Canadian Folk Music Appraisal

The Very Best of Gordon Lightfoot (Vinyl LP)

The item is a vintage vinyl record album, specifically 'The Very Best of Gordon Lightfoot' with a prominent portrait of the artist on the cover. The album cover is primarily blue, serving as a background for a detailed, perhaps painterly, depiction of Gordon Lightfoot's face, surrounded by swirling, abstract elements in yellow, orange, and green hues, possibly representing an aura or a surreal landscape. His hair appears curly or wavy, and he sports a beard. The title text, 'THE VERY BEST OF Gordon Lightfoot', is displayed in a clear, sans-serif font, with 'THE VERY BEST OF' in a smaller size above 'Gordon Lightfoot'. There are signs of wear consistent with age and use, including visible scuffing and creasing on the edges and corners of the album cover. The corners appear dinged and the top edge shows some fraying. The spine, not fully visible, likely shares similar wear. The cover art itself may have minor scratches or fading, though the primary colors and portrait remain discernible. The album dimensions are standard for a 12-inch LP, approximate 12.375 x 12.375 inches. Given the album's title and the artist, it likely dates from the 1970s or early 1980s, as 'best of' compilations often follow a period of an artist's peak popularity. The overall condition suggests it has been stored without a protective sleeve, leading to the observed wear. There are no visible manufacturer's marks or signatures on the album cover itself, though these would be found on the record label inside. The quality of the cover art is typical for the era, possibly a gatefold, though only the front is visible.