Sit Down Young Stranger

Infobox Album |
Name = Sit Down Young Stranger
Type = Album
Artist = Gordon Lightfoot


Released = April, 1970
Recorded = September-December, 1969
Genre = Folk
Length = 36:44
Label = Reprise Records
Producer = Lenny Waronker and Joseph Wissert
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:k063tr79kl5x link] |
Last album = "Sunday Concert"
(1969)
This album = "Sit Down Young Stranger"
(1970)
Next album = "Summer Side of Life"
(1971)

:"If You Could Read My Mind" redirects here, for the song, see If You Could Read My Mind (song).""Sit Down Young Stranger" is Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot's 6th original album and also his best-selling original album. It was released in 1970 on the Reprise Records Label. The album was renamed "If You Could Read My Mind" shortly after release due to the song reaching number #5 on the chart. The album itself reached #12 on the pop chart.

The album marked a turning point in Lightfoot's musical career. It was Lightfoot's first recording for his new label, Reprise Records. He had left United Artists because he believed they did not promote his albums well enough.

In terms of the music, 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" was arranged by Randy Newman.

The album contained one of the first recorded version of Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster's "Me and Bobby McGee" which would later become a hit for Janis Joplin and also a stage favourite of Kristofferson's.

A small number of vinyl copies contain no title. 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. It read "Sit Down Young Stranger."

Track listing

#"Minstrel of the Dawn" – 3:26
#"Me and Bobby McGee" – 3:38 (Kris Kristofferson/Fred Foster)
#"Approaching Lavender" – 2:56
#"Saturday Clothes" – 3:20
#"Cobwebs & Dust" – 3:20
#"Poor Little Allison" – 2:30
#"Sit Down Young Stranger" – 3:26
#"If You Could Read My Mind" – 3:48
#"Baby It's Alright" – 2:58
#"Your Love's Return (Song for Stephen Foster)" – 3:55
#"The Pony Man" – 3:27

All compositions by Lightfoot except as indicated.

Credits

* Gordon Lightfoot - Guitar, Piano, Vocals
* Red Shea - Guitar
* Ry Cooder - Guitar, Mandolin
* Rick Haynes - Bass
* Van Dyke Parks - Harmonica
* John Sebastian - Guitar, Harmonica

External links

* [http://www.lightfoot.ca/sitdlist.htm Album lyrics and chords]