1992 CBC "Country Gold" feature: Gordon Lightfoot

"Country Gold" was a 3-hour 1992 CBC-TV special that brought new country and old country together in a program devoted to the history of Canadian country music.

[@batphink2655]

What a songwriter, this man sings of life and experiences we've all had and more. Sadly I don't think we'll see this like of this sort of talent again, James Taylor, Jon Denver etc....I'm grateful to have grown up in the 70's!

[@MrVinfest]

sadly but true

[@geraldcalderone5228]

Agreed except delete Taylor. I find him insufferable.

[@DaveSS-xi4pn]

LOVE THIS!!!!!

[@steveincork3669]

I have been aware of Gordon since I was a child. The man is a phenomenon force of nature🙏🏻❤️

[@robertcharpentier6852]

I met Gordon Lightfoot in person one memorable night in Waikiki in the early 1970s. I was the manager of a small apartment complex in Waikiki called The Shady Lane Apartments and I often would sti on my front porch "stoop" of an evening. The Shady Lane had a courtyard filledd with tropical plants, a pond and waterfall, and the apartments were arranged around this courtyard. I had become the resident manager in 1972. Gordon had just done a concert at the Blaisdell Center that evening and was walking by himself exploring Waikiki when he wandered into the Shady Lane and I invited him to sit on the concrete stoop next to me. I rolled a joint of Hawaii's famous "buds" and over the net hour I got to know Lightfoot on a person level. He was a heavy drinke3r at the timne. Glad he finally gave up alcohol. He seemed to be a bit sad that evening as we talked. As a Nam combat vet I think he and I both felt a bit of "sadness"....

[@Cheerfultoday]

Yes, when melancholy enfolds you, it’s good to find someone who understands, and helps lift it off of you, even for a little while.

[@jasonkidd4521]

Nice to see a rare interview from about the mid-point of his career. He felt lucky to still be performing at age 52. Little did he know he'd be playing over 30 years later. An abdominal aneurysm in 2002 almost killed him and severely hampered his singing voice. But he soldiered on for another 20 years and "did the best he could with what he'd got." Rest in peace, Gord. There will never be another singer songwriter like you.

[@ReneeKnightYogaRani]

Gord was a truly lovely human being. I was blessed to have known him!

[@ReneeKnightYogaRani]

Thank you for the like of my comment! I think that anyone who knew him well knew what a lovely person he was, in addition to how much he loved music! He was passionate & very supportive of his musical colleagues!

[@donabel3133]

Saw Gordon twice in Vancouver and each time the opening bars to The Wreck..... made my hair stand on end.

[@ckp2ator389]

Thanks for this interview. It's insightful as to how Gordon regarded his songwriting as "compulsive" in the early days when he produced so many hits, probably at the expense of his family life. And at the time of this interview, he seems happy looking at it as more of a hobby, though he says with a chuckle, still compulsive. Clearly, he loved performing. Great artist and positive human being, learned the lessons of life and in his later songs passing it on to us.

[@gibsalisbury]

RIP You will be missed.

[@sandrab2589]

In 1994, I was blessed to see Gordon Lightfoot live in concert. His amazing music has been with me throughout all the ups and downs of my life.

[@JosephEvans-l7y]

So have I and I'll never forget that experience. He's as genuine and real as you can get .I met him after the concert I attended at the palace theatre in Lorain ,Ohio I was a sailor on the great lakes in the U.S.M M I told him that was my profession .he smiled and asked me how I liked the career I told him I loved being a sailor he shook my hand and told me to be careful .I'll never forget that smile either I'll tell you this much their wasn't a dry eye when they did the wreck I was actually surprised to see so many younger people at that concert miss you Gordy .thanks for the awesome memory and your music ❤❤❤❤

[@badplay156]

Pussywillows Cattails is probably my favourite song by anyone. It is a song that is at peace with the world, remembering the softness and quiet joys

[@drumdad54sdl47]

The word pictures he paints in this song are absolutely gorgeous.

[@BDFAN65]

One of Canada's best. You are sadly missed Gordon. Your music lives one...Lloyd :)

[@patriciahatmaker9209]

You are so right. We won,t see this kind of talent again. One of a kind. And he shared his knowledge with others

[@francesbrisco776]

What a great musician GORDY is😊

[@annegretfelhaber6978]

So glad to have grown up in this era! The music was pure genius!

[@alankenworthy9722]

I'll Tag Along is an absolute gem of song, showing GL's complete mastery of his art., I love all his songs but this one is the one I keep coming back to, it has everything , so perfect a composition and a delightful piece of philosophy.

[@ElChupacabra77B]

Oh God!! Not ‘you’ again.

[@alankenworthy9722]

@@ElChupacabra77B Oh God not another troll hiding behind a false name . too cowardly to give his name . as he emanates negativity..

[@ElChupacabra77B]

@@alankenworthy9722 I’m not emanating negativity towards Lightfoot as I love his music, but mostly towards “you” whom I loathe, and am annoyed by. And yes I do choose to hide under a code name for anonymity, but I have a right to my anonymity, as you have a right to hide your face behind a headless chicken.

[@alankenworthy9722]

@@ElChupacabra77B It's good to hate , isn't it? Better for you to hate someone you have never met and and do not know at all, than real people , in case you have to face up to their reaction. Never mind, just keep taking the pills and trust in the psychiatrist next time you meet him. Be a good boy, or the bogeyman will come.

[@michellecalling]

He had such a beautiful vibrato

[@francesmcgloin9743]

Very different voices, Gordon Lightfoot, and Charlie Pride, this Music will live forever they can never be copied, born Talent, just Brilliant, My Brother Seamus played his stuff not the sad, he introduced me to him, Seamus loved Lightfoot & I loved Seamus, Did she mention my name, was the first song he sang for me l hear it in my head after all these years. + Rest in Peace Boys always in my Prayers. 🇮🇪☘️❤️ Thanks for the great Memories along with the Joy, and Tears.

[@NevadaBoss]

One of the highlights of my life was when I finished an interview with Gord, and choking back tears, I said "I just want you to know that you make me proud to be Canadian." There was a pause (he didn't take compliments well) and then just said, 'well, thank you.' Immeasurable talent and an irreplaceable artist.

[@gordonf.woodbine7588]

Gordon certainly did the best with what he had. Dedicated and superb.

[@eddietheTruth11]

I like Gordon Lightfoot so delightfully owning up to his quirks and his OCD traits like he does in this video!

[@francesbrisco776]

GORDY was.very gifted looked great for 52 in this video

[@zitalima3140]

Forever missed 🎶💞🎶

[@katherinedemerson8817]

May 16, 2023, having just watched this video: "I'm 52 years old and I'm still working...." Little did Gordon, or we fans, know that thirty years later, he would still be working....up until the end. You were such a huge part of my life, Gordon. I will miss you forever.

[@JosephEvans-l7y]

❤❤❤❤❤❤😢😢 miss you Gordy

[@zoltannemeth8864]

Thanks for sharing this. GL is one of the best songwriters / storytellers that has ever come along.

[@tomclayton6875]

Was introduced to Gord's music with Don Quixote. If you've never listened to that album, do yourself a favor. Every song is just beautiful. The way the guitars emulate the vocals and the stories is just outstanding. Just close your eyes and really let the songs invade your mind. He really had a talent. Thanks Gordon!

[@fridgeratorsam4042]

Great little video. I've followed Gord when I was in Duluth in '76 and went out and got all his UA albums and all the rest. A real good interview with him I hadn't seen heard before. No one else like him. And it seemed he always did do his best.

[@sweetcaroline2060]

I love this video. And I love ❤Gordon Lightfoot. I've been lucky to have grown up with his music, I had all his albums, of course, and was thrilled to have met him and talked for a few minutes. He told me about a PBS Documentary on the Edmond Fitzgerald but apparently not in my area. He seemed surprised when I stuck out my hand to shake his. What a delightful memory. Thank you. ❤

[@sabinemoller4348]

4 years ago I started learning to play the guitar. My ambitious dream was to sing and play the song "If you could read my mind". It took me nearly 2 years to do it properly. Ever since I began playing I am a happier woman. (now 61). Thank you Gordon! :)

[@patriciahatmaker9209]

That’s great. Quite an achievement

[@patriciahatmaker9209]

Loved Gordon’s voice.

[@natalies.4364]

I first became a fan when I bought the 45 of "Sundown" when I was 10, although I knew "If You Could Read My Mind." "Sundown" had such an edge to it and although I didn't know about sex, I inherently knew that was a very sexy song.

[@hfjjor3681]

I was about 15 when I first heard “Sundown.” It literally stopped me in my tracks as I was walking into my bedroom one day. This Michigan kid had never heard of Gordon Lightfoot before then. But I knew that song oozed so much sexuality that it turned me on. And I was/am female. So it was Mr. Lightfoot who helped me take my first steps into that verboten adult world. Thanks Gord!

[@robinhood480]

“It’s painful... because it’s not as good as I want it to be .” Cool , now I have something in common with Gordon Lightfoot.

[@Seafarer62]

Thanks for posting. Some outstanding vintage video for younger generations to experience his history. I'm glad my lifetime has intersected with Gord for the past 50 years or so. He has provided me a lot of enjoyment and life lessons learned.

[@brockwayent]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@josephcalrow2586]

@@brockwayent I'm a huge Gordon lightfoot and I like Judy Garland too

[@als1023]

Same thoughts, thanks for posting !!

[@keilder8543]

What a wonderful video. Kudos CBC

[@debikami1]

I love this video, a great compilation of stuff! Love Gordon Lightfoot!😻😻😻

[@TheMrGirelli]

Awesome artist! E this final song, I'll tag along, it's just one of the bests the I've ever heard in all my life!

[@janmacdonald1547]

Love A Minor Ballad. Reminds me of the Riverboat.

[@shadow31305]

Rest easy gord

[@Zickcermacity]

His spoken and singing voice are completely different!

[@alphasportstv]

RIP Gord

[@randyneumeyer2107]

RIP

[@canuck-guy2384]

This opening song never made it on his contracted albums.

[@joeysanguine3596]

So happy to subscribe🥰

[@ElChupacabra77B]

It’s hard for me to tell or figure out what colour his name appears in as it moves across the screen in the opening scene. I used to think it was a royal blue. Now looking at it a few times, it think it’s a lavender purple. Maybe an indigo colour (between blue and violet). Anyways I do remember seeing this video as it contains several scenes from the 1960’s era when he was with United Artists. Very little from the 70s except maybe Steel Rail Blues from Live At BBC in 1971, and If You Could Read My Mind from the yet to be aired on KZbin CBC Olympic Concert from 1976. Very memorable. My favourite saying from him in this interview was as his teacher instilled in him “Do the best you can with what you got.” That’s a saying that I go by when having to do something difficult and failing at it. “You do the best you can with what you got, and if it doesn’t work out, then to hell with it. Because worrying about it, and getting upset over it isn’t going to make the situation any better. Fine memories! I hope they air this show as a whole with every artist and segment featured, because it’s a part of Canadian musical history!!!

[@hfjjor3681]

The song at 1:57 somewhat resembles House of the Rising Sun

[@edwinwise3348]

Seeing him encourage the crowd to clap along is a bit confusing to me, because I saw him in Portland, Or and during "Sundown" he told the crowd to desist when we started to clap along

[@micheladonofrio2285]

Does anybody know where I can watch the whole episode?

[@jordan-xe2yb]

Post the whole thing okay? Do it.

[@jrose9378]

Wonder how his hair was both tight curly and sometimes totally straight ? Did he get permed like a lot of guys did in the 70s ? Because he ended up with straight hair in the end.

[@matdelgado-d7i]

Please anybody can tell me the name of the song at 1:57? Thanks

[@eriksahlin7104]

It’s A Minor Ballad from his 2nd album The Way I Feel

[@everly-shadystudios9900]

This footage is definitely not from 1992 it's very misleading for who's reading this

[@mikeozaruk8927]

Had to be either late 1990 or early 1991 since he was 52 years old at the time of filming, you're right.

[@ElChupacabra77B]

It was taped in 1991, but released, aired and copyrighted in 1992.

[@johnalbert5786]

… lol 🤣 the interview is 91 or 92 The old footage is taken from his career.

[@AvenueH]

@@johnalbert5786 Exactly. I mean, gee whiz...🙄

[@rosemariepriest1453]

Ptorotosir

[@hangmingzheng7866]

The imaginary jail unpredictably fry because cable neurally beam vice a salty hole. changeable, calculating girdle

[@drumdad54sdl47]

Wtf have you been smoking??