Sundown (Gordon Lightfoot album)

Sundown
Studio album by
Gordon Lightfoot
ReleasedJanuary 1974
RecordedNovember 1973
StudioEastern Sound Studios (Toronto)
GenreFolk
Length36:12
LabelReprise
ProducerLenny Waronker
Gordon Lightfoot chronology
Old Dan's Records
(1972) 		Sundown
(1974) 		Cold on the Shoulder
(1975)
Singles from Sundown
  1. "Sundown"
    Released: February 1974
  2. "Carefree Highway"
    Released: August 1974
Audio
"Sundown" on YouTube

Sundown is Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot's ninth studio album, released in 1974 on the Reprise Records label. It was the only Lightfoot album to reach No. 1 on the pop chart in the US. In his native Canada, it topped the RPM 100 for five consecutive weeks, first hitting No. 1 on June 22, 1974, the same day it reached the top of the chart south of the border.[1]

The album marked the pinnacle of Lightfoot's acoustic folk-country blend before he embarked on an increasing use of electric instruments, although he did include some electric guitar, notably on the title track.

As for singles, the title track reached No. 1 on the pop and adult contemporary charts as well as #13 on the country chart, while "Carefree Highway" reached No. 10 on the pop chart, No. 1 on the AC chart and No. 81 on the country chart.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideB−[3]
Rolling Stone(favorable)[4]

Original LP release

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All tracks are written by Gordon Lightfoot

Side 1 (LP)
No.TitleLength
1."Somewhere U.S.A."2:50
2."High and Dry"2:12
3."Seven Island Suite"6:00
4."Circle of Steel"2:45
5."Is There Anyone Home"3:15
Side 2 (LP)
No.TitleLength
6."The Watchman's Gone"4:25
7."Sundown"3:45
8."Carefree Highway"3:45
9."The List"3:00
10."Too Late for Prayin'"4:15

Compact cassette (rep ms 2177)

[edit]
Side 1 (Cassette, TT: 18:43)
No.TitleLength
1."Sundown"3:45
2."Somewhere U.S.A."2:50
3."Seven Island Suite"6:00
4."Circle of Steel"2:45
5."Is There Anyone Home"3:15
Side 2 (Cassette, TT: 17:50)
No.TitleLength
6."High and Dry"2:12
7."The Watchman's Gone"4:25
8."Carefree Highway"3:45
9."The List"3:00
10."Too Late for Prayin'"4:15

Chart performance

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Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 13
Canadian RPM Top Albums 1
U.S. Billboard 200 1

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[6] Gold 20,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ "Top Albums". RPM. 21 (18). 22 June 1974. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  2. ^ "Sundown". Allmusic. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: L". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 1, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ "Rolling Stone reviews : Sundown". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Cash Box Magazine" (PDF). Cash Box. November 21, 1974. p. 52. Retrieved November 15, 2021 – via World Radio History.
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