Many years ago (approximately 25) I had a Gordon Lightfoot eight track tape on which Gord sang such classics as "Yellow Bird" and "Song of the Groundhog". Anyone ever hear of it or remember it?

Many years ago (approximately 25) I had a Gordon Lightfoot eight track tape on which Gord sang such classics as "Yellow Bird" and "Song of the Groundhog". Anyone ever hear of it or remember it?

Was it the LaCave 1964? Yellow Bird isn't on that one though, possibly the Yellow Bird album I think the Bear Family has it but I don't know if Song of the Groundhog is on it.

No No No!! Deb it was 1965 not 1964
Added 8 March 2017 here is the Yellow Bird vinyl LP rear cover
http://johnfowles.org.uk/LIGHTFOOT/L...r_400_wide.jpg



If you study Waynes page on "bootlegs" at:-
http://www.lightfoot.ca/bootlegs.htm
you will see all the songs on the pair of Koala albums listed plus this rider:-
"(#) Denotes not sung by Gordon Lightfoot. These tracks appear to be a
thinly veiled attempt to pass off someone else as Lightfoot. The Lightfoot
tracks though are essential. They were recorded live at La Cave in Cleveland,
OH on May 8, 1965 when Lightfoot still performed without backup musicians"
Ihad not realised before that Wayne gives an exact date but it might be he surmised it by interpreting a reference Gord makes before singing Ribbon Of Darkness that the Marty Robbins versionr had a few weeks before been number one.

If anybody is vitally interested in the full story of the great La Cave recordings I have the full story from the Cleveland Ohio Lightfoot fan (no not Al MIA Watchman!) who obtained the original tape recording made by the late La Cave owner that was then passed on to Koala Records as part of a tax shelter/avoidance scheme
just leave me a Private Message with your email address.
Yes one of the La Cave tracks is "Song Of The Groundhog"
And Deb La Cave has nothing to do with Bear Family Records who only remastered and repackaged the "official" United Artists
albums
John Fowles
I tried to find a lyrics page for the groundhog song I went first to:-
http://spikesmusic-folk.spike-jamie....Lightfoot.html
but this site although having the majority of songs sung by Gord including several amusingly mis-titled ones does not have "groundhog"
I did find however a page headed:-
Artist: Watson Family
Song: Ground Hog at:-
http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/w/wats...hog438574.html
and comparing those lyrics with those sung by Gord at La Cave reveals that that is the same song although Gord has changed a few words and added a few lines (including references to "whistle up your dog" which is the song title I originally assumed when I first heard it)
here is one piece:-
Here comes Sal with a snicker and a grin, (repeat)
Groundhog gravy all over her chin
the La Cave set list plus other bootleg stuf is included on:-
http://www.geocities.com/openroadnz/setlists_L.html
just scroll down to several GL listings
added 8 March 2017:-
Alas that page is no longer online but you can see a the Wayback Machine archived page from 2009 at:-
https://web.archive.org/web/20090203...etlists_L.html
Finally just what is a groundhog when he's at home??
revised 8 March 2017
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KsCcZhgdYF...+groundhog.jpg
An armed and dangerous groundhog
This image replaces my original selection which is apparently no longer online
[ April 08, 2006, 11:19: Message edited by: johnfowles ]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by johnfowles:
[QUOTE] "They were recorded live at La Cave in Cleveland, OH on May 8, 1965 when Lightfoot still performed without backup musicians"
I had not realised before that Wayne gives an exact date but it might be he surmised it by interpreting a reference Gord makes before singing Ribbon Of Darkness that the Marty Robbins version had "three weeks before been number one one the Billboard Country chart".
Yes confirmed per:_
http://www.martyrobbins.net/awards.htm
# 1 song, Ribbon of Darkness (April 17) 1965 that was a Saturday
and from:-
http://users2.ev1.net/~smyth/linerno...footGordon.htm
"Marty Robbins recorded Lightfoot's Ribbon Of Darkness, as he says "in Gordon Lightfoot's style", and took it to the top of the Billboard Country charts."
so 3 weeks from Saturday 17 April 1965 was Saturday May 8th
How do I know??
I simply entered the date into the handy Javascript "Find any day for a given date" calculator at:-
http://www.kernow.notlong.com
Use it to check if you are a Thursday's child (like Eartha Kitt I seem to recall)
John Fowles