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Gordon Lightfoot - Harmony (Import) Audio CD

A fair review of the Gordon Lightfoot "Harmony (Import)" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Gordon Lightfoot reviews here, or go back to the Gordon Lightfoot tabs.

Gordon Lightfoot Band: Gordon Lightfoot
Title: Harmony (Import)
Rating:
Release Date: 2004-05-01
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Harmony 2: River Of Light 3: Flyin' Blind 4: Like A Raptor 5: End Of All Time 6: Shellfish 7: The No Hotel 8: Inspiration Hotel 9: Clouds Of Loneliness 10: Couchiching 11: Sometimes I Wish

Fine Wine
He has been, and always will be my favorite performer since 1970. The CD is everthing you would expect from a talented and natural performer. His composing and musician talents are without equal.


Still Creative After All These Years
No, there is no "Edmund Fitzgerald" or "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" on this album. Harmony is a great album if you give it a chance. But there are some great new, mellow, introspective songs written by Gordon. Sure, he is 60-something and his voice has changed a little, but he can still sing and write like hell. All credit to him for his continued creativity and energy in making a very ambitious 2008 tour. Whether you are a life long Lightfoot fan or a new one, this album is worth buying. The more you listen to it the more it grows on you. The title song "Harmony" is particulary good.


Good points, bad points
I own all of Gordon's albums except If You Could Read My Mind and Summer Side of Life. I can't predict whether you will love this album. I know my Lightfoot.

His last three studio albums, including Harmony, have been a little disappointing to me. His voice has changed over the years, but that doesn't bother me. Even on Harmony, some of the songs are sung with conviction, and the on two live cuts (Shellfish, The No Hotel), his voice is fairly strong. On other cuts, he seems a little tentative. If I read the liner notes correctly, these tracks were originally demos with just Lightfoot singing and playing guitar. The album was constructed by the band overdubbing their instruments along with those demo tracks while Gordon was in the hospital recovering from his aneurism. Perhaps that is the source of the tentativeness I detect at times -- that they are sourced in demo recordings.

I truly loved the poetry and chord structure of River of Light. Perhaps others can get more out of the lyrics of the other tunes than I did, but for me they don't hold up to the great work he's done in the past: Don Quixote, Tatoo, Edmund Fitzgerald, etc. Also, he seems to have lost the knack of writing a powerful musical hook. There's nothing wrong with these songs, and they certainly seem sincere. I hate to say they are a bit boring, but that's how most of them strike me.

I'm glad that Gordon survived the health crisis that happened concurrent with the production of this album. He's been touring, too. I would love to be able to say that his creative powers are still as strong as they were in the 70s and 80s but I honestly can't. I would advise the prospective purchaser to complete his or her collection of Gordon's catalog from that era before moving on to these late-period works. If your expectations aren't too high, perhaps you will find this album a pleasant listen. .


legend of music
The songs are special,especially Harmony, and End of all time. This is a very,very good album. Really, having this album in my collection has made my life better. I am really thankful that Gordon Lightfoot is still with us and making great music.


An important part of any Gordon Lightfoot collection
The Title song "Harmony" draws you into Gordon's musical, life essence retrospective. If you have followed Gordon Lightfoot's music, this collection of songs rings true for a career that has lasted over forty years.

The most memorable songs move from temporary or perhaps permanent loss of powers (Harmony) to overcoming regrets and desparation and carrying on with some dignity (Shellfish) to a brilliant and timeless love song (Inspiration Lady).

I think Gordon was just having some fun on Couchiching (a song about his hometown), and the Hotel No. I'll sometimes listen to these for a lighthearted break from some of the more serious songs on this collection.

To the barbed criticism of another reviewer, I respond that "this is a comeback album from a near fatal illness. " There are few singer-songwriters who have this kind of resiliance. Gordon is a Folk artist, and if one does not think his vocals are as pretty or macho or sexy as they were on Sundown, then they're missing the point. "Harmony" is about looking back at life and carrying on in the face of time. Listen to Shellfish (another prime track on this CD), specifically "There's still a way to go, about a thousand miles or so. " Why do some people not want to hear that, or a most extraordinary voice that has been impacted by a near death experience?

There are tales and experiences in life that are the product of age and experience that are tempered by weariness and frailty and transcendent hope. That's what this set of songs is about. "Harmony - if you pass me by I will miss you, and if you can cry I can cry too. Harmony - have you gone away, have you gone to stay?" This is the gentle lament accompanied by old faded Martin that still sounds sweet.

There's nothing wrong with buying collections and "greatest hits," but to understand and appreciate Mr. Lightfoot, you should follow his timeline album by album (or CD by CD). It is a journey worth taking and "Harmony" is in its own right a key entry in our Canadian friend's brilliant contribution to folk and folk-pop-country music.


You can see a complete list of all Gordon Lightfoot discography, or go back to the Gordon Lightfoot tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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