We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
This is one you might have missed. “Old Dan’s Records”, the ninth LP from Gordon Lightfoot, is kinda just there in the middle of his discography. You might have heard the title track as it was included on ‘Gord’s Gold” which most fans gobbled up a few years later. But the rest of these tunes might have escaped your ears. You should rectify that.
It’s funny. Nothing really jumps out from this record but if you listen to it a few times the songs grow on you. I marked almost all of them as worth a second or third listen.
It’s more country than folk with banjo and steel guitar plus an excellent piece of dobro work from ace David Bromberg on the song “My Pony Wont Go”. His usual cast of characters play on this including Rick Haynes (Bass), Terry Clements (lead guitar) and Red Shea (lead and classical guitar). They always pick it clean.
Other standouts include “That Same Old Obsession”, “You Are What I Am”, “Can’t Depend On Love” and “It’s Worth Believen”. And what sounds like a classic folk tune “Mother of a Miner’s Child” but it’s one of his.
It won a Juno LP in Canada as Folk Album of the Year. Lightfoot, although he had hits before, was a few years from becoming a superstar in America. Count him yet as a Canadian treasure to be discovered.
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