Early Lightfoot!

This collection includes all of Gordon Lightfoot's recordings from the years 1961 to 1967. Born on November 17, 1938, in Orillia, Ontario, Lightfoot started out as a country dancer on CBC's Country Hoedown, appearing regularly on the weekly variety show from 1960-62 where he clog danced and harmonized. "The only reason I was on Country Hoedown was because I was was a crackerjack sight-reader and I sang in the vocals chorus". His recording career began with Art Snider's Canatal Records (Quality) in 1961 initially with the Singin’ Swingin’ Eight on the Country Hoedown Singalong record. Subsequently in January 1962, he collaborated with Terry Whelan to form The Two Tones, releasing a live LP and two promo singles. He began his solo career in Nashville in 1962 releasing four singles, commencing with Daisy-Doo b/w (Remember Me) I'm the One which reached the top 10 on the Canadian Charts. He appeared in the band with Johnny K and the Singin' Swingin' Eight which released a single in 1963 Lemonade b/w Come Closer Melinda. He released six songs on a Canadian Talent Library compilation entitled 'Folk Songs' before signing with Warner/United Artists the following year. He then released his first solo full-length Lightfoot! which included 'Early Morning Rain' and 'Steel Rail Blues' in 1966. He was then commissioned by the CBC to write a song about the building of the Canadian railway for Canada's Centennial in 1967. Canadian Railroad Trilogy was written and first performed in 1966 and was broadcasted on the CBC on January 1, 1967. The epic song "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" was included on his second studio album "The Way I Feel", which was released later in 1967.

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