This song is the true story of the sinking of the ore ship, Edmund Fitzgerald, in stormy seas in the southeast region of Lake Superior on November 10th, 1975. Gordon Lightfoot released this epic ballad several months later in June 1976 on the album Summertime Dream. Edmund Fitzgerald was released as a single on November 20th 1976, just over a year from the date of it's sinking. It became a number one selling song on Cashbox and Billboard rankings.