Strictly Discs

Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind [Import]

Details

Format: CD
Catalog: 7599274512
Rel. Date: 10/25/1990
UPC: 075992745123

If You Could Read My Mind [Import]
Artist: Gordon Lightfoot
Format: CD
New: Not in stock
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Formats and Editions

DISC: 1

1. Minstrel of the Dawn
2. Me and Bobby McGee
3. Approaching Lavender
4. Saturday Clothes
5. Cobwebs & Dust
6. Poor Little Allison
7. Sit Down Young Stranger
8. If You Could Read My Mind
9. Baby It's Allright
10. Your Love's Return (Song for Stephen Foster)
11. Pony Man, The

More Info:

Out-of-print in the US. Though he eventually came to be regarded as an MOR pop artist, Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot emerged from the 1960s folk world, and had as much in common with Ian & Sylvia, Eric Andersen, and Bob Dylan as he did with any '70s AM wonder. Though the title track of IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND was indeed his first massive pop hit, the album proves that Lightfoot was a serious, substantive song craftsman. "Minstrel of the Dawn" is a "Mr. Tambourine Man"-like affair that closes on a surprisingly sarcastic note. "Sit Down Young Stranger" and "Cobwebs & Dust" are the folkiest cuts, and each bears an incisive, poetic lyricism. The bluesy "Baby It's Alright" and a cover of Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee" showcase Lightfoot's rootsier tendencies, while "Saturday Clothes" stands out by virtue of it's Bacharach-like melody and dinner-jacket chord progression. While he wasn't as edgy as fellow Canuck Leonard Cohen, Lightfoot was clearly a formidable song-poet.

Reviews:

''Sit Down Young Stranger'' is Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot's 6th original album and also his best-selling original album. It was released in 1970 on the Reprise Records Label. The album was renamed ''If You Could Read My Mind'' shortly after release due to the song of that title reaching number #5 on the chart. The album itself reached #12 on the pop chart.

The album marked a turning point in Lightfoot's musical career. It was Lightfoot's first recording for his new label, Reprise Records. He had left United Artists because he believed they did not promote his albums well enough.

In terms of the music, Lightfoot included more orchestration, which is particularly evident on "If You Could Read My Mind". It was also the first studio album to feature long-time Lightfoot bassist Rick Haynes. The orchestration on "Minstrel of the Dawn" was arranged by Randy Newman.

The album contained one of the first recorded version of Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster's "Me and Bobby McGee" which would later become a hit for Janis Joplin and also a stage favourite of Kristofferson's.

A small number of vinyl copies contain no title. This is because the cover was originally supposed to be just a picture of Lightfoot but it was then thought that stating the title would increase the album's sales.

The untitled copies did have a small sticker on the cellophane. It read "Sit Down Young Stranger." - Wikipedia

        
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