We used to be serious people. Look at how conservatively she is dressed. He expresses himself with thought and measured articulation. When did we begin to think flashy and silly was good. The dumbing down of America must please our enemies. Gordon Lightfoot - thank you for gracing our World with your talent.
China(no paranoia, simply a statement of fact) is working overtime to see that the "dumbing down" process not only continues but does so unabated; Infiltrating our institutions of "higher learning"(misnomer, now, if ever there was one) converting schools into intellectual wastelands used primarily for indoctrination purposes and employing socially, nonsense-proliferating devices such as "TicTok" to accelerate the pace of cultural decline.
Just sexual miscreants, demented fools and an armed force im ashamed what it's become in 2 short years. Gordon was such an inspiration then and now. He was political but not rabid foaming at the mouth tribes! Dang this guy defined our generation and he is sorely missed
I was in telecommunications working on a contract in Dutch harbor Alaska. after work we were in the local bar which was full of gruff fisherman… a tough bunch. If was getting pretty loud and tense a fight or brawl ready to break out any minute… and on the juke box someone played some Gordon lightfoot songs and it started to quiet down by the time “wreck of the EFG” came on u could hear a pin drop, then by the time “if you could read my mind” played everyone was singing. There’s an Irish saying about everyone has a song in their heart and Gordon sang those guy’s song… working guys, travelers, fishermen, dreamers, lovers, every man’s song… not many guys like him left he will be missed.
I saw him in concert last September (only time ever) and I was amazed that he never used his stool! He stood the whole time! I was blessed to be able to see him before he passed away. A great talent and man.
i saw him 4 times-years ago. once, in '74, he got a standing ovation after the first 2 song medley. the moment was so special, my eyes were leaking-lol!
Wow, a very, very young Joan Lunden. I'm here today because of Gordon having just passed and just watching everything I can find on him. Extraordinary songwriter and singer. Got to see him live once back in 1975.
'Shadows' came out Feb. '82, and the U.S. tour stretched into Summer. I covered one concert for a national magazine and interviewed Lightfoot backstage. He was heavy, smoking, and as jumpy as in this clip, but totally lucid. Joan Lunden gets a bit of his trademark wit (always apparent on stage). In Sept. of '82, Lightfoot finally kicked drinking. By his '83 tour & release ('Salute') he was trim & toned. An aneurysm, common in ex-drinkers, hit in '04; a CD 'Harmony' in '05, & he tours into 2011.
My I forgot just how Gorgeous She was, as a kid totally crushed on Joan not gonna lie. R.I.P Gordon always loved your music as I grew up, you really defined an era of my childhood with countless amazing melodies.
This was when Gord was still drinking. He gave up booze in 1984. This album they are talking about SHADOWS is actually a pretty good album. The title song SHADOWS is perhaps Gord's FINEST SONG. I think it is better than any of his other songs. 14 Karat Gold is another good song on this album. I think Joan did a VERY POOOR job on this interview. She never asked any good questions about the album or Gord in his current state as a musician. I give Joan a D-
One thing you see about Gordie in interviews is how aware and smart he is! Probably he was burning the candle at both ends and it caught up to him later on, but his best music was so inspired and beautiful and generous to the soul. He paid the price and he didnt quit...what a great man, and Canadian.
Gordon Lightfoot has endured because he is a hugely talented singer, writer and amazingly sensitive man. At least, through his music. don't know him personally.. I will never tire of it. He's a pure musician in his heart. Love him!
I appreciate this so very much!! Gordon Lightfoot has been my favorite for 40+ years. Sometimes when I get down, I listen to his songs and feel better. Something soothing in his voice. I love the fact that he has written all of his songs. Intelligent, thoughtful lyrics. Great band also. I've read that he is painfully shy so to perform the way he has is Inspiring. Thank you Roger and thank you Gord! God's speed.
Saw Gordon Lightfoot way back when , early ‘80’s , a couple of times and he was great . Same with John Denver … two of the absolute best . Change of subject though , got to say Joan Lunden looks great too !
Wow, can you ever see how Bell's Palsy is affecting Gord in this interview. It doesn't matter what he suffers with, he always puts his best performance forward for his fans. Enjoy him while he's still among us because he is going on 74 and severe illness and a rough life has robbed him of his stamina.
i love it how gordon is such a canadian through and through. he even quotes famous canadians (stephen leacock). i will have to say, that gordon seems a lot warmer now in interviews, but he was still his likable self here.
I was lucky enough to see Gordon Lightfoot live way back at the beginning of his career. At Expo67 he gave an open-air outdoor concert. That would have been in May 1967. RIP Gordon.
If you look at some of his more recent interviews he's the same way, Neil Diamond is the same way in interviews they just do not look comfortable or at ease in those setting but, put them on stage with a guitar in their hands and it's magic.
I saw Gordon live twice in my life, I could have seen/heard him sing a 1000 times more. One show was at the Hollywood Bowl in 1969 as a lead-in for Peter, Paul and Mary. The second time was 1976 or 1977 in Sacramento. My only regret was he didn't do, "Affair on 8th Avenue."
good on you, gord! A man's man - not to mention a woman's man, as well. he-hee ~ a man of deep emotion, as evidenced in his beautifully evocative music and lyrics, yet he's not putting out phony, hyped-up interview, as so many artists do. He's keepin it real. Hence, a rather dull interview but part of the onus is on the interviewer to draw guest out with good research and personality, One of the world's greatest singer/song-writer/musicians. Personal fave GL song: "The Circle is Small"
Shadows and Endless Wire are two of my favorite Gordon Lightfoot albums. '14 Karat Gold' is an underrated song, just like 'The Circle is Small'. Gord should've performed 'Baby Step Back' right on that stage! LOL! God bless to my favorite Canadian solo artist of all time.
The mid 70's permed hair so many guys had back them. Never knew if the baby was going to come out with curly hair or not, 😂. My grandson came out with curly hair so I guess my ex from the 70's hair was natural.
Haha, the Stephen Leacock and 'Armstrong method' references just flew over Joan Lunden's head. Gord does seem a bit twitchy here, but he's been known to be nervous when doing interviews on TV.
Based on some googling, it seems a pretty obscure reference; I can't find anything related to Armstrong Method and Stephen Leacock. Is this referencing The Pursuit of Knowledge?
@@charlesgallant I don't know if the expression came from 'The Pursuit of Knowledge', as I've not read it. However, 'the Armstrong Method' is a very old, jokey kind of expression commonly used in southern Ontario. The idea is that if you use a strong arm and work hard, you can accomplish much - ergo, 'armstrong method'.
@@charlesgallant Possibly, although Gordon was quoting Stephen Leacock when he said, "The harder I work, the luckier I get." I should have made things clearer.
Gord is awesome. You can see here how the Bell's Palsy affected him. That's one of the reasons he wasn't touring. Some close to him say its onset came from his 'wild' lifestyle and only came under control after he had changed his ways in regards to drug and alcohol use. I don't care personally as he always has been and always will be my favourite singer-songwriter.
Watching this video was a treat. Some really good questions by Joan Lunden, who performed a masterful interview of Gordon, who gave some thoughtful, honest responses. We don't get these kinds of interviews anymore. Today, it's all about the buffonery and attempts to get a snide remark or laugh in.
This is a man who wanted to be a jazz drummer. He could have written anything he set his mind to... the consummate professional, and a very hard worker on his craft.
GMA when it was "Good Morning America"... Lightfoot's songs were & are Canada... 🇨🇦 His music lives on... Should be a really good Jam going on in heaven... 🎶🎵🎸
I feel lucky to have seen him about 10 Years a go. I saw him in Reno Nv in very intimate setting, only about 300 People in the Dinner Theatre. He was looking Old, but still belted out the songs!
I saw Gordon for the third time during this tour back in 1982-83 and was shocked that he looked heavier and puffy. Seems it was a by-product of his heavy drinking at the time. Looked much better the next time I saw him two years later.
Kristysgodmother, this was around 1982 as the album he referred to was "Shadows", which was released in 1982. Gord sure looks very uneasy. No wonder he hasn't done many TV shows, he probably dislikes it. Now days Gord is quite healthly for his age. I heard it said that his health problems in the past several years would have killed him if he wasn't in as good a shape as he is.
Wow, he sure was uncomfortable here - very different than how he is now. He may have still been drinking then, too. I don't remember when he quit, in relationship to albums. Of course, Shadows is near the top of my favorites list for Gord's albums, but they didn't even talk about it, really. Interesting interview. Love seeing him so young.
One thing ya gotta love a-boot does Canadians, it's all a-boot da music and da artistry with dem, and I'm so, so, sore-ry to hear a-boot Gordon Lightfoot's passing.
I have just found a LP called”The battle of Shiloh Church “by Cambrian recording Studios, Wales. Uk. Side 1,first song, Ribbon of Darkness by Gordon Lightfoot. Cannot find a date. For anyone recall the album or date the song came out. Thank you
@dreamfable Gordon did not look the grestest in this clip. He must have had a hard time to overcome drinking. I know it is very hard for me to loose weight and now I am at age 59. God Bless, Gord. Still singing today 2011!!!
@yappcd A cargo ship that went down on Lake Superior. It's in the lyrics, and there are videos of the Edmund Fitzgerald right here on youtube. Not sailing at all.
I bought 'Gordon's Gold' (a GREAT CD!) a long time ago and read in the jacket where he commented that to write great songs one has to really work hard at it. I thought that was interesting because I had assumed that for geniuses like him it was all a breeze.
+Alvin Tostig - in Nick Jennings' recent biography on GL, it speaks to Gord's formula for sequestering himself away for days with few or no distractions, and cranking the songs out. He'd also go on long canoe trips to get some R & R from long touring schedules. Both seem to have worked very well.
@robtuohy1 I'll check out shadows on your recommendation. I really like Gord's stuff. I used to hear him on the radio when I was a kid in the 70's. I was not into that genre, but I always found that song about a "Ghost from a wishing well," sorry the title escapes me now, very mysterious and intriguing. Now that I'm older, I'm getting into his music.
Lunden could have asked better questions about Lightfoot's new album and what his career has been like. "Will folk music come back?" What a dopey question. I interviewed Tommy James in '86, and what brought the best response was, "What happened to you in the 1970s, after the Shondells?" He went OFF.
He was off before the first question. I did not like the look of Gord here, his demeanor and lack of engagement. I think Lunden felt his dislike of being there as soon as he walked into the room. He is one of my very favorite performers..saw him 3 years ago. But here, he had her spinning in her mind trying to think of what was going to get him to open up and make him more comfortable. There was simply nothing! He was still having his fight with abuse and this was probably the morning after. Nothing wrong with what she did.
