Sit Down Young Stranger

Last updated
Sit Down Young Stranger
SitDownYoungStranger.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1970 [1]
RecordedEarly 1970 [1]
Genre Folk
Length36:44
Label Reprise
Producer Lenny Waronker, Joseph Wissert
Gordon Lightfoot chronology
Sunday Concert
(1969)
Sit Down Young Stranger
(1970)
Summer Side of Life
(1971)
Singles from Sit Down Young Stranger
  1. "Me And Bobby McGee"
    Released: June 1970
  2. "Approaching Lavender"
    Released: 1970
  3. "If You Could Read My Mind"
    Released: December 1970

Sit Down Young Stranger is Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot's sixth original album and his best-selling original album. [2] Shortly after its 1970 release on the Reprise Records label, it was renamed If You Could Read My Mind when the song of that title reached #1 on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. The album itself reached #12 on the Billboard 200 chart. In Canada, the album was on the charts from April 18, 1970, to November 27, 1971. It peaked at #8 on March 13, 1971 [3] after an earlier peak at #12 on June 20, 1970. [4] Its last 24 weeks were spent in the 90s, except for two appearances at #88 and one at #100.

Contents

History

Sit Down Young Stranger was Lightfoot's first recording for his new label, Reprise Records. He had left United Artists because he believed they did not adequately promote his albums.

On this album, Lightfoot included more orchestration, which is particularly evident on "If You Could Read My Mind". It was also the first studio album to feature long-time Lightfoot bassist Rick Haynes. The orchestration on "Minstrel of the Dawn" and "Approaching Lavender" was arranged by Randy Newman.

The album contained one of the first recorded versions of Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster's "Me and Bobby McGee" which had previously been a country hit for Roger Miller and would later become a hit for Janis Joplin.

A small number of vinyl copies of the album contain no title on the front cover. This is because the cover was originally supposed to be just a picture of Lightfoot, but it was then thought that stating the title would increase the album's sales. The untitled copies did have a small sticker on the cellophane wrap bearing the album's title.

One rarity of note is "The Pony Man" appears on the Warner Brothers loss leader Schlagers! without the harmonica overdub.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]

In his retrospective Allmusic review, critic Jim Newsom praised the album, writing "While future albums would begin to drift away from the folky acoustic timbres of this one, the beauty and simplicity of Sit Down Young Stranger make it a timeless recording." [5]

Track listing

All compositions by Gordon Lightfoot, except where indicated

Side 1

  1. "Minstrel of the Dawn" – 3:26
  2. "Me and Bobby McGee" – 3:38 (Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster)
  3. "Approaching Lavender" – 2:56
  4. "Saturday Clothes" – 3:20
  5. "Cobwebs & Dust" – 3:20
  6. "Poor Little Allison" – 2:30

Side 2

  1. "Sit Down Young Stranger" – 3:26
  2. "If You Could Read My Mind" – 3:48
  3. "Baby It's Alright" – 2:58
  4. "Your Love's Return (Song for Stephen Foster)" – 3:55
  5. "The Pony Man" – 3:27

Chart performance

Chart (1971)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [6] 20
Canadian RPM Top Albums8
U.S. Billboard 20012

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [7] Gold50,000^
United States (RIAA) [8] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

with:

Technical

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Lightfoot</span> Canadian singer-songwriter (1938–2023)

Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. was a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music. He is credited with helping to define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s. He has been referred to as Canada's greatest songwriter, having several gold and multi-platinum albums and songs covered by some of the world's most renowned musical artists. Lightfoot's biographer Nicholas Jennings said, "His name is synonymous with timeless songs about trains and shipwrecks, rivers and highways, lovers and loneliness."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kris Kristofferson</span> American country singer (born 1936)

Kristoffer Kristofferson is an American retired country singer, songwriter, and actor. Among his songwriting credits are "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night", all of which were hits for other artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me and Bobby McGee</span> Song by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster

"Me and Bobby McGee" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson and originally performed by Roger Miller. Fred Foster shares the writing credit, as Kristofferson wrote the song based on a suggestion from Foster. A posthumously released version by Janis Joplin topped the U.S. singles chart in 1971, making the song the second posthumously released No. 1 single in U.S. chart history after "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding. Gordon Lightfoot released a version that reached number 1 on the Canadian country charts in 1970. Jerry Lee Lewis released a version that was number 1 on the country charts in December 1971/January 1972 as the "B" side of "Would You Take Another Chance On Me." Billboard ranked Joplin's version as the No. 11 song for 1971.

<i>Summer Side of Life</i> 1971 studio album by Gordon Lightfoot

Summer Side of Life is Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot's sixth studio album. It was released in 1971 on the Reprise Records Label. The album marked a departure from the sound Lightfoot had established on Sit Down Young Stranger in its use of drums and electric instrumentation, to which he would later return in the second half of the decade. “Redwood Hill” contains elements of bluegrass music.

<i>Old Dans Records</i> 1972 studio album by Gordon Lightfoot

Old Dan's Records is Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot's eighth studio album, released in 1972 on the Reprise Records label. The album reached #1 in Canada on the RPM national album chart on November 5, 1972, and remained there for three weeks. In the U.S., it peaked at #95 on the pop chart.

<i>Endless Wire</i> (Gordon Lightfoot album) 1978 studio album by Gordon Lightfoot

Endless Wire is the Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot's twelfth studio album, released in 1978 on Warner Bros. Records (#3149).

<i>Summertime Dream</i> 1976 studio album by Gordon Lightfoot

Summertime Dream is Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot's eleventh studio album, released on the Reprise Records label in 1976. It peaked at #1 on the Canadian RPM national album chart, and #12 on the US Billboard pop chart.

<i>Jesus Was a Capricorn</i> 1972 studio album by Kris Kristofferson

Jesus Was a Capricorn is the fourth album by Kris Kristofferson, released in 1972 on Monument Records. The album cover pictures Kristofferson and his soon-to-be wife Rita Coolidge. "Why Me" reached #1 on the Country singles charts.

<i>The Austin Sessions</i> (Kris Kristofferson album) 1999 studio album by Kris Kristofferson

The Austin Sessions is an album by Kris Kristofferson, released on Atlantic Records in 1999. It features stripped-down versions of Kristofferson's most famous material, including "Me and Bobby McGee", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" and "Help Me Make It Through the Night". Several well-known artists contributed vocals to the album, including Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, Matraca Berg, Vince Gill, Marc Cohn, Alison Krauss, Catie Curtis and Mark Knopfler.

<i>Spooky Ladys Sideshow</i> 1974 studio album by Kris Kristofferson

Spooky Lady's Sideshow is the fifth solo album by Kris Kristofferson, released in 1974 on Monument Records. It was preceded and followed by duet albums with his wife, Rita Coolidge. It was recorded shortly after Kristofferson's appearance in the movie Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. The album mostly consists of songs about decline due to alcohol and drug abuse. That theme of decline proved to be (unintentionally) prophetic as this was Kristofferson's first album that failed to see commercial success on a large scale.

<i>Full Moon</i> (Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge album) 1973 studio album by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge

Full Moon is a duet album by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, released in September 1973 on A&M Records. It is the first of three duet albums by the couple, who married weeks before the album's release, and arguably the best. Unlike Kristofferson solo albums, it features several covers.

<i>Breakaway</i> (Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge album) 1974 studio album by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge

Breakaway is the second duet album by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, released in 1974 on Monument Records. It is one of three duet albums by the couple. Unlike Kristofferson solo albums, it features several covers. "I've Got to Have You" and "I'd Rather Be Sorry" had both previously been hits for other artists; they appear here by Kristofferson for the first time.

<i>Songbook</i> (Gordon Lightfoot album) 1999 box set by Gordon Lightfoot

Songbook is a career retrospective album released by Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot on the Rhino label in 1999. The album contains 88 songs on four CDs covering Lightfoot's career, and includes 16 previously unreleased tracks. The only material not covered are the albums Harmony and Solo, which were released after Songbook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You Could Read My Mind</span> 1970 single by Gordon Lightfoot

"If You Could Read My Mind" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. Lightfoot wrote the lyrics while he was reflecting on his own divorce. It reached No. 1 on the Canadian Singles Chart on commercial release in 1970 and charted in several other countries on international release in 1971.

<i>The Last Time I Saw Her</i> 1971 studio album by Glen Campbell

The Last Time I Saw Her is the 20th album by American singer/guitarist Glen Campbell, released by Capitol Records in 1971.

<i>Songs of Kristofferson</i> 1977 compilation album by Kris Kristofferson

Songs of Kristofferson is a best-of compilation album by Kris Kristofferson, released in 1977, after he had become more well known as a movie star than as a singer-songwriter. It includes tracks from his albums Kristofferson, The Silver Tongued Devil and I, Jesus Was a Capricorn, Who's to Bless and Who's to Blame and Surreal Thing. The album was re-released on CD in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Lightfoot discography</span> Cataloging of published recordings by Gordon Lightfoot

The discography of Canadian folk and country music singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot consists of 20 studio albums, three live albums, 16 greatest hits albums and 46 singles. Lightfoot's songs, including "For Lovin' Me", "Early Morning Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", "Ribbon of Darkness"—a number one hit on the U.S. country chart with Marty Robbins's cover in 1965—and "Black Day in July" about the 1967 Detroit riot, brought him wide recognition in the 1960s. Canadian chart success with his own recordings began in 1962 with the No. 3 hit "(Remember Me) I'm the One", followed by recognition and charting abroad in the 1970s.

<i>Sugar Hill Collection</i> 1995 compilation album by Country Gentlemen

Calling My Children Home is a compilation album by the progressive bluegrass band Country Gentlemen, recorded and released in 1995.

<i>Sit Down, Young Stranger</i> 1980 studio album by Country Gentlemen

Sit Down, Young Stranger is a studio album by the progressive bluegrass band Country Gentlemen, released in 1980.

<i>Youve Got a Friend</i> (Johnny Mathis album) 1971 studio album by Johnny Mathis

You've Got a Friend is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on August 11, 1971, by Columbia Records. The phrase "Today's Great Hits" can be found above the title on both sides of the record jacket as well as both sides of the LP label as if to emphasize that this is essentially an album covering songs that were recently on the charts. This was a common practice of many vocalists of the period, so much so in fact that fellow Columbia artist Andy Williams also released an album titled You've Got a Friend in August 1971 on which he coincidentally covers seven of the 11 tracks that Mathis recorded for this album.

References

  1. 1 2 Anon. If You Could Read My Mind (Liner notes). Gordon Lightfoot. Reprise. 7599-27451-2.
  2. "Release "Sit Down Young Stranger" by Gordon Lightfoot". MusicBrainz. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  3. "RPM Top 100 Albums - March 13, 1971" (PDF).
  4. "RPM Top 100 Albums - June 20, 1970" (PDF).
  5. 1 2 Newsom, Jim. "Sit Down Young Stranger > Review". Allmusic . Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  6. 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.
  7. "Canadian album certifications – Gordon Lightfoot – Sit Down Young Stranger". Music Canada.
  8. "American album certifications – Gordon Lightfoot – If You Could Read My Mind". Recording Industry Association of America.