Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 09:57:57 -0500
Reply-To: Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject: Re: Gordon Lightfoot
In-Reply-To: <061520081143.1169.48550073000893D0000004912216548686C9C9CD
CB020E03020100@comcast.net>
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Lightfoot is one of my 4 or 5 favorite singer/songwriters. We've
seen him twice in Memphis and once in Little Rock. He came to Cedar
Rapids(IA) last fall, but we had to spend our spare money keeping the
Vanagon running rather than see him again(RVC). His 4 or 5 CD box
set is worth the money for the old time fans that have most of his
stuff on vinyl, but not CD yet. He's had his share of self-induced
and non-self-induced health problems over the years, but listening to
Rory Firestone do his version of Lightfoot singing the US National
Anthem to the tune of Edmund Fitzgerald is priceless.
It's kinda too bad that he's remembered for songs about a sunken
ship, a "lady of the evening", and a highway in Arizona, when the
bulk of his best work remains in relative seclusion on his
albums. Look up Canadian Railroad Trilogy(written for Canada's
Bicentennial I think), Affair On 8th Avenue, Pussy Willows Cattails,
Ghosts of Cape Horn, or Too Late For Prayin'. Perhaps one testament
to his greatness is how few of his songs have been covered by other
artists. The only song of his I can truly say I don't like is one of
the oldies called Black Day in July. Pretty good batting average for
someone that's been writing and singing for 50 years.
DM&FS
At 06:43 AM 6/15/2008, J Stewart wrote:
>As part of my Father's Day weekend, the wife and I went to Gordon
>Lightfoot last
>night at Wolftrap in Vienna, Virginia. Took the Westy, got there early and had
>dinner and a bottle of wine in the camper-during a thunderstorm-which made me
>thankful I didn't get lawn seats! He opened with "Cotton Jenny" and then did
>"Carefree Highway". I've seen Gordon Lightfoot at least 5 times and
>this is the
>first time he as ever done "Carefree Highway". Always wondered what he has
>against that song? Opening song I was shocked, his voice is going,
>sounded very
>weak, then got a bit stronger as the concert went on, but seemed to
>come and go.
>When we got home, I looked him up on the Internet, and I did not realize he is
>70 years old! I thought has was around 60. Anyway, well worth the $40.00 per
>ticket price, even if his voice was a bit weak. Jeff
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