Gord's Gold

iTunes Review

Gordon Lightfoot turned from Canadian folksinger to an FM soft-rock staple as the ‘70s progressed. The success of songs such as “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown” and “Carefree Highway” brought Lightfoot into the mainstream. His record company, wishing to capitalize on that success, looked to issue a “Greatest Hits” collection. Lightfoot agreed to re-record his earlier material and the result is a general mix-up for the casual fan. The original versions of many early tunes, such as “I’m Not Sayin’” and “Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” can be found on The United Artists Collection, while the later hits, such as “Sundown” and “Carefree Highway” are in their most familiar “hit” versions. What the album provides most, however, is a pleasant way to experience the more “mature” Lightfoot. His voice has smoothed and calmed in places, any angst replaced by an adult confidence that’s made Lightfoot a master singer-songwriter and professional entertainer. One of the biggest hits of his career, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” was still a year away and can be found on the extremely rewarding Summertime Dream collection.