Gordon Lightfoot

[lilmusic]

I had an LP by gordon lightfoot in the late 70s or early 80s. it had a song called 'Both sides now' Does anyone remeber the album and where i can get the song. Thank You Shaz

[Borderstone]

Speaking as one who has all of GL's LP's,I don't believe he ever did that song. If it was a rare kind of LP,then you weree darn lucky! That song was done by Judy Collins in 1968 by the way.

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

[Gaby]

The only version I know is Joni Mitchell.

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all.

That is just so beautiful!!

I've never heard of GL covering it.


[This message has been edited by Gaby (edited September 18, 2004).]

[BILLW]

quote:Originally posted by Gaby:
The only version I know is Joni Mitchell.
[This message has been edited by Gaby (edited September 18, 2004).]

I kid you not but Frank Sinatra does a very cool cover of the song on his album CYCLES.

Bill

[Gaby]

Bill!!!!
I was just about to go to bed.
I shall have awful nightmares, now!

[Rob1956]

Neil Diamond did it on his "Touching You, Touching Me" album in '69...but he's hard to confuse with Gord!

[lilmusic]

quote:Originally posted by lilmusic:
I had an LP by gordon lightfoot in the late 70s or early 80s. it had a song called 'Both sides now' Does anyone remeber the album and where i can get the song. Thank You Shaz

Sorry all! my mistake. it was neil Diamond who did it
Have a Nice Day All
Shaz

[johnfowles]

quote:Originally posted by BILLW:
I kid you not but Frank Sinatra does a very cool cover of the song on his album CYCLES.
Bill

Whilst appreciating that Gaby obviously is allergic to Ol Blue Eyes, It is a fact that Gord recorded fror Sinatra's Reprise Label and I am sure that I have heard Gord say in an interview that he did once meet Frank at the office and I believe hoped that Sinatra would record one of his songs. I do believe IYCRMM was mentioned as the song Gord hoped Frank would cover but that Frank decided he couldn't do justice to the song.(or am I dreaming??). Anyway what song if any of Gord's does the panel consider deserved a Sinatra cover?? To start the ball rolling I have always thought that Gord's superlative phrasing and performance on "That some Old Obsession" was equal to a good Sinatra rendering. So that great song gets my vote. Ok Gaby you can wake up now!!

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My Gordon Lightfoot webring
starts at
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot



[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited September 19, 2004).]

[LSH]

You're not dreaming John. I think it was something about Sinatra not being able to get into the folk groove of the music. The phrasing was all off.

[Gaby]

John might not be dreaming, but I am seriously having nightmares at the thought of Sinatra covering ANY of GL’s songs.

There is a press article on this site:

“But he also was part of the mainstream music business -- if only because he was signed to Reprise, the label founded by Frank Sinatra. "I had a very profound respect for Mr. Sinatra," he (GL) says.
In fact, Sinatra nearly recorded several of his songs.
"There was talk of it, and an attempt was made to do 'If You Could Read My Mind,' but it wasn't working for him," Lightfoot says. "Another time, I got a phone call from Frank Sinatra, and he asked me to put together a package for him, and I did; I put together five tunes that are in my catalog, but they didn't rise to the occasion either. I was very honored, though, that he would have asked."

Well! I have had a very profound respect for GL for more than 30 years (and absolutely none for Sinatra. I have always thought him revolting – his singing(?), his personality, and his morals.) Frankly, I would have vomited if he had covered one of GL’s songs!

The fact that GL took the time to put together five tunes for him and “they didn’t rise to the occasion” and IYCRMM ‘didn’t work for him’ shows what a ****** Sinatra was!
I honestly can't imagine why GL felt honoured to be asked.

Oh, btw, John. The answer is – NONE!!!

[LSH]

Um, john? what do you mean "what song if any of Gord's does the panel consider deserved a Sinatra cover??" Perhaps you should try rephrasing???
PULLLEEEEAAAAASSSSE.
Here's an example of one way you might rephrase that question:
What song, if any, of Gord's does the panel consider that Sinatra deserved to cover??"

Then refer to Gabys answer above my post.
Sinatra was a stylist, and I like some of it, but I have NEVER desired to hear Gord's music reduced to lounge lizard renderings.
Thanks anyway.

[brink]

and a big fat DITTO from me.

[BILLW]

quote:Originally posted by johnfowles:

Originally posted by BILLW:
I kid you not but Frank Sinatra does a very cool cover of the song on his album CYCLES.
Bill

Whilst appreciating that Gaby obviously is allergic to Ol Blue Eyes, It is a fact that Gord recorded fror Sinatra's Reprise Label and I am sure that I have heard Gord say in an interview that he did once meet Frank at the office and I believe hoped that Sinatra would record one of his songs. I do believe IYCRMM was mentioned as the song Gord hoped Frank would cover but that Frank decided he couldn't do justice to the song.(or am I dreaming??). Anyway what song if any of Gord's does the panel consider deserved a Sinatra cover?? To start the ball rolling I have always thought that Gord's superlative phrasing and performance on "That some Old Obsession" was equal to a good Sinatra rendering. So that great song gets my vote. Ok Gaby you can wake up now!!

John,
I guess we'll have to continue this offline, we don't want to start a riot, LOL. Oh well how about just one ? The point is moot since Frank no longer records but I wouldn't mind hearing him try River Of Light. I think the material from the last four or five albums would've been a better fit than the earlier stuff.

Bill

[Gaby]

LOL
Oh, Bill – I’m so sorry. Mine was just one opinion.
Please don’t you and John go offline on this one.

I shall just crawl away quietly and puke up in a dark corner.

[BILLW]

quote:Originally posted by Gaby:
LOL
Oh, Bill – I’m so sorry. Mine was just one opinion.
Please don’t you and John go offline on this one.

I shall just crawl away quietly and puke up in a dark corner.


ROTFLOL,

Bill

[Jenney]

I seem to recall that "Make Way For the Lady" was one of the songs that Sinatra considered. I think that might have been a better fit than IYCRMM.
I'm not a huge fan of Sinatra, but I think he was a brilliant decision maker on what suited his style and what didn't. With his stature and fan base, I'm not at all surprised that GL was honored that Sinatra considered some of his work.
Jenney

[jj]

i think of in My Fashion as gord's My Way...but rather than Frank having sung In My Fashion, instead i'd get a horribly wonderful kick out of William Shatner giving it a go!

he'd probably talk/rap throughout the entire song rather than just during the mid-section...yeah, i think it's not too late for Shatner and Nimoy to team up and release an album full of Gord covers, lol

they're big fans of the Back Here On Earth album

[Gaby]

Help!!
You're all playing with my mind! (Not that I'm paranoid!)

[LSH]

ROFL, now I've got William Shatner in my head doing In My Fashion...Go Bill...

[Rona]

Getting off the Sinatra train of thought (and I really don't like to be there!), and back to how this thread started, I must say that I can't even imagine Gordon doing Both Sides Now! I think of the beautiful, but very high-in-the-vocal-range version and think, that would hurt Gord! But I guess I do remember hearing Neil Diamond doing it, so I guess anything can be adapted...

[Dan O'Malley]

By the way, Glen Campbell also did a nice version of "Both Sides Now".