|
In 1958, Canadian-born troubador Gordon Lightfoot left a job
working in his father's laundry to move to Los Angeles to pursue his
dream of a musical career. Studying orchestration and making a
living as an arranger of commercial jingles. Lightfoot was soon
attracted to the burgeoning folk music scene of the early 60s.
Encouraged to switch from piano to guitar by Pete Seeger, he
returned to Toronto and began performing his original material in
local clubs.
In 1966, the singer/songwriter released the first of six albums on
Liberty Records. In 1971, he signed to Reprise Records where he
recorded a string of acclaimed albums and hit singles. The 1971 LP
If You Could Read My Mind featured the hit of the same name, while
Sundown, released in 1974, contained the smash title track as well
as "Carefree Highway."
Summertime Dream, Lightfoot's eigth Reprise album, was
released in the spring of 1976. Produced by the artist Lenny
Waronker, Summertime Dream contains 10 Lightfoot originals. The
album's centerpiece is the epic "The Wreck Of The Edmund
Fitzgerald." Clocking in at over six minutes, the song chronicles the
sinking of an ore vessel on Lake Superior. It was a number two hit in
late 1976. Other standout cuts on Summertime Dream include
"I'm Not Supposed Too Care," "Too Many Clues In This Room" and
the title cut.
|