Track Listing

1. Minstrel Of The Dawn
2. Me And Bobby McGee
3. Approaching Lavender
4. Saturday Clothes
5. Cobwebs And Dust
6. Poor Little Allison
7. Sit Down Young Stranger
8. If You Could Read My Mind
9. Baby It's Alright
10. Your Love's Return (Song For Stephen Foster)
11. Pony Man

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27907 in Music
• Released on: 1993-01-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

CD Description
Though he eventually came to be regarded as an MOR pop artist, Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot emerged fromthe 1960s folk world, and had as much in common with Ian & Sylvia, Eric Andersen, and Bob Dylan as he did with any '70sAM wonder. Though the title track of IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND was indeed his first massive pop hit, the album proves that Lightfoot was a serious, substantive song craftsman. "Minstrel of the Dawn" is a "Mr. Tambourine Man"-like affair that closes on a surprisingly sarcastic note. "Sit Down Young Stranger" and "Cobwebs & Dust" are the folkiest cuts, and each bears an incisive, poetic lyricism. The bluesy "Baby It'sAlright" and a cover of Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee" showcase Lightfoot's rootsier tendencies, while "Saturday Clothes" stands out by virtue of its Bacharach-like melody and dinner-jacket chord progression. While he wasn't as edgy as fellow Canuck Leonard Cohen, Lightfoot was clearly aformidable song-poet.

Customer Reviews

Haunting & relaxing
I bought this CD with much trepidation having heard very little about Gordon Lightfoot. I didn't even realise that he was the singer of "If you could read my mind". I knew the song but was reminded of it again by Trigger Happy TV. I then got in touch with the GL web sit in the US and Valerie gave me details of his discography and history. Then I purchased this CD. To my delight it is great to listen to. I actually love punk and rock and all types of music but this CD is quite timeless - it hasn't dated at all like other 70's artists. I expected to play only the track I bought it for - If you could read my mind - but I have actually played it all the way through every time. OK so it is a bit (a lot) folky but then my brother once owned an album my Maddy Prior so I am qualified to speak about the subject. To conclude - buy it. Gordon Lightfoot has the kind of voice that makes you feel happy.

Best track from cult TV show Trigger Happy
Gordon Lightfoots 70s track 'If you could read my mind' is part of the haunting soundtrack on the Channel 4 programme Trigger Happy TV. Buy this album now and enjoy the rest of Lightfoots songs.

"Where it began for me"
On the strength of hearing the title track on the radio, this is where my introduction to Lightfoot's music started. His distinctive voice and easy presentation captured the mood of music that I have loved to this day. Stand out tracks are Poor Little Alison, Saturday Clothes, Love's Return and of course the brilliant cover of Me & Bobby McGee. As a whole, the album is very strong. Although, I have since bought his back catalogue, this is where it started for me and it never fails to put me in a glorious mood.