The "A Minor Ballad"

[ran...@telus.net]

I think I've finally sorted out what it was that hooked me on the
music of Gordon Lightfoot. It's definitely his collection of "ballad
salad" and the "A Minor Ballad" is the song that I now know for sure
is the tune I can pin it down to . It's the one song that I get lost
in every time I put it on. Since moving to the west coast ten years
ago from Toronto and experiencing the "Rocky Mountain" effect one
might say, that song has grown on me like no other. And we have our
fair share of "misty mountains" out this way. Before I hit the play
button everything else is unplugged, even the telephone. No disruption
here guys. It's concert time. What lyrics! "I Have No Gold To Give
Her, Nor Gowns Of Soft Crimson Hue, No Poems Of Love Nor Rhymes To
Bring Her, Into My Heart, So Soft, So True, When Will You Love Me As I
Love You?" Where would you find lyrics anywhere more powerful than
that in a love song? That song has to be, and I've discussed this
before with other rabid fans like myself, one of the most underrated
of Lightfoot songs. I've been trying to bring it up where I can feel
comfortable enough to introduce into one of my gigs but during the
solo where the harmony meets up with the cello, or maybe it's a viola,
I'm not sure but when that happens I'm never sure if I'm coming in
there on the right harmony note, so it's still a little vulnerable.
I've been trying to find out who it was playing that solo but no
information was provided on the album cover. John Court was the
producer though. Another thing I noticed as well because I love
playing along to Gord's recordings is that in the corresponding
songbook with the sheet music, it says to capo up two frets when in
fact it's up just the one fret to be in tune with the recording.
Cheers, Ron Jones.