I got the distinct impression, while viewing Lightfoot's most recent visit to our area last year, that this might be a "swan song" tour. The stagecraft is still there, the songs are still good, but the voice is too weak to carry many of them. I'm sure he'll still find a ready audience in Canada and in parts of the U.S. Unfortunately,
younger folks will only remember the last show they saw and never realize what a performer he was in his prime.

For many 60's icons, staying relevant - chasing a rapidly changing audience - broke some, bastardized the music of others and led to sometimes unfortunate choices in material, instrumentation and production. Touring with re-formed groups, playing the college campus circut, eventually playing secondary and tertiary venues; casinos and fairs took a toll. So did the hard living of earlier years.

Many who stayed true to their roots never really prospered anyway, but worked to support their music and came away more fulfilled, perhaps. How would you want to be remembered?