If you could read my mind [Gordon Lightfoot cover]

[Coler]

Although he is of a previous generation (to me) he’s one of my musical heroes. I appreciate a lot of you folk will have grown up with him and rightly regard him as one of the best (at least if not the best) of all time.

So with some trepidation here is my attempt at If You Could Read My Mind, played on my brand new McNally Guitars Dread (Adi/Mahogany so yeah it’s feeling a little tight but man it’s tone is nice, and so responsive even now).

Recorded into a zoom, one track one take. Little bit of reverb and comp added in Garageband.



Thanks for listening.

[ssstewart]

extremely well played. beautiful instrument. great recording- very balanced and full. one of my favorite lightfoot songs and i enjoyed your interpretation very very much. tks for sharing

[westview]

Very well done. Long time Lightfoot fan here.
Saw him in concert once. Your recording had a nice feel with the sound of the guitar and vocals.
Nice balance. Thanks for sharing.

[Chickee]

A favorite of mine. I’ve often wished I had the voice to perform it. Smooth, crisp and clean! You did good brother.
Slainte

frank d.

[SalFromChatham]

Wow on the vocals! Excellent job… and the guitar sounds great as well.

[reeve21]

Wow is right! Stunning rendition of a masterpiece, Coler Your voice really suits GL’s tunes and this one in particular! More!!

[rokdog49]

One of the best covers of this I’ve heard…nice.

[Rogerblair]

Well done, Coler. Gordon Lightfoot is a challenge to get right. Sounds great.
Roger

[Aahzz]

Absolutely gorgeous - excellent cover!

[Mr. Paul]

Very very nice!

[Coler]

Originally Posted by ssstewart

extremely well played. beautiful instrument. great recording- very balanced and full. one of my favorite lightfoot songs and i enjoyed your interpretation very very much. tks for sharing

Thanks so much.

The recording is a really simple set up at my kitchen table. A zoom recorder (internal mics). One track.

I then use Garageband to add a little comp and reverb. And I multi track it, and pan the tracks around to give it some depth.

Originally Posted by westview

Very well done. Long time Lightfoot fan here.
Saw him in concert once. Your recording had a nice feel with the sound of the guitar and vocals.
Nice balance. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you. It's a special song. I am liking how this guitar gels with my voice. I've always liked spruce/mahogany dreads to sing with. This is my first adi top and I'm impressed.

Originally Posted by Chickee

A favorite of mine. I’ve often wished I had the voice to perform it. Smooth, crisp and clean! You did good brother.
Slainte

frank d.

Thanks Frank - glad you enjoyed. Go n-éirí an bothar leat.

Originally Posted by SalFromChatham

Wow on the vocals! Excellent job… and the guitar sounds great as well.

Thanks Sal wow I'm blushing now I love singing this pne. I started trying it last year but in G. Took until a couple of months ago until I could get it into A. And rhen I finally knuckled down to get some shape on the licking. I still have a few licks and riffs to add into it so I'll hopefully revisit it in a couple of months.

The new guitar is working out well indeed. Lovely to sing with. An absolute belter in a session.

[TBman]

That was great.

[Organic Sounds Select Guitars]

I agree with the others here: terrifically good cover! Excellent vocals, really well done!

[Horsehockey]

You’ve just recorded one of the great masterpieces of all time. Well done.

[Coler]

Originally Posted by reeve21

Wow is right! Stunning rendition of a masterpiece, Coler Your voice really suits GL’s tunes and this one in particular! More!!

Thanks Bob - that’s really high praise - I went ahead and bashed out a quick effort at the Edmund Fitzgerald last night on my 12er on your recommendation which I see you also caught - thanks again.

Originally Posted by rokdog49

One of the best covers of this I’ve heard…nice.

Thank you very much - that means a lot to me as I have worked on it for quite a while - maybe a couple of years to be honest. I had it in G at first and it took quite a lot of effort to get it into A. It is a subtly difficult song to carry. Then I went to work on the Guitar properly, over the last 3 months or so. I still have some parts to nail down so I will come back to it in a few more weeks I think.

Originally Posted by Rogerblair

Well done, Coler. Gordon Lightfoot is a challenge to get right. Sounds great.
Roger

Thanks Roger. He really is a genuine all time great. A generational talent. I just like attempting his stuff as I learn so much about musicality, timing, song craft. The whole package.

Originally Posted by Aahzz

Absolutely gorgeous - excellent cover!

Thanks for listening - I really appreciate your kind compliment.