The 1988 Winter Olympics from Calgary as broadcast by ABC. Note that some clips may cut off in the middle but of a performance, but it will be continued in the next clip.
In spite of the voice overs, this is one of my favorite performances by two of my favorite performers/song writers. Gordon Lightfoot died yesterday and we lost Ian Tyson last year. I had to come here to see them again. Canada, you have a lot to be proud of.
I was there and I still get choked up by this moment when Tyson and Lightfoot played Four Strong Winds and Alberta Bound on this world stage...incredible moment and memory I will never forget...
I recall this warm, wonderful Olympic Opening Ceremony like it was yesterday. Native Indians were, rightly, featured prominently. The "acts" were all well planned and well choreographed; it was soooo clear that the volunteers participating were filled with enthusiasm and joy, which they conveyed to us all. Ian Tyson with "Four Strong Winds" and Gordon Lightfoot with "Alberta Bound" were the FROSTING ON THE CAKE! THANK YOU to everyone involved!
I remember Lightfoot singing this and it's good to hear Jim McKay's voice. (in 89, I rode to Calgary and skated on the oval. An experience I will never forget.)
RIP Ian Tyson. I watched this live back at the age of 15, south Asian (Indian) kid that listened to heavy metal, living in Toronto. Sucks that CBC cut away with interview and commercials during a historical moment.
Writing “his voice had faltered by then”was probably too harsh of description. Yes, he could still sing but it was not as it was in the 60’s, 70’s and very early 80’s. It was thinner, lacking the baritone resonance that defined his signature sound. It’s somewhat evident in the Salute album(though the song “Tattoo” is one my favorites that Gord wrote and performed. Much more evident in the “East of Midnight” album and very evident in the “Waiting for You” and “A Painter Passing Through” albums from 1983, 1985 1993 and 1999 respectively. I saw him 3 times in the mid 70’s and the difference in his voice is stark. People love Gordon Lightfoot for a whole host of reasons and I don’t want to be too critical because even though he couldn’t sing in the same quality of voice as he did previously his song writing, arranging and musicianship remained stellar. This performance recording 4:57 was lip synched from his “Don Quitoxe” album which “Alberta Bound” was on. In his 1988 Greatest Hits Volume 2 he re-recorded “Alberta Bound” and if you listen to that and compare it to his lip sync version here you will be able to hear the difference.
This opening ceremony is my favorite. The authenticity, the joy emanating from the crowd the dancing, Ian Tyson-everyone is happy even though they are all going to freeze to death despite wearing 18 layers of sweaters, cardigans, scarves hats and scarves...but, then here comes Gordon Lightfoot out into the same below zero Canadian winter weather as everyone else wearing only a pair of pants and a sweater. No hat or ruggedly warm jacket for Gord!
