Sundown (Gordon Lightfoot album)

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]

Sundown
Studio album by Gordon Lightfoot
Released	January 18, 1974
Recorded	November 1973
Studio	Eastern Sound Studios (Toronto)
Genre	Folk
Length	36:12
Label	Reprise
Producer	Lenny Waronker
Gordon Lightfoot chronology
Old Dan's Records (1972) Sundown (1974) Cold on the Shoulder (1975)
Singles from Sundown
"Sundown" Released: February 1974 "Carefree Highway" Released: August 1974
Audio
"Sundown" on YouTube

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
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Christgau's Record Guide	B−[3]
Rolling Stone	(favorable)[4]

Original LP release

All tracks are written by Gordon Lightfoot.

Side 1 (LP)

No.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
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)

Side 1 (Cassette, TT: 18:43)

No.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Length
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

Weekly charts Chart (1974) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 13 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[6] 1 US Billboard 200[7] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1974) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[8] 3 US Billboard 200[9] 14

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[10]	Gold	20,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

• Gordon Lightfoot – lead and backing vocals, 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars, high-strung guitar Nashville tuning, chimes, bells,
• Red Shea – electric, acoustic and classical guitars, dobro, slide dobro (tracks 1–5, 7, 9, 10)
• Terry Clements – acoustic guitar (tracks 1, 3–10)
• Rick Haynes – bass guitar (tracks 1, 4, 8, 9)
• John Stockfish – bass guitar (tracks 2, 3, 5–7, 10)
• Jim Gordon – drums, percussion (tracks 1–3, 5–9)
• Milt Holland – percussion, congas (tracks 1, 5, 6, 9)
• Nick De Caro – accordion, horns, orchestration, piano, strings (tracks 3, 5, 6, 8, 10)
• Gene Martynec – Moog synthesizer (tracks 3, 5)
• Jack Zaza – English horn, recorder (track 4)
• Catherine Smith – harmony vocals (track 2)