Rich Man’s Spiritual/Long River/The Way I Feel/For Lovin’ Me/The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face/Changes/Early Mornin’ Rain/Steel Rail Blues/Sixteen Miles/I’m Not Sayin’/Pride Of Man/Ribbon Of Darkness/Oh Linda/Peaceful Waters
Self titled debut album from Canadian folk singer and songwriter Gordon Lightfoot who would have to wait until the seventies before achieving wide commercial acceptance.
“This album is easily his best of the '60s, featuring the purest folk music he ever recorded. On his later albums, he mixed in hints of pop and country flavours to the folk base, but his debut is all about superbly written and sung folk songs.”
“Lightfoot's first album, recorded in late '64 but not released until '66, features eleven original songs and three covers. The instrumental backing is pretty sparse, but these songs sound great relatively unadorned. And that's where the magic lies, in the songs themselves. Many of the melodies are simple, and many of the chord progressions are simple, but Lightfoot has a way of injecting life into simple songs with his imagery evoking lyrics and exuberant singing voice which, in the early days, was bright, strong and expressive.”
“Lightfoot is Gordon's first album, and the best of his 60s output, making a near perfect folk record.”
“Lightfoot was already 27 at the time of his solo debut, which might have accounted in part for the unusually fully developed maturity and confidence on this recording, in both his songwriting and vocals. This contains some of his best compositions, including Early Mornin' Rain.”
“By the time his first LP Lightfoot! was released, he had already gained a considerable amount of professional respect as a writer. Artists such as Marty Robbins and Peter, Paul & Mary had taken his compositions into the charts. This is the most pure folk-sounding album he ever issued, with a very stripped-down sound: rhythm guitar, vocal, lead guitar and upright bass.”
“Each tune is great and some were hits for others besides Lightfoot in the 60s. What makes this album special is that every song on here has something going for it.”
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