Back Here On Earth.

[Jesse Joe]

Since it is not a song title, why did Gordon Lightfoot named his 4th United Artist album. 'Back Here On Earth?'

[closetcanadian]

Purely conjecture but I think the title reflects his desire to return to more simple, basic recording techniques. His previous album, Did She Mention My Name, was produced with a lot of orchestration and heavy string arrangements. Back Here on Earth is very basic, with just Red Shea and John Stockfish accompanying Gordon. In a sense, he went back to his roots with a simple, unadorned folk recording.

[Jesse Joe]

As far as I know, that is the answer. It was about the same time Bob Dylan went electric, and a lot of folk music fans didn't like it. Pete Seeger, had even said that he wanted to cut the cable from Dylan's guitar to his Amp.

So Lightfoot went like you said, closetcanadian, with full acoustic. He on the 12 string, Red on the 6 string, and Rick on Bass. So some thought he called the album for that reason, sort of coming back to earth. (reality) "Back Here On Earth." That has longtime been my favorite album.

Thats the way real good folk music should sound like...Jesse. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ July 09, 2006, 21:11: Message edited by: Jesse -Joe ]

[joveski]

i only just realised its the only album (apart from his debut) that isnt named after a song on it.

i agree its the return to simplicity.

As for Dylan, well, he released John wesley harding around the same time and that was also a return to simplicity.. the 'gone electric' hoopla was a few years earlier - around the time when lightfoot was doing a folky sound

[Auburn Annie]

"It was about the same time Bob Dylan went electric, and a lot of folk music fans didn't like it. Pete Seeger, had even said that he wanted to cut the cable from Dylan's guitar to his Amp."

If you've seen the American Masters PBS film on Dylan ("No Direction Home" by Martin Scorsese) there is quite a discussion about the night Dylan went electric. The wanting to "cut the cable" - with an ax - was mentioned by many but one (sorry, can't remember who it was) said it was less that Pete was incensed about the non-folk sound but that his father, Charlie Seeger, was there and had a hearing aid and the distortion was hurting his (Charlie's) ears, which is what upset Pete most. That and the fact you could barely understand the words Dylan, the Master of Mumble, was singing.

There was an interview with Seeger where he said he was very angry, not because Dylan was playing electric, but because the distortion in the sound was ruining the songs, "you couldn't make out the lyrics"; and it was a great song.....Maggie's Farm. If you've seen the film with the clip of Dylan doing Maggie's Farm you understand; even for those who know the song it's hard to follow and the audience had come expectng the "Guthrie" Dylan. Must have been quite a night, although going electric cannot have been much a surprise to anyone following his career since he'd charted several hits that were definitely not traditional folk. See http://bobdylan.com/etc/peterstonebrown_newport.html

[Jesse Joe]

Very interesting Annie, thank's for the info, and the great link. I did see the Martin Scorsese PBS film. It was very entertaining.

But The "Master Of Mumble." :D It's the first time I hear that one, really funny Annie. :D I heard Bob being called a lots of things. Kind a makes you wonder, sometimes, that if he can make it in the buissness anyone could?

But he's a real talent, songwriting wise. Im not knockin him, Im really a fan of Bob Dylan.

LOL. I can just imagine Pete Seegers dad going for his earring aid, once Dylan started playing his Stratocaster... :D :D

[Auburn Annie]

Well that's what I call him - I have a sister who does the same, walks away from you while she's talking and you're left going "What?"

[Borderstone]

When Bob Dylan has sounded his worst,
I have only been able to compare it to Big Bird yelling up at the Sesame Street brownstone for Susan or Gordon! LOL! :D

Don't forget,Gord's Gold is not a song title either...or are we just talking "regular" studio LPs?

By the way,I'm on,on a Monday because i got a ride home! Whoo-hoo!! :D

[Jesse Joe]

Joveski,{Mende}, Sunday Concert, is another one...

[ July 13, 2006, 14:34: Message edited by: Jesse -Joe ]

[Jesse Joe]

Over three days in September 1968, Lightfoot recorded his fourth album, Back Here On Earth, in Nashville. After John Simon's preciosity, this was a return to Lightfoot essentials. "Everything was getting so electric and headsy, "recalls Red Shea, "so Gord said,
'Why dont we do the exact opposite? Just three pieces acoustic.'That's probably why he called it Back here on earth."

Taken from: The Original LIGHTFOOT 3 CD's box set.
The United Artist Years...

[ July 13, 2006, 14:39: Message edited by: Jesse -Joe ]

[Affair on Touhy Ave.]

Over 3 days in Sept. The Silver Heels site says the LP was released in Nov. I'm not an expert on album releases but if it was recorded all in Sept. of 68 why did it take 2 months for its release?

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Affair on Touhy Ave.:
why did it take 2 months for its release?

ask Cathy!!
And another thing Touhy I think I am right in saying you have previously mentioned
"The Silver Heels site"
I would assume that this is not the site maintained by Bruna Zanelli aka "silverheels" at:-
http://www.brunazanelli.com/
And for some reason I have an inkling that you might be referring to "original chatroom Rik's "tribute " site at:-
http://www.europa.com/~random7/
but would you please clarify which site you mean
Many thanks
John Fowles

[Affair on Touhy Ave.]

The 2nd link.

[RM]

Affair on Touhy,

2 months to release an album after recording does not seem overly long to me. There's the mass production and distribution issues that have to addressed. This is 1968 technology we're talking about. Things have changed drastically since then.

RMD

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Affair on Touhy Ave.:
The 2nd link.

yes I think once before the only logical answer to what you had meant by referring to the "silverheels site" was Rik's site but quite how you come up with the connection to "silverheels" is beyond me.
If you open up:-
http://www.europa.com/~random7/
the site's title (as displayed in its title bar at the top) is definitively
"Gordon Lightfoot Tribute Page"
and whilst have to agree that there is a picture of a ship/boat thereupon I think it more likely to be the Fitz than any small sailing boat Gord was sailing near Christian Island.

John

[Cathy]

Originally posted by Affair on Touhy Ave.:
Over 3 days in Sept. The Silver Heels site says the LP was released in Nov. I'm not an expert on album releases but if it was recorded all in Sept. of 68 why did it take 2 months for its release?

Recording it is the easy part. Then you have to license it, have someone do the art work, get it duplicated and on the market. Most musicians take up to a year to release a new album. The fact that Gord did it in 2 months is quite a feat.
Let's see... it's taken me a little longer than that. But I have the excuse of being unconscious and losing my short term memory, and all that fun stuff. Mine is coming out in September. We were going to do it earlier, but since it's called Winter's Night, we though it'd be best to release it right before the snow hits.

[johnfowles]

[quote]Originally posted by johnfowles:

Originally posted by Affair on Touhy Ave.:
[qb] referring to the "silverheels site" was Rik's site but quite how you come up with the connection to "silverheels" is beyond me.
John

I have since writing that seen that Florian himself called Rik's site the "silverheels" site in his list of links. Though quite how he came up with the connection to "silverheels" is beyond me too