Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)

Subject: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 08:27 AM

I have been performing some of GML's songs since the early 70's in Folk venues mainly along the South Coast.
Apart from the residents at the Lamb Folk Club in Eastbourne I can't recall hearing anyone else doing his material.
Even 'Derbyshire's Finest' the great Jack Hudson doesn't do 'em anymore!

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: jacqui.c
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 09:02 AM

I have a friend who does a couple, most notably 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' at the Hertford club.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: GUEST,Wayne
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 11:59 AM

I'm not much of a singer but I do Rich Man's Spiritual and High & Dry. I've also heard Edmund Fiyzgerald and Ghosts of Cape Horn, down at our weekly session.

I agree though, given the strength of Gord's writing it's a surprise his songs aren't more popular. Likewise the equally brilliant Dan Fogelberg is ignored. It's a shame!

Diolch

Wayne

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 12:04 PM

We do but can't remember which one it is... got a practice tonight so I'll ask John.

sal

www.myspace.com/shotdogs

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 12:09 PM

Occasionally 'Minstrel of the Dawn' and, once in a flood, 'Rainy Day People' (although it's been a long time since the last flood!).
Unfortunately, many UK Folk fans don't seem to like Gord's stuff any more (or, for that matter, most of the material written by North American writers), so his songs seem to get sneered out of the clubs.
I loved him in 1972, and I love him still.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 12:10 PM

I used to do If You Could Read My Mind but that was way back in the 70s.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 02:10 PM

I do a modified version of Boss Man (sometimes). Great tune & riff, GL's words vary on that song from the sublime to the gorblimey.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 02:36 PM

Gordon Lightfoot is another of those excellent writers who seem to have gone out of fashion !! Shame !!

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: breezy
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 02:50 PM

each time I meet up with an old acquaintance I'll play 'did She mention my name'

Its not that he isnt popular its just that time moves on and there so much new stuff thats good on the scene.

Hes great to revisit and his songs are still popular, he is an icon and Nathan Rogers sings him in unguarded moments

Maybe British singers dont have to go transatlatic so much these days

'Don Quiote'

Did he write 'Early Morning rain' ? that gets done on a wet day

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 04:11 PM

He sure did write Early Mornin' Rain. Recently ranked "#10 essential Canadian song" on a CBC radio poll thing.

I love "Did She Mention My Name?" too--an overlooked, lyrical classic. "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" is still very popular here as well.

Canadian and American acoustic artists are forever covering Lightfoot. Lots of tribute albums. One of his biggest fans is newgrass guitar icon Tony Rice, who did a whole Lightfoot album. One of the things you notice about his songs is that unlike most of his contemporaries in the 60's and 70's, he used a lot of jazz chords--sixths, ninths, diminished, partially open. This differentiates them from trad style I suppose but certainly makes them more interesting to virtuosos like Rice.

Interesting, revealing fact about Lightfoot: he started in the fifties in teenage barbershop quartets. Hence the harmonic sophistication from early on.

He is still performing but his voice is nothing like what it was. But it's good to see him out there, since we almost lost him a year or two back.

W-O

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: oggie
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 05:07 PM

Haven't heard a GL song in ages. Still play him in the car and remember 'Widdershins' doing an epic version of 'Canadian Railway Trilogy' back in the seventies. Suspect it's like many others who go out of fashion, who now sings Leonard Cohen or even much MacColl?

All the best

oggie

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 06:20 PM

I do " Song For A Winter's Night " , " For Loving Me ", & " Early Morning Rain'. Harry Belafonte did a stunning version of " Song For A Winter's Night' on a live album called " Belafonte on Campus " although it was credited as " The Hands I Love". Great album.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 10:12 PM

I can't claim to 'do' any singer but I do like Gordan Lightfoot and have actually been listening to one of his CDS recently. But Oggie, who listens to Leonard Cohen any more....well, everyone!!! Judy Collins recently did a CD of all Cohen songs which is wonderful; kdlang included two on his on her 'hymns from the north -- or words to that effect ....' -- Hallelujah was one and the other slips my mind and I am too lazy to get up and go check. AND there was the Leonard Cohen movie - 'I'm your man' featuring his songs by him and interviews and then his songs by various Canadian singers.....it is WONDERFUL.......

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 08:35 AM

I miss Cohen and McColl like a hole in the head - bloody awful, both of them (IMHO of course!). But Gordon's a different matter - great songs and guess what, he's a good singer.

Breezy, I don't believe its all because there's so much other stuff out there that's good - I reckon there's a lot of folk-snobbery involved. Personally I'm no snob, like you I'll listen to, and enjoy, pretty much anything (except Cohen and McColl of course, LOL!).

S:0)

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Scrump
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 08:43 AM

I used to sing Early Morning Rain in the late 60s/early 70s (it was one of the first songs I ever sang in public) but sadly, I think it's one of those songs that was done to death (like Streets of London or the Green Fields of France) - a good song, but it's become hackneyed through over-exposure, unfortunately.

"The Gypsy" was another of his I used to do, but I haven't done that for ages, either, having almost forgotten it - maybe I ought to dig it out...

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 09:27 AM

Maybe the fact of them being over-played, and nowadays therefore scorned by a large-ish section of UK-folkdom, is an indicator of what a fantastic writer of wonderful songs Gordon's been.

I think 'Minstrel' might be drug out of the archives for this week's club-night!
S:0)

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: GUEST,Trevor Bond
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 06:51 AM

First listened to G. Lightfoot when a pen friend from Canada sent his lps to my brother in the 60s/70s . Great guitar player great singer, I still listen to and play his songs. Have recently been playing Steel Rail Blues a classic.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Scrump
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 06:57 AM

Ah, yes I forgot about that (I used to call it Big Steel Rail, probably the wrong title but the same song I assume). Another good one.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 12:15 PM

I used to do Sundown, but haven't in years. Must go back to it. GL has always been underated, a shame as he isa great song writer,

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Tom Hamilton frae Saltcoats Scotland
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 12:19 PM

There's a man called Peter and sings G.Lightfoot songs at the session at the marina in Irvine.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 12:26 PM

Perhaps the lack of interest is because he hasn't toured here since the early 80's.I believe he had a serious row with the tour management and returned home without fulfilling the contract. As far as I know he hasn't been back since.
I'd like hear your 'Minstrel of the Dawn' S J. It's one I have had a stab at but never got it to 'performance' standard. (Think I met you at Gainsborough a couple of years ago when Mr Hudson was the guest?)

'Affair on Eighth Ave' 'Circle of Steel' 'Don Quixote' 'Sit Down Young Stranger' and of course 'If You Could Read My Mind' are particular favourites and seem to get good audience reaction.

Do you play at any particular venue Trevor?

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Cluin
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 02:04 PM

I do a cross-tuned version of "Marie Christine" frequently. Plus a lot of other GL songs from time to time.

But then, I'm Canadian.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Anniecat
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 02:49 PM

I sometimes, very nervously, sing Christian Island, accompanied by my partner on guitar.

I saw Gordon Lightfoot for the first time at Philmore East in New York in 1970. I was a nanny in New York and one of the other girls had been given a tape recorder for her room, with nothing but his tapes. We hated them at first but then "If you could read my mind" was being played every five minutes on the radio and he was rather dishy in real life so we thought he wasn't so bad.

We saw him a couple of times at the Royal Albert Hall in around '72 but not since.

I will start singing Pussy Willow Cats' Tails, I'll be Alright, That's What You Get for Loving Me as they are such great tunes.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 04:34 PM

CDM - yes mate, I am that soldier! Glad you're still flying the flag for Jack Hudson, Britain's best-kept secret!

Trevor - Hi there, long time no see! Still sailing? Have you got a CD, like to hear it if so.

S:0)

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 04:42 PM

If you could read my mind love.

He is very much of his time, and the accusation then still holds good, his songs do sound kind of samey!
I'd never do anything of his now, but I do like to listen to him sometimes, as the songs bring back happy memories.
Giok

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: breezy
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 04:45 PM

Happy Christma strollin,

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 05:06 PM

You too mate! Keep music live, and on the street! :-)
S:0)

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Fidjit
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 06:29 PM

So who DIDN'T used to sing, "Early Morning Rain" ?

Bit naff singing about "Dollars in my hand" in England. Unless of course we meant, five bob!

Chas

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: GUEST,trevor bond
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 06:56 AM

Still sailing , a folk question sea related have you ever been in a "pleasant gale". I have no cd of my singing but I appear briefly singing on a podcast that some young people recorded . I was doing a booking ( my first) and they recorded me singing Istanbul which was written by my eldest brother John.
Keep a -strollin o
Trevor

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Greg B
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 03:14 PM

Yes, gales can be quite 'pleasant.' If you look at Beaufort's
scale, a gale is 'only' 34-40 knots of wind. A 'near gale' is
between 28 and 33 knots, that is, a typical afternoon near the
Golden Gate.

If you're running with it, or reaching across it, and in a large
and/or sturdy vessel in an area where the profile of the bottom doesn't
cause the waves to do funky things, a 'gale' of wind is good news
indeed.

Said heavy/sturdy vessel takes a lot of wind to really get going,
and in a gale you can get some good speed with relatively small,
snug sails. In the 'tradewinds' gale-force winds are not unusual
at all.

Hence 'once more we sail with a favorable gale' and such.

Beating upwind into a gale on the other hand, can be quite
unpleasant.

Inshore, a gale is a different story. Small vessels made for use
near land often can't use that much wind, and bad things can
happen. Also, near shore the bottom will 'shoal' which amplifies
the effect that the wind has on the water, and nasty, choppy,
seas can be a result.

Blowing off-shore, it can take a hapless sailor out to sea,
out of control. Blowing on-shore, it can run you on the rocks.
'Masts and yards and broken spars come drifting to the shore.'

Part of what makes the 'gales of November' so dangerous on the
Great Lakes is their sudden onset along with a profile of the
bottom which churns up some waves which are vicious in both
size and shape.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 05:28 PM

we do sundown. always have trouble remembering the words in it tho. strange order to the chorus lines.

sal

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Bert
Date: 23 Dec 06 - 02:08 AM

I don't know why this thread should be designated (UK).

I sometimes sing "Song for a Winter's Night", "Ribbon of Darkness" and "I'm not Saying that I Love YOu"

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Dec 06 - 04:42 AM

It's a Commonwealth thing obviously Bert !
G.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 23 Dec 06 - 06:09 AM

No disrespect intended to our friends in the rest of the world!
Having seen other Gordon Lightfoot discussion forums I was aware that there is a considerable fan-base in North America and I was not out to break any records for the number of posts on one thread!
My intention was to see what interest there still is in the UK which is my home territory.
I have recently given up the unequal struggle with the day-job and have the time to travel around and perhaps meet up with other folk singing Lightfoot songs at their local venues.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 03:21 PM

Thanks to all posters above.
Hope 2007 is a healthy one for you all.

Regards
Malcolm

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 05:04 PM

Well, in my mind Gordon Lightfoot is just - awesome. When I first started performing eight years ago I did "Song For A Winter's Night"
and "Don Quixote." Unfortunately I was (and still am) performing before folks who want Jimmy Buffet, Eagles and Van Morrison so those
songs fell by the wayside for lack of audience attention. I'm not about to quit performing but these days it's really become a bite in
the ass for some of us who don't write our own stuff because most, if not all, of the "folk" rooms are now "singer-songwriter" rooms that you cannot get into unless you write your own stuff. On the other hand, that leaves pubs and restaurants to gig at and they won't tolerate much more than mainstream pop with a few folk songs thrown in.

I've gotten away from the focus here, and apologize, so - I currently perform "Early Morning Rain" and I get requests for "Edmund Fitz" every night I perform somewhere. There have also been several requests to learn "Christian Island," and I did record "Pony Man" that was included on a CD released earlier this year. In fact, you can probably listen to it if you care at CDBaby.com. The name of the disc is "For Kids Of All Ages," and it's doing o.k.
At any rate - that's my nickle. Cheers,..............tg

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Ron Davies
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 05:32 PM

To anyone who knows a good bit of Lightfoot's repertoire, his work is not at all "samey". There is a huge difference between "If You Could Read My Mind"--- which to my mind is a good song but overly dependent on soupy strings-- and an overlooked classic, as mentioned earlier, like "Did She Mention My Name?". One of the absolute best, and not mentioned yet I don't think, is "10 Degrees and Getting Colder"--great melody, great character sketching, and poignant on top of that.

Though obviously I'm not from the UK, so not one being queried here.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: GUEST,SouthernCelt
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 09:55 AM

I'm also not in the UK but I think the fall from favor of GL's songs is pretty much universal. I hardly ever hear anyone do his stuff here.
Although I don't perform professionally, I've got a few GL songs in my lyrics "cheat sheets" to do when the opportunity arises. Currently, I've got "Early Morning Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", "Summertime Dream" (with slightly modified lyrics), "Long Way Back Home" and "Race Among the Ruins". I've also attempted "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" and "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" at times but those are such long songs that they don't really appeal to most people unless they're hard-core GL fans.

As far as my personal favorite singers/songwriters though, GL has a lock on second place (Ian Tyson is no. 1 in my book).

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: kendall
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 10:25 AM

Why was this designated UK ? Not that I mind, just curious.

I'm a long time fan of that genius.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Capo da Monty
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 10:35 AM

Hi Kendall.
My post 23 Dec 06.09 explains my intentions. However it is also very interesting to get input from around the globe.
Regards
CdM

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: vectis
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 01:58 PM

I've been singinf Bitter Green for over 30 years. I didn't know it was his for the first 20 years. Still a good song though.

Subject: RE: Anyone sing G. Lightfoot songs?(UK)
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 08:44 AM

Trevor - hi again!
My answer to your question is that anyone who thinks a gale at sea is 'pleasant' should try cooking for fifty-five crew (quite a few of whom are seasick) in the galley of a 300T schooner while there's a gale blowing! You know which schooners I'm referring to! :-)
The last time I did it, at sea for a week continuously in F8 gusting 10, sailing off the south-west coast of Ireland, my wife thought someone had given me a good kicking when she saw the cuts and bruises!
All the best fella.
John