Gordon Lightfoot

Dream Street Rose

Lightfoor at his best

Review Score:

(10/10)
Dream Street Rose had the notoriety of being one of four album releases by Gordon Lightfoot that had yet to see the light of being on CD until now (the other three being Old Dan's Records, which has been released concurrently with this one, Shadows, and Salute--the latter two will be released on CD later this summer). This release also had the distinction of being one of the first digitally-recorded albums when it came out in 1980.

Turning away from the heavy-handed production techniques of Endless Wire (this album's predecessor), Dream Street Rose sounded terrific on LP, and sounds even better now. Rhino has done its usual wonderful job of packaging; and the re-mastering by Bill Inglot, who did the remastering for the 4-CD set Songbook and the recently released 1-CD compilation Complete Greatest Hits, is fantastic. Makes me wish we could put ALL of Lightfoot's releases in Inglot's hands and say "Here--get to work!"

On Dream Street Rose, Lightfoot once again utilizes his road-tested band of Terry Clements on lead acoustic and electric guitars, Rick Haynes on bass, Pee Wee Charles on pedal steel and Barry Keane on drums. They are augmented by other players, most notably Bob Glaub on bass, Michael Omartian on keyboards, and the great Lenny Castro on percussion (who would return on 1986's East of Midnight). Eschewing the overwhelming string arrangements on Endless Wire, Dream Street Rose benefits immensely from the light, tasteful touch of Nick DeCaro, who had done the string arrangements for many of Lightfoot's outstanding releases in the 70s.

Like many of Lightfoot's releases from 1978 on, Dream Street Rose suffers a little from some inconsistency and a lack of drive, but it's less noticeable on this album. The opening track, "Sea of Tranquility" sounds better than it ever has. For those of us who didn't really know what "digital recording" meant when we bought this album back in 1980 and jumped out of our chairs when the bass and drums came thundering in, get ready to jump again when you play this CD. It has never sounded so good. "Sea..." contains some of Lightfoot's best word imagery--lyrics that feel more like they're cascading around you than being sung to you. "Ghosts of Cape Horn" is a Lightfoot gem, and the clarity of the CD makes this evocative sea-chantey come alive even more. Most writers don't like having to write something "to order" but it never seems to bother Lightfoot: this song was written for a documentary film (and one of his signature tunes, "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" was likewise written on commission). "On the High Seas," and "Whisper My Name" are two lovely Lightfoot ballads, written in his best style, with interesting chord movements. He takes a turn into the blues area with "Make Way For the Lady," featuring some terrific musical interplay between Omartian, Clements, and Charles...over the years I've come to feel this is one of his standout tracks. "Mister Rock of Ages" is a contemplative, introspective song, somewhat in the spirit of "Too Late For Praying" from the Sundown album, though taking a more personal viewpoint. Other tracks on the album include the title track (which sounds a little too much like an obvious attempt at a single), "If You Need Me," and "Hey You" (nice songs, but nothing special) and a cover of the Van Dyke Parks/Buddy Black tune "The Auctioneer." When this album first came out, I'll admit I thought this one sounded a little out of place. But it ends the album on a fun, upbeat note after the introspective slant of "Mister Rock of Ages"...plus, it's the only official recording available of a song Lightfoot had been doing in concert for years and years. And hey, the solos by Clements and Charles are worth the price of admission!

If you're one of those who have been waiting patiently (or impatiently!) for this one to come out on CD, your moment has arrived! If you're in the process of building a Lightfoot CD collection, give Dream Street Rose a try. It tends to get overlooked when Lightfoot albums are discussed, but it's well worth your attention.

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