Those who have followed the newsgroup since it's early days will remember numerous discussions around Lightfoot's 12-string work and the apparent trend away from using it on new songs since 1980 (Not including GGII, which only contained one newly released song). Another interesting aside is that on GGI, Lightfoot played 12-string on Song For A Winter's Night, whereas the original recording was with 6-string, as are his live versions to this day.

To appreciate the big picture, here are how Lightfoot's albums break down by percentage of 12-string songs. With the release of APPT, the trend away from the 12-string on new material has been reversed. This was the first time since DREAM STREET ROSE that GL's 12-string has figured so prominently on a new album:

LIGHTFOOT! - 14 songs
12-string - 7 (50%)
Rich Man's Spiritual
For Loving Me
Early Morning Rain
Sixteen Miles
I'm Not Saying
Pride Of Man
Ribbon Of Darkness

THE WAY I FEEL - 12 songs
12-string - 7 (59%)
Walls
If You Got It
Softly
Crossroads
Go Go Round
I'll Be Alright
Canadian Railroad Trilogy
The Way I Feel

DID SHE MENTION MY NAME - 12 songs
12-string - 7 (59%)
Wherefore And Why
Black Day In July
Magnificent Outpouring
Mountains And Marian
I Want To Hear It From You
Boss Man
Did She Mention My Name

BACK HERE ON EARTH - 11 songs
12-string - 7 (63%)
Long Way Back Home
Long Thin Dawn
The Circle Is Small
Marie Christine
Cold Hands From New York
Don't Beat Me Down
If I Could

SUNDAY CONCERT - 12 songs
12-string - 8 (66%)
In A Windowpane
The Lost Children
I'm Not Saying
Ribbon Of Darkness
Apology
Softly
Boss Man
Canadian Railroad Trilogy

IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND - 11 songs
12-string - 1 (9%)
Poor Little Allison

SUMMER SIDE OF LIFE - 11 songs
12-string - 6 (55%)
Ten Degrees And Getting Colder
Go My Way
Cotton Jenny
Summer Side Of Life
Same Old Loverman
Redwood Hill

DON QUIXOTE - 11 songs
12-string - 3 (27%)
Brave Mountaineers
Second Cup Of Coffee
The Patriot's Dream

OLD DAN'S RECORDS - 10 songs
12-string - 2 (20%)
You Are What I Am
Hi'way Songs

SUNDOWN - 10 songs
12-string - 5 (50%)
Seven Island Suite
Is There Anyone Home
The Watchman's Gone
Sundown
The List

COLD ON THE SHOULDER - 12 songs
12-string - 6 (50%)
Bend In The Water
The Soul Is The Rock
A Tree Too Weak To Stand
Cherokee Bend
Now And Then
Slide On Over

GORD'S GOLD - 12 songs (Newly recorded material only - medleys count as 2)
12-string - 9 songs (75%)
I'm Not Saying
Ribbon Of Darkness
Song For A Winter's Night
Canadian Railroad Trilogy
Softly
For Loving Me
Did She Mention My Name
Wherefore And Why
Early Morning Rain

SUMMERTIME DREAM - 10 songs
12-string - 7 (70%)
Race Among The Ruins
The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
I'd Do It Again
Never Too Close
The House You Live In
Summertime Dream
Too Many Clues In This Room

ENDLESS WIRE - 10 songs
12-string - 8 (80%)
Daylight Katy
Sweet Guinevere
Hangdog Hotel Room
If There's A Reason
Endless Wire
Dreamland
Songs The Minstrel Sang
The Circle Is Small

DREAM STREET ROSE - 10 songs
12-string - 4 (40%)
Sea Of Tranquility
Dream Street Rose
Hey You
The Auctioneer

SHADOWS - 11 songs
12-string - 2 (18%)
Triangle
She's Not The Same

SALUTE - 10 songs
12-string - 2 (20%)
Salute
Biscuit City

EAST OF MIDNIGHT - 10 songs
12-string - 2 (20%)
You Just Gotta Be
A Passing Ship

GORD'S GOLD II - 14 songs (Newly recorded material only)
12-string - 9 songs (64%)
If It Should Please You
Endless Wire
Hangdog Hotel Room
High And Dry
The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
Race Among The Ruins
Alberta Bound
Cherokee Bend
Triangle

WAITING FOR YOU - 10 songs
12-string - 0 (0%)

A PAINTER PASSING THROUGH - 10 songs
12-string - 4 (40%)
Ringneck Loon
I Used To Be A Country Singer
Red Velvet
On Yoinge Street