Well, it seems this is my night to write myself into threads, so...

I, too, have been told by many that my version of "Fitz" is the best ever done; however, they also say I remind them of Lightfoot - it's then that I know they're in their cups; we sound nothing alike.

I got off the drum kit seven years ago and became a solo folkie.
I got my first gig in a Starbucks - got paid $70 dollars for two hours, knew twenty-four songs and invited everyone I knew to come out and most did - it turned out great and I was hooked.

I then had to sit down and make a list of songs to learn and a few
Lightfoot songs were on that list - but not the "Fitz." Since I live in Ft. Worth, Texas (down from Michigan) I figured nobody down here
would know anything about the Great Lakes, much less about a wreck
that took place in the seventies, so why bother taking the time to learn such a long song......WRONG!

Once I learned enough tunes to book out regularly, a night did not pass where someone didn't come up and ask for "Fitz." I was
always apologetic and would usually do "Early Morning Rain" in it's
stead; however, one night I got four requests for the damned thing and threw in the towel. As of right now, other than performances at Irish Festivals and retirement centers, I cannot get through a night without being asked to sing the song by at least one person - so many people love the thing.

I was singing one night in a Lake Dallas restaurant when one of the
managers came up and asked me if I knew the song and would I sing it. I said yes to both, sang it about twenty minutes later, and she came up afterwards and thanked me with tears streaming down her
cheeks like a waterfall. I asked her why she was crying and she told me that her grandfather went down with the "Fitz." The next time I played there I asked for her and was told that she was on vacation up in Michigan to attend the raising of the bell ceremonies for "Fitz." There's even a connection in Texas.

Finally, I was a writer back in my college time and had an opportunity to interview Lightfoot for the university paper. During the interview he told me that when the ship went down he sat down
immediately and wrote the tune. That night he called the band boys to his house and they did an acoustic dry-run in the living room.
Since the song was tied to the sunken vessel he said he felt that the tune needed to be released immediately so they went into the studio the next day where the song was recorded full-band with everyone playing together.

What you have heard over the years on the radio is the very first "take" of that song. Gordon said they did the tune, stopped and looked around at each other and collectively said, "noooo way,"
and then did two more "takes" for insurance and quit.
The first "take" was the keeper. Of course, most of his band members
(the drummer being the exception) at that time had been with him for
anywhere from ten to fifteen years each - time breeds familiarity.

By the way, I think my version can stand up; and, Don Henley was once asked about doing songs over and over and over again and his response was something like - when folks come out and support you, listen to a song that they came to hear and tap their feet with a smile on their face and then clap in appreciation, "What's not to like?" I agee.   
Just thought I'd share. Down the road,..................mwh