Ten million albums sold, five Grammy nominations, and career that spans more than five decades — Gordon Lightfoot is a folk music icon. The new documentary “Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind” chronicles Lightfoot’s career to introduce his music to a new generation.
The documentary is peppered with interviews with fans, colleagues, and Lightfoot himself. The various talking heads are intercut with moments from his career, to show the progression of his career. Lightfoot started off his musical career as a Christian choirboy, transitioned to a troubadour, and eventually became a musical legend— especially in his native Canada. “Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind” specifically highlights how the singer-songwriter maintained that icon status by breaking down key songs from his musical career. Fans will also get a few behind-the-scenes stories from his band as well.
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Take a look at the official synopsis for “Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind” below:
“Directors Martha Kehoe and Joan Tosoni chart Gordon Lightfoot’s profound evolution from Christian choirboy to troubled troubadour, international star and beloved Canadian icon with 5 Grammy Nominations and over 10 million albums sold. The film is an intimate and emotional examination of Lightfoot’s relationship to his music while intertwining his indelible legacy and unpacking key songs within the cultural history of folk and rock music along the way. The documentary takes audiences from high school auditoriums in straight-laced, small town Ontario in the ‘50s to the coffee houses of Toronto’s Yorkville and NYC’s Greenwich Village in the ‘60s, through Gordon’s turbulent, substance-fueled arena shows of the ‘70s, and finally to the artist – older, wiser – in present day.”
The documentary will be released the summer, although it’s still unclear whether that will be in theaters or on streaming. Obviously, there’s ample reason why the release strategy is unclear with COVID-19 taking control of the film industry. Take a look at the newest trailer below.
