Ahh, you beat me to the punch, Linda, I just saw this yesterday myself. The info I saw (forget where now) said all of his regular studio Reprise/Warner albums would be released, yet East of Midnight appears to be missing in action...

I absolutely love that song Sundown! I've never owned a Lightfoot album except for Gord's Gold collections.

What is considered his must own lp?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005YW4N/?tag=imwan-20

Anyone have this recent best-of collection? Seems to have all the essentials and has the original recordings.

It's tough to pick just one 'must own', I'd say the top 3 would be:

Sit Down Young Stranger (retitled as If You Could Read My Mind)
Sundown
Summertime Dream

Hmmm. I wonder if these are straight reissues or some discreet remastering is afoot. Sundown certainly could use some bottom end!

I have it....sounds really good. It's definitely worth getting if you only want the hits.....plus, some of hit other hits packages had some rerecordings...this one doesn't.

I only have this and If You Could Read My Mind (Sit Down Young Stranger), which is also very good.

Hey John, you could go for the 4-CD box set titled Songbook. More Gordo than your family will ever need!



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000J63I/?tag=imwan-20

I actually own his Songbook collection and it's still unopened.

I bought Songbook back before his entire catalog was released on CD, but I don't need it now that I have all the individual albums up to Shadows. Most of the bonus tracks are lame, though the first 2 tracks (very early recordings) are fun, kind of like Jim Reeves or Elvis. The lack of East of Midnight in the listing is probably an oversight, can't see why they'd leave it out.

You bought a box set and never opened it? Who would do such a thing?!!?

Agreed! Good selection...original mixes/versions...good sound quality. Remastered by Bill Inglot. (All of his Reprise singles are include - except for "Talking In Your Sleep" - which is one of my favorite songs of his. )

I've read that the Reprise material on the original Gold's Gold was remixed, but I've never been able to hear the difference. (Not sure if this meant both the LP & the CD - or if it was just the CD.) My CD reads "Engineered & mixed by Lee Herschberg" ... but this album contains re-recordings of about a half-dozen of his UA songs, so that credit could be in reference to the re-records - I don't know. The CD is very smooth sounding, IMO. (Amazon's website show that it was re-issued in 2005 - but I don't think it was re-mastered then.)

I know for a fact that Gords Gold, Vol. 2 contains re-recordings - some are pretty bad. Stay away from that one!

My collection is totally out of control but I knew I must have the Songbook collection somewhere and yes, it was in my main closet unopened.

I would like a precise simple collection at that one above seems to be the best bet these days.

"Borderstone" and "That same old Obsession" are fantastic songs that were exclusive to SONGWRITER.

What is Songwriter?

That Same Old Obsession is on Old Dan's Records, I think Borderstone is on Songbook

I found this disc a difficult listen. Many of the tracks had a background high pitched whine. It was subtle but became grating very fast. Maybe it was just my copy? Even so the the EQ was off in a way that I could not quite pinpoint. Could be mine was just defective everywhere? That's possible I guess? I returned in the next day and got credit.

Personally, I think each of his albums starting with Sundown have something to offer, some more than others........Dream St Rose, although not a hit in 1980 is a fabulous,superb record as is Shadows.
Great great moody atmospheric songs with interesting lyrics, of which he always goes back to the ship/sailing theme.......even lesser known albums like Salute and Waiting For You are well worthy of repeated listens, you won't be disappointed!

The only one I can't get through is East Of Midnight, except for the incredible "A Passing Ship" track.....the rest of the album is very dated sounding....

Rhino did a great job originally with their remasters of his catalog/hope these are reissues!

I agree, many of his best tracks weren't hits; I have every album up until the mediocre East of Midnight. I don't have Waiting For You, A Painter Passing Through or Harmony: his voice has deteriorated a bit too much for my tastes.

I look forward to getting these. True, Wounded Bird's sound quality can be hit-and-miss; but since their recent Bangles reissues were obviously (and nicely) remastered, there is hope.

Hell, I always open them. Someday I'll get around to listening to them. I hope.

I emailed Wounded Bird, asking if the Lightfoot CDs would be straight reissues or remasters and, if remastered, would original master tapes be used.. Here is the complete reply:

"WEA does not let the master tapes out of their possession.
They make a DAT copy and we master from that.
As far as being remastered, there is no strict definition of the term remastered,
so it depends on your definition of the term.
Wounded Bird Records"