LIGHTFOOT BOOKS

Gordon Lightfoot Songbooks


I didn't attempt to include the numerous anthology and E-Z play books that have come out.  I will recommend Anthology Volume II, as it contains music for the unreleased song You'll Still Be Needing Me.  Each companion book offers the original album cover on the front and often any sleeve or other back cover album photos will show up somewhere in the appropriate books.  All songs from the album are included, except where noted.  All interior photos in the books are in black and white and all concert and back stage shots are from Massey Hall.


LIGHTFOOT!
- Does not contain the songs Changes, Pride Of Man, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Oh Linda.
- No inside pictures

THE WAY I FEEL
- Canadian Railroad Trilogy in the form of a handwritten leadsheet by Lightfoot himself.
- Inside back cover has four publicity type photos of Lightfoot which appear to show him over the previous several years judging by the different hair cuts.

DID SHE MENTION MY NAME
- Excellent centerpage with Massey Hall photos showing Lightfoot tuning up and also on stage.

BACK HERE ON EARTH
- Center section of book contains ten songs from his previous three albums as a bonus.
- No inside pictures.

SUNDAY CONCERT
- No book was issued.
- See "Sit Down Young Stranger"

SIT DOWN YOUNG STRANGER
- Apology, In A Windowpane and Leaves Of Grass from Sunday Concert are included in this book.  Unfortunately, Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle and The Lost Children are not.
- This book has a playing tip from Lightfoot at the bottom of a page for each song.  My favourite is from Minstrel Of The Dawn where he says, "Use thumb and finger Travis style.  If you can't do that, try a flat pick.  If you can't do that...get a job."
- There are some great Sunday Concert period photos in this book, particularily one showing Lightfoot at the piano at Massey Hall presumably all by himself playing on stage prior to or after a soundcheck.  There are some other shots from earlier in the 60's also.

SUMMER SIDE OF LIFE
- This book was issued in two formats.  One was the standard typed manuscript, the other was handwritten leadsheets by Lightfoot, with some playing tips included.
- Great in concert photos included here from the period.  All taken at the same concert it seems, as you can see him in the same vest.

DON QUIXOTE
- This book appeared in two formats as described above.
- Some very good backstage photos of Lightfoot in this book, all from the period as evidenced by the new beard.  Also individual photos of Terry Clements and Rick Haynes on stage.

OLD DAN'S RECORDS
- This book appeared in two formats as described above.
- More good up to date photos of Lightfoot, Clements and Haynes backstage tuning up.

SUNDOWN
- This book marks the return to the single format of the type written manuscript.
- Good backstage and on stage photos in this book. Rick Haynes shows up in two of them, but Terry Clements is shut out.

COLD ON THE SHOULDER
- Great series of on stage photos in this book. Lightfoot's son and daughter, Fred and Ingrid are shown on stage getting an embrace from dad.

GORD'S GOLD
- All of the songs from the set, including the UA re-recorded ones.
- Good selection of mid-seventies' photos. 
SUMMERTIME DREAM
- This being Lightfoot's first album to include lyrics, the songbook keeps pace by printing them also on the album sleeve in the center.  This is a great thing for anyone who actually uses these books to play the songs because once you learn the chords, you can go to the lyric page and see the lyrics together and not have to stop playing to turn the page.  This feature has been continued for each book since.
- More very good period photos, on and off stage.

ENDLESS WIRE
- More great photos of Lightfoot and band, on stage and tuning up.  Also a nice picture of Cathy Coonley.  The band which includes Pee Wee Charles and Barry Keane by this time, each get a mug shot in this one.

DREAM STREET ROSE
- This book features glossy pages for the first time.
- The Auctioneer sadly not included.  They probably couldn't figure out how to print Lightfoot's auction calling!
- The theme of showing photos of Lightfoot and band on stage and tuning up is continued here.  Also is a shot of Lightfoot and band ready to board their Lear jet in Salt Lake City.

SHADOWS
- The first thing you notice in this book when you open the cover, are two pictures of Lightfoot on facing pages.  One from the 60's (which appeared in the Sit Down Young Stranger songbook) and one from the Shadows era.
- Only one other picture in this book.  It shows Lightfoot and the band standing outside their bus in London, England.  Mike Heffernan makes his first appearance.

SALUTE
- This book returns to the photo theme showing Lightfoot and band on stage performing and back stage tuning up.  Even a shot of Gord pulling on his boots!

EAST OF MIDNIGHT
- The last companion book we've seen.  So far!
- No band photos in this one, just some publicity style shots of Lightfoot.

GORD'S GOLD II
- No book issued, which of course means we don't get to see If It Should Please You.

WAITING FOR YOU
- No book issued.

A PAINTER PASSING THROUGH
- No book issued.

HARMONY
- No book issued.