Sunday Concert

 (2 customer reviews)

In 1969, when "Sunday Concert" was recorded, Gordon Lightfoot was on the verge of stardom in America. Already a seasoned and respected singer/songwriter in his native Canada, Lightfoot looked to "make it" in the larger more lucrative folk rock/pop market in the United States.

"Sunday Concert" is a contractural fulfillment album, made to satisfy the requirement of albums due in his original contract with United Artists/EMI. Nevertheless, this is a unique glimpse into Gordon Lightfoot's singing, songwriting and small group playing before his huge "Sit Down Young Stranger/If You Could Read My Mind" album for Reprise and also a portrait of a Canadian tradition, Lightfoot's annual concert stand at Toronto's Massey Hall.

The song selection is relatively brief, eleven songs, and about half of them may be unfamiliar to the casual fan. Of the more familiar singles, "Softly" and "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" are performed with real energy and feeling and are highlights of...Read more

The Sunday Concert/Plus CD consists of Gordon Lightfoot's last album for UA, Sunday Concert, plus some bonus tracks. While it may have been his last UA album, Sunday Concert also marks a first: it's a recording of Lightfoot's initial appearance as a professional at Toronto's Massey Hall. These concert series have since become a tradition--he still holds them every eighteen months or so, with the next series of four nights scheduled for November, 2002.Sunday Concert also marks the only official release (to date) of an album of Lightfoot live in concert (the only other officially released concert is the video/DVD of his performance in April 2000 at the Pioneer Theatre in Reno).Sunday Concert features Lightfoot on vocals, as well as 6 and 12-string guitar, Red Shea on lead acoustic guitar, and Rick Haynes--replacing a recently-departed John Stockfish--on bass. That's it: no orchestra, no dancers, no light shows. As with his live shows from the beginning to the present day,...Read more