From the CBC:

Gordon Lightfoot's life in 10 songs

Jim Richards had a special guest discussing Lightfoot on his nationwide Newstalk Tonight show Monday night. To my surprise, it was Alan Cross, who, of course, works for Corus and appears on their radio stations. I honestly didn't think he would consent to come on the competition. But on this occasion, that's exactly what he did. Interesting. 

His second guest also had a connection to Toronto radio - David Marsden recalled the iconic singer in an interview soon after, remembering that Lightfoot used to appear on his 60s CBC show "Music Hop." And that's how they first met. 

The liquid clarity of his voice and lyrics...and a masterful storyteller. sigh...

John Moore had prepared a brief obituary on Gordon upon hearing of his illness and cancelling shows.   1010 had it on around 8:30 even though Jerry Agar is covering and John is away until tomorrow.    I was reading some stories about Gordon on Facebook and thought this one was worth sharing.

From Gerry Stokman:

"My Gordon Lightfoot story: As a young Bell Technician, I was dispatched one morning to fix a phone line at his home in Rosedale. I arrived at his residence and when he answered the door, he refused to allow me in to diagnose the problem, and told me to fix it from outside. I guess he thought I was some starstruck fan, which I was not. I did what I thought was a great job by using a spare line leading to his house, and left. The very next day, a coworker was dispatched to his place to fix Mr. Lightfoots alarm circuit, which I'd inadvertently cut to fix the previous problem. My coworker was from Trinidad and had no fucking idea who Gordon Lightfoot was, and Gord was so taken by that fact, that he invited him back with his entire family for Christmas dinner for years after that, lol. You're welcome Rasool Lochan, wherever you are!"

Last edited by SpinningWheel (May 2, 2023 9:00 am)

Alan Cross weighs in.

RIP Gordon Lightfoot. Here’s why he mattered so much.

Has anyone else noticed that, with all the Lightfoot bumper music being played on shows to introduce segments on talk shows Tuesday, not once have I heard one of his most famous and controversial songs, "Black Day In July."

The tune, about rioting in Detroit, was banned on some stations in the late 60s.

But it's one of his most famous. Yet, I haven't heard it once all day. Is this deliberate or just a coincidence?

I heard Black Day in July on a TV report last night.  Unfortunately I can't remember which one.  Something that I have noticed at least this morning, the news reports seem to be dwelling on Gord's later years when he neither sounded or looked his best.  One report showed him singing Carefree Highway from a concert a few years ago, he looked sick and didn't sound anything like the song.  Poor judgement from the various newsrooms.  Show and play the songs from the man as we remember him, not from two years ago.  Also to me shows a lack of respect.  Fine to show a clip of him as he looked recently or even an interview, but please show more respect to his music and the great performer that he was.  

An accomplished session musician and producer, from just across the lake in Rochester, has a lot to say about Gordon Lightfoot. The Youtube live stream was captured just a couple of hours ago.

This is a passionate display of a love for Gordon, intimate musical knowledge and love of the region most of us live in. Don't miss it. Very moving...




 

RadioActive wrote:

Has anyone else noticed that, with all the Lightfoot bumper music being played on shows to introduce segments on talk shows Tuesday, not once have I heard one of his most famous and controversial songs, "Black Day In July."

The tune, about rioting in Detroit, was banned on some stations in the late 60s.

But it's one of his most famous. Yet, I haven't heard it once all day. Is this deliberate or just a coincidence?

When "Black Day In July" was released in 1968, it never reached the "Bubbling Under" Hot 100 chart. Understandably, it received no airplay on CKLW. Locally, it peaked at #17 on the CHUM Chart.

paterson1 wrote:

Dial Twister, thanks for posting that awesome video with Rick Beato.  A very nice, sincere and emotional tribute to a great singer/songwriter. A think some people forgot just how respected Lightfoot was as a writer and musician.  His records sold well but he was never at the upper echelons.  His strength was the writing, musicianship and the excellent production of his music which Rick highlights. 

paterson1, it was incredible to watch that live, yesterday, as Rick Beato poured out his heart about "Gordo". Anyone here, and I do mean anyone, who hasn't watched it, please do it now. Even if you were bored playing Lightfoot over the years, watch and listen to how much he was loved and admired.



 

paterson1 wrote:

I never understood why radio people would always comment how overplayed Lightfoot and Anne Murray were in the first years of cancon.  I was in radio in the 70's.  All the stations I was employed at, both Murray and Lightfoot were not played any more than other artists, either their gold hits or charted songs.  So I never understood all the overplayed comments. To me just another inaccurate cancon myth.  Or maybe some stations were just not that good at programming music.   

You are correct; they were no more overplayed than the rest of the Canadian artists. A little less, actually.

Last edited by RadioAaron (May 3, 2023 6:54 pm)

RadioAaron wrote:

paterson1 wrote:

I never understood why radio people would always comment how overplayed Lightfoot and Anne Murray were in the first years of cancon.  I was in radio in the 70's.  All the stations I was employed at, both Murray and Lightfoot were not played any more than other artists, either their gold hits or charted songs.  So I never understood all the overplayed comments. To me just another inaccurate cancon myth.  Or maybe some stations were just not that good at programming music.   

You are correct; they were no more overplayed than the rest of the Canadian artists. A little less, actually.

So, Canadian artists played on Canadian radio is overplay.  I can understand why we still have the regulations then...