Gordon Lightfoot - Gord's Gold

Warm, gentle, and welcoming, Gordon Lightfoot's folk-rock disarms even the most cynical listener. When his bright melodies mesh with his full, deep voice and his innocent poetry, the result is almost hypnotic, like floating away on a soft cloud. Of course, after 21 songs' worth, you might float into a deep slumber. In 1975 Lightfoot rounded out this hits collection by revisiting nine of his 1960s compositions, including "I'm Not Sayin'/Ribbon of Darkness," "Song for a Winter's Night," "Early Morning Rain," and "Steel Rail Blues." Rather than maintain the direct approach of his early work, he adds the string arrangements that mark his 1970s work. The smashes "Sundown" and "If You Could Read My Mind" accompany outright gems such as "Cotton Jenny" and "Cold on the Shoulder," although this set predates "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." --Marc Greilsamer Amazon.com

Amazed.

This CD does leave off Affair on Eighth Avenue, which is fine by me, it not being one of my favorite songs anyway. What I am amazed by is the sheer number of excellent songs Lightfoot has written over the years.
And a great many of them are on this compilation. It doesn't really matter to me if he decides to redo some songs, that's ok.. they're HIS songs.Upon reading the inside of the booklet and seeing in bold type ALL SELECTIONS WRITTEN BY GORDON LIGHTFOOT, I was kicked in the head by the man's output through the years. Absolutely astounding. How did he do it?
How does one mind come up with so many great songs? And the most astounding thing is, this album was released BEFORE Summertime Dream, Shadows, Endless Wire, Shadows, etc. etc.
Sometimes a Greatest Hits compilation means that artist has reached reached the end of the line, but not so with Lightfoot. He kept on going.
Gord's Gold...absolutely amazing. October 3, 2008

Please Add "Affair on Eighth Avenue" When Remastering This One

Let me say that one of my pet peeves in life is the sheer number of ways our friends at the record companies have found to release slightly different versions of an artist's greatest hits. Besides greatest hits, there are best ofs, anthologies, esstentials, all-time greatest hits, very best ofs, completes, golds, definitives, classics, favorites, proper introductions to, etc. I'm sure anyone who reads this can think of other terms. Having said that, this CD reissue of what was originally a two-LP set of "Gord's Gold" is an excellent starting point for fans of the man. As other reviewers have noted, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" is not present because it was recorded after this set was released. So if you must have that song or anything else Mr. Lightfoot recorded after about 1974, look elsewhere. The reason this set does not get five stars from me is the glaring omission of "Affair on Eighth Avenue," a great song that was on the original records. Because of space limitations, it was omitted from the CD so that Reprise Records could issue this collection on a single disc. Mr. Lightfoot originally had the song on one of his United Artist albums from the late 1960s. But he re-recorded it for "Gord's Gold," and to the best of my knowledge, the newer version has never appeared on any other CD. I was hoping it would be on the excellent 4-CD box set covering Mr. Lightfoot's entire career that was released by Rhino Records a few years ago. But it wasn't. Nor was it a bonus track when Rhino put out Mr. Lightfoot's four studio albums _ "Old Dan's Records," "Dream Street Rose," "Shadows" and "Salute" _ that hadn't been on CD before. It could have been. What a shame it wasn't. So this is a plea to Rhino/Reprise/Warner Brothers: Please, if you ever get around to digitally remastering "Gord's Gold," restore "Affair on Eighth Avenue" to it. I believe the technology has improved to the point that a single CD can hold up to 80 minutes now, which would easily accomodate the extra track. April 14, 2007

A true folk musician!

I enjoy driving down the road and singing along with Gordie! January 15, 2007

Some thoughts on half of a great album....

Since 1968, I have followed this masterful singer songwriter.I have thoroughly enjoyed this recording. That being said,it is frustrating that Warner/Reprise has not remastered Gord's Gold, because one can hear how blurred the sound is, especially the UA material. You can HEAR the difference in the sound, if one has the 4 CD Songbook, regarding the remainder. This may sound like heresy, but I suggest skipping Gord's Gold, Vol 2. That is the only disappointing rerecordings of the incomparable originals. August 7, 2006

A true work of Art

Gordon Lightfoot, a remarkable pioneer of Canadian music and culture, gives us a magnificent "best of" with this beautiful album, "Gord's Gold". Originally released in 1975 for LP, it gave you 22 tracks of beautiful Canadian heritage. Re-released in 1992 for c.d. fans still get 21 tracks(minus "Affair on 8th Avenue" -it states on c.d. back cover) of intelligently wrote and recorded material from one of Canada's best.

Track 1, is a 2 track combo (for it's similar sound), I'm Not Sayin', and "Ribbon of Darkness". These are beautiful, thought provoking songs of friendship and personal findings, not sad tales of despair heartache, and loss.

Tracks 11 - "Sundown", 14 - "Rainy Day People", 19 - "If You Could Read My Mind", and 21 - "Carefree Highway" are songs that people the world over recognize due to their beautiful sounds, and wordplay that radios over the last 35 years have been loving to play due to such a high demand for the love and respect for human life, brought forth by Gordon Lightfoot.

All in all, every track is a gem, and should not be taken lightly. Gordon Lightfoot, stood up for the Native Canadians long before anyone cared to pay attention, hence his " Canadian Railroad Tilogy", and it's strong Native ties for an understanding of what the white man did to Native soil. He mentioned in an interview that our Countries anthem does have the words, " Our home and NATIVE LAND" in it. He demonstrates on this album, the fact that, whether or not you are white, black, native, etc. the universal language, and color, is music. July 13, 2006

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