Gordon Lightfoot

Multi-CD Sets

Buy CD or LP at Amazon.com   Buy CD or LP at Amazon.ca   Buy CD or LP at Amazon.co.uk

Buy Digital Album - MP3 or FLAC - at the Linus Entertainment Store. The MP3 album is sold at Amazon for more than double the record company's price! FLAC albums are not sold at Amazon.

To be released on 7/28/2023, this is a 2-CD set from Linus Entertainment. Recorded live in concert in London England at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall on May 24, 2016, the double album set is an unembellished recording of that night’s performance, without edits, overdubs, or re-sequencing. It captures every song performed in the order they were played, right down to the encore, by Gordon and his band - Rick Haynes on bass, Barry Keane on drums, Mike Heffernan on keys, and Carter Lancaster on guitar. Gordon was insistent that the music be presented just as it was recorded live, and he approved the accompanying artwork in the weeks before he passed away on May 1, 2023. This is his final release just as he wanted it.

I'll be writing more about this new CD set in the next few weeks, once I get my copy.

The Songs:

Disc One (14 songs)
The Watchman's Gone (4:38), Sea of Tranquility (3:34), Now and Then (3:22), All The Lovely Ladies (3:05), Drifters (3:27), A Painter Passing Through (4:11), Christian Island (1:59), Rainy Day People (2:07), Shadows (3:15), Beautiful (3:02), Carefree Highway (2:22), Did She Mention My Name (1:37), Ribbon of Darkness (1:41), Sundown (3:43)

Disc Two (12 songs)
Sweet Guinevere (2:40), The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (6:50), Never Too Close (3:04), Don Quixote (4:15), Minstrel of the Dawn (2:41), I'd Rather Press On (3:32), Let It Ride (4:12), If You Could Read My Mind (3:59), Restless (3:50), Baby Step Back (3:44), Early Morning Rain (4:11), Waiting For You (3:33)

Hard to find. Reissue record label has no current plans to repress. Because these are the last copies I have, I am restricting orders to those with US shipping addresses in order to reduce the risk of loss.

Released 3/1/2019, this is a 2-CD set from Real Gone Music featuring the A and B-sides of all the singles Lightfoot recorded with Lenny Waronker and Joe Wissert for the Reprise and Warner Brothers labels; 34 sides in all with all the hits and hard-to-find B-sides. The tracks were remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision, with additional mastering and tape vetting by Aaron Kannowski. The liner notes are by folk rock guru Richie Unterberger, which is a good thing for an album.

If you want just this one item, put a 1 (one) in the quantity box and then click here to go directly to checkout.

The Songs:

Disc One (18 songs)
Me and Bobby McGee * The Pony Man * If You Could Read My Mind * Poor Little Allison * Talking in Your Sleep * Nous Vivons Ensemble * Summer Side of Life * Love & Maple Syrup * Beautiful * Don Quixote * That Same Old Obsession * You Are What I Am * Can't Depend on Love * It's Worth Believin' * Sundown * Too Late for Prayin' * Carefree Highway * Seven Island Suite

Disc Two (16 songs)
Rainy Day People * Cherokee Bend * The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald * The House You Live In * Race Among the Ruins * Protocol * The Circle Is Small (I Can See It in Your Eyes) * Sweet Guinevere * Daylight Katy * Hangdog Hotel Room * Dreamland * Songs the Minstrel Sang * Dream Street Rose * Make Way for the Lady * If You Need Me * Mister Rock of Ages

Out of print again, but some copies are still available. Rhino has no plans to reissue it (as of summer 2023). I have only one copy left, with a cracked case and the sound of broken clips (the ones that hold the CDs in place in the case). Based on how the case is constructed, I'm sure the CDs are fine, but if any one of them doesn't play properly, I will replace it with one from a set of "spares." (Some of these new; some gently used). The price is adjusted to reflect this. Shipping to US addresses only due to scarcity and risk of further damage.

If you are outside the US, check your local Amazon where prices might be lower for you because shipping is lower or even free.

  Buy at Amazon.ca    Buy at Amazon.co.uk  

2016 Re-release of 4 disc box set in new packaging.

Lightfoot's 1999 career spanning 4 CD Box Set with 88 tracks total, featuring all the hits (of course), "best" recordings from each original album, 2 rare recordings from before he signed with United Artists, and 16 songs never released before this box set and available only here with the exception of "Betty Called Me In" which is included on the late 2016 audiophile vinyl release of Summertime Dream.

Here's the 2016 import two CD set from BGO Records with the three original albums from the early 1980s. all of which are now available again, but if you need more than one this is a more economical choice. BGO does a good remastering job, so you will have good recordings. The albums are Dream Street Rose, Shadows and Salute. In this new set, the first CD contains the first two albums; the second CD contains just the third album. I am excited to have this set available for purchase from my store.

This set is well priced for three albums, and allows fans who don't have all these albums on CD to purchase them at a very reasonable price.

Click the album name links above for details about the three original albums.

 While I am out of stock, you can buy from Amazon.

Here's the new in 2018 import two CD set from BGO Records with the three original albums from 1986, 1993 and 1998. "East of Midnight" and "A Painter Passing Through" are out of print and very difficult to find. "Waiting for You" was reissued by Warner just a few months before this set; a rather peculiar situation since the 3 album set is a much better buy (if you need two or three of them). In this new set, the first CD contains the first two albums; the second CD contains just the third album. I am excited to have this set available for purchase from my store.

This set is well priced for three albums, and allows fans who don't have all these albums on CD to purchase them at a very reasonable price.

Click the album name links above for details about the three original albums.

May be out of print.
This CD set contains all of the cuts from Lightfoot's first four United Artists albums: Lightfoot!, The Way I Feel, Did She Mention My Name and Back Here on Earth.

This CD - "United Artists Collection" - plus Sunday Concert Plus from Bear Family (see below) will give you his entire catalog from United Artists, with 5 bonus tracks on "Sunday Concert Plus". This is a less pricey way to get all these songs than buying the three Bear Family CDs. Note that the second Bear Family CD has a bonus track, which you won't get if you go with this CD, and the mastering of the Bear Family CDs is generally considered the best of all the alternatives.

CDs

Includes the 11 tracks on the 1971 AME record Early Lightfoot (recorded in 1962). and the 12 tracks from the 1962 album, Two Tones Live at the Village Corner (with his high school friend, Terry Whelan), plus two additional tracks from a UK single, and a track with radio spots. This is material from very early in his career; only the Merle Travis song, "Dark as a Dungeon" hints at the performer he would soon become. Probably "needledrop."

Sale!
More on order.

This is a CD released in the UK where live concerts are not protected by copyright. It had been "released" in the late 1990s or early 2000s as a bootleg and I was lucky to buy one before the online company was sued (by other artists, not Gordon) and they disappeared.

I must confess that I love this album and play it regularly in my car, especially on long trips. I entertain nearby drivers playing "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" at a high volume when entering Cleveland.

There is an interesting 30 seconds or so as the European audience listens to "Wreck" in silence, with no early "recognition" applause — because the audience hadn't heard it yet. It hadn't been released in most European countries when the concert was performed.

You will fall in love with it from the start as he opens the show with "Race Among the Ruins" followed by "Wreck" (when he performed both of them in concert, it was usually in sequence), and continues with many of his biggest hits. I don't recommend many unofficial releases but I do recommend this one!

Nineteen songs: Race Among the Ruins, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Summertime Dream, I'd Do It Again, Never Too Close, Last Time I Saw Her, If You Could Read My Mind, Don Quixote, High and Dry, Sundown, The Auctioneer, All the Lovely Ladies, Christian Island, Old Dan's Records, I'm Not Supposed to Care, Canadian Railroad Trilogy, Beautiful, Early Morning Rain, Spanish Moss

(Warner/Rhino) Released 3/20/2020.

Sale!

This is the CD. (For fans who enjoy the added audio dimension provided by analog recordings, the LP is available below).

In March of 2020, Gordon Lightfoot gave us a gift: he announced a new album, called "Gordon Lightfoot Solo." And that is exactly what it is.

Nine of the songs come from two CDs of songs he had recorded back in 2001 - 2002 and which he had forgotten. He discovered them when cleaning his office, listened to them, and decided to make an album with just him and his guitar, removing other instruments that had been added. The 10th song, "Easy Flo," was written recently and recorded in early 2020.

All of the tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Bob Doidge and Amy King at Grant Aveneue Studio in Hamlton, Ontario where he has recorded since the mid-1990s.

Gordon said of Solo, "I thought my fans would be interested in hearing what songs sound like when first written."

I have one CD with a cracked case, but I expect the CD is fine (so far, they have always been so). If the CD doesn't play properly, I will replace or refund. I will take $2 off the shipping fee (after order entry) if you want the one with the cracked case; say so in the Shipping Instructions box in the order form below.

This is a new reissue of a long out of print CD, releaased by Warner and distributed by Alliance Mod (Made on Demand). Yes, these are CD-Rs, but today CD-R quality is excellent. NOTE: I have one CD with a cracked case across the cover. I will take $1 off shipping if you choose this one. Of course, if the CD doesn't play properly, I would replace or refund it; so far none of the CDs with cracked cases that I have shipped have been defective!

Lightfoot's touring in 1972 was curtailed when he was stricken with Bell's Palsy, so this album did not get as much pre-release publicity from live concerts as would have been normal. As a result, this album and its predecessor, Don Quixote, didn't chart as well as they should have given the wealth of great songs on both of them.

Of the songs on this album, "Old Dan's Records" was one of a very few songs you could anticipate at the end of a concert, primarily because he had to move the capo, but as an upbeat song it engaged the audience and always left us with good feelings. Three others — Farewell to Annabel, It's Worth Believin' and Hi'Way Songs — are among his very best but little known songs.

Visit the album page for clips of some of these songs.

Buy at Amazon.com   Buy at Amazon.ca   Buy at Amazon.co.uk

This is a new release from Flashback Records/Rhino/Warner Brothers and is part of a series which goes back almost a decade. These CDs feature the best known or best charting songs from the featured artist, in this case Gordon Lightfoot. The songs are from Warner/Reprise albums released from 1970 (If You Could Read My Mind) through 1982 (Shadows).

It appears that the tracks are from the singles; at least "If You Could Read Mind" is (first track), and so is "Wreck," which is slightly shorter on the single (instrumental is cut). The single versions of "If You Could Read My Mind" and "Sundown" have been available (both on "Complete Greatest Hits," and the first on "Gord's Gold,") but for the others these are the first singles versions remastered for CD (see also Complete Singles in Multi-CD Sets above). So, there is another reason to buy it, not that we devoted fans needed a compelling reason. Too bad the CD insert doesn't say any of this.

Visit the album page for the full list of songs and the highest chart position and specific chart for each song.

Sale!

This is the Lightfoot's first "greatest hits" album, missing only "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" — because it wasn't written yet. This album was released in mid-1975; "The Wreck" wasn't written until November, a few weeks after the shipwreck, and not released until 1976.

This CD version is missing one song, "Affair on 8th Avenue", because — at the time of the CD release — 74 minutes was the maximum length of a CD (it is 80 minutes now).

The album includes 11 songs originally released by United Artists (1966- 1969), and 12 songs from his Warner years (1970-1975). All of the United Artists songs were re- recorded for this album, in his 1970s style, resulting in recordings that are different from but no less wonderful than the originals.

Interesting note: the cut of "If You Could Read My Mind" is from the single, not the album, so it has harmony vocals (by Lightfoot). This version is also on the 2002 album, Complete Greatest Hits and on the Complete Singles compilation..

Visit the album page for the full list of songs, and my review.

On Sale!

This is the original CD either from Warner Canada or Warner/Reprise.

This CD should need no introduction; it's the one with The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald. Another gem is Race Among The Ruins which is one of my favorite Lightfoot songs. Also, The House You Live In (which was his mother's favorite song), and I'm Not Supposed To Care, which Dylan performs live on occasion. Altogether, a wonderful album.

One of the CDs I have in stock has a cracked case; I'll take $1 off shipping if you want that one. It is guaranteed to play normally, of course. Just add a note in the message box.

Abridged Review: Gordon Lightfoot, as any fan knows, likes to rerecord when he puts together a "greatest hits" album. For his first, Gord's Gold, he rerecorded all the songs from early in his career. Because the original recordings were on United Artists, before Lightfoot's emergence as a top recording artist in the US, the Gord's Gold version of the songs is often the first - even only - version that the listener has heard.

But it is different with the songs he rerecorded for Gord's Gold Volume II. Here, all the songs were heard first by most people in the original version. Lightfoot went back into to the studio to rerecord them, to create recordings with the feel (or sound, rather) of a live performance. He has undoubtedly achieved that here, but many fans still prefer the original studio recording over the new one, especially if the original was the one they fell in love with.

Band members on this album are Terry Clements (lead guitar), Rick Haynes (bass), Barry Keane (drums) and Mike Heffernan (keyboards), his touring band from 1987 to Terry's death in 2011; and a very fine band it was.

"Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" is the masterpiece, of course, but the rest of the songs on this album are also truly great songs. None of the others achieved the prominence that they deserved, for many of them are easily in the class of his earlier hits. Songs like "Race Among The Ruins," "Cherokee Bend," "Shadows" and "Triangle" are - in my opinion - among the very finest in his impressive catalog. There is one new song here, not available elsewhere ("If It Should Please You") and there are also four other songs that Lightfoot did not rerecord. The most magnificent of these are "It's Worth Believin'" (from Old Dan's Records) and "Ghosts Of Cape Horn" (from Dream Street Rose).

Visit the album page for the full list of songs and original review.

Sale! (Original list in 2002 $18.98)

Back in stock.I have one copy with a non-displaced crack on the front of the case, but I am sure the CD is fine. (Of course I would replace it if it didn't play properly.) I'll take $1 off shipping if you would like this one; let me know if you do with a note in the shipping box.

Imported from Germany. This is one of the three Bear Family Records CDs that together give you Lightfoot's entire United Artists catalogue — in the best remastering available on CD.

This CD includes the live, 11 song Sunday Concert record, plus 5 bonus tracks, making it quite special. The bonus tracks include "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," a Dylan song, plus the Nashville version of Lightfoot's "Spin, Spin," a song that was released only as a single (twice - the other version is on the 2nd Bear Family album). This is a great CD! You won't be disappointed.

This CD contains all the songs from the first two records. This CD plus the other two Bear Family CDs (which have 1 and 5 bonus tracks respectively) will give you his entire catalog from United Artists.

Back in stock!
German Import. This CD, one of three Lightfoot CDs from Bear Family, has one bonus track, the New York version of Spin, Spin. (Sunday Concert Plus has the Nashville version - I will let you figure out the difference). I consider this CD the best mastered version of these two records, the 3rd and 4th of Lightfoot's official albums.

This CD plus the other two Bear Family CDs (which have 0 and 5 bonus tracks respectively) will give you his entire catalog from United Artists.

I have two with cracked cases but I am sure the CD is fine (I'll replace it if not). I'll take $1 off shipping if you take one of them. So far, none of the CDs with cracked cases have been defective. Put a note in the Shipping box if you want one of them.

New CD from Warner but manufactured on demand (by Alliance MOD). I believe this means it is a CD-R which should not be a problem.

This album is one of my favorites; it's a Lightfoot cross between folk and country, and the songs on it are among his very best. The title track is one of my top 5 favorites; I never tire of it.

The album is a wonderful collection of songs including some of the best and most popular he has written. There is not a top 10 hit on this album, but don't let that fool you into thinking there's no gold here. Every single song is superb, and well into the 2000s, Lightfoot was still performing no fewer than five of the songs from this album in concert. This includes the title song, Don Quixote, which contains some of the most brilliant lyrics he has ever written (and that is saying a lot!) plus Beautiful, Ode To Big Blue, Christian Island and On Susan's Floor, the last by Shel Silverstein and Vince Matthews. Click on the album name above to read my review of this outstanding CD.

New Warner CD (Warner US or Canada).

Holiday special price!

Appears to be out of print.

Released in 1972, Summer Side of Life was Lightfoot's third album for Warner/Reprise. While "Cotton Jenny" is probably the best known song, partly because of the cover by Anne Murray, my favorites are the title track "Summer Side of Life," "10 Degrees and Getting Colder," "Talking in My Sleep," "Nous Vivons Ensemble," and "Redwood Hill."

If you want only this CD, you can go directly to Checkout now.

Sale!

New Warner CD (Warner Canada or Warner France). Limited quantity. Apparently out of print in the US.

I have one copy with cracks in the case (front cover). I will take $2 off shipping if you want this one; just say so in the shipping box when you order. Of course I would replace it if it doesn't play properly, but that has never happened.

The one Lightfoot album that reached #1 on Billboard - simultaneously in the US and Canada. And the title song, "Sundown", was #1 that same week. This was the first album to top the charts, along with its title song, in the two countries simultaneously!

Many standout tracks including "Sundown" (#1), "Carefree Highway" (#10), and the less well known classics "The Watchman's Gone", "Circle of Steel", and "Seven Island Suite". Vintage Lightfoot.

New Warner CD (Warner Canada, Europe or US). Note: Some of these CDs had stickers on the back, on the cellophane. I removed the stickers, but the backs are a little sticky. Of course, you must remove the cellophane in order to play the CD, so this shouldn't be an issue!

The Warner original album CDs are out of print in the US, making them difficult to find and sometimes expensive.

This is Lightfoot's first album for Warner Brothers, and it is a classic. The title track was his first song to chart in the US, and reached #5 on the pop chart. But the entire album is "gold", and a must for your collection.

The title song, "If You Could Read My Mind", was the theme song for the Portrait Painter on the UK TV series, "Trigger Happy TV".

LP (180 Gram Vinyl)

180 Gram Audiophile LP
Difficult to find,

(Warner Reprise Canada 2021). I am 99.99% sure that this is the 2014 Record Store Day Canada LP - additional copies available or repressed in 2/2021.

This is the Record Store Day Limited Edition 180 Gram Audiophile vinyl record, released only in Canada, and not the Friday Music "Anniversary Edition" released in 2015.

Note: The sticker on the front is on the plastic, not on the album jacket. The sticker indicates it is 180 gram. The jacket itself is essentially (maybe actually) a 1974 jacket. If you do a view image in your browser, you can see a large version of the cover, and magnify it in some browsers.

Sundown is the one Lightfoot album that reached #1 on the US Billboard Charts, and was #1 simultaneously in Canada. The title song, "Sundown", was #1 that same week. This was the first album to top the charts, along with its title song, in the two countries simultaneously!

Many standout tracks including "Sundown" (#1), "Carefree Highway" (#10), and the less well known classics "The Watchman's Gone", "Circle of Steel", and "Seven Island Suite". Vintage Lightfoot.

US shipping is $8.99 for the first LP, $13.99 for two in the same box, and includes insurance. International shipping is very expensive. If you order for shipment outside the US I will contact you and tell you the shipping fee to your country before I fulfill your order.

LP (Regular Vinyl)

(Warner/Rhino) Released 3/20/2020.

This is the LP, for fans who enjoy the added audio dimension provided by analog recordings. The CD is available above.

In March of 2020, Gordon Lightfoot gave us a gift: he announced a new album, called "Gordon Lightfoot Solo." And that is exactly what it is.

Nine of the songs come from two CDs of songs he had recorded back in 2001 - 2002 and which he had forgotten. He discovered them when cleaning his office, listened to them, and decided to make an album with just him and his guitar, removing other instruments that had been added. The 10th song, "Easy Flo," was written recently and recorded in early 2020.

All of the tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Bob Doidge and Amy King at Grant Aveneue Studio in Hamlton, Ontario where he has recorded since the mid-1990s.

Gordon said of Solo, "I thought my fans would be interested in hearing what songs sound like when first written."

US shipping is $8.99 for the first LP, $13.99 for two in the same box. International shipping is very expensive. If you order for shipment outside the US I will contact you and tell you the shipping fee to your country before I fulfill your order.

DVDs

On Sale!

Released 8/2020

This is the DVD of the documentary, "Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind," released on August 25th 2020.

This is an excellent 1 1/2 hour documentary that shows the highlights of Gordon's career, with many video clips from the past and engaging contemporaneous interview segments. Highly recommended!

This is in the North American format, Region 1/NTSC and may not play on equipment made for other regions.

Sale!

Taped in April, 2000 in Reno, NV, specifically for video release, this DVD has 22 songs, including all four top 10 hits (If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown, Carefree Highway and Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald). The audio was recorded, mixed and mastered by Bob Doidge of Grant Avenue Studio.

This is the North American version, Region 1/NTSC. It's the 2011 Canadian release of this concert, from Linus Entertainment.

The DVD called "Gordon Lightfoot: Greatest Hits Live", from Alpha Centauri (which I carried before it went out of print), is the same material, so don't buy both!

(Double Feature Westerns)

This is in the North American format, Region 1/NTSC and may not play on equipment made for other regions.

Released in 1983, "Harry Tracy: The Last of the Wild Bunch" was Lightfoot's only movie role. The movie soundtrack includes a Lightfoot recording of the song My Love for You, written by Les Pouliot who is Red Shea's brother.

For the Lightfoot fan who has everything!

This is a new, sealed copy, released as a "double feature" with another western. This movie DVD is now priced well below the prices of earlier releases of this movie.

The movie stars Bruce Dern, Helen Shaver and Michael C. Gwynne, as well as Lightfoot. As a big Lightfoot fan, but not a fan of westerns, I can tell you that the only reason I watched it was to see Lightfoot; and, to be 100% honest, I must admit that I fell asleep both times I tried to watch.

This is in the North American format, Region 1/NTSC and may not play on equipment made for other regions.

Back in stock!

This DVD is the most comprehensive video about the investigations into the cause of the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck.

Originally broadcast on PBS in a 30 minutes version, this is an updated one hour version and includes interviews not available elsewhere.

Ric Mixter, who produced both versions, narrated this newer version and visited the wreck site himself.

The video is in the North American format, Region 1/NTSC, and may not play on equipment manufactured for sale outside this region.

Books

A new book by Ric Mixter, further expanding on the knowledge of what happened to the Edmund Fitzgerald. See also the DVD, previously released, listed just above in this store.

This new book on the Edmund Fitzgerald! is based on 25 years of research and exclusive personal interviews with the men who built, sailed and investigated the most famous shipwreck in the Great Lakes. 300 pages with full index.

Sheet music for "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," the #2 Billboard Hit written after Gord's Gold was released.

For piano, voice and guitar. The chord diagrams are in the key of A, the staff shows the piano accompaniment in C.

(Hal Leonard)

Songbook (sheet music) for 18 well known songs. Includes the four top 10 hits: "If You Could Read My Mind," "Sundown," "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," "Carefree Highway." plus "Baby Step Back," "Beautiful," "Bittergreen," "Canadian Railroad Trilogy," "Cotton Jenny," "Early Mornin' Rain," "(That's What You Get) for Loving Me," "I'm Not Sayin'," "Rainy Day People," "Ribbon of Darkness," "Song for a Winter's Night," "Steel Rail Blues," "Summer Side of Life," "Talking in your Sleep."

For piano, voice and guitar. The piano music is in the customary piano key (C); the guitar chords are in the key and chord shape Gordon uses (played using a capo).

Nicholas Jennings - Lightfoot

Buy paperback at Amazon.com   Buy paperback at Amazon.ca   Buy paperback at Amazon.co.uk

None in stock. Looking for more, but prices are very high, even for used copies. With the new biography by Nicholas Jennings, many people will be happy to have just that one. It is up-to-date, and is by a top-notch author. However, if you are interested in buying this book too, then write to me at vlmagee@mageenet.net and I'll look for another copy for you.

All copies will be used, but none will have serious defects; just things like minor scuffing or tearing of dust cover, cracked hinges, slight darkening of pages or page edges, and/or previous owner name or nameplate.

Published 1988. Long out of print.

This is the second biography of Lightfoot. The first one, written 13 years earlier, is more a collection of clipping and news reports.

The book is odd in that it appears to be written by someone who doesn't like his subject, so keep that in mind. There are quotes from people like ex-wives and ex- girlfriends, not people whose opinions one would consider objective! But, in spite of such shortcomings, the book is interesting, and it does a decent job of covering the major events in Lightfoot's life through the date of publication. The new biography by Nicholas Jennings (see just above) is far better, but this older book is still an interesting read if you want more.

The pictures, some provided by Lightfoot, are excellent.

Guitar Instruction & Songwriting

Books

Published 11/2017

This new guitar manual can be used by a beginner, because the basics are covered, but will prove useful to any player along the beginner to advanced intermediate spectrum. It's rich in diagrams and fingering details, and covers a myriad of techniques and styles, with hints that will prove useful as you develop your own playing skills.

Rick's own background includes years as a folk performer, including as a member of both The Limeliters (1990-2002) and The Kingston Trio (2005-2017), as well as a long stint as an opera director.

If you want just this one item, put a 1 (one) in the quantity box and then click here to go directly to checkout.

(Sing Out Press): In this 200-page source book there are many valuable insights on the work of songwriting. Steve has written detailed chapters on music theory, melody, harmony, rhythm, song critique, poetic principles, alliteration, titles, hooks, collaboration, creativity, writer's block, left brain and right brain, social issues, publishing, and surviving in the music industry.

Also included are articles and interviews with Graham Nash, Tom Paxton, Len Chandler, Fred Koller, Butch Hancock, Mary McCaslin, Michael Smith, Lou & Peter Berryman, Bob Franke, Nancy White and many others.

In her introduction to the book, Judy Collins wrote, "Use what you learn from this great book, you will get better as a songwriter: you can't fail!"

Other Artists

CDs

This is being sold by Allan Shaw of Rediscover Music/Folk Era/Wind River

A 2 CD concert by the great Bob Gibson, with a bonus CD of an informal after- concert "song exchange" with Bob and several members of the Cornell Folk Music Club. Tracks on the formal concert are:

Disc 1: Introduction * Sail Away, Lady * The Squirrel * Abilene * Dance Boatman, Dance * Workin' on a Pushboat * Erie Canal * Michael Row the Boat Ashore * Devil and the Farmer's Wife * Ol' Bill * Springfield Mountain * Day-O * Wheel-A- Matilda * John Riley * Go Down to Bimini
Disc 2: I Come for to Sing * Greenwood Side * Shady Grove * Snake Cure * There Once Was a Poor Young Man * Horse Named Bill * Andalucian Dance * Song Fragments of Marital Advice * Katie Morey * The Lily of the West * Delia * Money Is King * Linstead Market * You Must Come In at the Door * Oh Ananias * Rock-A My Soul * Mighty Day * I'm Going to Leave Old Texas * Oh Sinner Man * Take This Hammer * Wayfaring Stranger

(LP, Elektra, 1961. CD, CCM, 2008)

Out of Print and hard to find!

This was Bob Gibson's second album for Elektra. Here, he returns to his traditional roots, following his more pop flavored first album, "Ski Songs." Sadly, both albums — released on CD by Collector's Choice in 2008 — are now out of print, but I was able to snatch up some of these and can offer them to you now. Today, used copies are sold for inflated prices, so don't miss your chance to buy a new CD at an affordable price.

In addition to some popular traditional tunes, Bob teamed up on the songwriting with his performing partner Hamilton Camp (then known as Bob Camp) for three of the songs.

Tracks are:

Yes I See * Springhill Mine Disaster (Peggy Seeger) * Well, Well, Well (Bob Gibson/Bob Camp) * You Can Tell the World * Copper Kettle * John Henry * Gilgarry Mountain * Motherless Children * Daddy Roll 'Em * Trouble in Mind * By and By (Bob Gibson/Bob Camp) * Blues Around My Head (Bob Gibson/Bob Camp)

Listen to clips on the album page.

Long out of print. I have three copies left

Bob Gibson turned 60 in November of 1991. To celebrate the occasion, he did a studio recording with a live audience of invited friends. The song list spans the 38 years of Bob's career to that point - from some of his early banjo tunes to the title song, Stops Along the Way, co-written by Bob and Shel Silverstein. With Michael Smith on bass and Bob accompanying himself on banjo and 12-string, the evening's performance truly lived up to its name - Stops Along the Way. (Folk Era CD-R)

Songs:
Michael Row the Boat Ashore, To Morrow, Abilene, I Can't Hide the Way, How Could You Do This to Me, Sing Us Some of the Old Songs, Great Lakes Song, The Mermaid of Ontario, Row, Row, Row, No More Cane on the Brazos, Start the Parade, Get Away, Let the Band Play Dixie, Dyin' for Love, I Hear America Singing, Living Legend and Stops Along the Way.

Homemade Music (1978); CD reissue 2008. This is a CD, not a CD-R.
CD is out of print.

Gibson and Camp reunite for their first album together in 18 years. Here they team up with old friend and musical colleague, Dick Rosmini. The album was created in Rosmini's home studio with Dick acting as producer, recording engineer, mixing engineer and photographer. Plus, he played all the back-up instrumentals. Thus the title, Homemade Music. It highlights not only Gibson's and Camp's own compositions, but those of Shel Silverstein, Steve Goodman and Michael Smith.

You can buy the CD here or at the Hamilton Camp web site.

Only a limited number of copies remain; buy it while you can!

David Rea, who passed away on October 27th, was Gordon Lightfoot's "first" lead guitar player (definition of "first" being that he played lead for Gord at live gigs, as well as on an album). He was an amazing guitar player, as well as a fine singer/songwriter in his own right. And he was a friend. Please visit his web site at David Rea Music to learn more about him. You can buy the CD here or there.

My favorite cut on this CD is David's beautiful cover of Ian Tyson's The Gift. If you visit the X7/Times Seven album page (see link in CD title), you can listen to a clip of it.

In the mid-80s, legendary folk icons Tom Paxton and Bob Gibson, along with then-newcomer Anne Hills, formed Best of Friends and toured nationally and internationally for a year and a half. This CD of a 1985 live performance wasn't released until 2004 and is the only commercially available recording of this stellar trio. All three artists contributed songs of love, humor, politics and social commentary.

To buy just this CD, put a 1 in the quantity box (above) and click on Checkout.
 

(Appleseed Recordings, 2003) Out of print. An album of old and new story-songs, sung in full harmony. A true labor of love from four friends. This is the kind of album we might have heard coming out of the dormitory window when we were in college.

Fourtold is Steve Gillette, Anne Hills, Cindy Mangsen and Michael Smith, four of the most highly regarded folk singer/songwriters of our generation. This talented quartet sings story songs, as only they can, highlighted by Steve's "Darcy Farrow," with Steve playing this song better than anybody else and accompanied by truly magnificent harmonies.

Anne Hills was known first for her voice, then her writing, and finally for her continuing collaborative work as both a performer and a songwriter. Michael Smith, whose "The Dutchman" is another folk classic, is a riveting solo performer, and also sings with the quartet Weavermania.

Four Rode By * Molly and Tenbrooks * Pendle Hill * Joshua Gone Barbados * Panther in Michigan * Darcy Farrow * Ballad of Springhill * Aramalee * Nine Little Goblins * Two Men in the Building * I Drew My Ship * Run Come See Jerusalem.

To buy just this CD, put a 1 in the quantity box (above) and click on Checkout
 

This CD is out of print; you can buy it as an MP3 album from Steve & Cindy's store here

Sale! Regular price $29.99.

A 2 CD recording of the October 3rd, 1963 concert by The Kingston Trio at the University of Kentucky. A "Flashback" to the euphoria of JFK's "Camelot".

The trio members were Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds and John Stewart.

Songs on the 2 CDs are:

Disc 1: Little LIght * The Wagoner Lad * Reverand Mr. Black * M.T.A. * Mariah * The Shape of Things * Big Ball in Boston * One More Town * Blowin in the Wind * Greenback Dollar
Disc 2: Hard Ain't It Hard * Getaway John * The Sinking of the Reuben James * Two Ten, Six Eighteen * The Tijuana Jail * Ballad of the Quiet Fighter * The Merry Minuet * Tom Dooley * Wimoweh * Scotch and Soda * Where Have All the Flowers Gone? * When the Saints Go Marching In

This is being sold by Allan Shaw of Rediscover Music/Folk Era/Wind River

Vinyl released 1967; CD in 1996, now out of print.

Once again, the trio members were Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds and John Stewart. This is their last studio album before their retirement; John Stewart then embarked on his illustrious solo career. Eleven of the 16 songs were written or co-written by John Stewart. The original vinyl album was 12 songs to which four songs from their album, "Something Else," were added by "Folk Era" for this CD reissue. For the most part, the sound here is different from the "classic" Kingston Trio sound, but it is an important album nevertheless.

Songs are: Children of the Morning (John Stewart) * Hit and Run (John Stewart) * When You've Been Away for a Long Time (John Stewart) * Lei Pakalana (Samuel F. Omar) * Gaze on Other Heavens (John Stewart) * A Taste of Honey (Robert William Scott/Roc Marlow) * Norwegian Wood (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) * Put Your Money Away (John Stewart) * Lock All The Windows (John Stewart) * Less of Me (Glen Campbell) * The Spinnin' of the World (John Stewart) * A Little Soul Is Born (John Stewart) * Where Are You Going Little Boy? (John Stewart) * Go Tell Roger (John Stewart/Randy Cierley) * Red River Shore (Samuel F. Omar) (Special arrangement and adapted by Jack Splittard & Randy Cierley) * Runaway Song (John Stewart)

Not a traditional Kingston Trio song on it! The Kingston Trio had been wanting to record a CD of all new material for a long time. Finally, they decided the time had come. All three members brought in songs, as did Bob Shane, original Kingston Trio founder. Over a several year period, the songs were whittled down; then finally agreed upon. They kept with the Kingston Trio tradition of considering only songs that everyone liked. The recording process started in June of 2011, and the CD was released in March of 2012.

Visit the album page to listen to clips, by clicking on the album title above.

Tracks: A Much Better View Of The Moon, Jasmine, Every Inch Of The Way, La Migra, Forever And A Day, Born At The Right Time, That Song About The River (Steve Gillette & Charles John Quarto), Cherie, If I Were Free, River, May The Light Of Love, Blackleg Miner, Barrett's Privateers, Real Old Style, Turkish Delight From The Dardanelles

Recorded by George Grove, Bill Zorn and Rick Dougherty while performing as The Kingston Trio, this 2017 CD features some incredible new songs, some Woody Guthrie standards and a few surprises. It's a reminder of the ties that bind all of us — family, friends and music.

Tracks: Hard Ain't It Hard * Singing Your Songs * Pastures of Plenty * If I Knew Then What I Know Now * Lake Michigan * Don't You Let It Rain * On The Wind * Waialae Mapuna Kahala O Kailua * Deportee * Grandpa Held The Snakes * San Miguel * America-America

See the Kingston Trio Holiday Cheers CD and DVD in the Holiday Music section below.

Holiday & Seasonal Music

CDs

This is being sold by Allan Shaw of Rediscover Music/Folk Era/Wind River

Sale! Regular price $29.95

Out of print / rare.

Glenn Yarbrough's Christmas album with 14 timeless songs:

O Holy Night * O Little Town of Bethlehem * It Came Upon A Midnight Clear * What Child Is This * Away In A Manger * I Wonder As I Wander * Silent Night * Scarlet Ribbons * Silver Bells * Winter Wonderland * White Christmas * I'll Be Home For Christmas * The Christmas Song * Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

(Gadfly 235, 1997): Taken from live multi-track recordings of Priscilla Herdman, Anne Hills and Cindy Mangsen's "Voices of Winter" concert tour. Priscilla Herdman: vocals, guitar, drum, wooden spoons, Anne Hills: vocals, guitar, banjo, Cindy Mangsen: vocals, guitar, concertina.

The highlight for me is the beautiful Christmas song "Unto You This Night," written by Steve Gillette and Rex Benson for Garth Brooks; it's on Garth's very popular 1992 Christmas album, "Beyond The Season," which reached #2 on both The Billboard 200 and the Billboard Country Albums charts. You can watch a video which uses the audio from this recording at Steve & Cindy's site here.

Songs are: Wintergrace, Snow In The Street, Raise The Dead of Wintertime, Witch Hazel, Serving Girl's Holiday, Hanerot Halalu, A'Rovin' On A Winter's Night, Joy Health Love & Peace, The Wren, Unto You This Night (A Child is Born), Frozen Logger, Proper Cup Of Coffee, Voices Of Winter, Red And Green, Hot Buttered Rum, Mister Santa, Chickadee, More Wood, Lo How A Rose E're Blooming

(Hand & Heart Music, HHM-2000):

The trio's third album, a celebration of the cycle of the seasons. Priscilla Herdman: vocals, guitar, wooden spoons; Anne Hills: vocals, guitar, banjo, harmonica; Cindy Mangsen: vocals, guitar, concertina, accordion. With Peter Davis, Steve Gillette, Brian Melick, Larry Packer, Scott Petito, and Jennifer Weeks.

Songs are: At the Turning of the Year, Candlemas Eve, The Winter It Is Past, Forget-Me-Not, Swinton May Song, Goodbye to the Roses, Away Ye Merry Lassies, Uncle Dave's Grace, Solstice Round, The Snow, The Druggist, Corn Water and Wood, Years, Winter's Come and Gone.

This seasonal sampler CD includes a brand new song by Michael Jerling, available only on this album. The Longest Night of the Year: Volume Two (2019), is a sampler album of previously unreleased songs of the season from Hudson Harding Music. It is a two CD set with twenty four artists performing solstice songs, Christmas songs, Hanukkah songs, winter songs etc. ... Christine Lavin appropriately kicks things off with her clever tune "The Universal Holiday Greeting", a round that covers all the bases. Michael Jerling debuts a new song called "Long Shadows," and there are heartfelt original songs from Cosy Sheridan and Tom Prasada Rao. The music is firmly in the acoustic/folk mold, though some country, Latin and pop influences appear. Original songs dominate, but there are also seasonal covers of John & Yoko ("Crowes Pasture"), Townes Van Zandt ("Jaime Michael") and Willie Nelson ("Jordi Baizan"). The entire collection is only available on CD, but Michael Jerling's Long Shadows is individually available for MP3 download from his online store where you can also listen to clips of all the songs.

Songs are: (DISK 1) The Universal Holiday Greeting (Christine Lavin & The Mistletones) * Angel Wings (Tom Pracada-Rao) * The Spirit of Christmas (Ashley & Simpson) * Your Favorite Christmas Song (Mark Stepakoff) * On Christmas Day (Chris Rosser) * Happy Xmas (War is Over) (Crowes Pasture) * Christmas Wishes (David Roche & Oona Roche) * The Longest Night of the Year (Eli Lev & Megan Leigh) * Winter Solstice (Cindy Ruenes) * The Daffodils will be Waiting (Cosy Sheridan with Charlie Koch) * People to Love (December Song) (The Lied To's) * Amber Christmas (Isabel Taylor) * (DISK 2) We Teach Them How (Emily Kurn) * Long Shadows (Michael Jerling) * Parting Through (Craig Werth) * Bringing in the Light (Gathering Sparks) * Pretty Paper (Jordi Baizan) * Quiet Christmas (Karyn Oliver) * Snowing on Raton (Jaime Michaels) * In the Dark (Katie Dahl) * It's a Hallmark of the Season (D.C. Bloom) * Longest Night Lullaby (Leah Kaufman) * Between Heaven and the Ground (Mike P. Ryan) * Christmas in Your Eyes (Steve Eriksson)

(Released 11/2017)

(George Grove, Bill Zorn, Rick Dougherty trio w/Paul Gabrielson on bass) Recorded live in Tulsa, OK on December 17th, 2016, this is the last televised performance of the "GBR" trio. George, Bill and Rick performed as the Kingston Trio from 2005 through September 2017, the longest of any of the trio configurations over the 60 years since the first trio of Dave Guard, Bob Shane and Nick Reynolds. With 15 holiday classics and four KT classics (the latter four not on the TV special). See also the companion DVD.

The songs: This Little Light of Mine (2:40), All Through the Night (3:03), Last Month of the Year (2:05), Glorious Kingdom (3:30), Go Where I Send Thee (2:35), Here We Come A'Caroling (1:12), Goodnight, My Baby (2:01), Go Tell It On the Mountain (2:04), A Round About Christmas (1:31), Angels We Have Heard On High (2:17), Somerset Gloucestershire Wassail (2:43), White Snows of Winter (2:36), Mary's Boy Child (4:12), Deck the Halls (1:34), We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1:25).
Bonus songs not in the television special:
M.T.A. (2:52), Tom Dooley (3:01), Where Have All the Flowers Gone? (3:24), I'm Going Home (California) (2:42)

DVDs

(Released 11/2017)

(George Grove, Bill Zorn, Rick Dougherty trio w/Paul Gabrielson on bass) Recorded live in Tulsa, OK on December 17th, 2016, this is the last televised performance of the "GBR" trio. George, Bill and Rick performed as the Kingston Trio from 2005 through September 2017, the longest of any of the trio configurations over the 60 years since the first trio of Dave Guard, Bob Shane and Nick Reynolds. With 15 holiday classics and four KT classics (the latter four not on the TV special). See also the companion CD.

The songs: This Little Light of Mine (2:40), All Through the Night (3:03), Last Month of the Year (2:05), Glorious Kingdom (3:30), Go Where I Send Thee (2:35), Here We Come A'Caroling (1:12), Goodnight, My Baby (2:01), Go Tell It On the Mountain (2:04), A Round About Christmas (1:31), Angels We Have Heard On High (2:17), Somerset Gloucestershire Wassail (2:43), White Snows of Winter (2:36), Mary's Boy Child (4:12), Deck the Halls (1:34), We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1:25).
Bonus songs not in the television special:
M.T.A. (2:52), Tom Dooley (3:01), Where Have All the Flowers Gone? (3:24), I'm Going Home (California) (2:42)