Steve Gillette released his first album in 1967 titled simply “Steve Gillette.” Top-heavy with folk ballads and original songs, I thought the album was a strong debut. Gillette had already established himself as a noteworthy songwriter when Ian and Sylvia, a top Canadian folk duo, included “Darcy Farrow,” a song Gillette co-wrote on their 1966 album “Early Morning Rain.” I still own Gillette’s debut album and listen to it occasionally. Despite all of this fanfare, Steve Gillette never became...

I often feel that art comes from somewhere else. Let’s call it “The Great Beyond.” To me, a serious artist is a channeler of messages from The Beyond through the prism of his or her experiences and personality. These messages want to come through and be heard by a large audience. “Teach Your Children” is a good illustration of this idea. Here’s my cover. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

Like many of us, Don McLean suffered through difficult passages in his life, many of which are reflected in his music. He wrote and recorded “Empty Chairs” when his marriage was failing. Despite the subject of lost love, I feel there is incredible beauty in the lyrics and the melody, and Mclean’s unique guitar style. Although the subject is mentioned just once in the song, McLean chose the symbol to sum up his feelings and state of mind at the time. The title is inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s...

“The time that’s left is yours to keep.” These words come at the end of the chorus of the song “See Here She Says” by Kate Wolf. While I find all of the lyrics in this song beautiful, this sentence hit me in the center of my heart. I can picture a mother teaching a child about life. She is telling the child about the importance of dreams and to use his or her time wisely. Use it well, not only for yourself but for others too. Certainly, love, beauty, and a full range of human emotions come...

“I live for a sense of a feeling of purposefulness in this world, you know, that I could stop my life at any point and feel that my life has been worthwhile; that the people I’ve loved and my children have all reached a point where their lives are now going to come to fruition. And as far as something I live by, it’s to try to be as alive as possible and feel free to make my mistakes and try to be as honest as I can with myself.” Kate Wolf–Singer-Songwriter–1942-1986 --- Send in a voice...

Here's another Gordon Lightfoot tune that may not be as recognizable as many of the other songs of his that I've covered here. Somehow, "I'll be Alright" crept into my consciousness and I'm happy to offer my cover of the song in this post. To me, the song is as lovely and memorable as many of Lightfoot's hits including: "If You Could Read My Mind," "Early Morning Rain," and "Song For A Winter's Night." Please enjoy the memory of this song and the one and only Gordon Lightfoot. --- Send...

Here's my cover of a song inspired by Gordon Lightfoot's 1972 concert in London, England. I've loved Gordon's music for decades. I grew old with him. The sight of Lightfoot performing his song as a young man is both glorious and saddening. Lightfoot passed away recently at the age of 84. He never stopped performing until the very end. Thanks for your music, GL. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

Here's my cover of "Fill My Eyes" played with Cat Stevens' unique guitar style. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

Here's my cover of "My Opening Farewell" played the way Jackson Browne does it. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2023/01/13/jackson-browne-my-opening-farewell/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

Eva Cassidy was a magnificent vocalist and an accomplished guitarist. Here's my cover of Eva's "Songbird." This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2023/04/30/songbird/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2023/03/17/folk-legends-ian-sylvia/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

"Four Strong Winds," written by Ian Tyson, is recognized as one of the best folk songs ever written. It was performed by folk legends Ian & Sylvia and covered by many well-known recording artists. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

This is version two of Och's immortal song played one fret higher. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2023/03/04/changes/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2023/02/14/love-found-and-lost/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2023/02/07/the-beauty-of-the-bells/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

Jackson Browne's Music is lyrical and penetrating. He is a poet as well as a prolific songwriter, musician, and vocalist. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

Fans of Gordon Lightfoot will want to hear this cover of one of Gordon's earliest love songs. It is among his greatest hits. Thanks for listening. Love to all. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2022/12/02/early-lightfoot-love/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2022/11/21/simple-honest-transparent-beautiful-2/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2022/11/15/the-wind-in-my-soul/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2022/11/11/a-transcendent-voice/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2022/10/29/across-the-barrier-of-time/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2022/10/13/jefferson-airplane-comin-back-to-me/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://davidgittlin.net/2022/09/28/from-a-distance-the-song/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-gittlin/message