Question/comment re old tour(s)

[MajGenl.Meade]

I went with my wife to see Leonard Cohen at the Royal Albert Hall between 1974 and 1977. I can only think it was the 1976 tour because I recall it was a Sunday.

The next day I went to work and heard on the radio that LC was performing an unscheduled concert the next night at the Victoria Theatre (I believe it was - near Charing Cross maybe?).

I phoned my wife and asked her if she'd like to go but she declined. So I called and got 1 ticket and that was the better concert of the two - such a small venue, dancing in the aisles, LC droning "And they say my music is depressing!"

So is it something I totally made up - an unscheduled concert two days after the RA performance? Or am I looking at the wrong year on the tour list - what? Surely someone out there remembers..... it's a fine memory.

Thanks

PS when is he coming to South Africa!!!!!???? I have a busload of Afrikaner friends who will travel the 1010 kms to Cape Town at the drop of a fedora

[Vicomte]

I went with my wife to see Leonard Cohen at the Royal Albert Hall between 1974 and 1977. I can only think it was the 1976 tour because I recall it was a Sunday.

Yes but LC played gigs on July 6th, 7th & 8th at the New Victoria Theatre in London in 1976. Before that he had played at the RAH on May 25th 1976. So like me, perhaps you're brain now plays tricks on the timing of the events. I had to look it all up !!

[John Etherington]

Hi MajGeni.Meade,

You mind must be playing tricks, as Vicomte suggests, because the only two concerts that Leonard played at the Royal Albert Hall in the years that you mention were on September 20th, 1974 (a Friday) and May 25th, 1976 (a Tuesday). The only concert that he played at the Albert Hall on a Sunday in the 70s was (his first) on May 10th.

The May 25th concert in 1976 was a special one for me, as it was the first time that I found a Leonard concert to be a profoundly spiritual experience. I was still on an incredible high from it the following day, but I had unfortunately agreed to go and see the Rolling Stones at Earls Court with a friend of mine. The Stones concert was a garish kind of circus spectacle featuring clowns etc., and completely clashed with the sublime experience that preceded it, the day before.

The New Victoria Theatre is in Wilton Road, opposite Victoria Station, and is now the Apollo Victoria (where "Wicked" is playing). I worked in a record store in Wilton Road from 1973 -79, and when the tickets went on sale, I was able to walk to the box office and ask for two front centre seats for every night (costing me a total of £30.00!). Incidentally, although Leonard included "Do I Have to Dance All Night", the concerts were very sedate affairs, and I don't remember anyone dancing the aisles.

By the way (I mention this repeatedly, just in case), if anyone reading this has a recording of any of the New Victoria concerts please let me know. I am particularly interested in the July 7th one, as it was my 25th birthday, and the only time I have met Leonard at a concert (the only other time was at his art exhibition in Manchester).

All good things, John E

[MajGenl.Meade]

Thank you both for the clarifications!