Song for a Winter's Night

This is a favorite of a dear friend for whom I am trying to find whatever CD it may be on. Can anyone help me?

[vlmagee]

Ah, Song For A Winter's Night ... here are your choices:

It was first released on the UA album The Way I Feel (1967). There are several import CDs which include that album, but the most economical way to get it today is on the United Artists Collection. That lists today for $11.98 and is available online at CDNow and Amazon (although I think one of them doesn't have it in stock, so check before you order). You will get a 2 CD collection with the 49 songs from his four UA studio albums.

Lightfoot also rerecorded SFAWN for Gord's Gold. That album is available everywhere and is probably his most popular CD these days (it was always a very good seller). It has 21 songs (of the 22 on the LP). All of the UA songs (pre-1970), are rerecorded. The arrangements are much more sophisticated and the recordings of SFAWN and Canadian Railroad Trilogy, to name two, are just wonderful. Understand, however, that you can generate quite an argument among GL fans as to which recording is better; they are both that good. Just different.

If your friend has no Lightfoot albums, then probably going with Gord's Gold is the right thing to do. It also contains all of his 70s hits except for Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald which hadn't been written yet ...

And, finally, the original recording of SFAWN is also on the new boxed set Songbook from Rhino. That is a magnificent collection - 88 songs - but probably a bit more than you would want to invest just yet. Your friend will probably do that on his/her own before long!

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Valerie Magee

[This message has been edited by vlmagee (edited January 08, 2000).]

[char]

it's true - either version is wonderful. but having grown up with the original it holds a special place. even now when i hate the winter and cold here in toronto i melt when i hear that song.
char

[Don Quixote]

Well, it's certainly hard to argue with the prior message...

Count me as one who likes the originals better than the remakes. His voice on the original SFAWN is absolutely pristine, including the high notes at the end. With CRT, I disagree with the Man himself, who has said that the tempo is too fast in the UA recording. It gives the impression of movement, a fast-changing world, giddy progress (tempered, of course, by the slow middle part that reminds us of the navvies, on whose breaking backs all of this was balanced--the contrast is, I think, a great part of the song). The song in Gord's Gold, and subsequent iterations, especially when he slows down at "So over the mountains, etc." breaks this mood, IMHO (IMNSHO--not so humble?). Of course, I think we're talking about A+ rather than "just" A, and not that big a deal.

Best to all,
DQ