Maurice Hope – October 14, 2016 at 01:36PM
Tags:_AMERICANA
Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot has seen his work covered by countless recording artists, and though his own music doesn’t always lie as comfortable as it might, on his day and given the correct support he is still one of the finest acts of the idiom.
The recordings on this set was originally released between 1980 and 1983 —a time when there was a great deal of vying in between contemporary folk, pop and rock with hints of country. Driven on the third album of the set, Salute in the main by strong rhythmic beat and electric guitars on the occasions he isn’t the music tends to be poppy and slick. As a result his lyrics though still beautiful, the impact is blunted by the arrangements. Opposed to those when he returns to a simplier form. “Biscuit City” is one of the tracks that leans towards this, otherwise he concedes a great deal on searching for radio plays.
Dream Street Rose is more folksy, while Shadows hits a spot in between. As he distances himself from his earlier work, and there is nothing wrong in moving on. Among the finest compositions on the former you have the beautiful “If You Need Me”, and though I’m not a huge fan of his sea fearing material “Ghost Of Cape Horn” is a fine ballad. I had to smile at his excellent version of Leroy Van Dyke’s country novelty hit “The Auctioneer”; on which steel player Pee Wee Charles gets to show off his prowess.
Shadows like with Salute it has the mercurial Den Parks guest on electric guitar, and with the likes of the dramatic “Heaven Help The Devil” and country fashioned “Baby Step Back” and the flowing ode ‘Triangle” there is plenty to savour.
With Charles on Dobro it speaks of him about to embark on a voyage without it become like one of those of yesteryear, instead the whole song, arrangements and vocals are fluent and top class (funny enough the melody remininscent of Ed Bruce’s “Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys”; enough said!). I would love to hear Lightfoot make a record of this style, a country album!
Maurice Hope
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