May 4, 2020 —– Chart #22

Hello Musical Friends,

Welcome to Monday. Today we will ease into the week with a classic from Canadian folk artist Gordon Lightfoot. “Sundown” is a song from his tenth original album, released in 1974 on the Reprise Records label. The album marked the pinnacle of Lightfoot’s acoustic folk-country blend before he embarked on an increasing use of electronic instruments, although he did include some electric guitar, notably on the title track. The song’s lyrics seem to describe a troubled romantic relationship, (often cited as notorious groupie Cathy Smith) with the narrator recounting an affair with a “hard-loving woman [who’s] got me feeling mean”.

In a 2008 interview, Lightfoot said:  I think my girlfriend was out with her friends one night at a bar while I was at home writing songs. I thought, ‘I wonder what she’s doing with her friends at that bar!’ It’s that kind of a feeling. ‘Where is my true love tonight? What is my true love doing?’

“Sundown” reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and easy listening charts and No. 13 on the Hot Country singles chart, as well as No. 1 in Canada on RPM’s national singles chart. It was Lightfoot’s only single to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100.

Keep Rockin’,

Stan