hi Kevin, I actually tried that critical first listening with "lyrics in hand" but it didnt work out well for me...since then i've let my ears do 100% of the absorbing and just let Gord recite the lyrics which are usually 99% decipherable (and i've come to listen with eyes closed anyhow)...i always fear the last track is soon approaching
some tunes get airplay on radio up here before album release and it was hard to avoid these sneak peaks in the 70/80s so a few tracks were never a complete surprise during that solitudinal virgin listening...anyhow, it's usually the non-radio friendly tunes that would get me most excited (and still do)...i envy folks just discovering his catalogue and still have so many wonderful 'premiers' awaiting them
anyhow, back to the "lyrics in hand" comment...when i eventually dove into the Songbook and Harmony CD booklets, even though i hung on every word, I simultaneously developed a large headache trying to make out that small font...don't we all miss those LP inserts with 'seniors sized fonts'?
cheers,
jim
ps) If I Could...what a cool quest, rm....i've not even heard that on radio up here...you were mining for piece of silver and struck a chunk of gold