'' track listing all compositions by gordon lightfoot ; except where indicated personnel gordon lightfoot - guitar , piano , vocals red shea - guitar ry cooder - guitar , mandolin rick haynes - bass van dyke parks - harmonium john sebastian - guitar , harmonica nick decaro - string arrangements randy newman - string arrangement on '' minstrel of the dawn '' and '' approaching lavender '' kris kristofferson was rumored to have provided harmony vocals on '' me and bobby mcgee '' .