Gordon Lightfoot, whose lyrics and vocals made him one of the most prominent folk singers of his era, passed away yesterday. He was 84.
Gordon Lightfoot remains best known for his 1976 song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, which chronicled the sinking of the titular freighter that left all 29 crew dead. That song reached #2 on the Billboard hot 100 and stands as one of the greatest story songs ever, thanks to lyrics like The captain wired in he had water comin’ in / And the good ship and crew was in peril / And later that night when his lights went outta sight / Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
But that was hardly Gordon Lightfoot’s only hit. Throughout his career, the singer-songwriter earned four Grammy nominations, including two for “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, losing Song of the Year to the Barry Manilow-penned “I Write the Songs” and Best Pop Vocal...
Gordon Lightfoot remains best known for his 1976 song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, which chronicled the sinking of the titular freighter that left all 29 crew dead. That song reached #2 on the Billboard hot 100 and stands as one of the greatest story songs ever, thanks to lyrics like The captain wired in he had water comin’ in / And the good ship and crew was in peril / And later that night when his lights went outta sight / Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
But that was hardly Gordon Lightfoot’s only hit. Throughout his career, the singer-songwriter earned four Grammy nominations, including two for “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, losing Song of the Year to the Barry Manilow-penned “I Write the Songs” and Best Pop Vocal...
- 5/2/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Gordon Lightfoot, the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter, has died at the age of 84.
“Gordon Lightfoot passed away this evening in a Toronto hospital at 7:30 p.m.,” a statement on Lightfoot’s Facebook page announced on Monday, May 1st. The statement promised more information “to come.”
Born in Orillia, Ontario in 1938, Lightfoot became known and beloved as Canada’s folk troubadour, an artist who stayed true to his roots despite international success. Songs like “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” depicted the culture, landscapes, and history of his Canadian home and grew to become both hits and signature tracks.
In the 2019 documentary Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind, Rush’s Geddy Lee called Lightfoot “our poet laureate… our iconic singer-songwriter,” while Tom Cochrane noted, “If there was a Mt. Rushmore in Canada, Gordon would be on it.”
Singing was Lightfoot’s calling from his youth...
“Gordon Lightfoot passed away this evening in a Toronto hospital at 7:30 p.m.,” a statement on Lightfoot’s Facebook page announced on Monday, May 1st. The statement promised more information “to come.”
Born in Orillia, Ontario in 1938, Lightfoot became known and beloved as Canada’s folk troubadour, an artist who stayed true to his roots despite international success. Songs like “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” depicted the culture, landscapes, and history of his Canadian home and grew to become both hits and signature tracks.
In the 2019 documentary Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind, Rush’s Geddy Lee called Lightfoot “our poet laureate… our iconic singer-songwriter,” while Tom Cochrane noted, “If there was a Mt. Rushmore in Canada, Gordon would be on it.”
Singing was Lightfoot’s calling from his youth...
- 5/2/2023
- by Ben Kaye
- Consequence - Music
In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re in the midst of a renaissance moment in pop-music documentaries. For a while, it seemed like they’d gone away, sucked up into the whole packaging-of-CDs-with-extras thing. But the streaming era, with its endless appetite for product, has been a boon to music docs. A lot of them, like “Zz Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas” (2019) or “Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams” (2018) or last year’s exceptional “Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind,” fly mostly under the radar but find their fan base.
I, however, am always on the lookout for a music documentary that can get a whole lot of people buzzing because it’s about an artist who seems like an old friend, whose story we may already think we know, yet it re-assembles that story with enough hindsight big-picture vision that it can blow you...
I, however, am always on the lookout for a music documentary that can get a whole lot of people buzzing because it’s about an artist who seems like an old friend, whose story we may already think we know, yet it re-assembles that story with enough hindsight big-picture vision that it can blow you...
- 3/3/2021
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday released its official entries for 2021 Oscars in the categories of Documentary Feature, Animated Feature and International Films. The takeaway: As expected, the eligible Documentary Feature lineup shatters the record for the most ever.
A total of 238 features are eligible for consideration in the Doc Feature category, breaking the previous record of 170 set in 2017. Last year, by contrast, 159 feature documentaries qualified. The Academy relaxed eligibility rules in light of Covid-19, so that any film that could make a claim of an intended theatrical release was deemed eligible. Earning awards from film festivals was an alternative way to qualify.
For the International Feature race, Lesotho, Sudan and Suriname are first-time entrants among the 93 eligible titles, the same total as last year. Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors boosted the number of films eligible for the shortlist from 10 to 15. Under the new rules,...
A total of 238 features are eligible for consideration in the Doc Feature category, breaking the previous record of 170 set in 2017. Last year, by contrast, 159 feature documentaries qualified. The Academy relaxed eligibility rules in light of Covid-19, so that any film that could make a claim of an intended theatrical release was deemed eligible. Earning awards from film festivals was an alternative way to qualify.
For the International Feature race, Lesotho, Sudan and Suriname are first-time entrants among the 93 eligible titles, the same total as last year. Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors boosted the number of films eligible for the shortlist from 10 to 15. Under the new rules,...
- 1/28/2021
- by Patrick Hipes and Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
The Oscars Best Documentary Feature race, which set a new record for entries in December when it passed the previous record of 170, has now left all previous years in the dust with 240 eligible films.
An additional 25 documentary features were placed in the members-only online screening room devoted to the category on Saturday, in what the Academy told voters would be “the final batch” of this year’s entries. It was the last of seven groups of documentaries that qualified and were placed into the screening room: 25 in July, 12 in August, 16 in September, 33 in October, 36 in November, a huge group of 93 in December and now 25 in January.
Academy rules put in place because of the Covid-19 pandemic made it easier than usual for documentaries to qualify for the Oscars this year, which opened the door for a field that obliterated the previous record, which was set in 2017. Films could qualify simply...
An additional 25 documentary features were placed in the members-only online screening room devoted to the category on Saturday, in what the Academy told voters would be “the final batch” of this year’s entries. It was the last of seven groups of documentaries that qualified and were placed into the screening room: 25 in July, 12 in August, 16 in September, 33 in October, 36 in November, a huge group of 93 in December and now 25 in January.
Academy rules put in place because of the Covid-19 pandemic made it easier than usual for documentaries to qualify for the Oscars this year, which opened the door for a field that obliterated the previous record, which was set in 2017. Films could qualify simply...
- 1/17/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The Academy has added 93 more films to the members-only screening room devoted to entries in the Best Documentary Feature category, bringing the total number of eligible contenders to a record-shattering 215.
The previous record for entries was 170 in 2017. And this year’s crop of nonfiction films is expected to pass that number by an even bigger margin — at least 50 — once a final, smaller group of films is added to the screening room in January.
New eligibility rules that were passed in the wake of the Covid-19 theater closings made it easier for documentaries to qualify this year by allowing them to do so by playing at film festivals, even virtual ones, and by easing requirements for theatrical runs. In an email to members detailing the new additions, the Academy said, “The Documentary Branch Executive Committee felt it was important to be inclusive and supportive of documentary filmmakers in this unprecedented and challenging year.
The previous record for entries was 170 in 2017. And this year’s crop of nonfiction films is expected to pass that number by an even bigger margin — at least 50 — once a final, smaller group of films is added to the screening room in January.
New eligibility rules that were passed in the wake of the Covid-19 theater closings made it easier for documentaries to qualify this year by allowing them to do so by playing at film festivals, even virtual ones, and by easing requirements for theatrical runs. In an email to members detailing the new additions, the Academy said, “The Documentary Branch Executive Committee felt it was important to be inclusive and supportive of documentary filmmakers in this unprecedented and challenging year.
- 12/22/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Altavod, a new platform pledging to help indie filmmakers more easily distribute and profit from their movies, launched Wednesday. The company’s founders say that it will allow moviemakers to cut out third parties who they usually turn to in order to find distribution platforms. With Altavod, they can upload films themselves and keep more than 90% of revenues. Movies are available to rent and own.
The service is the brainchild of Robert Schwartzman, the director of “The Argument” and “Dreamland,” and the co-founder of Utopia Distribution. Cole Harper, who works at Utopia overseeing product and strategy, helped launch Altavod and will serve as its head of growth.
In an interview, Schwartzman said he was inspired to create the service after conversations with fellow filmmakers who were frustrated by their inability to monetize their work.
“There are a lot of people who are building a new world of how to reach...
The service is the brainchild of Robert Schwartzman, the director of “The Argument” and “Dreamland,” and the co-founder of Utopia Distribution. Cole Harper, who works at Utopia overseeing product and strategy, helped launch Altavod and will serve as its head of growth.
In an interview, Schwartzman said he was inspired to create the service after conversations with fellow filmmakers who were frustrated by their inability to monetize their work.
“There are a lot of people who are building a new world of how to reach...
- 9/2/2020
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The new distribution platform Altavod is about to give filmmakers — especially independent filmmakers — more control of their work.
With Utopia founder and filmmaker Robert Schwartzman and Cole Harper founded the new platform launches which launches today. Altavod provides distributors and independent filmmakers with full control to upload, manage and distribute their movies directly to consumers.
In addition, the platform provides transparent back-end data and analytics around consumer engagement to allow filmmakers to have real-time access to page impressions, sales and conversions related to their campaign — which is a first for a platform of its kind.
“Altavod was created to give filmmakers better opportunities for self-distribution,” said Schwartzman. “With Altavod, filmmakers have full control over rental and purchase pricing, release dates, location availability and creative marketing aspects. We are excited to introduce this service to the filmmaking community, especially during a time when digital consumer engagement is at an all-time high.
With Utopia founder and filmmaker Robert Schwartzman and Cole Harper founded the new platform launches which launches today. Altavod provides distributors and independent filmmakers with full control to upload, manage and distribute their movies directly to consumers.
In addition, the platform provides transparent back-end data and analytics around consumer engagement to allow filmmakers to have real-time access to page impressions, sales and conversions related to their campaign — which is a first for a platform of its kind.
“Altavod was created to give filmmakers better opportunities for self-distribution,” said Schwartzman. “With Altavod, filmmakers have full control over rental and purchase pricing, release dates, location availability and creative marketing aspects. We are excited to introduce this service to the filmmaking community, especially during a time when digital consumer engagement is at an all-time high.
- 9/2/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on Wbgr-fm on July 30th, 2020, reviewing the new Video-On-Demand film “Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind.”
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Lightfoot of course, is the Canadian hitmaker from the 1970s and beyond, with such classic songs as the title tune, Sundown, Carefree Highway, For Lovin’ Me and Beautiful. But his origins go way back into the 1960s as the boy from small town Orillia, Canada, goes to the big city Toronto and connects with a TV country music show, joins the folk scene, starts to write hits and goes to America to make it big. He is considered The Beatles of Canada for his ability to create memorable songs, and the many Canadian pop artists he influenced … including Randy Bachmann, Burton Cummins, Anne Murray, and Geddy Lee. Locally, it’s available for virtual download through MusicBoxTheatre.com.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Lightfoot of course, is the Canadian hitmaker from the 1970s and beyond, with such classic songs as the title tune, Sundown, Carefree Highway, For Lovin’ Me and Beautiful. But his origins go way back into the 1960s as the boy from small town Orillia, Canada, goes to the big city Toronto and connects with a TV country music show, joins the folk scene, starts to write hits and goes to America to make it big. He is considered The Beatles of Canada for his ability to create memorable songs, and the many Canadian pop artists he influenced … including Randy Bachmann, Burton Cummins, Anne Murray, and Geddy Lee. Locally, it’s available for virtual download through MusicBoxTheatre.com.
- 8/1/2020
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
In the opening scene of “Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind,” a companionable and highly entertaining documentary about the folk-pop troubadour of Canada, Lightfoot, now 81, sits at home with his wife, Kim, and watches clips of himself on Canadian television singing the 1965 song “For Lovin’ Me,” an ode to the arrogant adulterer he once was. Back when he wrote the song, Lightfoot was married, with a couple of kids. “At the time,” he recalls, “it just came out of my brain. I didn’t know what chauvinism was.” He chuckles, sheepishly, at his insensitivity. Yet looking at the clips, we see the brashness that made Lightfoot a star. In those early days, he resembled Ryan O’Neal with a hint of Nick Nolte; he had the kind of squinty rugged golden-god looks you’d see on the hero of a television Western. And even then, what he could do with a note was extraordinary.
- 7/31/2020
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Coming off as warm and affectionate as its protagonist, “Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind” is a breezy introduction to one of Canada’s most famous singer/songwriters. Chronologically working through Lightfoot’s storied, and seven decades-long, career, directors Martha Kehoe and Joan Tosoni intermix Lightfoot’s own recollection with traditional talking heads, including contemporary musicians and modern fans of his work.
Read More: ‘Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind’ Trailer: Doc Introduces A New Generation To The Music Icon
Lightfoot, who is given the most interview time, is both nostalgic and dismissive of his central role in the rebirth of folk in the 60s and 70s, providing a sometimes blunt prospect on his most famous work.
Continue reading ‘Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind’ Is A Warm Introduction To The Canadian Singer/Songwriter [Review] at The Playlist.
Read More: ‘Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind’ Trailer: Doc Introduces A New Generation To The Music Icon
Lightfoot, who is given the most interview time, is both nostalgic and dismissive of his central role in the rebirth of folk in the 60s and 70s, providing a sometimes blunt prospect on his most famous work.
Continue reading ‘Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind’ Is A Warm Introduction To The Canadian Singer/Songwriter [Review] at The Playlist.
- 7/30/2020
- by Christian Gallichio
- The Playlist
There aren’t many figures in American political history quite like Representative John Lewis. From Civil Rights marches to a career as one of the most influential politicians to ever enter Washington DC, Lewis’ life finally gets the documentary treatment in the upcoming film, “John Lewis: Good Trouble.”
Read More: ‘Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind’ Trailer: Doc Introduces A New Generation To The Music Icon
As seen in the first trailer for the new documentary, the title of the film refers to Lewis’ insistence that people should get involved in “good trouble” if they notice something wrong in our political system.
Continue reading ‘John Lewis: Good Trouble’ Trailer: The Civil Rights Leader & Politician Is Showcased In A New Doc at The Playlist.
Read More: ‘Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind’ Trailer: Doc Introduces A New Generation To The Music Icon
As seen in the first trailer for the new documentary, the title of the film refers to Lewis’ insistence that people should get involved in “good trouble” if they notice something wrong in our political system.
Continue reading ‘John Lewis: Good Trouble’ Trailer: The Civil Rights Leader & Politician Is Showcased In A New Doc at The Playlist.
- 5/11/2020
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
Ten million albums sold, five Grammy nominations, and career that spans more than five decades — Gordon Lightfoot is a folk music icon. The new documentary “Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind” chronicles Lightfoot’s career to introduce his music to a new generation.
Read More: ‘The High Note’ Trailer: Focus Features To Release A New Theatrical Film Straight To VOD In May
The documentary is peppered with interviews with fans, colleagues, and Lightfoot himself.
Continue reading ‘Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind’ Trailer: Doc Introduces A New Generation To The Music Icon at The Playlist.
Read More: ‘The High Note’ Trailer: Focus Features To Release A New Theatrical Film Straight To VOD In May
The documentary is peppered with interviews with fans, colleagues, and Lightfoot himself.
Continue reading ‘Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind’ Trailer: Doc Introduces A New Generation To The Music Icon at The Playlist.
- 5/8/2020
- by Brynne Ramella
- The Playlist
"If there was a Mount Rushmore in Canada, Gordon would be on it." Ha - great quote. Greenwich Ent. has unveiled an official trailer for music documentary Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind, which originally premiered at the Hot Docs Film Festival up in Canada last year. With unprecedented access to the artist, directors Martha Kehoe and Joan Tosoni chart Gordon Lightfoot's profound evolution from Christian choirboy to troubled troubadour, international star and beloved Canadian icon with 5 Grammy Nominations and over 10 million albums sold. The doc film is an intimate and emotional examination of Lightfoot's relationship to his music while intertwining his indelible legacy and unpacking key songs within the cultural history of folk and rock music along the way. This looks like a very entertaining, engaging, and moving story about a great musician and his everlasting legacy. There's always a place for good music docs. Official...
- 5/6/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
In the wake of theaters’ planned shutdown into May, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is pondering a change to their qualification rules for the upcoming 2021 ceremony.
Films typically have to play in-theaters to qualify for the Oscars. Also, couple in the fact that most film festivals have shuttered for the time being, and they’ve been the qualifying platforms for short films and international titles (SXSW says those pics submitted this year still will qualify for the Academy Awards). In regards to international film submissions, each country has their own set of qualifications before they submit to the Academy. With the anomaly Oscar-winning best picture success of South Korea’s Parasite, the expectation following this year’s Oscars is that the floodgates would open as a number of foreign films would compete, even if they’re not cleared by their respective home countries.
More from DeadlineCannes Film...
Films typically have to play in-theaters to qualify for the Oscars. Also, couple in the fact that most film festivals have shuttered for the time being, and they’ve been the qualifying platforms for short films and international titles (SXSW says those pics submitted this year still will qualify for the Academy Awards). In regards to international film submissions, each country has their own set of qualifications before they submit to the Academy. With the anomaly Oscar-winning best picture success of South Korea’s Parasite, the expectation following this year’s Oscars is that the floodgates would open as a number of foreign films would compete, even if they’re not cleared by their respective home countries.
More from DeadlineCannes Film...
- 3/19/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Greenwich Entertainment has acquired domestic rights to Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind, the feature documentary written, directed and produced by Martha Kehoe and Joan Tosoni. A May theatrical release is in the works for the pic, which premiered at HotDocs last spring.
The feature from Insight, which produced in association with Canada’s CBC, explores the career, music and influence of Gordon Lightfoot, who went from rural Ontario choirboy to international star with such folk-pop hits in the 1960s and ’70s as “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown,” “Carefree Highway,” “Rainy Day People” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
Lightfoot received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, Canada’s highest honor in the performing arts, in 1997. Now 81, he still tours.
John Brunton, John Murray, and Allan and Gary Slaight are executive producers.
“Gordon Lightfoot is one of the essential singer-songwriters,” Greenwich’s Ed Arentz said.
The feature from Insight, which produced in association with Canada’s CBC, explores the career, music and influence of Gordon Lightfoot, who went from rural Ontario choirboy to international star with such folk-pop hits in the 1960s and ’70s as “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown,” “Carefree Highway,” “Rainy Day People” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
Lightfoot received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, Canada’s highest honor in the performing arts, in 1997. Now 81, he still tours.
John Brunton, John Murray, and Allan and Gary Slaight are executive producers.
“Gordon Lightfoot is one of the essential singer-songwriters,” Greenwich’s Ed Arentz said.
- 1/23/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
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