There are few careers in fashionable music extra versatile than that of Gordon Lightfoot. The native Canadian has loved success within the worlds of pop, grownup up to date, people and nation — with followers of all ages enchanted by the singer’s unforgettable vocal strategy.
The Ontario-born singer/songwriter died at age 84 on Monday (Could 1), his household introduced by way of social media. “Gordon Lightfoot handed away this night in a Toronto hospital at 7:30 p.m.,” a press release on Lightfoot’s Fb web page introduced. He had been struggling well being points in latest days, forcing him to cancel deliberate tour dates within the U.S. and Canada earlier this month.
On the coronary heart of Lightfoot’s profession is his songwriting. It’s truthful to say that the singer bleeds lyrically by his materials. Songs equivalent to “Sunset” and “If You Might Learn My Thoughts” revealed a person who knew his relationships may very well be imperfect at instances. He additionally has fairly the best way with a narrative tune, taking one of many nice American tragedies of the Nineteen Seventies and crafting an unforgettable lyric about it.
In honor of six many years of music, listed below are 10 of Gordon Lightfoot’s best moments.
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“Dream Road Rose”
The title reduce from his 1980 Warner Bros. launch discovered Lightfoot in effective musical type. The guitar work added a layer of breeziness to the monitor, and his vocal — as at all times — was spot-on. Lightfoot introduced a particular heat to the lyrics of the tune, all concerning the optimistic impact the appropriate one can have on somebody’s life — opening up a world of recent prospects.
Hear right here.
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“Speaking In Your Sleep”
A 1971 single for the singer, this one positively ranks as considered one of his extra underrated gems. There’s a heartfelt honesty that the listener feels when Lightfoot is pleading together with his lover to clarify the importance of the phrases that she uttered whereas sleeping. It wasn’t a serious hit in america, however it’s positively one value in search of out within the Gordon Lightfoot tune catalog.
Hear right here.
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“Ribbon of Darkness”
This excellent fusion of nation, people and pop appeared on Lightfoot’s 1966 United Artists debut album Lightfoot!. Whereas the memorable monitor was launched as a single by the singer — who wrote the tune — he authentic and hit recording of the tune belonged to Marty Robbins, who earned a No. 1 hit in 1965 with the tune. Later within the decade, Connie Smith additionally coated the tune, incomes a spot within the Sizzling Nation Songs high 20.
Hear right here.
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“Wet Day Individuals”
The singer earned a success in 1975 with this transferring quantity about these individuals in life that you simply won’t hear from daily, however they at all times have an uncanny knack for being there simply once you want them. The tune initially appeared on the superb Chilly on the Shoulder disc.
Hear right here.
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“Something for Love”
The newest Gordon Lightfoot tune to look on the American music charts got here with this melodious romantic quantity, which hit the Prime 20 on the Grownup Up to date charts in 1986, additionally incomes him his final rating on the Sizzling Nation charts, as nicely.
Hear right here.
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“Carefree Freeway”
The lyrics of this Lightfoot hit from the autumn months of 1974 got here straight from actual life. The character of “Ann,” with whom Lightfoot laments a failed relationship with, was somebody that he as soon as dated — and sure, her identify was Ann. The one was the second launch from Sunset.
Hear right here.
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“The Circle Is Small (I Can See It in Your Eyes)”
The tune that earned Lightfoot his remaining rating within the high 10 on the AC charts in 1977 was one that really had been round for some time. The singer had recorded it nearly a decade prior in 1968 for his Again Right here on Earth disc.
Hear right here.
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“If You Might Learn My Thoughts”
Lightfoot was a star in his native Canada, however when he launched this tune on Reprise Information across the Christmas season of 1970, it proved to be his ticket to success in america. This Gordon Lightfoot traditional — written concerning the breakup of his first marriage — has change into considered one of his most coated tunes, with variations by Johnny Money, Barbra Streisand, and Olivia Newton-John.
Hear right here.
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“The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”
Historically, story songs are a certain wager to make an affect with an viewers, and Lightfoot put that principle to work with this hit from late 1976. The tune was impressed by the real-life sinking of the ore provider in Lake Superior that took the lives of 29 crew members in November 1975. After greater than 40 years, this stays considered one of his best-written songs.
Hear right here.
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“Sunset”
What goes on in a relationship when day turns into evening? Apparently quite a bit, as Lightfoot confessed on this deeply private hit from the spring of 1974. There has at all times been a way of thriller about this Gordon Lightfoot tune that continues to be his most important hit single, and his solely Sizzling 100 No. 1. Some have stated the lyrics — concerning the loopy depths {that a} relationship can take an individual to — had been impressed by Lightfoot’s onetime relationship with Cathy Smith, who later was concerned with John Belushi and served 15 years on the California Institute for Ladies resulting from her position within the comic’s loss of life. Lightfoot by no means had confirmed or denied the speculation, however in 2008, he informed Matt Fink from American Songwriter that “I feel my girlfriend was out together with her associates one evening at a bar whereas I used to be at residence writing songs. I assumed, ‘I’m wondering what she’s doing together with her associates at that bar!’ It’s that form of a sense. ‘The place is my real love tonight? What’s my real love doing?’ I suppose lots of people actually do relate to that. That’s a part of romance…that questioning,” with out referring to Smith by identify.
Hear right here.
