I repeat--Gord is NOT dead...

This was just an interaction I found funny. I live in Colorado, but I was on the road and stopped in Joplin, Missouri, to pick up the new CD. I went into a major CD store and after looking around with no success, I asked a fellow working there if they had the new Gordon Lightfoot CD... to which he replied, "Gordon Lightfoot? I thought he was dead!" I guess the irony of it is that this "Harmony" CD is truly one of the better albums start to finish that I have heard from anybody in awhile. Incredibly deeply written, very nicely produced, especially when you consider the circumstances. Lots of "old-timers" have had career rejuvinations in the past several years, I hope this album does that for Gord... for it is truly deserving.

This was just an interaction I found funny. I live in Colorado, but I was on the road and stopped in Joplin, Missouri, to pick up the new CD. I went into a major CD store and after looking around with no success, I asked a fellow working there if they had the new Gordon Lightfoot CD... to which he replied, "Gordon Lightfoot? I thought he was dead!" I guess the irony of it is that this "Harmony" CD is truly one of the better albums start to finish that I have heard from anybody in awhile. Incredibly deeply written, very nicely produced, especially when you consider the circumstances. Lots of "old-timers" have had career rejuvinations in the past several years, I hope this album does that for Gord... for it is truly deserving.

[BILLW]

joe,

Don't leave us hanging man - what did you say to the salesperson ?

Bill

[Auburn Annie]

Of course part of the problem is the last major song of Gord's to make a huge hit, at least on U.S. airwaves, was Wreck in 1976 - *before* most of these clerks were born. Never mind the seven or eight albums since. If it wasn't on MTV in the last five or six years, they don't know it. At least your guy recognized the name.

[Auburn Annie]

Of course part of the problem is the last major song of Gord's to make a huge hit, at least on U.S. airwaves, was Wreck in 1976 - *before* most of these clerks were born. Never mind the seven or eight albums since. If it wasn't on MTV in the last five or six years, they don't know it. At least your guy recognized the name.

My feeling is that if you are gonna work in a music store..then learn about more than just the music you like, no matter what your age. If you work behind the counter at any other store...it is expected that you will know something about the products you sell. Can you imagine going into a clothing store to buy a suit and have some young saleswoman say "Wow, do people still wear them?" just because she doesn't.

Having said that, I had a very pleasant and unexpected surprise when I asked about the release of Harmony at my local cd store known more for the current hits than anything else. The young man behind the counter not only had heard of Gordon, not only did not assume he was dead...but had also heard that a new cd was coming out. A fan? highly doubtful, although I suppose it's possible. But I feel it was that the store manager expected more from his sales staff and required them be knowledgeable about a wide variety of music. At the same time I asked about Harmony, I ordered a cd by a musician who writes for alot of tv shows...he was also familiar with that name and the cd...and it's not exactly a MTV staple. Because of all this...that store will always be my first choice even though the music they usually play in the store gives me a headache and the piercings that the sales staff sport causes me pain just to look at. LOL.

My feeling is that if you are gonna work in a music store..then learn about more than just the music you like, no matter what your age. If you work behind the counter at any other store...it is expected that you will know something about the products you sell. Can you imagine going into a clothing store to buy a suit and have some young saleswoman say "Wow, do people still wear them?" just because she doesn't.

Having said that, I had a very pleasant and unexpected surprise when I asked about the release of Harmony at my local cd store known more for the current hits than anything else. The young man behind the counter not only had heard of Gordon, not only did not assume he was dead...but had also heard that a new cd was coming out. A fan? highly doubtful, although I suppose it's possible. But I feel it was that the store manager expected more from his sales staff and required them be knowledgeable about a wide variety of music. At the same time I asked about Harmony, I ordered a cd by a musician who writes for alot of tv shows...he was also familiar with that name and the cd...and it's not exactly a MTV staple. Because of all this...that store will always be my first choice even though the music they usually play in the store gives me a headache and the piercings that the sales staff sport causes me pain just to look at. LOL.

[Mair]

quote:Originally posted by joestallion:
"Gordon Lightfoot? I thought he was dead!"

Look - in the UK this is the response I usually get (and expect now) from almost everyone!!! If I had a penny for every time I mentioned his name and someone said ... yes, you guessed it!!!

Just got "Harmony" by the way ... at last!!! Magnificent!!!

[BJ]

pay no attention to people like that, they say the same thing about Elvis !

[Javern]

pay no attention to people like that, they say the same thing about Elvis !

[stationmaster]

Did he mean "physically dead" or "career dead"?
I'm sure Gord will be happy to know that he is neither!

[Borderstone]

I'm sure the guy thought Gordon had actually passed on. It's true,if the artist isn't out there everyday 24/7,most folks either aren't aware that that person is still working or they're too young to know.

Happy to say though,I was at my local ZIA records last night and I saw a young man almost 20 years younger than me actually buying vinyl by '70s acts and he picked up a copy of Gord's Gold and I said,"That's a really good album". He said (and I quote his young statement):"Yeah,he's the best and it's the best album he ever did!"
I guess he hasn't heard them all yet. At least there are young people out there finding him and others!

Been me,Aurevoir!

------------------
"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm." - Borderstone

[Brian 57]

I guess there's hope for the future, yet.

quote:Originally posted by Javern:
pay no attention to people like that, they say the same thing about Elvis !


You are right, of course.

If I was Mr Costello, I would be furious.

quote:Originally posted by Javern:
pay no attention to people like that, they say the same thing about Elvis !


You are right, of course.

If I was Mr Costello, I would be furious.

[charlene]

if i were diana krall i'd be even madder!
lol

[charlene]

if i were diana krall i'd be even madder!
lol

or Mr. Abbott

or Mr. Abbott

Thanks for the advice Jack.

Thanks for the advice Jack.