Sundown (Gordon Lightfoot album)
Sundown is Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot's ninth studio album, released in 1974 on the Reprise Records label. It was the only Lightfoot album to reach No. 1 on the pop chart in the US. In his native Canada, it topped the RPM 100 for five consecutive weeks, first hitting No. 1 on June 22, 1974, the same day it reached the top of the chart south of the border.[1]
| Sundown | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 1974 | |||
| Recorded | November 1973 | |||
| Studio | Eastern Sound Studios (Toronto) | |||
| Genre | Folk | |||
| Length | 36:12 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Producer | Lenny Waronker | |||
| Gordon Lightfoot chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Sundown | ||||
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| Audio | ||||
| "Sundown" on YouTube | ||||
The album marked the pinnacle of Lightfoot's acoustic folk-country blend before he embarked on an increasing use of electric instruments, although he did include some electric guitar, notably on the title track.
As for singles, the title track reached No. 1 on the pop and adult contemporary charts as well as #13 on the country chart, while "Carefree Highway" reached No. 10 on the pop chart, No. 1 on the AC chart and No. 81 on the country chart.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B−[3] |
| Rolling Stone | (favorable)[4] |
Track listing
All compositions by Gordon Lightfoot.
Side 1 (LP)
- "Somewhere U.S.A." – 2:50
- "High and Dry" – 2:12
- "Seven Island Suite" – 6:00
- "Circle of Steel" – 2:45
- "Is There Anyone Home" – 3:15
Side 2 (LP)
- "The Watchman's Gone" – 4:25
- "Sundown" – 3:45
- "Carefree Highway" – 3:45
- "The List" – 3:00
- "Too Late for Prayin'" – 4:15
Compact cassette (rep ms 2177) was issued in 1974 with the following track list:
Side 1 (Cassette, TT: 18:43)
- "Sundown"
- "Somewhere U.S.A."
- "Seven Island Suite"
- "Circle of Steel"
- "Is There Anyone Home"
Side 2 (Cassette, TT: 17:50)
- "High and Dry"
- "The Watchman's Gone"
- "Carefree Highway"
- "The List"
- "Too Late for Prayin'"
Chart performance
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] | 13 |
| Canadian RPM Top Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 1 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[6] | Gold | 20,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Personnel
- Gordon Lightfoot – lead and backing vocals, 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars, high-strung guitar Nashville tuning, chimes, bells,
- Red Shea – electric, acoustic and classical guitars, dobro, slide dobro (tracks 1–5, 7, 9, 10)
- Terry Clements – acoustic guitar (tracks 1, 3–10)
- Rick Haynes – bass guitar (tracks 1, 4, 8, 9)
- John Stockfish – bass guitar (tracks 2, 3, 5–7, 10)
- Jim Gordon – drums, percussion (tracks 1–3, 5–9)
- Milt Holland – percussion, congas (tracks 1, 5, 6, 9)
- Nick De Caro – accordion, horns, orchestration, piano, strings (tracks 3, 5, 6, 8, 10)
- Gene Martynec – Moog synthesizer (tracks 3, 5)
- Jack Zaza – English horn, recorder (track 4)
- Catherine Smith – harmony vocals (track 2)
References
- "Top Albums". RPM. 21 (18). 22 June 1974. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- "Sundown". Allmusic. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: L". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 1, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- "Rolling Stone reviews : Sundown". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 177. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Cash Box Magazine" (PDF). Cash Box. November 21, 1974. p. 52. Retrieved November 15, 2021 – via World Radio History.
External links
- Album lyrics and chords
- Sundown at Discogs (list of releases)