When you have a song catalog with the size and quality of Neil Young’s you have little reason to cover another writer’s songs……and yet at last year’s Farm Aid benefit concert Neil chose do exactly that. The only possible rationale for this act is that Neil has a deep and abiding respect for the song’s writer who was none other than Gordon Lightfoot. Let’s listen to Neil’s cover version of Early Morning Rain………
As it turns out, this was not a one time event….it was the start of a trend. Neil has been performing If You Could Read My Mind, another Gordon Lightfoot classic, during his acoustic tour this year and has included that song on a soon to be released album titled A Letter Home. Deep and abiding respect indeed…….
Let’s listen to the original recording of the song by Gordon that was released on his first album in 1966….
Now for the really amazing fact…..this song has also been recorded by a few other musicians you might have heard of……..
Up first today is a short interview with Gordon Lightfoot. The interview was conducted last year at his church, St. Paul’s United in Orillia, Ont. I think it gives you some great insight into the man behind the music. Enjoy…..
To close out this post here is another interview with Gordon from the same time frame….. More great insight into the man
The song snippet that he played in the last interview is from A Passing Ship. Here’s a performance of the whole song by a younger Gordon followed by the song lyrics.
A passing ship I have found the open ocean Give me no lip The waves roll by as I pass on A sunlit sea On the first day of April How fresh the wind Will you miss me when I’m gone How many words How many songs still unwritten How many ships Of the line have come and gone In the good old days May they never be forgotten They had heavy wind Or they had no wind at all
A passing ship It is midnight on the ocean Had a real long trip I have been at sea all winter When my ship came in I was givin’ up the ghost I think I should be Leavin’ those passing ships alone
When the sea runs high The sea runs wild and I’m unsteady And I think of you In the warmth of your home and family When love is true There is no truer occupation And may this gale Blow us to the ones we love
Another day Another ocean Give me no lip But stand aside as I pass on A sunlit sea On the last day of October How fresh the wind Will you miss me from now on I guess I should be Leavin’ passing ships alone
Some of the words to this song give me chills: Give me no lip but stand aside when I pass on…..will you miss me from now on? My answer to this lyrically posed question is…..Gordon I will miss you forever when you pass on!
As readers of this blog know, Gordon Lightfoot is a honored member of my holy trinity of Canadian Music (Neil and Joni are the other members) so it was an easy choice to feature him in my second Yesterday and Today post.
My favorite Gordon song is probably Canadian Railroad Trilogy, an epic song that he wrote in just three days. It tells the story of the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway and was performed for the very first time on New Year’s Day in 1967 as part of Canada’s centennial celebration. To me this song is Canada!
Each of the three parts of the song has it’s own tempo. The first and third parts have a faster tempo and focus on the progress of the railroad across the continent. The middle part of the song slows to focus on the railroad workers (navies) that did the back breaking manual labor required to lay the tracks. I’ve always heard something else in the tempo changes. If you’ve ever ridden on a steam train, it’s doesn’t take too much imagination to hear the steam train in the tempo.
To kick things off tonight, here’s a great live performance of the song from 1972………
Over forty years after the 1972 performance, Gordon is still singing this great song. He’s older, the voice has changed over time, but the performance is no less amazing. Join with me in celebrating Gordon’s continuing ability to amaze and entertain us at the age of 75.
In 1974 I was 21, a full time college student, working three jobs, and somehow having the time of my life. Music was a major factor in my life and, fortunately for me, there was an amazing amount of wonderful new music every month. Let’s take a quick look at some of the key album releases during the first three months of 1974. By the way, if you are interested, the picture above is Big Star (more about them below).
So get ready, set aside some quality time, and head back to the first quarter of 1974 with me. Enjoy…….
January 1974 Album Releases
The Way We Were-Barbara Streisand
I’m a rocker at heart and it probably surprises many of you that I bought this album when it was released but ……great music is great music! The only comments I have about the album are: What a voice and what an album. It would have been easy to play the title track but here’s one that I like even better……I think you will like it……
What are you doing for this rest of your like? I ask myself that question a lot more now that I’m older…..
Court and Spark-Joni Mitchell
Joni, part of my holy trinity of Canadian music (Neil, Joni, and Gordon), was continuing to evolve her musical style. Court and Spark started to add in some jazz elements but lost none of it’s introspection which is what drew me to her in the first place. I’ve learned a lot of lessons in my years and in 1974 Joni choose to write about one of them in a song…..It’s Down To You……
Everything comes and goes
Pleasure moves on too early
And trouble leaves too slow
Just when you’re thinking
You’ve finally got it made
Bad news comes knocking
At your garden gate
Knocking for you
Constant stranger
You’re a brute you’re an angel
You can crawl you can fly too
It’s down to you
It all comes down to you
Energized-Foghat
Foghat was an amazing boogie band from the 70’s and has gotten the respect that they deserve in my humble opinion. Here is one of Foghat’s masterpieces that doesn’t get the respect it deserves……Home In My Hand. If you were lucky enough to see them play it live back in the 70’s, as I was, I guarantee that you were entertained…….
Grevious Angel-Gram Parsons
I’ve written about the sad story of Gram Parsons as part of my Southern California Sound series. Grevious Angel was released after Gram’s untimely death in the fall of 1973. Brass Buttons is a classic (Poco did an amazing cover version that you might want to checkout) and you need to hear it straight from the mouth of the writer…..sing it Gram……
Sundown-Gordon Lightfoot
January 1974 was a great month for Canadian music releases with Gordon joining Joni in releasing a new album. The title track was one of Gordon’s biggest sellers but you dig a little deeper in the album to find the real treasure……Seven Island Suite…….
Look around at the morning, guess you’re doing the best you can
Surely you know that when you go nobody gives you a hand
Think of the air you’re breathing in, think of the time you waste
Think of the right and wrong and consider the frown on your face
February 1974 Album Releases
Kiss-Kiss
Forty years after the release of their debut album, Kiss is finally going to get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame….it’s about time! This album wasn’t a hit, the band wouldn’t really take off until their release of their double live album, but I’ve got to give it to the boys….they had ambition. Listen to its Kissin’ Time and you will see exactly what I mean……
Badfinger-Badfinger
If you are a reader of this blog you already know that I have a soft spot in my heart for Badfinger and their incredibly sad story. This was the group’s first album after leaving Apple records and unfortunately the end was a lot nearer than anyone foresaw. The song I have for you today from this album was written by Pete Ham, I Miss You………
Damn it Pete….I Miss You! RIP buddy!
Radio City-Big Star
Looking back it seems ironic that Big Star released their second album the same month as the Badfinger release discussed above. September Gurls was maybe the best pop song of the 70’s and to this day very few people have even heard of Big Star…..it’s a fucking tragedy ……
Of course the entire Big Star history is pretty much one big tragedy. I’m reading a biography of Alex Chilton, the band’s lead singer, right now and I’m planning a post dedicated to Big Star’s sad story. Stay tuned for that…..
What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits-Doobie Brothers
The Doobies were going through some significant personnel changes in 1974, and more were on the way, but they managed to put out another great album in 1974. The song that I have for you today makes me want to be floating down a little southern river in a canoe…..laid back without a care in the world….
If you listen closely, you can appreciate some amazing steel guitar added by Skunk Baxter. He would be an official member of the group by 1975 as the band’s sound started to change. More about that next……
A New Life-Marshall Tucker Band
This was Marshall Tucker’s second release and it confirmed that they were not just a one trick pony. The title track from this album highlights everything that makes Marshall Tucker Band one of the best bands from the 70 (great vocals, amazing musicianship, and great songwriting)…..listen and be amazed……
March 1974 Album Releases
Kansas-Kansas
I’m a sucker for bands named after the states that they’re from and Kansas is one of the best examples of such a band. This was the debut album for Kansas and if you listen to the lead off song and it immediately let’s you know that you should expect great things from this band……
Bridge Of Sighs-Robin Trower
Jimi Hendrix was gone but we still had Robin to blow our minds. You can’t go wrong with the title track from this album….absolutely Epic……..
On The Border-Eagles
1974 found the Eagles, one of my favorite Southern California Sound bands, starting to move towards a more rock oriented sound. You wouldn’t know it from the song I have for you today, Ol’ 55, one of the few songs on the album not written by the group. The amazing Tom Waits wrote the song and the Eagles performance of it is something to be treasured. It brings back some amazing memories of driving back home from various girlfriends houses as the sun was coming up in my rear view mirror……
Get Your Wings-Aerosmith
On their sophomore album Aerosmith fully hit their stride. It was an amazing album and the start of a string of releases that would make Aerosmith one of my all time favorites. Let’s listen to Track 5 from the album, SOS (Too Bad)……in case you are wondering SOS stands for Same Old Shit…….
Somethin’s Happening-Peter Frampton
In 1974 something was at least on the verge of happening for Peter. The release of Frampton Comes Alive in 1976 would make him a superstar but you could see it coming by listening to this 1974 release. Let’s listen to the title song from the album, Somethin’s Happening……
Today I have a terrific recent interview with Gordon. Some things get better with age…..Gordon is one of those things. Enjoy the interview!
As a bonus here is a great clip of Burton Cummings imitating Gordon singing various songs. Burton clearly has a lot of love for Gordon as do most Canadians and this American.
Gordon Lightfoot is easily one of my top three favorite musicians of all time (the others are Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen….and yes the Canadians outnumber the American on this list). Let me elaborate how strong my feelings for Gordon’s music are……
If I had to give up all of my music except my Gordon Lightfoot library I could still lead a happy life.
I have planned Gordon Lightfoot themed vacations…a train trip through the Canadian Rockies inspired of course by Canadian Railroad Trilogy.
My pick for the most moving song ever written…..The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
Did I mention he’s Canadian!
So it is with great pride that I bring you this great Gordon Lightfoot acoustic concert performance on BBC. If you aren’t a fan after listening to this concert…..I seriously have to question your musical taste. The set list includes:
Gordon Lightfoot is a treasure. His Song For A Winter’s Night is one of my all time favorite holiday songs. I hope you enjoy it as well!
Your special surprise gift for today is a wonderful live 1969 performance of Early Morning Rain by a much younger Gordon Lightfoot than the one in the video above. I really enjoyed this one, what about you?
Did you checkout his bellbottoms? I had a bunch just like them 🙂
This week our word of the week is Ghost. I don’t know if I believe in Ghosts but I am certainly not willing to rule out the possibility. Whether real or not, Ghosts have certainly inspired a lot of great music over the years. Today I present you with my favorite ghost songs.
After listening to the music, please take the time to read my note after the last song in the post. Have a great weekend!
Ghost – Indigo Girls
Ghosts – Dan Fogelberg
Ghost Riders In The Sky – The Outlaws
Ghost of Cape Horn – Gordon Lightfoot
Ghost On The Canvas – Glen Campbell
Personal Note
In case you have not heard, Glen has Alzheimer’s and this song is from what will be his last album. He meant a lot to me when I was first getting into music and including his last song in this post is my personal tribute to him.
In the late 1960s, as a teenager, I absolutely loved Glen and bought all of his singles: Gentle on My Mind, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Wichita Lineman, and Galveston. During this time, he had a variety show on TV that I looked forward to watching each week. He featured great musical guest on the show each week and by exposing me to this variety of performers he helped to expand my evolving musical tastes. In addition to his musical guests, Glen sang a couple of songs each week and I never tired of listening to his great voice. I am happy to say that that voice has survived the intervening years as evidenced by this video!
As I have learned more about music history, I have grown to appreciate Glen’s skills as a musician. He was a popular LA session musician in the early 60s, one of a group of players that came to be known as The Wrecking Crew. They played on some of the biggest hits of that time supporting performers and producers as diverse as Rick Nelson, Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Phil Spector. In 1964-1965 Glen actually toured as a member of the Beach Boys replacing Brian Wilson when he quit touring to stay in the studio.
Glen…..we will miss you. Thanks for your wonderful music over the last 50 years!
thebestmusicyouhaveneverheard 