Folk Notes
Carole King & James Taylor
New DVD/CD set
from 2007 live shows
New Peter, Paul and Mary CD
 March 7, 2009 -
Peter Paul & Mary With Symphony Orchestra: The Prague Sessions is the result of a project envisioned by the band prior to Mary's death in September, 2009. Peter & Paul have recorded new orchestral arrangements of their songs, which were then combined with recent/archival live vocals. The results are exquisite, and a wonderful tribute to Mary. The CD will be released on Tuesday, March 9th, and can be pre-ordered today.
The album is dedicated to Mary; each song was recorded at a different concert over the last 20 years. The final song, an instrumental, is one that Mary had requested be played at her memorial.
Mary Travers Passes Away at 72
September 17, 2009 -
Another folk voice has been stilled, that of Mary Travers, who passed away Wednesday, 9/16, following a long battle with leukemia and the effects of treatment. As a member of the renowned trio Peter, Paul and Mary, she helped energize the folk voice.
The trio were one of the top acts of the 1960s and early 1970s, and had hits with their own songs and with those of Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver and others. The music of today would not be the same without the influence of this trio.
Peter, Paul and Mary were among the first to record Lightfoot's songs; their covers of Early Mornin' Rain and For Lovin' Me were hits in the US, and helped introduce Lightfoot to US fans. One of his early gigs was an opener for Peter, Paul and Mary at the Hollywood Bowl in August, 1969.
I never had the privilege of meeting Mary, but I did meet Noel (Paul) in January, 2005. His humility speaks for all three of them. Mary will be missed.
Visit the Peter, Paul and Mary web site for more about Mary, and about the trio.
Tom May Book, Promoting Your Music
August 19, 2007 -
Tom May, a folk singer and songwriter who has opened for Lightfoot has written a fascinating book called Promoting Your Music: The Lovin' of the Game.
The book features interviews with Gordon Lightfoot, Harry Manx, Eliza Gilkyson, and others.
This is the definitive book for a songwriter wanting to make it in the music business. Unlike other books on the market, it contains important information on every aspect of the business, as well as interesting anecdotes from Tom and the people he interviewed.
If you want to get your music published and heard, or if you are simply interested in how the music business works today, you will want to have this book.
To learn more about the book, visit Tom's online store at Tom May's Store. For more about Tom and his career, visit his web site at tommayfolk.com.
Michael Jerling Releases Live Album
September, 2009, updated 1/10 - Saratoga Springs singer/songwriter Michael Jerling has released his first live CD, Music Here Tonight. It is his sixth CD, but his very first live album. Michael is a wonderful songwriter, talented musician, and consistent live performer, so the music is both polished and representative of his live shows. This is a CD you should check out. There are clips at his web site, and the one new song (the title track) is streamed in full in the Listening Room.
September, 2007, updated 1/10 - Saratoga Springs singer/songwriter Michael Jerling released his latest studio CD, Crooked Path, in September, 2007. It is his fifth CD, and like his others is full of beautiful music and creative lyrics. One of the songs on this CD, Why They Run The Race, is about racing at Saratoga - a subject dear to my heart!
October, 2006 - Saratoga Springs singer/songwriter Michael Jerling has added several more CDs to his Fool's Hill Music online store. The newly added CDs are by Lorne Clarke, Mallory O'Donnell, Rosanne Raneri, David Butler and No Outlet, the last a group consisting of Tony Markellis, Dale Haskell and Kevin Maul.
Michael's store showcases a fine group of acoustic artists, mostly from upstate New York, with a few from the midwest. In many cases, Michael acted as the producer for the CDs; in all cases, the music is excellent.
Also in the store is a special CD of Saratoga Springs music, called Saratoga Pie, with a new Michael Jerling track Why They Run The Race (listen to clip). This song is about horse racing, another subject close to my heart, and is a tribute to horseplayers and Saratoga Race Course where the thoroughbreds race for 6 weeks every summer - and the main reason I spend summers in Saratoga Springs! Another excellent CD is Melancholy Babies, a CD release of a trio which includes Michael's wife Teresina Huxtable. For more, check the online store at foolshillmusic.com.
Bob Gibson, Gibson & Camp CD Reissues
February & November, 2008 -
The Bob Gibson Legacy Project under the loving care of Bob's daughter Meridian Green, has announced the release of a series of five CDs called The Living Legend Collection.
The first CD, Bob Gibson, The Living Legend Years was released in February. It is a compilation of tunes from four of Gibson's independent label releases. It also contains three never before released recordings, one of which is a Gibson & Camp recording.
The other four CDs, released between March and August, are reissues of the independent label albums, originally released between 1974 and 1984.
They are Bob Gibson, Funky In The Country, and Gibson & Camp, Homemade Music, released in March, and Bob Gibson, Perfect High and Bob Gibson, Uptown Saturday Night, released in August.
Gibson & Camp Homemade Music, the second of these, is a little known Gibson & Camp album which highlights not only Gibson's and Camp's own compositions, but those of Shel Silverstein, Steve Goodman and Michael Smith. Gibson & Camp Homemade Music was released in March.
You can read more about the entire series on the news page at the Bob Gibson Legacy web site. All Gibson & Camp CDs are available at both the Bob Gibson web site and the Hamilton Camp web site. The entire series, and Bob's other solo albums on CD, are available at the Bob Gibson site.
Ski Songs CD: A Great Gift Idea for a Skier
Two other Bob Gibson CDs were released in 2008, Bob Gibson: Ski Songs and Bob Gibson: Yes, I See. Ski Songs, originally recorded in the late 1950s when Bob lived in Aspen and spent a lot of time skiing, is a delightful CD for the skier on your gift list. Both ofhese new CDs, as well as the Bob Gibson biography, I Come For To Sing, are also available in the Bob Gibson Legacy store.
Lightfoot connection: As many of you may know, Bob Gibson and the 1961 ground breaking album, Gibson & Camp At The Gate Of Horn,
strongly influenced a generation of folk musicians not the least of whom were Gordon Lightfoot and Roger McGuinn. Both of these artists frequently talk about Lightfoot's influence on them. In an interview in February, about Lightfoot's upcoming concert in Chattanooga, TN, Lightfoot talked about Gibson at some length. You can actually listen to Lightfoot's comments in an audio clip in the article: Chattanooga Times articles (listen to the first of two clips).
You will hear Lightfoot talk about how Civil War Trilogy influenced the song structure of his own epic, Canadian Railroad Trilogy. (In fact, the 3 parts of Civil War Trilogy were actually written by different songwriters: Camp and Shel Silverstein, Irving Gordon, and Gibson respectively). Civil War Trilogy is one of the songs on Gibson & Camp At The Gate of Horn.
Lightfoot has also credited Bob Gibson as a key influence of his own 12-string playing style, and he recorded Hamilton Camp's folk classic Pride Of Man on his first UA album, Lightfoot!
I feel privileged to be the webmaster of both web sites, working with a member of the Camp family and with Meridian.
WMFA Announces Special Sale of Kingston Trio 45th Anniversary Items
August 16, 2009 - WFMA:
The World Folk Music Association has announced a special sale of Kingston Trio 45th Anniversary Concert items. Anyone buying the DVD ($24.95) will also get the souvenir concert program and souvenir photo. For details visit the WFMA Store at WFMA Online Store, KT sale. (The animated image here shows the 8"x20" photo in 3 segments, left to right).
If you scroll through the WFMA store, you will find recordings from their annual concerts, and other special performances of top folk recording stars of the 60s through today.
Among their recordings are a compilation CD and DVD (two separate items) of their 20st Annual Concert weekend, recorded live at the Birchmere on January 14 & 15, 2005.
Both feature performances by many of the great names of American folk music including: Oscar Brand, Buskin & Batteau, The Brothers Four, Hamilton Camp, Bill Danoff, Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen, Carolyn Hester & David Bloom, The Highwaymen, Christine Lavin, The Limeliters, Tommy Makem, David Mallett, The Chad Mitchell Trio, Modern Man, Tom Paxton and Schooner Fare. The Hamilton Camp track is a cover of Jimmy Webb's The Highwayman, and is probably the last live recording that he made before his untimely death later that year. Tommy Makem passed away in 2007.
If you are interested in live folk recordings not available elsewhere, you should take a look at what they have. Their web site is at wfma.net.
Steve Goodman Biography
June 13, 2007; updated July, 2008 -
Clay Eals, a Seattle writer and journalist, has written a thorough, thoughtful and insightful biography of singer/songwriter Steve Goodman, who died at only 36 from leukemia, a disease he battled throughout his entire recording career.
Goodman, best known for his signature song "City of New Orleans", as well as "You Never Even Call Me by My Name," "Banana Republics," "A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request", and "Go, Cubs, Go", now played after every Cubs home win, came out of the Chicago folk scene (as did Gibson & Camp and Roger McGuinn, among others). At last there is a book that recognizes his important musical contributions.
The book, a labor of love over many years, is a massive 800 pages (over 4 lbs in weight!), and includes more than 500 photos, and a CD of tribute songs and interview clips. It was very well received, won an IPPY medal, and is now in it's second printing.
The book features interviews with more than 1,050 sources, including Gordon Lightfoot, Arlo Guthrie (who wrote the Foreward), John Prine, Steve Martin, Jimmy Buffett, Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Randy Newman, Paul Anka, David Allan Coe, Judy Collins, Tom Paxton, Pete Seeger, John Sebastian, Leo Kottke, and Goodman's high-school classmate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Lightfoot's recollections and the influence of his "train song" on Goodman's make interesting reading for Lightfoot fans.
To learn more about the book, visit Clay's web site at clayeals.com.
December, 2006 -
Cathy Cowette: Songs For A Winter's Night: My best friend, Cathy Cowette, a very talented singer/guitar player, has just released her first CD. Of 13 tracks, six are Lightfoot songs: Song For A Winter's Night, Redwood Hill, If You Could Read My Mind, Home From The Forest, Ribbon of Darkness and Heaven Help The Devil. The others songs are by Jim Croce (These Dreams), Kate Wolf (Across The Great Divide), Eric Clapton (Tears In Heaven), Steve Goodman (City Of New Orleans), Dan Fogelberg (Leader Of The Band), and Davie Graham (Anji), plus there is one original instrumental called ... Toronto In May. That was written for the May, 2001 Lightfoot concert series, Cathy's first time there and my second.
Many of you are already familiar with Cathy's music; if you are not, please listen to the clips on her web site at cathycowette.com. I think you will like what you hear.
The CD was recorded at Grant Avenue Studios, in Hamilton, ON, by Bob Doidge and Amy King. There is a nice mixture of fingerpicking and strumming, and wonderful arrangements by the very talented Mr. Doidge, who also did the arrangements for two of the songs on Lightfoot's 2004 CD (and the recording of the entire album). Bob plays high-string guitar, bass, accordian, drums ... and sleigh bells ...
Last updated 12/2008 -
Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen are an accomplished duo, and have released more than 15 CDs, solo, with others, or as a duo. Steve is an often covered songwriter, probably best known for his 60s folk standard Darcy Farrow. Artists like Linda Ronstadt, Tammy Wynette, Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings and Garth Brooks have covered his songs. Cindy is a songwriter, musician, and "song-keeper", who sings her own songs, those of others, and many wonderful traditional songs that are still beautiful and inspiring today.
Steve & Cindy released their latest duet CD, Being There, in early 2006. It is a truly wonderful CD, and I don't say that lightly.
Being There includes new originals, some traditional tunes, and a number of covers of other artists they admire. Just like their concerts, the CD displays their many talents, both in original music and lyrics, and in new interpretations of songs of others. Steve and Cindy's vocals and musicianship don't disappoint and the new originals are gems.
The first cut, and my early favorite, is a new song by Steve, Hurricane, about the terrible hurricane of 1935 that took nearly two thousand lives, and destroyed the railroad once described as the "eighth wonder of the world." For those of you who, like me, like story songs or train songs, here is one you will probably enjoy.
You can listen to a clip of the song here. You can listen to clips of all the songs on the CD on the Being There web page.
 Late in 2005, Cindy released her most recent solo CD called Cat Tales, all about one of my favorite subjects: cats! Her creativity and wit, combined with outstanding musicianship, will make this CD a sure hit - and maybe a clever gift for a cat lover friend or relative. My favorite song in the CD is one of Cindy's originals: Rudy's Big Adventure, a true story - with a happy ending - about a cat that gets his head caught in a garbage disposal. Click here to listen to a RealMedia clip. There are clips of most of the other songs on the CD on the Cat Tales web page, so take a look and a listen to a great cat lovers gift.
You can visit their web site at compassrosemusic.com to learn more about them. Steve and Cindy also recorded a CD with Anne Hills and Michael Smith, as the group Fourtold, and Cindy has recorded as a member of the trio Herdsman, Hills & Mangsen.
Dick Boak at Martin tells the story of how the Roger McGuinn HD-7 guitar came about:
"Having done a very special D12-40RM 12-String Roger McGuinn Limited Edition
Martin Guitar project in 1999, I had developed a great friendship and
working relationship with Roger and his wife Camilla. They would often stop
in at Martin while on tour. One day, Roger came by and selected a lovely
HD-28V 6-string guitar and soon, he had added it to his acoustic repertoire.
Many months later he and Camilla stopped in again and while we were having
lunch together, he explained an idea that he had for a 7-string guitar. He
was planning a few extended tours to Europe and didn't relish the idea of
having to carry several guitars, especially onto planes and through
airports.
He had always felt that the most powerful element of his 12-string guitar
was the highly tensioned pair of G strings. His songwriting and guitar
technique had long taken advantage of these G strings for special
"jingle-jangle" lead runs. His idea was to add the double G strings to a
conventional 6-string guitar. We sketched out some headstock and bridge
diagrams on a napkin and after his departure, I proceeded to hash out the
finer details for a special Custom HD-28V 7-string.
When the instrument was completed, I strummed it and was amazed at how
powerful the guitar was. It was so much fun to play. Leon Redbone saw it the
following day in my office and was equally amazed. When Roger received it,
he too was taken aback by its power and enhanced tone. He said that it had
all of the best attributes of both the 6-string and the 12-string models a
veritable "Swiss Army Knife" of guitars.
It was a no brainer that this idea was something that could and should be
embraced by a wider audience. Roger and I went back to the drawing board and
put together specifications for the Limited Edition HD-7 Roger McGuinn
7-string model, and I must say that it certainly exceeds all expectations as
to what an acoustic guitar can be!"
Dick Boak
Artist Relations, Limited Editions
C. F. Martin & Co. (The Martin Guitar Company)
Web: martinguitar.com
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Gordon Lightfoot News
Lightfoot Music Also Available At CDUniverse.com
June 29, 2010 - If you are looking to buy any CDs, DVDs or MP3s you might want to try
CDUniverse.com
. They carry all or most of the same items as Amazon, and their prices are usually very good. Some of their prices are better than Amazon's; some not. You'll have to check to see. CDUniverse.com charges for shipping, but it tops out at $6.99 (for 5 CDs); one CD ships for $2.99, with $1 for each additional up through five. When their price is significantly lower than Amazon's, it can be a bargain even with the shipping charge. And, they are the only store with Gold's Gold available on MP3, including the never before released digital version of the 1975 recording of Affair on 8th Avenue! See below.
New Northeast Dates Announced for October
Check the newly listed concerts here. The first goes on sale on 6/23.
Check the full schedule below.
Warner Original Albums Being Re-Issued by Independent Record Label
April, 25, 2010 — In a move that causes me mixed feelings, Wounded Bird Records — an obscure independent label that specializes in re-issues — is releasing Lightfoot's Warner back catalogue. Some online stores have the albums listed already, with minimal information about them (and no pictures); If You Could Read My Mind is - quite strangely - being released under its original title Sit Down Young Stranger. We might smile, but if Warner Brother changed the title because people would recognize If You Could Read my Mind, why would anyone go back to the original title?
Amazon has just listed them showing a release date of May 18th (now listed as June 8th). Here is a link to Amazon with the new CDs first: GL CDs at Amazon. Remember that should Amazon reduce the price between the time you pre-order and the end of the day of the release date, you'll receive the lowest price.
It appears that one record, East of Midnight, is not being re-issued. There is no explanation; just that they don't have the rights for it.
I have mixed feelings because neither Warner Brothers, nor Rhino, nor one of the most popular folk record labels chose to release these CDs. So it's good news and sad news at the same time.
But the good news is that we will soon be able to easily buy all but one of the original albums again, and not have to search everywhere to find them. The re-issues include Waiting For You, out of print for years, A Painter Passing Through, available recently only as an expensive import, and even Dream Street Rose which has been ridiculously priced recently due to its scarcity. (But not as ridiculously priced as Bob Gibson videos which can be found on Ebay and Amazon, listed for prices in excess of $20,000. There are no extra zeros there).
In the meantime, I again have one extra copy of two of the Warner CDs, purchased very cheaply and I can pass the savings on to you. I have also ordered copies of Sunday Concert Plus from Bear Family in Germany, because the basic Sunday Concert is out of print, and Amazon no longer carries the Bear Family CD. This CD contains the 11 songs from the Sunday Concert LP plus 5 bonus tracks — studio recordings which appear nowhere else. The recordings of Spin, Spin, by Lightfoot, and his cover of Dylan's Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues are standout tracks.
If you don't have all the original albums yet, check my Lightfoot store. (Shipping is $3.49 for the first CD and $.99 for each additional one. If you buy from one of my other artist's store on the same day, I can combine the shipping charges to save you money. Please make a note in your first order that you will be buying at another store as well).
An Interesting "Affair" (on 8th Avenue)
June 21, 2010 — Big News for the Dedicated Fan: The Gord's Gold version of Affair on 8th Avenue, never before available except on vinyl, is finally officially available in digital form. It is remastered and can be downloaded as an MP3 from CD Universe here. (Be sure to click on the "Buy MP3" button, or the "Buy MP3 Album" button when you buy; do not click on song names or you will be taken to a page with the earlier recordings!). Remember, the CD of Gord's Gold does not include Affair on 8th Avenue because at the time the album was first reissued on CD, the time limit was 74 minutes including gaps and the album was just over that.
The Gord's Gold version of the song is in the more elaborate 1970s style of all the re-recorded songs on that album. Most Lightfoot fans prefer the re-recording (not true of all the songs, but it is of this one), and have missed having it all these year, making do with vinyl-to-digital copies they made themselves or found online. The new MP3, available on the official Gord's Gold digital album, is the first high quality, remastered version of this lovely recording.
Amazon Faux Pas:
Amazon originally offered the new MP3 album for sale, but had more than a half dozen incorrect tracks, using an earlier version of many of the songs thate were re-recorded (that is, they used a United Artists version, from the 1960s, either the original recording or the live cut from Sunday Concert). I reported the problem to them (with great difficulty, I might add), and their eventual response was to pull the album entirely - clearly easier than fixing their files. Thankfully, the new song and the entire album are still downloadable from CD Universe. You can read the details of the Amazon fiasco here.
"... there's always the possibility of making a new album"
February 27, 2010 — A week after a reporting fiasco erroneously declared Gordon Lightfoot dead, Spartanburg Herald-Journal reporter Todd Money contributed a fine interview, conducted shortly before the death report hoax. Almost buried in the interview is a paragraph that suggests that - contrary to what Lightfoot has said in interviews for the past 18 months or so - another original album is not out of the question!
Hope springs eternal, and the news does make this Lightfoot fan hopeful. Read more: Interview: At 71 Gordon Lightfoot Is Touring, Making More Music.
Lightfoot Death Hoax fueled by CanWest reporter on Twitter
February 19, 2010 — Lightfoot was big news yesterday when a news alert by CanWest was Tweeted by one of its reporters, and then picked up and posted by several large Canadian newspapers. It turns out that the original news alert was based on a hoax perpetrated on fellow performer Ronnie Hawkins who truly believed that Lightfoot had died based on a message from someone purporting to be Lightfoot's grandson. Luckily, the man himself heard the news report on the radio, and quickly set the record straight, but it was a wild ride for about an hour yesterday afternoon.
Lightfoot added to Mariposa Folk Festival!
December 2, 2009 — In an expected move (at least I expected it), the Mariposa Folk Festival has announced the addition of Gordon Lightfoot to its 50th Anniversary Festival. Gordon will perform during the final Sunday program, which also include previously announced Canadian icons Ian Tyson, Sylvia Tyson (with her group, Quartette) and Murray McLauchlan. Tickets are on sale.
On Tour July 2009, Lincoln, RI
Photo © 2009 Michael Borkson
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Photo by Frank Matys | |
Lightfoot Autographs D-18 For Charity Auction
November 26, 2009 4:00pm PST - The winning bid was $7400. There were 14 bidders and 56 bids. The winning bidder entered the bidding on the first day, with a bid of $1050, and had not previously made a purchase on Ebay.
November 17, 2009 - Gordon Lightfoot performed two benefit concerts this past weekend at the Orillia Opera House, in Orillia, ON, where he was born 71 years ago (November 17, 1938).
The concert benefited the Opera House and also Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital where Lightfoot himself was taken in 2002 when he fell ill and almost died. The hospital's quick action in sending him to a major medical center in Hamilton, ON probably saved his life.
After the Saturday concert (both concerts had been sold out for months), Lightfoot autographed a Martin D-18 guitar, which is being auctioned online at Ebay, with proceeds benefiting the hospital. The guitar was donated by Martin Guitar, the manufacturer, and Gilbert Guitars, an Orillia store. (Pictured above are Nicole McCahon, of the hospital foundation, and Jeff Gilbert).
Autographing the guitar | |
The D-18 is the model guitar that Lightfoot usually plays, although his is decades old (and shows it, but it also sounds it). There is also a "signature edition" version, the D-18GL (see the picture of mine in the Massey 2008 story below). The D-18 which is being auctioned lists for $2599, a price that is usually discounted somewhat. With an autograph by Lightfoot, however, it should sell for more.
The auction started on Monday, November 16, at 7:00 p.m. at Ebay.com, and will last 10 days.
If you play guitar and have often thought about buying a D-18, you might want to consider this one. Although it will cost more than a D-18 from your local guitar store, it is special, and you will be supporting the hospital.
Billboard Chart Beat
May 21, 2009 -
'Eminem charts a fifth song from "Relapse," set to debut atop next week's Billboard 200, as "Beautiful" opens at No. 17 on the Hot 100. Of the five tracks, only "We Made You" launched higher (No. 9). The new song is the fifth by that title to appear on the Hot 100 in its 50-year history. The previous artists to make "Beautiful" music and their peaks: Gordon Lightfoot (No. 58, 1972), Christina Aguilera (No. 2, 2003), Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell & Uncle Charlie Wilson (No. 6, 2003) and Akon featuring Colby O'Donis & Kardinal Offishall (No. 19, 2009) ...' Billboard.com story, emphasis mine.
The question is, which one of the other four will still be played and downloaded 37 years later? And, parenthetically, it's hard to believe that nobody charted a song named Beautiful for 31 years after Lightfoot's! Guess the bar was too high.
Gordon Lightfoot Beautiful (Lyrics) 
New DVD from Alison Krauss features a Lightfoot song!
November 6,2008 - To me this is big news! Alison Krauss is one of the most gifted and popular performers out there, with music crossing genre lines. I was introduced to her by other Lightfoot fans, who are always a good source of suggestions for other good music. Alison is best known for bluegrass music, but has made successful forays into other genres; her talent is that good.
She has a new DVD to be released on November 11th, A Hundred Miles Or More: Live From The Tracking Room.
The DVD has performances taped for a TV show, and these performances include duets with Brad Paisley, James Taylor, and John Waite, and performances with great musicians including her longtime band Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas (whose members are individually well known musicians), and with Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan and others. The name that caught my eye immediately was Tony Rice. He is a bluegrass guitar player extraordinaire, and himself recorded an entire album of Lightfoot songs with which many of you are familiar. Tony no longer sings, but he still plays, and he recently did a series of shows with Alison and her band.
I was unable to attend any of those shows (there were only a few of them), but on this DVD Alison has included a couple of performances with Tony Rice including a wonderful cover of Lightfoot's "Shadows". (Tony recorded the song himself years ago. You can find that recording, and many other Lightfoot covers, on Tony Rice Sings Gordon Lightfoot).
You won't read anywhere that "Shadows" is a Lightfoot song, but of course I guessed it immediately because Tony Rice was on the track, and Amazon has thoughtfully made "Shadows" its video preview on the DVD web page. I don't know how long it will stay up there, but it's there now! (Unfortunately, the video doesn't always play smoothly on Amazon, so I guess you will just have to buy the DVD to really enjoy it).
I can't say enough about Alison's music, and that of all the musicians she works with, but I can promise that if you buy this DVD you won't put it in a pile of videos you never watch!
The DVD also includes interview footage with all the special guests and musicians.
It can be be ordered now from Amazon.com, using this link or any of the links above, including the DVD cover image.
Report on Toronto Massey Hall Concerts, May, 2008
May 26, 2008 - As all of you already know, the ritual "Massey Hall Concerts" took place May 7th through 10th. Dating back to 1967, these concerts have been a fixture on the Toronto music schedule, with concerts every 12 or 18 months over more than 30 years.
Like many other Lightfoot fans, I travelled to Toronto and attended the last two concerts, plus the Friday afternoon Lightfoot fan jam session at a nearby pub, and the Saturday fan dinner before the final show. The comaraderie of these Lightfoot fans from around the world are a special part of the "Massey experience".
The Saturday night show was the highlight for me, and included two songs that Lightfoot doesn't do every night: Song For A Winter's Night and Canadian Railroad Trilogy. He introduced the latter song by saying that he borrowed the song structure ("fast, slow, fast") from Bob Gibson's Civil War Trilogy, but didn't admit it until many years later! (See the Bob Gibson web site at bobgibsonlegacy.com to find the original recording of Civil War Trilogy on Gibson & Camp at the Gate of Horn).
Probably the biggest news to come out of the Saturday show was Lightfoot's pre-announcement of his next Massey stand, saying something like, "if we're all still standing in 18 months, we'll be here". So will we!
As with recent Massey concert series, Bob Doidge, who recorded and co-produced Lightfoot's two most recent albums, and recorded and mixed the "Live in Reno" concert, recorded the concerts for possible future release.
I often come away from Lightfoot concerts regretting a missed opportunity to get a special autograph, but I did not let that happen this time. Here's my special souvenir of the weekend (Lightfoot picked the spot):
May 9 set list. May 10 set list.
Gordon Lightfoot MP3s at Amazon / Warner Original Albums Out of Print in US
December 31, 2007, updated May 26, 2008, July 22, 2009, November 6, 2009 - Amazon has MP3s available for download, in addition to traditional CDs.
About half of the Warner Lightfoot albums are available as MP3 albums, in addition to his United Artists material, and his latest CD, Harmony.
However, all of the Warner original albums are now apparently out of print in the US, so MP3s are a good alternative if you can't find the CD new at a reasonable price. I have been looking around for the CDs, and have a few of them available in my own Lightfoot store, and will be on the lookout for more, so you can check there. Amazon occasionally has many of the Warner original albums available new, but no other online US merchant carries them so I am guessing that Amazon keeps finding more in one of their vast warehouses. If I could find a human contact at Warner Brothers, I would ask them about it!The albums Sundown and Summertime Dream were recently added to the available MP3 albums. If you are missing some of the original albums, you may want to think about buying them soon while you still can (See my original album pages for links). All four "big songs" are available for download (see more below).
Amazon MP3s have no rights management and can be played on any PC or MP3 player. You can also burn the MP3s to a CD-R. You'll find some links to specific MP3s or MP3 albums on different pages of this site.
Rhino HiFive MP3 Album
Rhino has a 5 song MP3 album featuring Lightfoot's top four hits (Sundown, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, If You Could Read My Mind and Carefree Highway), along with his love song, Beautiful. This is a nice place to start if you are new to Lightfoot's music. Listen to clips and read the lyrics here.
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald Digital 45
Rhino/Warner Bros. has a 2 song "Digital 45" album featuring Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, backed with its original "b-side" The House You Live In (clip).
This "Digital 45" is priced at a discount, compared to the price for two songs, so if you don't have the Summertime Dream album, you might want to take advantage of it (in fact, if you buy it plus the other 8 songs from Summertime Dream, you still save a little bit, as the album is not discounted at this time). Listen to clips and read the lyrics here.
A New Instructional DVD: Pete Huttinger Teaches the Songs of Gordon Lightfoot
March 10, 2008 -
OK, folks. If you don't play guitar and don't want to hear about it, skip this review. And, if you do play guitar, please understand that I am a beginner who has never progressed because I don't practice. Five times a year definitely does not work!
However, thanks primarily to some very accomplished guitar playing friends, especially Cathy Cowette, I have a good deal of knowledge about guitar playing - at least in my head, if not in my fingers. I know and understand the terminology, and have mastered a few of the techniques, but can only play slowly. However, with this knowledge, I think I do know what to look for in a guitar instruction video that teaches how to play Lightfoot songs - and this video definitely has what should be there. And Pete Huttlinger, a National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion, composer, and arranger, is a great person to teach it.
First, let me briefly comment on the song selection. All of my guitar playing friends had the same reaction I did: the song selection is definitely not what any of us would have chosen. After watching the video, I realized why. Pete has limited his selection to songs which were on Gord's Gold, an album that he specifically mentions as a personal favorite. Yes, it's a great album, but choosing only from that one album - and a somewhat odd selection from there - leaves most of us wanting more. Which, when you get down to it, is not a problem. It leaves Pete with a great opportunity. But there are many gems not on Gord's Gold, and it would have been nice to see one or two of them here.
Of the songs he teaches, only Early Mornin' Rain and If You Could Read My Mind were obvious choices. Some of the others are songs almost nobody plays, but throwing them into the mix is a good thing. Steel Rail Blues and Bitter Green, in particular, are songs that I am delighted are on here, and someday I might tackle them. But, even if drawing only from Gord's Gold, I would like to have seen Song For A Winter's Night, Don Quixote, and Sundown at a minimum. And Pete should have waded beyond Gord's Gold to include Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the song Lightfoot considers his best (although there are a few other candidates for that honor, including Canadian Railroad Trilogy which would have taken half the video, so I can understand why Pete didn't chose that one).
The format of the instrucion is excellent, and I assume it is a pattern he has followed in his prior instructional videos (including Jim Croce and John Denver songs). He plays a bit of the song, takes it apart and teaches fretting and right hand technique (but, perhaps revealingly, not for the strummed songs), plays the parts slowly at first and then brings the tempo up to normal. By using the terminology and illustrating visually, his lessons will work for anyone past rank beginner, up to a strong intermediate player. His comments on which fingers he uses for fretting various chords to allow for easy transitions to or from that chord provide useful input to even the more accomplished intermediate player. And there are other interesting techniques and parts he teaches that would be of interest to the advanced player who either doesn't have the ear or the time to figure out out exactly what is being played, or how to play a mixture of lead and rhythm simultaneously.
An unexpected bonus is the inclusion of the lead guitar solos on several of the songs, and occasionally incorporating them so that one guitar player can get elements of the lead in addition to Gord's rhythm part. Pete does this on If You Could Read My Mind, playing Red Shea's lead part. This isn't something one expects to get on an instructional video! Very nice, indeed.
From his casual comments throughout the video, I conclude that Pete has not attended many Lightfoot concerts; in fact, it wouldn't surprise me if he never attended any. Again, don't get me wrong; I am not saying that the video is flawed as a result. It isn't. But he speculates about Gord's playing technique, and even what parts Gord plays, as no guitar player who has been to a concert would. Pete does, however, actually use his thumb to fret the D/F#, with a comment about how that technique is frowned on by classical players. Of course Gord, and just about every folk and folk rock guitarist from the 60s and 70s plays that way! And in speculating on whether Gord plays the 12 string part in the recording of Early Mornin' Rain, Pete reveals that he hasn't been struck by Gord's driving 12 string strumming, which is both powerful and instantly recognizable. But, Pete is a fingerstyle specialist, and that is where his teaching really shines. He covers Travis style picking, and the interesting pattern that Lightfoot has said he learned from his dentist (the pattern used in If You Could Read My Mind, as well as Beautiful and Softly which are not on the video). He also comments on his use of emphasis on certain beats of the picking pattern to highlight the melody; Lightfoot also uses it effectively to provide a driving beat behind the vocals. The key and tuning isn't always what would be expected. For some songs Pete plays in a different key from Gord, while with others he plays in the same key, which is unusual since one's vocal range generally dictates the key one chooses. And Early Mornin' Rain is normally played in dropped D tuning; Pete teaches it in standard tuning, perhaps to simplify it. He also plays Cold On The Shoulder without a capo; Gord plays it with the capo on the 3rd fret. Again, one can play the song in whatever key one wants, so this is just an observation not a criticism.
This 2 hour DVD includes instruction for eight songs, from the easiest to the most difficult. The songs are: Early Mornin' Rain, Carefree Highway, Rainy Day People, Circle of Steel, Steel Rail Blues, Bitter Green, If You Could Read My Mind and Cold on the Shoulder. Standard tab notation, treble clef notation, and chord names and patterns are provided in the accompanying booklet. If you have always wanted to learn how to play these Lightfoot standards, but never learned how, this video is definitely for you; plus, you will learn some good playing techniques that you can use when you play other music.
My links above (title and image) and here are to Sheet Music Plus, a good source for guitar instruction and sheet music. The DVD is also available from Amazon.
Sheet music & instruction
Mysteries of the Great Lakes IMAX film uses Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald Recording
Click on "Mysteries of the Great Lakes IMAX film" in the title above to read about it and watch the movie trailer.
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November, 2007/June, 2008 -
New DVD on Canadian Music
Shakin' All Over: Canadian Pop Music in the 1960s, a documentary that initially aired on Canadian TV in January, 2006, was released on DVD in Canada on December 11, 2007, and in the US in April, 2008.
The two hour special captures the sounds of the decade, from the folk music of Ian and Sylvia, and the rhythm ’n’ blues of Ronnie Hawkins, to the many other legendary stars like Joni Mitchell, The Guess Who, Neil Young, Anne Murray, The Band, cult heroes like David Wiffen, The Collectors and Mashmakhan, and some of Canada’s brightest younger stars including Blue Rodeo, Barenaked Ladies and Sarah Harmer.
The special is full of candid interviews with more than 60 iconic figures like Gordon Lightfoot (of course), Buffy Sainte-Marie and Bruce Cockburn, who offer illuminating stories about each other. The Lightfoot content includes interview segments plus clips of archival performances of "Canadian Railroad Trilogy," "Early Morning Rain" and "Did She Mention My Name." It also features a clip of Ron Sexsmith's cover of "If You Could Read My Mind." And, strewn throughout are mentions by other artists of Lightfoot's influence on them and on the emergence of Canadian music worldwide.
In addition to the original two hour broadcast, the DVD has bonus interviews with several of the key artists, including a new interview with Lightfoot. Other bonus interviews are with Randy Bachman, Bruce Cockburn, Burton Cummings, Robbie Lane, Murray McLauchlan, Anne Murray, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Sylvia Tyson. The interviews are pieced together from what I assume were live interview sessions, and offer some interesting insights into the experiences and influences of each of these artists. Would you believe Lightfoot mentions Bruce Springsteen as a creative influence?
Shakin' All Over is based on the book "Before the Gold Rush - Flashbacks to the Dawn of the Canadian Sound" (sadly out of print), by Nicholas Jennings, who also wrote the liner notes for two Lightfoot CD releases. Jennings has followed the Canadian music scene for decades, and his knowledge and insight probably make him the premier Canadian music historian. If you haven't read his wonderful biography of Lightfoot in the Songbook boxed set, you should do that.
Along with the recent book by Bob Mercereau, just released in paperback, (see my review), this DVD sheds new light on the history of Canadian music, while featuring some of her greatest musical talents.
Unfortunately, it is already out of print, but is still available new from 3rd party sellers at Amazon (full Amazon guarantee applies). The links above are for Amazon.com; Canadian residents may prefer to buy through Amazon Canada, although in many cases it's the same sellers!
Gordon Lightfoot Tour Dates
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New and recently updated concerts are in bold type; past dates (when shown) in gray. Note: On sale info is best available. Always check with venue too. I have included links to purchase tickets and to the venue's web site whereever possible. See the box at the right for Gordon Lightfoot tickets available through Ticketmaster. Some concerts have an early sales period ("pre-sale") for which you need a password to order early. When I have a pre-sale password, you can get it by (re-)signing up for my mailing list. Just click on the pre-sale link next to the concert listing.
Upcoming dates listed below. Show past and upcoming dates
08/15 The Cotillion,
Wichita, KS (Select-a-Seat Ticketing) On sale now
08/16 Rose State Performing Arts Theatre, Oklahoma City, OK On sale now
08/17 Civic Center, Abilene, TX On sale now
08/18
Memorial Civic Center Theatre, Lubbock, TX (Select-a-Seat Ticketing) On sale now
08/19 Verizon Theatre, Grand Prairie, TX (Ticketmaster) On sale now
08/21 Uptown Theatre,
Kansas City, MO (Ticketmaster) On sale now
08/22 The Auditorium,
Eureka Springs, AR (Call for tickets 479-253-7788) On sale now
08/23 Horner Hall, Hot Springs, AR (Ticketmaster) On sale now
08/25
Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston, TX (Ticketmaster/Live Nation) On sale now
08/26
Saenger Theatre, Mobile, AL (Ticketmaster) On sale now
10/01
Shea's Performing Arts Center, Buffalo, NY (Ticketmaster)
10/02
Flynn Center For The Performing Arts, Burlington, VT On sale now
10/03
Capitol Center For The Arts, Concord, NH On sale now
10/05
Kirby Center For The Performing Arts, Wilkes-Barre, PA (Ticketmaster)
10/06
Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ On sale now
10/07
TD Bank Arts Centre, Sewell, NJ (Ticketmaster) On sale now
10/08
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, NY On sale now
10/10 Ritz Theatre, Tiffin, OH
10/11 Capitol Civic Centre, Mantiowoc, WI On sale now
10/12 State Theatre, Eau Claire, WI On sale now
10/13 Grand Theater, Wausau, WI (Venue Ticketing) On sale now
10/15 Paramount Theater, Aurora, IL (Ticketmaster) On sale now
10/16 Louisville Palace, Louisville, KY (Ticketmaster)
10/17 Viking Hall Civic Center, Bristol, TN
Concert sold out? No good seats left?
Check for Gordon Lightfoot resale tickets!
Note: The information on US tour dates is from other online sources only, and should not be considered official. You should verify concert information with the venue, which may not yet have announced the concert.
Anne Murray and Olivia Newton-John
Record Cotton Jenny for Anne's Duets CD
Nominated for a Juno as Album of the Year
May 29, 2007, updated January 24, 2008 -
Anne Murray's Duets: Friends & Legends hit the US charts on January 21st, debuting at #42. She first hit the pop album chart in 1970 with Snowbird, which featured her top 10 single of the same name. Her highest-charting album was Let's Keep It That Way, in 1978, which reached #12 and included her #1 hit "You Needed Me." This album has been nominated for a Juno, the Canadian Grammy, for Album of the Year.
The highlight for any Lightfoot fan will probably be her duet recording of Lightfoot's Cotton Jenny with Olivia Newton-John.
The track was recorded at the Capitol Recording studio in Los Angeles, and was produced by Phil Ramone.
Both Anne Murray and Olivia Newton-John recorded a Lightfoot song early in their careers; Anne recorded Cotton Jenny and Olivia recorded If You Could Read My Mind, both released in 1971.
The other artists, all female voices that Anne admires, include Shania Twain, Martina McBride, Nelly Furtado, Isabelle Boulay, k.d. lang, Celtic Woman, Carole King, Olivia Newton-John, Emmylou Harris, Jann Arden, Shelby Lynn, Sarah Brightman, Celine Dion, Amy Grant, Indigo Girls, Dusty Springfield and Anne's daughter, Dawn Langstroth. The duet of "I Just Fall In Love Again" used Dusty Springfield's original 1979 recording; Dusty passed away in 1999.
Duets: Friends and Legends was released November 13th in Canada, and January 15th in the US. It is available from at Amazon.com, and my links above go there; Canadian residents may prefer to buy it from Amazon.ca using this link: Duets: Friends and Legends (from Canada).
Sarah McLachlan's Wintersong: A Holiday Treat and a Lightfoot Song
December 8, 2006 -
Sarah McLachlan's Wintersong: Canadian recording artist Sarah McLachlan's first Christmas album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Sarah has already garnered three Grammy Awards over the years.
Wintersong jumped into the Billboard top 10 this week, entering at #7, and it has also already been certified gold by the RIAA for U.S. sales in excess of 500,000 units. Needless-to-say, perhaps, it is #1 on Billboard's Top Holiday Albums Chart.
The album is unusual for its genre, combining recordings of traditional Christmas songs like What Child Is This, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, and Silent Night, covers of more secular but seasonal songs by contemporary songwriters like John Lennon (Happy Xmas (War Is Over)), Joni Mitchell (River) and Gordon Lightfoot (Song For A Winter's Night) and a new original, the title track, Wintersong. Other tracks are American holiday standards I'll Be Home For Christmas, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and Christmas Time Is Here, and the album is completed by In the Bleak Mid Winter, and the medley The First Noel/Mary Mary.
Sarah clearly has a fondness for the Lightfoot song, having recorded it in the early 90s and released it on her somewhat obscure album, Rarities, B-sides, and Other Stuff. With only the winter theme, and sleigh bells in the Lightfoot version, the song has nevertheless become a modern Christmas standard - even though it was written during a summer thunderstorm in Cleveland! Sarah recorded it and has sung it in concert appearances for more than a decade. Her first recording was featured on earlier holiday compilations and also on the soundtrack CD for the Miracle on 34th Street remake (although it did not appear in the movie, if I recall correctly). Now the song receives an even more more prominent placement as one of the highlights of Sarah's own holiday album (listen to clip or download MP3 at Amazon here).
New Johnny Cash CD at Folsom Prison
October 2008 - A new CD/DVD set, At Folsom Prison Legacy Edition (2CD/1 DVD) , has just been released and includes an entire Folsom prison concert never before released! The set also includes the original Folsom prison concert and a new DVD documentary about that historic day.
Click on the image or CD title, above or at the right, to read more about it at Amazon.
CD with Lightfoot Song Reaches #1 on Billboard Charts
May/July/October 2006; October 2008 -
A CD by music legend Johnny Cash, recorded in the months preceding his death in 2003, includes a cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind." The CD hit #1 on on the Billboard charts, and topped the Country charts as well.
"If You Could Read My Mind" was Lightfoot's first American charting single, and is one of the most covered songs in popular music history. Johnny Cash's recording joins earlier covers by Olivia Newton-John, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Don McLean, Petula Clark, Gene Clark, Glen Campbell, Stars on 54 (dance version), and a host of others. Lightfoot's recording of the song is available on many of his CDs including If You Could Read My Mind, Gord's Gold, and remastered on Complete Greatest Hits and Songbook (boxed set). The cuts on Gord's Gold and Complete Greatest Hits are based on the mix for the single, and have harmony vocals (also by Lightfoot). For more about the song itself, click If You Could Read My Mind.
The Cash recording is on the recently released
American V: A Hundred Highways, produced by Rick Rubin and released by American Recordings through the Lost Highway label, on July 4.
The new CD includes other songs by Hank Williams, Rod McKuen, Bruce Springsteen, Ian Tyson, and two Cash originals -- "Like the 309" (the last song Cash wrote) and "I Came to Believe." With both If You Could Read My Mind, by Lightfoot, and Four Strong Winds, by Tyson, this Cash CD is a salute to two gifted songwriters from our Northern neighbor Canada.
Lightfoot's recording of "If You Could Read My Mind" first appeared on his first album for Warner Brothers, then titled Sit Down Young Stranger. When the album track of the song became a surprise hit, the record company released it as a single and the song rose to #5 on the Billboard Pop Chart. This was Lightfoot's first appearance on the US charts, having had several charting songs in his native Canada.
For the single, the record company added harmony vocals, also sung by Lightfoot. Both the album version, without the harmony vocals, and the single version are available on CD today; the album version is on the Songbook boxed set as well as the original album (renamed to match the hit tune), and the single version is on both Gord's Gold and Complete Greatest Hits. See the links below to purchase any of these Lightfoot CDs; the Cash CD can ordered using the link above (album image or album title text).
Cash had previously recorded another Lightfoot song, For Lovin' Me, released in the 60s and currently available only on the comprehensive boxed set The Man In Black: 1963 - 1969. Also for the big Cash fan, a new biography was released just this fall:
Johnny Cash: The Biography, by Michael Streissguth.
Gordon Lightfoot on CD and DVD
In 2005, Rhino reissued Gord's Gold, Lightfoot's 1975 Greatest Hits album. This CD was withdrawn in 2002, shortly after the release of Complete Greatest Hits. For those not familiar with the various "Greatest Hits" collections, Gord's Gold was released in 1975, and contains recordings taken from his early 1970s albums, plus new recordings of songs he originally wrote and recorded in the 1960s. The style is consistently "1970s Lightfoot", and many of the rerecordings have become fan favorites. Complete Greatest Hits was released in 2002. It is the only single CD collection that includes recordings from throughout his career, from those released on United Artists in 1966 through one song, Restless, from his 1993 CD, Waiting For You. Each of these CDs, as well as
Gord's Gold, Vol. 2 - with new (1988) recordings of 14 songs plus 4 from earlier albums - contains an important part of the Lightfoot legacy.
In April 2000, Lightfoot recorded his only live concert DVD, Live In Reno. It contains 22 songs from a concert at the Pioneer Theater, scheduled specifically for the videotaping. Lightfoot performs most of his old standards, as well as many other songs from throughout his career. The DVD is a special treat for guitar players, as there are many wonderful shots of Lightfoot's hands as he is playing. And, finally, for the really devoted fan, there is the 4 CD boxed set
Songbook, which contains original recordings from throughout his career (through 1998), plus 18 rare recordings, 16 of which were never released before. It's a treasure trove of Lightfoot, and includes a lovely little book with an excellent biography by Nicolas Jennings, and short comments on all the songs by Lightfoot himself.
For more about Lightfoot CDs and DVDs, visit the Albums and the Lightfoot on DVD pages at this web site.
All of his CDs that are still in print, including his latest original CD Harmony (2004), are available at many web sites online including
Amazon.com.
Mailing List
Actor, Singer/Songwriter Hamilton Camp Dies at 70
October, 2005 - I am extremely sad to report that Hamilton Camp died suddenly on October 2. I had only known him for 20 months, but I am proud to say that he was a good friend, and I am shattered by his death as are his family and his fans and friends from around the world.
An accomplished character actor who was sought after by directors because of his reputation of being able to make a role, he appeared in numerous films, stage productions (including Broadway), television, and as a voice actor on animated films and video games. Some of his most notable TV roles were on the short lived He and She, in 1967, and in popular TV series including Mary Tyler Moore, Mash, Too Close for Comfort, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.
Although his primary career was as an actor - a choice he made because it wouldn't require constant travel away from his family - he also pursued a music career and wove it in and out of his life for 5 decades. He is best known as a member of the Gibson & Camp duo, whose 1961 album Live At The Gate Of Horn was acclaimed as one of the most influentual folk recordings of its time. He and Bob Gibson reunited periodically for more than 35 years, until Gibson's death in 1996, performing at special reunion shows and releasing two other albums together. It was Gibson's daugher, Meridian Green, who was thoughtful enough to think to call me as soon as she heard that Hamilton had died.
Hamilton also released four solo albums, and one album with a group of friends known as the Skymonters. He had a minor hit in 1968 with Here's To You, which reached #76 on the top 100 chart, and his folk classic Pride Of Man was recorded by Quicksilver Messenger Service, which had a hit with it, and by Gordon Lightfoot and Tony Rice.
Just days before his death, he completed the artwork for his last CD. It has many new original songs, a new recording of Pride Of Man, and several covers including Dylan's Ring Them Bells (which Lightfoot also recorded). You know what they say about great minds! Camp's new original song, Long Train, is stunning, as is his musical interpretation of Yeats and Byron poetry (Celts/Go No More A Rovin'). Click on "More info", under the cover image, to hear clips and see the entire track listing.
Sweet Joy is now available at his web site, along with several earlier CDs, both solo and with Bob Gibson. If you are interested in learning more about him, or wish to buy one of his CDs, please visit his web site at hamiltoncamp.com.
I can't begin to say how much I will miss him. I looked forward to our frequent online chats. He was warm, compassionate, funny, clever ... I can't think of enough adjectives. He loved the sounds on Yahoo Messenger, and often had me in stitches when he inserted one into an otherwise serious discussion. He was passionate about everything he did, not only his dual professions, but also special projects that he took on including being the Treasurer (!) for a health relief non-profit that was caring for Tsunami victims. What was amazing was not that he was doing his part to help others, but that this talented musician and actor learned Quickbooks so he could do a job that had to be done. Somehow, I don't think accounting was one of his favorite things, nor something for which he had a special gift, but he did what was necessary to help out a worthy cause.
I feel very privileged to have known him, and can be slightly comforted by the fact that he was doing what he enjoyed every day, and had the satisfaction of seeing his CD project to completion and just as he wanted it. And I have the satisfaction of knowing that late in the recording process, when he was discouraged about one of the songs because he couldn't get it the way he wanted it, I urged him to try again. He did, and this song is on the CD.
I will miss him terribly.
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New Live Byrds Concert From Wolfgang's Vault
October 23, 2009 - A new Byrds concert has just become available for download from Wolfgang's Vault. The concert is from 1970, and includes the same Byrds members as the Live At Albert Hall concert from 1971, released last year. You can listen to the entire concert online, or download it to your PC in either MP3 or FLAC format. Here's the link:
The Byrds, 1-4-1970 Fillmore West Early Show
New Live Byrds Album / Live From Spain LP
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May,August 2008 - A new live Byrds album was released on May 27th: The Byrds Live at Royal Albert Hall 1971. This Byrds incarnation features Roger McGuinn, legendary guitar player Clarence White, bassist Skip Battin and drummer Gene Parsons in front of an enthusiastic London audience at the venerable Royal Albert Hall. Thankfully, Roger had this recording safely stored, and it will now be available for all of us to enjoy, not only on CD, but also on vinyl. You may also download it as an MP3 album.
Read a review.
Following close on the heels of the Live Byrds album, Roger is releasing his most recent solo album, Live from Spain (CD), on vinyl, scheduled for early September. I may have to buy myself a new turntable!
Martin Guitar Announces Second Roger McGuinn 7-String!
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April, 2007 - Forgive me for being slow on the uptake here, but Martin Guitar announced a new, more affordable 7-string guitar, the Roger McGuinn D-7 Signature Edition, back in January of this year. This guitar is based on the HD-7, a limited edition announced in early 2005 (see article just below). The D-7, also with the doubled G string, lists for $2999.00, about half of the original 7-string. To learn more about the new guitar, visit the Martin web site at D-7 Signature Edition. And, if you decide to buy one, let me know!
February, 2005 - Martin Guitar has announced the Roger McGuinn Special Edition guitar, the HD-7, based on
the HD-28V, a herringbone vintage Martin. But this is a really unique guitar because it is a 7-string; it's a 6 string guitar except that the G string is doubled, like on a 12-string guitar. Roger McGuinn, of course, is the founder of The Byrds, and has enjoyed a long, creative solo career as well.
(For those of you who don't play guitar, a 6-string guitar has the strings (normally) tuned to E-A-D-G-B-E; a 12 has a pair for each "string"; both strings in the pair are tuned to the same note, but on the E through G pair, one string is lighter and is tuned an octave higher. On the HD-7, only the G string has an octave pair).
The key to this guitar is that, with the doubled G string, one can play the trademark McGuinn "jingle-jangle" sound (think Tambourine Man or Turn, Turn, Turn), yet still have the flexibility of a 6 string; a "Swiss army knife" of guitars, as Roger calls it. Read the sidebar for Dick Boak's comments, and listen to this audio clip from a demo (captured on camcorder) that Roger gave at Martin for more about the guitar: (RealMedia clip).
You can read the specs for this remarkable new guitar at the Martin web site using the direct link here, and read the article from the latest edition of their Sounding Board newsletter here (HTML format) or here (PDF format with additional images, Acrobat required). The Martin Guitar web site is at martinguitar.com.
See the sidebar story at the left.
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