I'd better post this before I change my mind again!
Here we go.
1)Salute(a lot more living to do)
A good opener.
2)Song for a winter's night.
A surprise.
You need a slow love ballad to even the set.
Powerful imagery,it's also a favourite.
3)Summer side of life.
I've got a soft spot for the album,
it's the first one I bought,
it also came out in '71,the year I first followed Gord.
In all honesty, the track has lost some of it's impact because I really have played it so many times.
But I include it because of the reasons given.
4)Nous vivons ensemble.
A lot was made of the politics of this song.
I just think it's a beautiful song.
'We've got to live together'
Simple and true.
5)If you could read my mind.
Essential.
The song that connected me to Gord.
I would imagine it's essential for a lot of people.
Including Gord himself.
6)Forgive me Lord.
I'm with you on this one Florian.
It's the best track of the previously unreleased from songbook.
It's hot because it's still new to me at the moment.
7)Canadian railroad trilogy.
Surprise,surprise...
I chose this one over the other two epics.
It's been around a lot longer,Gord seems to like it, which would make for a good performance.
It's criminal to leave out Seven Island and the Wreck,but something's got to give.
8)Rainy Day People.
This is the one big surprise.
It was never a favourite of mine in the seventies and eighties,but it's grown on me in the last few years.
I played it a few days ago and it sounded as good as anything he's ever done.
9)Early Morning Rain.
Just as essential as IFYCRMM.
His most celebrated song from his UA days.
It's also a brilliant song.
10)Summertime Dream.
Optimistic,joyous,fun.
A song to appeal to all age groups.
11)Cotton Jenny.
See above.
12)Shadows.
Very personal(can't reveal).
13)Minstrel Of The Dawn.
Full of wisdom.
One of his best ever vocal performances.
Even warmer and clearer than normal.
14)Fading Away.
Good groove.
Try keeping still to this one.
15)Drifters.
There has to be a track from the most recent album.It was this or Uncle Toad Said,I couldn't choose between them.So I flipped a coin.
16)Ride,let it ride.
East Of Midnight represented.
17)She's not the same.
Who wouldn't want a red hot flame.
18)Don Quixote.
Second best vocal performance.
Type of song you really feel you should include.
19)Highway Songs.
This would be a great finale.
The power and energy at the end of this song
is staggering.
It's almost as if it's going to come out of the speakers.
Encore.
20)Carefree Highway.
There was never any doubt in my mind that this would be the last track.
If you are going to say good bye to the man,this is the song.
If I start to list the merits of the song,I'll be here a long time.
Let's just say the music speaks very well for itself.
What man cannot relate to the line,
'She left me not knowing what to do'
what person cannot relate to
'I've got to see you my old friend'.
I've been asked many times what my favourite Gordon Lightfoot song is and I've never been able to answer.
This is the moment I'm going to make my committment.
'Carefree Highway'is my favourite Gordon Lightfoot song.
Thank you and Goodnight.
Frank v.
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