Customer Reviews

Harmony

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As mentioned in other reviews of "Harmony", this album can make a serious claim to be Gordon Lightfoot's best in decades. Looking back through my collection, I might say that not since "Shadows" has there been a single album with such a sustained quality of songs. True, Lightfoot's voice is not what it once was, but I think he has come to terms with that and has found new roads to using it in the best way. I had a feeling with "Waiting for You" and to some extent "A Painter Passing Through" that he was to some degree forcing his voice a bit as compensation for its decrease in range and tone (a feeling, by the way, that I never had when seeing him in concert), and perhaps the balance between instrumentation and vocals had shifted too far towards the former. But in "Harmony" Lightfoot once again uses his voice as a fine instrument in itself. These thoughtful songs on this album stand as equalling in quality what he was writing two or three decades ago. I have already played the album several times over and cannot decide which cuts I like best -- there simply are too many good choices.

Gordon Lightfoot's recordings, like his concert appearances, are characterized not only by his distinctive lyrical sense but also by the particular style of his long-time collaborators in his regular backup group: Rick Haynes, Terry Clement, Barry Keane, and Mike Heffernan. These are musicians who have toured and recorded with Lightfoot not only for years, but literally for decades. (I think such loyalty, in both directions, must say something about the man.) They are present again on most of the cuts on "Harmony" but, pleasing to this longtime fan, there is also another familiar name: Red Shea, guitarist on some of Lightfoot's earliest albums.

Although this latest album represents something of a continuing evolution, it also reflects a pleasing continuity with what has come before. If you are a Gordon Lightfoot fan, you cannot miss this album.

This CD is better than either Waiting for You or Painter Passing Through, both done years earlier. Passionate, folksy and funny, this group of songs does Gordon justice. Songs that bring to mind his native Ontario, like Couchiching, and a live rendition, No Hotel, that describes a trip to the Amazon with some tree huggers, are my favorites. The paternalistic romance of Inspiration Lady, is lilting and enticing. You might have to go back before East of Midnight, to find a Lightfoot album this well written and well produced. The voice has aged appreciably, but the guts of Lightfoot remain.

I was first introduced to Gordon's work in 1967 by a friend whose family summered not very far from Orillia. I have listened and loved the man and his work all this time. When I first heard Harmony, I thought it was a good album considering how it was put together. The more I have listened, the more I have been amazed. His lyrics still send chills and speak to the heart and mind. The music goes hand in hand with those well-crafted words. In many ways, I think this is one of the best albums he has given us. It truly is a gift. Thank you, Gordon.

If you have followed Gordon Lightfoot's music, this collection of songs rings true for a career that has lasted over forty years. The Title song "Harmony" draws you into Gordon's musical, life essence retrospective.

The most memorable songs move from temporary or perhaps permanent loss of powers (Harmony) to overcoming regrets and desparation and carrying on with some dignity (Shellfish) to a brilliant and timeless love song (Inspiration Lady).

I think Gordon was just having some fun on Couchiching (a song about his hometown), and the Hotel No. I'll sometimes listen to these for a lighthearted break from some of the more serious songs on this collection.

To the barbed criticism of another reviewer, I respond that "this is a comeback album from a near fatal illness." There are few singer-songwriters who have this kind of resiliance. Gordon is a Folk artist, and if one does not think his vocals are as pretty or macho or sexy as they were on Sundown, then they're missing the point. "Harmony" is about looking back at life and carrying on in the face of time. Listen to Shellfish (another prime track on this CD), specifically "There's still a way to go, about a thousand miles or so." Why do some people not want to hear that, or a most extraordinary voice that has been impacted by a near death experience?

There are tales and experiences in life that are the product of age and experience that are tempered by weariness and frailty and transcendent hope. That's what this set of songs is about. "Harmony - if you pass me by I will miss you, and if you can cry I can cry too. Harmony - have you gone away, have you gone to stay?" This is the gentle lament accompanied by old faded Martin that still sounds sweet.

There's nothing wrong with buying collections and "greatest hits," but to understand and appreciate Mr. Lightfoot, you should follow his timeline album by album (or CD by CD). It is a journey worth taking and "Harmony" is in its own right a key entry in our Canadian friend's brilliant contribution to folk and folk-pop-country music.

I've been a Lightfoot fan for over 35 years and have seen him perform over a dozen times; in fact, we saw him perform just months before he was striken in 2001.Gordon performed "Shellfish" and "No Hotel" in his set, along with a great selection of old favorites. The decline in his voice was apparent then...the range and clarity are not what they once were...but the heart and soul of his beautiful songs remain and the evening was magical! I feel the same way about this album. My favorite songs are "Clouds of Loneliness" and "Sometimes I Wish" (and I think his voice seems stronger for these). The songwriting is Lightfoot at his best. For the longtime fans, it's a wonderful gift to have this gifted performer back!

I have listened to Gordon Lightfoot for more than 40 years. His recent albums have been a bit lack luster compared to his high point in the 1960s & 1970 but this one hits the mark quite nicely. The voice is older and not as supple as in his prime but this is a fine work both in terms of the material which is almost as good as his best and has a nice wide scope. The voice is also much better than the quality of the last 10 years and so it a good buy for someone who still has the want for intelligent material that is well done.

I look forward to his health returning and his touring again.

I think that this album sounds quite piecemeal and that the vocals are way too weak in places. All that aside and knowing of the illness and recovery that led to the release of HARMONY, I must say that Gord has furnished us with some really fine compositions on this CD. One of the production highlights for me was the return of "real" orchestration, courtesy of producer Bob Doige. The strings that were so much a part of the pre- Adult Contemporary Lightfoot make two appearances here in "End of All Time" and the haunting final cut "Sometimes I Wish." The effect is a total positive augmentation of the tracks. The cameo appearances by former Lightfoot regular Red Shea are nice to hear, too. If I had to pick favorites on the record, I would first say that "Shellfish" is the best cut. This is primo material- a guy nearing the end of his earthly days, wondering if he should be regretful or downhearted. There is such a human touch to these lyrics. I would also pick "Sometimes I Wish" as a favorite- it is literary, following an emptiness motif throughout and weaving to and fro with the ruminations of a persona that is haunted by an empty house. Its not the voice, but it is the heart of the Gordon Lightfoot who wrote If You Could Read My Mind all those years before I was born that has returned to haunt this record. Enjoy the voice, enjoy the arrangements, enjoy the melodies. Enjoy HARMONY. Take care.

I truely love this CD. If you're a Gordon Lightfoot fan you won't be disappointed. Even from a hospital room Lightfoot's voice remains true as does the soul of the lyrics.

For those like me that thought the best songs of Gordon Lightfoot had been recorded years in the past, think again!
Harmony is truely a recording of rare quality with 9 of the 11 tracks being of single standard.
A major reason for this album being so good must be attributed to the outstanding ability of Lightfoots band, all 9 of the studio tracks have been recorded with Gordon being absent through illness. The sensitive nature his band have approached the task of over dubbing in his absense is quite breathtaking and I can not stress just how good these musicians are.

The songs on Harmony relate back to the days when Lightfoot and his acoustic guitar were the only things on stage, hence I think the content of the songs are better and stronger than some he has written in the more recent past.The strength of his lyrics and wonderful use of melodic chords have always been a trade mark of lightfoots talents, this album oozes with all of those qualities.For some reason his vocals seem stronger too.

Those like me who are acoustic guitar music fans can only listen in pure wonder and admiration of the sound of Lighfoots Martin Guitar.Get well soon Gordon and keep writing albums like Harmony.Well worth the wait!
If you get chance go and see him and his band live a treat not to be missed.

I live in England and have been a Gordon Lightfoot Fan since his early days. HARMONY is brillaint and i loved it from the first listening to. Having fought his way back from serious illness he has not lost any of his abilities to write beautiful music.This CD has become one of my favourite Lightfoot CD's especially the track about the lake near his home town Couchiching. I would recommend this CD as a must buy for any Lightfoot fan and I can't wait for the next one.