French
DeutschSundown (Gordon Lightfoot song)
| "Sundown" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Gordon Lightfoot | ||||
| from the album Sundown | ||||
| B-side | "Too Late for Prayin'" | |||
| Released | March 25, 1974 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:37 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gordon Lightfoot | |||
| Producer(s) | Lenny Waronker | |||
| Gordon Lightfoot singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Sundown" is a song by Canadian folk artist Gordon Lightfoot, from the titular album, released as a single in March 1974.
"Sundown" reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and easy listening charts[2] and No. 13 on the Hot Country singles chart,[3] 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.
Content
[edit]The lyrics describe a troubled romantic relationship (often cited as 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?'[4]
Personnel
[edit]Engineered by Lee Herschberg
Recorded at Eastern Sound Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Gordon Lightfoot: Lead and background vocals, 12-string guitar
- Red Shea: Lead electric guitar
- Terry Clements: Lead acoustic guitar
- John Stockfish: Bass
- Jim Gordon: Drums
Chart performance
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2018) |
Weekly charts[edit]
| .jpg) Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[23] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
| ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
In popular culture
[edit]The song was featured prominently in the 2024 vampire-themed horror film Salem's Lot, as well as in the film's trailer.
Other versions
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2024) |
- Nana Mouskouri recorded a French version, "L'Amour, c'est comme l'été", on her 1974 album Que Je Sois Un Ange.
- The musical project/collaboration of singer-songwriters Elwood covered the song in 2000. This version peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart on July 8, 2000.[24]
- American country music singer Deryl Dodd's version of the song peaked at #59 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1999. It was later included on his album, Pearl Snaps (2002).
- Danish supergroup Dalton covered the song on their first album Dalton released in 1992, under the title "Selskabsmadonna".
- American country music singer Charles Wesley Godwin covered the song through Amazon Original Music in 2024.
See also
[edit]- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1974 (U.S.)
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1974 (U.S.)
- List of RPM number-one singles of 1974
References
[edit]- ^ Breihan, Tom (May 23, 2019). "The Number Ones: Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
"Sundown" is a pretty atypical piece of mid-'70s folk-rock.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 368.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 201.
- ^ Fink, Matt (1 January 2008). "Gordon Lightfoort: Sunrise to Sundown". American Songwriter. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "RPM Top Singles - Volume 21, No. 17". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ "RPM Adult Contemporary - Volume 21, No. 13". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ "RPM Country Singles - Volume 21, No. 12". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ "Gordon Lightfoot – Sundown" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Gordon Lightfoot". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ "Top 40". Top40.nl. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "Gordon Lightfoot | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ "Gordon Lightfoot Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ "Gordon Lightfoot Chart History: Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ "Gordon Lightfoot Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ "Gordon Lightfoot Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. December 30, 1974. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1974". Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1974/Top 100 Songs of 1974". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ^ "American single certifications – Gordon Lightfoot – Sundown". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ "Elwood - Chart history". Billboard. 2000-07-08. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
