Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot turns 74 today. Since his debut in 1966 Gordon Lightfoot has released 19 albums. His peak years were most definitely the 1970’s. In recent years he has toured but hasn’t been releasing many albums of new material.

Gordon Lightfoot had 6 Top 40 hits in America. “Sundown” went all the way to #1 in 1974. “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” #2 in 1976, “If You Could Read My Mind” #5 in 1970 and “Carefree Highway” #10 1974 were his biggest hits. “Sundown” was a song inspired by his then girlfriend Cathy Smith, who a few years later was the woman who was involved in the death of John Belushi. In an interview Lightfoot said of Smith “She is the woman in my life that most hurt me”

Bob Dylan has called Lightfoot “One of his favourite songwriters” I don’t sit around all day myself and listen to Gordon Lightfoot but once in a while I am in a Lightfoot Mood and I enjoy listening to him. Outstanding voice. I’ve never seen him in concert but if he comes around nearby again I am going to.