Unknown Album?
Yuri Amatnieks
Hello fellow fanatics,
I have a copy of a Gordon Lightfoot album which I picked up years ago in
Peter Dunn's 'Vinyl Museum' on Yonge Street in Toronto paying some
$35.00 Canadian (that's about $2.50 U.S., chuckle, chuckle.) The reason
that I was so fascinated, other than being a devoted Lightfoot fan is
that I was unaware of this album's existence. I have Gordon's biography
by Maynard Collins (Deneau Publishers, 760 Bathurst St., Toronto,
Canada, M5S 2R6, copyright 1988) but there is no mention of this album
in the discography so I assume it was an unofficial recording/releace.
Perhaps Wayne Francis can help me out with this one and tell us
something about the circumstances of its existence. (my apologies if
this has already been covered by the newsgroup)
The album is entitled 'Early Lightfoot' and has a dark brown cover with
a beige diamond in the centre. Inside the diamond is Gord's picture
sporting hexagonal glasses looking off to the side. Lots of stubble but
no mustache. The back has the identical picture but has the play list
and the brief description that follows;
The selections in this album were discovered in the archives of Chateau
Records and clearly reflect that in the beginning, Gordon Lightfoot was
destined to become one of Canada's top male vocalists.
The selections contained in this album were produced by Art Snider in
the early '60's. "Remember Me (I'm the one)" climbed rapidly onto the
Canadian charts to be Gordon's first hit single. "Negotiations" also
achieved national acceptance in Canada.
Three of the selections on this album, "This Is My Song", "Sleep Little
Jane" and "Long Haired Woman" all written and performed by Gordon
Lightfoot, are being released on record for the first time.
AME Records are proud to present this recording as a tribute to the
greatness of a talented composer and performer.
The Play List is as follows;
Side One;
Remember Me (I'm the one)
Daisy Doo
Adios, Adios (Lightfoot and Nash)
Is My Baby Blue Tonight (Lou Handman)
Sleep Little Jane
Side Two;
Long Haired Woman
It's Too Late, He Wins
Take Care of Yourself (Hoffman-Klein)
This Is My Song
Negotiations (Les Pouliot)
Songs written by G. Lightfoot except where noted.
The album has the AME Records logo and #7000
Its dated 1971 on the record label but as stated above the music is
clearly from the early 1960's
As its from Chateau Records vault, I assume it must be similar to 'Two
Tones At the Village Corner' which was also released on Chateau
Records. (I haven't had the pleasure of hearing 'Two Tones' so I can't
say for sure)
This is truly early lightfoot. Some good tunes and some that are kind
of hokey now after all this time but they all do show the spark of
brilliance which was to become the troubadour we all love.
My personal favorite from this album is "Sleep Baby Jane" which is a
soothing lullaby as if being sung to a child drifting off to sleep.
"Remember Me, (I'm the one) shows a hint of what Lightfoot was to
become, and "Negotiations" is a comical song about going through marital
problems, just to mention a few.
I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else has, is aware, knows
something of this album.
Yuri Amatnieks
Mississauga, Canada
"The River is the Melody, The sky is the Refrain"
Valerie L. Magee
Yes, Wayne has that album listed in his FAQs. (He would probably tell you to read the
FAQs). And you are lucky to have it. I don't suppose you want to sell? I think the
album is mentioned in the Collins biography, with the story about Lightfoot destroying
the recalled copies.
'This Is My Song' was previously released on the Two Tones album. It is interesting
that in addition to trying to piggyback on his success with IYCRMM, they didn't even
know that one of the songs had been recorded and released before.
I've heard both albums via cassette copies; they are not at all alike; Two Tones
(besides being a duo) is international folk, with just the one song written by
Lightfoot.
Early Lightfoot is more 50s pop style ... I hear the beginnings of his characteristic
singing style, but there's very little of the brilliant songwriting that was to follow
in just a few years. And, of course, he already had his incredible voice ...
Wayne Francis
In article <358E6B57...@home.com>,
Yuri Amatnieks <amat...@home.com> wrote:
>I have a copy of a Gordon Lightfoot album which I picked up years ago in
>Peter Dunn's 'Vinyl Museum' on Yonge Street in Toronto paying some
>$35.00 Canadian (that's about $2.50 U.S., chuckle, chuckle.) The reason
>that I was so fascinated, other than being a devoted Lightfoot fan is
>that I was unaware of this album's existence. I have Gordon's biography
>by Maynard Collins (Deneau Publishers, 760 Bathurst St., Toronto,
>Canada, M5S 2R6, copyright 1988) but there is no mention of this album
>in the discography so I assume it was an unofficial recording/releace.
>
>Perhaps Wayne Francis can help me out with this one and tell us
>something about the circumstances of its existence.
This an album compiled of recordings Lightfoot made in the early 60's before
his UA days. It is a different side of Lightfoot, before he found his true
sound as a musician and his vision as a songwriter, but all the same, it is a
very well produced and arranged collection of songs, although some of them
were certainly throwaways that Lightfoot never intended for release. "Remember
Me (I'm The One)" charted in Canada when it first came out as a single. I
heard a remark from someone well placed in the record business once say that
when he first it many years after Lightfoot was already established, he was
blown away to hear that Lightfoot could nail that "Nashville of the early
60's" sound so beautifully and if he had so desired, he believed Lightfoot
could have been a highly successful country crooner like Jim Reeves, Eddy
Arnold etc, but of course Lightfoot had other ideas in mind.
The "Early Lightfoot" album was issued in 1971 when GL had become a hot
commodity and it obviously was released to capitalize on his success. Some
people were confused when it was released, believing it to be a new album and
were understandably shocked by it's entirely different sound. This was
naturally not well received in the GL camp and I believe Lightfoot eventually
bought out the remaining copies.
Wayne
Darerott
>I have a copy of a Gordon Lightfoot album which I picked up years ago in
>Peter Dunn's 'Vinyl Museum' on Yonge Street in Toronto paying some
>$35.00 Canadian (that's about $2.50 U.S., chuckle, chuckle.)
I visited the Vinyl Museum, along with Jen and her friend, (I believe it was in
front of that store Jen chained me to a tree so she could get to the GL albums
befor I could get there :-) Don't get in HER way!!! ) We found some "keepers"
there. But no Early Lightfoot.
But I do have to "brag". Just this last week I found that album on a Vinyl
Site( they say it is in mint condition, I hope so.) . Needless to say I
ordered it and should get it this week. :-)
So keep looking, there are some out there. Now I just need to find the Two
Tones!!
Darin