RIP Gordon Lightfoot

The Band's version of The Weight isn't even the best version.

 

Two versions of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" that I was unaware of.

Time is not making this loss easier.

 

Well, not the one with just The Band.

 

Here is one with Friend of Gord Alex Lifeson on guitar.

 

Dave Bidini of the Rheos wrote a really good book with Lightfoot at its core.

The Headstones do a kickass version of Edmund Fitzgerald:

 

I always thought R.E.M. could have done a great version of "Edmund Fitzgerald" -- in fact, "Try Not To Breathe" from "Automatic For The People" is a near carbon copy takeoff (or tribute), with the rolling sea-chantey atmosphere.

 

The Weight

 

Don't put it right on me, please.

 

Take a load off Fanny

 

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/an-open-letter-to-17-year-old-boys-who-just-discovered-the-doors

 

Some of Duane Allman's best work.

 

I discovered the Doors in real time when I was 9-12 years old so I went through all that crap five years or so ahead of that timeline.

I remember thinking "The Letter" by the Box Tops (aka Alex Chilton) sounded very much like the Doors, and vice versa.

I suppose Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain" sounds kinda like that too (although without Chilton's raspiness).