the Marty Robins number one hit of a few weeks before that. I do like Gordon's version better though. If you haven't heard Leroy Van Dyke other than this song, he had another song called Walk On By, Wait On The Corner.
Matthew

[BILLW]

Originally posted by Suzi:
Sorry Borderstone, I forgot that a few folk need all the words. So, here goes: Gordon Lightfoot first recorded the song "The Auctioneer" - written by LeRoy Van Dyke (AND also recorded by LeRoy Van Dyke) in his own Gordon Lightfoot voice on the Canadian Talent Library record album.

In essence, Brink is correct. (Thanks, Brink.)

Thanks for clearing that up Suzi. Good to hear from you.

Bill

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Matthew Bullis:
I have a recording of Gord doing The Auctioneer on his 6-string in the La Cave concert, and I believe that show was May or June 1975, Matthew

Err Umm Matthew you had better make that 1965 not 1975
Marty Robbins was at number 1 with Ribbon Of Darkness on April 17 1965 per
http://members.aol.com/kkcowgirl/mrawards.htm
that was a Saturday
in that great La cave recording as an introduction to the
first attempt to sing "Ribbon Of Darkness" Gord said
"Marty Robbins had no 1 in Billboard about 3 weeks ago Country and Western
chart"
Moreover probably based on that statenent
Wayne Francis says at:-
http://www.lightfoot.ca/bootlegs.htm
They were recorded live at La Cave in Cleveland,
on May 8, 1965
and note that there are I believe still references around saying that the La Cave recording was from 1964

promo copy that just happens to be on ebay at this very moment!!

Thinks I must revise that bit of artwork as I do not believe that Gordon ever sang with the Foo Fighters!!!

[Borderstone]

Thanks Brink & Suzi. Now it makes sense,sorry to be so literal but that's the way my mind is sometimes.