Sundown (Gordon Lightfoot album)

Sundown is Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot's tenth original album, released in 1974 on the Reprise Records label. It reached No. 1 in the US on the pop chart, the only Lightfoot album to achieve this. 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 on the south of the border.[1]

Sundown
Studio album by Gordon Lightfoot
Released	January 1974
Recorded	Eastern Sound Studios; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; November 1973
Genre	Folk
Length	36:12
Label	Reprise
Producer	Lenny Waronker
Gordon Lightfoot chronology
Old Dan's Records (1972) Sundown (1974) Cold on the Shoulder (1975)
Singles from Sundown
"Sundown" Released: February 1974 "Carefree Highway" Released: August 1974

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.

Professional ratings

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)

1. "Somewhere U.S.A." – 2:50
2. "High and Dry" – 2:12
3. "Seven Island Suite" – 6:00
4. "Circle of Steel" – 2:45
5. "Is There Anyone Home" – 3:15

Side 2 (LP)

1. "The Watchman's Gone" – 4:25
2. "Sundown" – 3:45
3. "Carefree Highway" – 3:45
4. "The List" – 3:00
5. "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)

1. "Sundown"
2. "Somewhere U.S.A."
3. "Seven Island Suite"
4. "Circle of Steel"
5. "Is There Anyone Home"

Side 2 (Cassette, TT: 17:50)

1. "High and Dry"
2. "The Watchman's Gone"
3. "Carefree Highway"
4. "The List"
5. "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

Personnel

• Gordon Lightfoot – lead and backing vocals, six and twelve string acoustic guitars, chimes, bells, high string guitar
• Terry Clements – acoustic guitar (tracks 1, 3–10)
• John Stockfish - "Sundown" Bass Guitar
• Nick De Caro – accordion, horns, orchestration, piano, strings (tracks 3, 5, 6, 8, 10)
• Jim Gordon – percussion, drums (tracks 1–3, 5–9)
• Rick Haynes – bass guitar (tracks 1, 4, 8, 9)
• Milt Holland – percussion, congas (tracks 1, 5, 6, 9)
• Gene Martynec – Moog synthesizer (tracks 3, 5)
• Red Shea – dobro, electric, acoustic and classical guitars, slide dobro (tracks 1–5, 7, 9, 10)
• Catherine Smith – harmony vocals (track 2)
• John Stockfish – bass guitar (tracks 2, 3, 5–7, 10)
• Jack Zaza – English horn, recorder (track 4)

References

1. "Top Albums". RPM. 21 (18). 22 June 1974. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
2. "Sundown". Allmusic. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
3. 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.
4. "Rolling Stone reviews : Sundown". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
5. 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.

External links

• Album lyrics and chords
• Sundown (Gordon Lightfoot album) at Discogs (list of releases)