Gord's Gold

Gordon Lightfoot

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1975
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002KCG
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,833 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lightfoot at a peak in his career, August 9, 2000

By	Bradley Olson (Bemidji, MN United States) - See all my reviews

Although Gordon did re-record 9 of the songs from his UA years, the fact that it includes most of his biggest hits and many great album tracks from 1970-1975 is what makes this worth buying. Although as every fan knows, "Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald" isn't on here because he had recorded it later in 1975 and it appears on "Summertime Dream" and on the "Songbook" boxed set in its original version and on "Gord's Gold Vol. 2" in a re-recorded form. The other 3 of his top 10 hits, "If You Could Read My Mind," "Sundown," and "Rainy Day People" are included. This is a must have to introduce yourself to the timeless music of the legendary Gordon Lightfoot. To make up for the re-recordings of the UA material that are on this set, I'd recommend you to buy "United Artists Collection," yet one of the medleys on this CD, "I'm Not Sayin'/Ribbon of Darkness" was first released on "Sunday Concert" (which can also be found on CD either at your local music store or right here at Amazon.com) while the "United Artists Collection" contains the entire songs for both songs in the medley and is cheaper than buying the imports of the same albums this 2 CD set contains although the domestic CD of "Sunday Concert" is now harder to find than the import CD's of it.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What talent!, June 2, 2001

By	3rdeadly3rd (Brisbane, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews

Before you ask "what is a 15 year old doing reviewing a folk album from this age?" let me tell you. My father is a huge fan of Gordon Lightfoot and always subjected my family to his work on long car trips. Despite the fact that I originally hated the music, the more car trups I went on, the more I grew to love this music and the man who sings it so very well.

"Gord's Gold" is a great introduction to Lightfoot's musical canon. While officially a folk singer, the songs here cannot simply be described as folk songs - to do so would be to insult them. They are mostly ballads of the highest order with influences of traditional folk thrown in.

Perhaps the most striking feature of this album is the almost total absence of a drummer. That seems to be one of Lightfoot's trademarks and it has one very interesting effect. As there is no drummer to carry the music forward, all the other instruments must be played sufficiently well not to sound unfocused - the emphasis is also placed squarely on the singer, and what a singer he is.

Lightfoot's voice gives the impression of being a man of the world - in and out of love, wondering about things and so on. The way he can infuse the most mundane lyrics (not that many of them are mundane) with emotion has to be seen/heard to be believed.

This compilation was originally released after Lightfoot had switched labels and thus had re-recorded versions of his big hits - released originally only in Canada I think. Therefore the songs do sound a bit different to their corresponding titles on the early albums (which are, I think, only available on vinyl) or on the "United Artists Collection" compilation. However, this does not in any way detract from the raw emotion of these songs.

Every track here is great. Among my favourites are "Don Quixote" (a wonderful lyric with a guitar sequence that actually sounds like horse's hooves), "Bitter Green" (with a haunting chorus sung by the backing musicians) and "Carefree Highway" (a wonderfully written song about the breakup of a relationship). That's not to say that these songs outclass the others by any stretch of the imagination - the others are all of comparable class but in other ways.

The other great feature of this album is the fact that Lightfoot's lyrics are so easy to sing along with. Even the worst day at work or school will fade into memory as you find yourself singing the choruses in time with Lightfoot.

I can seriously recommend this album. As can be seen by a 15 year old reviewing it, the album is truly timeless (it was, after all, released before I was born). The sentiments expressed were true then, are true now and will be true many years into the future. You need this album.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gord's Gold: As Good As It Gets - 5 Stars, June 29, 1998

By	Valerie L. Shainin "Valerie Magee" (Castle Rock, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This outstanding album is a compilation of Lightfoot's very best songs up to the time of its original release as an LP (1975). The CD contains 11 songs originally recorded at United Artists (two as medleys) and 12 songs from his first five albums at Warner Brothers/Reprise. Three of his four biggest commercial hits are on this album (If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown, and Carefree Highway) making this an excellent first Lightfoot album to buy. (The fourth big hit, Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald, was written and recorded later in 1975. You can find it on Summertime Dream, or, in a rerecorded version, on Gord's Gold Volume II).

The rerecorded songs from his UA period ('66 - '69) are all truly exceptional songs. A true Lightfoot fan would want to have both the original UA recording (in a much simpler style) and this one, but there is no arguing with the fact that the Gord's Gold versions of these songs are exquisite. In particular, the recording of Canadian Railroad Trilogy, perhaps his finest song, sends chills down my spine and the recordings of Early Mornin' Rain and the medleys For Lovin' Me / Did She Mention My Name and I'm Not Sayin' / Ribbon Of Darkness demonstrate his songwriting and singing at their very finest.

In addition to the three top-10 hits from his Warner Brothers years, Lightfoot has included several other masterpieces of that era. My favorites of these are Minstrel Of The Dawn, Beautiful and Don Quixote.

This album is a 'must have'.