Jim, here I am on my fifth cup of coffee, and I'm not still ready to leave our house.
Julie keeps pestering me about wanting to go horseback riding, but last time I went, I nearly fell off the horse.
She thought I was joking....and told me to stop "horsing around". (hahaha)
Anyhow Jim, now that you mention it, GORDON LIGHTFOOT did talk about the guitar strings he wanted (during that Place Des Arts concert).
Trouble is, I forgot the name. And no, it definitely was NOT "Martin" strings Gordo was looking for. It might have been "Gibson". (I can't remember)
When LIGHTFOOT appeared here in Montreal (at Place Des Arts) back in the 1970's, CJAD Radio host Marge Hunter interviewed him via telephone.
Gordo spoke about his travels and inspirations for songwriting. Then Marge Hunter asked him:
"What inspired you to write Second Cup of Coffee?" (hahaha)
GORDON LIGHTFOOT replied:
"At the time, I was offered to do a commercial for some coffee Company, so I had this coffee idea in back of my mind.
I also enjoy a good cup and I rarely stop at just one."
Marge asked: "Was it Maxwell House or Nescafe" who approached you?"
GORDON LIGHTFOOT replied:
"I don't know. I never did end up doing the commercial, so I forgot all about it. Still, I consider it a fine song."
Brucester
<> "Second Cup Of Coffee" (LP: "Don Quixote")
Previous Message
Brucester - GL broke a couple of strings when I saw him performing at the (sadly now defunct) Universal Amphitheater* in Universal City in about 1975. Now, the many pictures coming out with all the articles show that Lightfoot stayed faithful to Martin guitars as a rule and usually played a mahogany-bodied D-18. But for a brief time, he experimented with Takamine guitars made in Japan, modeled as they were after Martins though our Asian friends tried to improve on them. After Lightfoot broke two (or more) strings, he said, "The guitar is made by Takamine and I love it, but the strings are from Martin and they're just s--t." Happy to say that I had left Martin strings behind before that time (on my two Martins) in favor of D'Angelicos.
*The Universal Ahmpitheater was orginally just that - a half circle, roofless, with superior acoustics (listen to An Evening With John Denver live album from the same time period - great sound) - until the neighbors' complaints became so overwhelming that the venue was roofed. That destroyed both its charm - and its marvelously engineered outdoor acoustics. Previous Message
Gerry, when a group of us saw GORDON LIGHTFOOT perform at Place Des Arts (Montreal), waaay back in the 1970's, his guitar strings kept breaking.
He got so angry and I remember Gordo's words quite well:
"Geez, it feels like a train wreck up here. You folks pay good money to see a show and my strings can't keep up with the tide.
If any of you out there own a music store, come see me backstage."
Since I got a part time job working for Steve's Music Store, I went backstage to see GORDON LIGHTFOOT.
Trouble is, SECURITY people gave me and my friends a hard time; so rather than argue and make a scene....
I wrote down Steve Kirman's name, including his Store's address and telephone number.
Apparently, GORDON LIGHTFOOT got in touch with Steve Kirman and bought boxes full of top quality guitar strings.
I never got any thanks...and the only "raise" I got was Steve gave me a higher chair to sit on.
Brucester
"Cotton Jenny"
Previous Message
I've gone to several Lightfoot concerts in my time be it in the U.S. or in Canada. Besides GL being such a perfectionist and giving it all on stage, he is very likeable.
Those Gordon Lightfoot concerts are precious memories for me. Previous Message
Thank You So Much, Jim. Means a lot to me how you feel about GORDON LIGHTFOOT.
I very much look forward to any additional thoughts; comments and observations you may have on "Gordo".
AND...AND...AND...
...from your resident Canadian folk devotee:
Although they rarely appeared together on the same bill, GORDON LIGHTFOOT and JONI MITCHELL moved in many of the same circles early in their careers;
most notably, each appearing often at the Riverboat ~> a famous Toronto Coffeehouse.
This was the premier area Club at the time, and Gordon and Joni (along with Neil Young) were the top talents.
"Gordo" was seen as a national hero here in Canada and often referred to as an "icon" !!!
In the words of GORDON LIGHTFOOT:
"Sometimes I wonder why I'm being called an icon, because I really don't think of myself that way.
I'm a professional musician, and I work with very professional people. It's how we get through life."
Brucester
"Christian Island" {Georgian Bay}
Previous Message
Brucester, I figured that you were likely gallivanting around somewhere or otherwise occupied or I most certainly would have ceded the sad honor of posting the first mention of Lightfoot's passing to you. As it is, since you are our resident Canadian folk devotee, I will follow your lead and respond with some additional thoughts on GL - by far my favorite folk singer-songwriter of all time going back to 1967 - as responses to your observations.
And my friend - I am at least as broke as you are! Previous Message
GORDON LIGHTFOOT (1938-2023)
LISA LaFLAMME:
Gordon, I'd like to ask you, if I may, about the people who come to see you at concerts. Do you have a favourite audience?
GORDON LIGHTFOOT:
In fact, I do, Lisa. I love performing for American audiences. I truly enjoy being in the United States.
LISA LaFLAMME:
What about here at home? Your Canadian audiences? (smiling)
GORDON LIGHTFOOT:
Yeah, they're pretty nice too. (hahaha)
Responses
on 5/7/2023, 12:13 pm, in reply to "