"Sundown" is a song by Canadian folk artist Gordon Lightfoot, from the titular album, released as a single in March 1974.
"Sundown" reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and easy listening charts and number 13 on the Hot Country singles chart, as well as number one in Canada on RPMs national singles chart. It was Lightfoot's only single to reach number one on the Hot 100.
Content 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:
Red Shea recorded the lead guitar and solo parts on his tobacco sunburst 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom with Bigsby vibrato bar into a cranked Fender Silverface Twin Reverb with the tremolo on a low setting.
Personnel Engineered by Lee Herschberg Recorded at Eastern Sound Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Gordon Lightfoot: lead and backing vocals, twelve-string acoustic guitar Red Shea: electric lead guitar Terry Clements: acoustic lead guitar John Stockfish: bass guitar Jim Gordon: drums
Chart performance
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "Sundown"Chart (1974)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)4Canadian RPM Top Singles1Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary2Canadian RPM Country Tracks4Netherlands16New Zealand (Listener)2South Africa (Springbok Radio)1UK Singles Chart33 US Easy Listening (Billboard)1Yugoslavian Singles Chart 2 +2023 weekly chart performance for "Sundown"Chart (2023)Peakposition
Year-end charts +Year-end chart performance for "Sundown"Chart (1974)RankAustralia (Kent Music Report)35Canadian RPM Top Singles3South Africa4US Billboard Hot 10027US Cashbox Top 10032
Certifications
Other notable versions
American country music singer Deryl Dodd's version of the song peaked at number 59 on Billboards Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart in 1999. It was later included on his album, Pearl Snaps (2002). The musical project/collaboration of singer-songwriters Elwood covered the song in 2000. This version peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart on July 8, 2000.
See also 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
External links