This double CD contains all four of the Toronto singer/songwriter's '60s studio albums (the live LP Sunday Concert, not included here, was also released in the '60s). On these records, his resonant vocals, lyrical ambition, and melodic strengths produced as close a rival to Bob Dylan as Canada ever fashioned during that decade, and foreshadowed work by other major Canadian singer/songwriters of the late '60s, such as Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Leonard Cohen. "Early Mornin' Rain" (covered by fellow Canadian folkies Ian & Sylvia), the folk-rock protest number "Black Day in July," the epic "Canadian Railroad Trilogy," and his cover of Ewan McColl's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" are all present, and are among the most popular tracks Lightfoot has issued during his long career. Featuring both acoustic and folk-rock recordings, this neatly bundles Lightfoot's early work into a listenable and fairly inexpensive package. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
Hugh McCracken (Guitar), Charlie Tallent (Engineer), Gordon Lightfoot (Guitar (Rhythm)), Vincent M. Vero (Discographical Compiled), John Court (Producer), Laurice Milton Shea (Guitar), John Stockfish (Bass), Bruce Harris (Compilation Producer), Gordon Lightfoot (Guitar (Acoustic)), Tim Lewis (Cover Design), Vincent M. Vero (Engineer), Kevin Reeves (Digital Mastering), Jim Marshall (Photography), Bruce Harris (Producer), Charlie McCoy (Bells), Colin Escott (Liner Notes), Kenneth A. Buttrey (Percussion), Red Shea (Guitar), Vincent M. Vero (Compilation Producer), Henry Marquez (Art Direction), Gordon Lightfoot (Vocals), Susan Bibeau (Design), Elliot Mazer (Remixing), Adam Mitchell (Assistant Producer), Charlie McCoy (Guitar), Charlie McCoy (Celeste), Herb Lovelle (Drums), Barry Feinstein (Photography), Bill Lee (Bass), Kevin Reeves (Mastering), Gordon Lightfoot (Remixing), Vincent M. Vero (Producer), Elliot Mazer (Producer), Charles Steiner (Photography), David Rae (Guitar), Bruce Harris (Executive Producer), Charlie McCoy (Harmonica), John Simon (Producer), Michael Ochs (Photography), Bruce Harris (Engineer), Rick Haynes (Bass), Bob Cato (Design), Elliot Mazer (Engineer), Bruce Langhorne (Guitar)
