"Country Gold" was a 3-hour 1992 CBC-TV special that brought new country and old country together in a program devoted to the history of Canadian country music.
I met Gordon Lightfoot in person one memorable night in Waikiki in the early 1970s. I was the manager of a small apartment complex in Waikiki called The Shady Lane Apartments and I often would sti on my front porch "stoop" of an evening. The Shady Lane had a courtyard filledd with tropical plants, a pond and waterfall, and the apartments were arranged around this courtyard. I had become the resident manager in 1972. Gordon had just done a concert at the Blaisdell Center that evening and was walking by himself exploring Waikiki when he wandered into the Shady Lane and I invited him to sit on the concrete stoop next to me. I rolled a joint of Hawaii's famous "buds" and over the net hour I got to know Lightfoot on a person level. He was a heavy drinke3r at the timne. Glad he finally gave up alcohol. He seemed to be a bit sad that evening as we talked. As a Nam combat vet I think he and I both felt a bit of "sadness"....
Nice to see a rare interview from about the mid-point of his career. He felt lucky to still be performing at age 52. Little did he know he'd be playing over 30 years later. An abdominal aneurysm in 2002 almost killed him and severely hampered his singing voice. But he soldiered on for another 20 years and "did the best he could with what he'd got." Rest in peace, Gord. There will never be another singer songwriter like you.
Thank you for the like of my comment! I think that anyone who knew him well knew what a lovely person he was, in addition to how much he loved music! He was passionate & very supportive of his musical colleagues!
Was introduced to Gord's music with Don Quixote. If you've never listened to that album, do yourself a favor. Every song is just beautiful. The way the guitars emulate the vocals and the stories is just outstanding. Just close your eyes and really let the songs invade your mind. He really had a talent. Thanks Gordon!
What a songwriter, this man sings of life and experiences we've all had and more. Sadly I don't think we'll see this like of this sort of talent again, James Taylor, Jon Denver etc....I'm grateful to have grown up in the 70's!
I'll Tag Along is an absolute gem of song, showing GL's complete mastery of his art., I love all his songs but this one is the one I keep coming back to, it has everything , so perfect a composition and a delightful piece of philosophy.
@@alankenworthy9722 I’m not emanating negativity towards Lightfoot as I love his music, but mostly towards “you” whom I loathe, and am annoyed by. And yes I do choose to hide under a code name for anonymity, but I have a right to my anonymity, as you have a right to hide your face behind a headless chicken.
@@ElChupacabra77B It's good to hate , isn't it? Better for you to hate someone you have never met and and do not know at all, than real people , in case you have to face up to their reaction. Never mind, just keep taking the pills and trust in the psychiatrist next time you meet him. Be a good boy, or the bogeyman will come.
Great little video. I've followed Gord when I was in Duluth in '76 and went out and got all his UA albums and all the rest. A real good interview with him I hadn't seen heard before. No one else like him. And it seemed he always did do his best.
May 16, 2023, having just watched this video: "I'm 52 years old and I'm still working...." Little did Gordon, or we fans, know that thirty years later, he would still be working....up until the end. You were such a huge part of my life, Gordon. I will miss you forever.
Thanks for posting. Some outstanding vintage video for younger generations to experience his history. I'm glad my lifetime has intersected with Gord for the past 50 years or so. He has provided me a lot of enjoyment and life lessons learned.
I love this video. And I love ❤Gordon Lightfoot. I've been lucky to have grown up with his music, I had all his albums, of course, and was thrilled to have met him and talked for a few minutes. He told me about a PBS Documentary on the Edmond Fitzgerald but apparently not in my area. He seemed surprised when I stuck out my hand to shake his. What a delightful memory. Thank you. ❤
One of the highlights of my life was when I finished an interview with Gord, and choking back tears, I said "I just want you to know that you make me proud to be Canadian." There was a pause (he didn't take compliments well) and then just said, 'well, thank you.' Immeasurable talent and an irreplaceable artist.
4 years ago I started learning to play the guitar. My ambitious dream was to sing and play the song "If you could read my mind". It took me nearly 2 years to do it properly. Ever since I began playing I am a happier woman. (now 61). Thank you Gordon! :)
I first became a fan when I bought the 45 of "Sundown" when I was 10, although I knew "If You Could Read My Mind." "Sundown" had such an edge to it and although I didn't know about sex, I inherently knew that was a very sexy song.
I was about 15 when I first heard “Sundown.” It literally stopped me in my tracks as I was walking into my bedroom one day. This Michigan kid had never heard of Gordon Lightfoot before then. But I knew that song oozed so much sexuality that it turned me on. And I was/am female. So it was Mr. Lightfoot who helped me take my first steps into that verboten adult world. Thanks Gord!
It’s hard for me to tell or figure out what colour his name appears in as it moves across the screen in the opening scene. I used to think it was a royal blue. Now looking at it a few times, it think it’s a lavender purple. Maybe an indigo colour (between blue and violet). Anyways I do remember seeing this video as it contains several scenes from the 1960’s era when he was with United Artists. Very little from the 70s except maybe Steel Rail Blues from Live At BBC in 1971, and If You Could Read My Mind from the yet to be aired on RU-vid CBC Olympic Concert from 1976. Very memorable. My favourite saying from him in this interview was as his teacher instilled in him “Do the best you can with what you got.” That’s a saying that I go by when having to do something difficult and failing at it. “You do the best you can with what you got, and if it doesn’t work out, then to hell with it. Because worrying about it, and getting upset over it isn’t going to make the situation any better. Fine memories! I hope they air this show as a whole with every artist and segment featured, because it’s a part of Canadian musical history!!!
Seeing him encourage the crowd to clap along is a bit confusing to me, because I saw him in Portland, Or and during "Sundown" he told the crowd to desist when we started to clap along
Wonder how his hair was both tight curly and sometimes totally straight ? Did he get permed like a lot of guys did in the 70s ? Because he ended up with straight hair in the end.
