Never Any Good and The Great Event

Jack_Cade · Post by **Jack_Cade** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:31 pm

I thought 'Never Any Good' was a wasted opportunity. The lyrics are great, but the tune is among the worst LC's come up with, a mon avis. I wish he'd rework it, or publish it as a poem!

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:15 am

It is an unfortunate fact that the "contractual obligation" aspect of making records leads to the addition of "bonus tracks" which are hastily pulled out of the can in order to meet a deadline. The record company probably wanted a 'new' track or two thereby pushing people into buying the record thinking that Leonard has a 'new' song or at least reworked an older one. Such is the matter of business.

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 11:01 am

I think that song was recorded in 1994. Leonard says in one of Cohen Live interviews that year that he has that song recorded for the next album )so, no talk about leavinf for monastery yet

) Also, in 1995, when there were rumours about the new album, it was reported he has "already recorded I Was Never Any Good and In My Secret Life, and A Thousand Kisses Deep is almost finished" (note that these are the early versions of those Ten New Songs tracks, without Sharon Robinson. Leonard's version of A Thousand Kisses Deep can be heard in Spring 96 docu.) So when he was deep in monastery, he simply gave them the first one, finsihed long ago. I guess it would dissapear he didn't do that; let's try to imagine that song on TNS or DH!