Cold on the Shoulder: Gordon Lightfoot: Amazon.ca: Music

Frequently Bought Together

1. Bend In The Water

2. Rainy Day People

3. Cold On The Shoulder

4. The Soul Is The Rock

5. Bells Of The Evening

6. Rainbow Trout

7. A Tree To weak To Stand

8. All The Lovely Ladies

9. Fine As Fine Can Be

10. Cherokee Bend

11. Now And Then

12. Slide On Over

Product Description

Amazon.ca

Sonic diversity has never really been Canadian folkie Gordon Lightfoot's strong suit. With a nasally, albeit instantly identifiable voice, the veteran of Toronto's swinging Yorkville scene of the '60s has created a catalogue of almost interchangeable albums, all strong but none radically different from the other. 1975's Cold on the Shoulder is essentially a replay of 1974's wildly successful Sundown, but without crossover hits like "Carefree Highway," although the album does contain "Rainy Day People." Lenny Waronker's extravagant production remains, shading Lightfoot's bare-bones folk-pop with steel guitar, accordion, and strings, yet the lavish arrangements occasionally overwhelm Lightfoot's minimalist songwriting. Even more peculiar is that Lightfoot, a remarkable guitarist, doesn't pick up his axe on the album at all. Solid, but not one of Lightfoot's strongest. --Matt Galloway

Album Description

CD reissue of this 1975 album from the legendary Canadian Folk/Rock singer/songwriter who has had numerous Billboard charting albums throughout his career, which began in the mid '60s. His most commercially successful period ran through the '70s, although he remains one of the most influential and admired songwriters of the Rock era. Wounded Bird.

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Customer Reviews

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Average Customer Review

5.0 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this album, you won't regret it. From, Landry Rafa, Nov 10 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cold on the Shoulder (Audio CD)

Born in Orillia, Ontario, Canada in 1938, Gordon Lightfoot is one of Canada's national tresures, as he is with many other fans around the world. He sings with a strong, rich baratone; a birch-bark soft voice I like to call it. He is arguably the finest singer, songwriter, storyteller the world has ever known. The album depicts that very well. This album, "Cold On The Shoulder", was written in the mid-70's, when he was in his prime. I marvel at the way he blends the music with the lyrics so well, it's like clockwork. Virtually every song on this album deserves a 5-star rating. I've listened to this album so many times, I've memerized the lyrics to every song; I've done the same with his other albums. My favorite song on this album is "All the Lovely Ladies", a provocative song about people who must deal with heartache, hardship, lonliness, and injustice. Each verse contains the line "heaven can be yours just for now."; just to give you an idea. This album is of very worthy cosideration, even if you aren't a Lightfoot fan; you will be after hearing this album. P.S.-An honest grain farmers opinion.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Not to be Overlooked, May 18 2012

By

Jimbo Jones - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Cold On The Shoulder (Audio CD)

This album doesn't seem to get the same kind of fanfare as "Sundown" or "Summertime Dream", but I believe it is every bit as worthy. Here's a bit of a song-by-song:
___

Bend in the Water: Upbeat country tune, folksy and lots of fun

Rainy Day People: Everyone should know this one, sombre and thoughtful without being sad

Cold on the Shoulder: Nice simple song, very fun, great light percussion in the background

The Soul is the Rock: One of the more operatic ones, great Gospel-ish tune

Bells of the Evening: Unique piano piece, reflective lyrics go perfectly with the melody, very Canadian

Ranbow Trout: Simple song with a catchy tune

A Tree to Weak to Stand: great song all around

To All the Lovely Ladies: Nice mellow song that builds on itself, getting more orchestral as it progresses

Fine as Fine Can Be: Another piano song like "Bells of the Evening", again resonates with my Canadianness

Cherokee Bend: Great ballad, one of the highlights of the album

Now and Then: In my opinion, this is one of Gord's VERY best songs and should be known by all of his fans

Slide on Over: Fun and fitting way to the end the album, sort of a Guess Who style jam
___

All-in-all, this is a very diverse and enjoyable album that doesn't get old. It's got folk, country, rock, high-tempo, low-tempo, guitar, piano, ballads, etc. Pretty much anything you could want from Gord.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging--but well worth the effort, Jun 18 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Cold on the Shoulder (Audio CD)

When you first glance at the credits of Cold on the Shoulder, it would be easy to think Gordon Lightfoot decided to simply repeat the formula of his previous album Sundown (which was a sizeable commercial success). The same musicians appear: Lightfoot on rhythm 12 and 6 string guitars (as well as a bit of piano); Red Shea and Terry Clements on lead guitars; John Stockfish and Rick Haynes sharing the bass duties; and Jim Gordon on drums. Lenny Waronker, once again, is the producer. The only change of any significance is the addition of Pee Wee Charles on pedal steel guitar, who would remain with the regular touring band through the mid 1980s.

But Cold on the Shoulder is no mere rehash of Sundown. Whereas Sundown's overall motif was restlessness and movement, Cold on the Shoulder is a much more introspective album. The underlying motif of Cold on the Shoulder is essentially "on the outside looking in"--even the cover reflects that concept.

That isn't to say it's a depressing album--it opens and closes with two very fun, upbeat songs ("Bend in the Water," and "Slide on Over"). However, there is a certain amount of sadness, of melancholy which touches many of the songs here--perhaps this is why Lightfoot has been quoted as saying the album is "a little uptight."

There are some beautiful songs to be found here: "Rainy Day People," "As Fine as Fine Can Be," and the underrated "A Tree Too Weak to Stand," as well as one of his best "story-songs" ("Cherokee Bend"). For anyone who has ever experienced those first pangs of disquiet in a relationship, you'll rarely hear those feelings expressed any better as they are in "Now and Then." The album also includes what is arguably the very best of what I call the "observational" songs--"All the Lovely Ladies."

The album is beautifully produced, and the musicianship--as ever--is top notch. This may not be the most accessible of Lightfoot albums: it's definitely not the one to put on if you're in a down mood. That being said, Cold on the Shoulder nevertheless deserves your attention. It is the work of an astonishingly gifted writer, a mature, world-wise artist, who has chosen life--with all of its inherent ups, downs, triumphs, tragedies, laughter, sadness--as his canvas on which to paint. Cold on the Shoulder is one of Lightfoot's overlooked gems.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Tied with Sundown for Lightfoot's best.
Gordon Lightfoot is the best folk songwriter who's ever lived. Most of his albums are excellent, but begin with this one and Sundown, as they are the most consistant. Read more

Published on Dec 13 2001 by Greg

5.0 out of 5 stars If you only buy one Gordon Lightfoot album...
This is it. I've been a Gordon Lightfoot fan since I listened to my sister's copy of "Back Here on Earth". Read more

Published on Feb 23 2001 by Bob Miller