Gordon Lightfoot - United Artists Collection CD

United Artists Collection songs Digitally remastered by Andrew Garver, Dan Hersch, and Bill Inglot. He may be remembered by the unenlightened as a purveyor of mellow '70s AM radio hits, but Gordon Lightfoot is as fine a singer-songwriter as Canada has ever produced (no small accomplishment, considering the company), feted by no less than Bob Dylan himself. COMPLETE GREATEST HITS is as definitive a Lightfoot collection as you can get onto a single disc, and it bears out the aforementioned facts handsomely. "Early Morning Rain," one of Lightfoot's earliest hits, is a poignant evocation of lost love on a par with Merle Haggard's "Silver Wings." "If You Could Read My Mind" has enough introspective pop savvy to compete with Elton John's equally ubiquitous "Your Song." The bluesy, subtly sensual undercurrent of "Sundown" makes it plain why there's always been such a large female contingent in Lightfoot's audience, and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" proves that the pop star can write a timeless-sounding folk ballad worthy of Townes Van Zandt. Clearly, this compendium presents Lightfoot quite rightly as a man for all seasons. 20 classic hits released by United Artists, Reprise and Warner Bros. From 1965 to 1987. features the hits 'Sundown', 'If You Could read My Mind', 'The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald', 'Carefree Highway' and many more! Include liner notes by Leigh Hall. Compilation producer: Thane Tierney. Personnel: Gordon Lightfoot (vocals, guitar); Red Shea (guitar, dobro); Charlie McCoy (guitar, harmonica, celesta, bells); Terry Clements (guitar, background vocals); Chip Young, David Rea, Dean Parks, Bruce Langhorn, Hugh McCracken, Michael Francis, Michael Landau, Bob Mann, Jerry Shook (guitar); Vassar Clements (fiddle); Jack Zaza (alto flute, harmonica, recorder, bass clarinet, English horn, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, harmonium); Nick DeCaro (accordion, piano); Mitchell Clarke (bassoon); Vern Dorge (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Doug Riley (piano, electric piano); Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano); Lou Pomanti (organ); Mike Heffernan, Tom Szczesniak, David Foster (keyboards); James Newton Howard, Robbie Buchanan (synthesizer); Gene Martynec (Moog synthesizer); Barry Keane (drums, tambourine, percussion); Jim Gordon , Kenny Buttrey (drums, percussion); Jim Isbell, Herb Lovelle, Buddy Harman (drums); Victor Feldman, Milt Holland, Farrell Morris (percussion); Laverna Moore, Catherine Smith, Herb Pedersen, Jackie Ward, Suzie McCune, Sheree Jeacocke, Ray C. Walker, Richard Marx, Vesta Williams, Rick Haynes, Neal Matthews, Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins, Millie Kirkham (background vocals). Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Andrew Garver; Bill Inglot. Liner Note Author: Thane Tierney. Recording information: Amigo Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Eastern Sound Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Lighthouse Recorders, Los Angeles, CA; Lionshare; Nashville, TN; New York, NY; Owen Bradley's Barn, Nashville, TN; Sunwest Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Woodland Sound Studios, Nashville, TN. Photographer: Jim Marshall . Personnel includes: Gordon Lightfoot (vocals, guitar); Red Shea, Huey McCracken (guitar); Rick Haynes (bass); Jim Gordon (drums, percussion); Kenny Buttrey, Buddy Harmon, Jimmy Isbell (drums). Producers include: John Court, John Simon, Elliot Mazer, Lenny Waronker, Joe Wissert.

United Artists Collection buy CD music By the mid-1970s, Gordon Lightfoot had become a full-fledged pop star, a staple of AM radio, and a regular denizen of the Billboard charts. While his production sensibilities at the time had expanded a bit by the time of SUNDOWN, he was never a folk purist to begin with, and it's a superficial distinction at best. What's important is that Lightfoot's songwriting acumen actually grew with his fame. "Circle of Steel," for example, is a cutting sociopolitical commentary that he probably wouldn't have been able to turn out a few years earlier. On the other side of the fence, the casual sensuality of the title track would have stuck out like a sore thumb on Lightfoot's earliest, more mannered albums. The easy blend of folk and pop on the hit "Carefree Highway" represents the unique paradigm that was always at the heart of both Lightfoot's gift and his wide appeal. Live Recording Composer: Gordon Lightfoot. Personnel: Gordon Lightfoot (vocals, guitar, piano, bells, chimes); Catherine Smith (vocals); Terry Clements (guitar, acoustic guitar); Red Shea (guitar, dobro); Nick DeCaro (strings, accordion, horns, piano); Jack Zaza (recorder, English horn); Gene Martynec (synthesizer); Jim Gordon (drums, percussion); Milt Holland (percussion). Recording information: Eastern Sound Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photographer: John Reeves.

United Artists Collection album for sale Perhaps one of his most Canadian releases, Don Quixote is a very pleasant folk sounding album. From "Alberta Bound" to "Christian Island" to "Ode to Big Blue," Lightfoot pays tribute to the many and varied places that make up his homeland. Also of note are such love songs as "Beautiful" and the lovely "Looking at the Rain." All in all, there's not a bad cut here. It's well worth your time. ~ James Chrispell Audio Mixer: Lee Herschberg. Personnel: Gordon Lightfoot, Red Shea, Richard Haynes, Terry Clemens. Personnel: Gordon Lightfoot (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, piano); Red Shea (guitar, classical guitar, dobro); Terry Clements (guitar); Ry Cooder (mandolin); Nick DeCaro (concertina).

United Artists Collection CD music Out-of-print in the US. Though he eventually came to be regarded as an MOR pop artist, Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot emerged from the 1960s folk world, and had as much in common with Ian & Sylvia, Eric Andersen, and Bob Dylan as he did with any '70s AM wonder. Though the title track of IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND was indeed his first massive pop hit, the album proves that Lightfoot was a serious, substantive song craftsman. "Minstrel of the Dawn" is a "Mr. Tambourine Man"-like affair that closes on a surprisingly sarcastic note. "Sit Down Young Stranger" and "Cobwebs & Dust" are the folkiest cuts, and each bears an incisive, poetic lyricism. The bluesy "Baby It's Alright" and a cover of Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee" showcase Lightfoot's rootsier tendencies, while "Saturday Clothes" stands out by virtue of its Bacharach-like melody and dinner-jacket chord progression. While he wasn't as edgy as fellow Canuck Leonard Cohen, Lightfoot was clearly a formidable song-poet. Though he eventually came to be regarded as an MOR pop artist, Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot emerged from the 1960s folk world, and had as much in common with Ian & Sylvia, Eric Andersen, and Bob Dylan as he did with any '70s AM wonder. Though the title track of IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND was indeed his first massive pop hit, the album proves that Lightfoot was a serious, substantive song craftsman. "Minstrel of the Dawn" is a "Mr. Tambourine Man"-like affair that closes on a surprisingly sarcastic note. "Sit Down Young Stranger" and "Cobwebs & Dust" are the folkiest cuts, and each bears an incisive, poetic lyricism. The bluesy "Baby It's Alright" and a cover of Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee" showcase Lightfoot's rootsier tendencies, while "Saturday Clothes" stands out by virtue of its Bacharach-like melody and dinner-jacket chord progression. While he wasn't as edgy as fellow Canuck Leonard Cohen, Lightfoot was clearly a formidable song-poet. Personnel: Gordon Lightfoot (guitar); Ry Cooder (guitar, mandolin); Red Shea (guitar); John Sebastian (electric guitar, harmonica); Van Dyke Parks (harmonium).

United Artists Collection buy CD music A country influence (via pedal steel) creeps into the arrangements on Old Dan's Records. A drummer is also included throughout, making this a much more contemporary-sounding album, as Gordon Lightfoot began to move away from his folk influences and into the pop/rock field. Sure, there still are the folk songs, such as "That Same Old Obsession," but this album was the seed planted that would flower in upcoming releases. A pivotal point in Lightfoot's career. ~ James Chrispell Out-of-print in the US. Personnel: Gordon Lightfoot (vocals, guitar, vibraphone); Red Shea (guitar, classical guitar, dobro); Terry Clements (guitar); Ollie Strong (steel guitar); David Bromberg (slide dobro); Larry Good (5-string banjo); Bruce Good (autoharp); Nick DeCaro (piano); Rick Haynes (bass); Barry Keane (drums, percussion); Dave Brown (percussion). Photographer: John Reeves. Personnel: Gordon Lightfoot (vocals, guitar, vibraphone); Red Shea (guitar, classical guitar, dobro); Terry Clements (guitar); Ollie Strong (steel guitar); David Bromberg (slide dobro); Larry Good (5-string banjo); Bruce Good (autoharp); Nick DeCaro (piano); Rick Haynes (bass); Barry Keane (drums, percussion); Dave Brown (percussion). Personnel: Gordon Lightfoot (vocals, guitar, piano, vibraphone); Red Shea (guitar, classical guitar, dobro); David Bromberg, Terry Clements (guitar); Ollie Strong (steel guitar); Larry Good (banjo); Bruce Good (autoharp); Nick DeCaro (accordion, piano); Barry Keane (drums, percussion); David Brown (percussion).

United Artists Collection songs Gordon Lightfoot's friendly folk sound grew even stronger on Summer Side of Life, an album that has him curling up with both his guitar and his kind, fragile voice. Even though the album that preceded it, 1970's Sit Down Young Stranger, fared better on the charts, Summer Side of Life followed in its footsteps, proving that Lightfoot was going to be around for quite a while. His approachable, confiding sound is best heard within the earnestness of the title track, and on the country bumpkin fritter of "Cotton Jenny," a song later covered by fellow Canadian Anne Murray. Lightfoot's singing rests lightly on his acoustic guitar, a trait that would become even more recognizable in his future work, but here it is found in tracks like "Same Old Loverman" and "Redwood Hill," and in the vagabond feel of "Go My Way." Not only do the songs begin to embrace his trademarked cottage country ambience on this album, but Lightfoot begins to reveal his love of Canadiana on tracks like "10 Degrees & Getting Colder," "Love & Maple Syrup," and "Nous Vivons Ensemble," which translates into "we all live together." With Gordon Lightfoot's honest, unhindered composure now becoming well-known in the U.S. and not just in Canada, Summer Side of Life helped strengthen his songwriting and refine his delicate vocal style, which, in turn, made 1972's Old Dan's Records and 1973's Don Quixote two of his best albums. ~ Mike DeGagne His 1971 album, featuring the hit title cut and Talking in Your Sleep . Recording information: Woodland Sound Studios, Nashville, TN (12/1970-04/1971). Personnel includes: Gordon Lightfoot, Red Shea, Richard Haynes. Personnel: Gordon Lightfoot (vocals, guitar, piano); Laverna Moore, Ray C. Walker, Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins, Millie Kirkham (vocals); Chip Young, Red Shea, Jerry Shook (guitar); Vassar Clements (violin); Charlie McCoy (harmonica); Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano); Kenny Buttrey, Jim Isbell, Buddy Harmon (drums); David Brown , Farrell Morris (percussion).