Cold on the Shoulder

Gordon Lightfoot

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 28, 1994)
• Original Release Date: 1975
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002MST
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,889 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging--but well worth the effort, June 18, 2002

By A Customer

When you first glance at the credits of Cold on the Shoulder, it would be easy to think Gordon Lightfoot decided to simply repeat the formula of his previous album Sundown (which was a sizeable commercial success). The same musicians appear: Lightfoot on rhythm 12 and 6 string guitars (as well as a bit of piano); Red Shea and Terry Clements on lead guitars; John Stockfish and Rick Haynes sharing the bass duties; and Jim Gordon on drums. Lenny Waronker, once again, is the producer. The only change of any significance is the addition of Pee Wee Charles on pedal steel guitar, who would remain with the regular touring band through the mid 1980s.

But Cold on the Shoulder is no mere rehash of Sundown. Whereas Sundown's overall motif was restlessness and movement, Cold on the Shoulder is a much more introspective album. The underlying motif of Cold on the Shoulder is essentially "on the outside looking in"--even the cover reflects that concept.

That isn't to say it's a depressing album--it opens and closes with two very fun, upbeat songs ("Bend in the Water," and "Slide on Over"). However, there is a certain amount of sadness, of melancholy which touches many of the songs here--perhaps this is why Lightfoot has been quoted as saying the album is "a little uptight."

There are some beautiful songs to be found here: "Rainy Day People," "As Fine as Fine Can Be," and the underrated "A Tree Too Weak to Stand," as well as one of his best "story-songs" ("Cherokee Bend"). For anyone who has ever experienced those first pangs of disquiet in a relationship, you'll rarely hear those feelings expressed any better as they are in "Now and Then." The album also includes what is arguably the very best of what I call the "observational" songs--"All the Lovely Ladies."

The album is beautifully produced, and the musicianship--as ever--is top notch. This may not be the most accessible of Lightfoot albums: it's definitely not the one to put on if you're in a down mood. That being said, Cold on the Shoulder nevertheless deserves your attention. It is the work of an astonishingly gifted writer, a mature, world-wise artist, who has chosen life--with all of its inherent ups, downs, triumphs, tragedies, laughter, sadness--as his canvas on which to paint. Cold on the Shoulder is one of Lightfoot's overlooked gems.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Of The Terrific Gordon Lightfoot Abums of the 70s!, August 28, 2000

By	Barron Laycock "Labradorman" (Temple, New Hampshire United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is one of Lightfoot's best and most popular albums, produced when he was at the height of his incredible popularity in the mid 1970s. For a while Lightfoot, like his fellow troubadours James Taylor, John Denver, and Van Morrison, could seemingly do nothing wrong. In fact, over a fifteen period, Gordon Lightfoot produced so many superior albums populated by such uniformly outstanding songs that we've become inured to the fact that he is such a singular, talented and singular talent. Every single song on this album is extremely well written, sung and arranged, from the opening "Bend In The Water" to the very popular hit "Rainy Day People", which saw a lot of air-time, as did the title song, "Cold On The Shoulder". Yet this isn't just an album put out with filler surrounding a couple of hit songs. None of Lightfoot's albums is anything but an eclectic but lovely collection of very memorable and quite accomplished songs. My personal favorites here are "Rainbow Trout", "A Tree Too Weak To Stand', and "All The Lovely Ladies". I also like "As Fine As Fine Can Be" and have to admit there isn't a single pooch in the passel of songs offered here, and all written by Lightfoot himself. The truth of the matter is that Gordon Lightfoot is an incredibly talented singer/songwriter who has already left us a dozen or so terrific albums for our continuing entertainment and edification. This is certainly one of the best of them. Enjoy

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars more people should know about this one!, June 9, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Liverpool, NY) - See all my reviews

This CD starts out with the raucous 'Bend in the Water', and switches moods immediately with 'Rainy Day People'. I think Rainy Day People is the only song that might sound familiar to the radio listening public.

If I have a favorite Lightfoot song, it's "Bells of the Evening". It's a simple arrangement, starting out with just a few piano chords, but he manages to sound achingly lonely.

The other Lightfoot song worth more than passing mention here is "Fine as Fine Can Be". Lightfoot's voice here is as smooth as dark honey. The lyrics, and the music, sort of flow out of the speakers and insinuate themselves into your ears.

This was first released in 1975, and I wore out my cassette recording of it. It is excellent vintage Lightfoot!