I got a copy - tape - of the first LP from 1967 with Susanne and the other songs - Imaging over 40 years. I played that tape over and over again. Remember at that time a tape has to be rewinded. I was 17 years. I listen and listen, no earphones. My father got almost mad. He thought LC.s sound was lika a creaky cat. so he cold him the cat. I made my homeworks, I read - and I listen over and over.
Later I bought the remade CD. I have all the CDs (almost). I have seen Tv intervjues etc, but never gone to a concert. Might be because it havent been any in my neighborhood.
I have the CD:s, I play them - over and over.
After one of the interviews, maybe 7-10 years ago - I even wrote a letter - but of cause no answer.
Since the tv story about LC never was going to perform I sort of gave up.
Even if I go to internet everyday, and have done that - I could not imagin there was a site like this.
And I have missed all the concert - because I didnt know there were any. I read it in the papers afterward, thats why I started to look on internet for information and found this.
No I will see if I can go for one of the days in the fall tour (when confirmed).
His text, voice combining with the music is the best.
The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
19xx - Göteborg
2008 - Got 12 Oct, Sto 15 Oct, CPH 17 Oct, Ham 31 Oct.
2009 - Cologne, Berlin,
2010 - Göteborg
2012 Copenhagen, Alborg, Göteborg
2013 Stockholm, Oslo - August
2008 - Got 12 Oct, Sto 15 Oct, CPH 17 Oct, Ham 31 Oct.
2009 - Cologne, Berlin,
2010 - Göteborg
2012 Copenhagen, Alborg, Göteborg
2013 Stockholm, Oslo - August
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
I don't have to ga back far, I think it was december 2006, I was 22 years old.
Here in the Netherlands, every year we have a radioshow that airs for a few days untill the 31th of december. All this time is spent with the 2000 best songs all times as voted by the dutch people.
I love this show. I listened to it through the internet with the playlist next to it, in hopes to discover music that I had missed, being so young.
And then I heard (I think you can guess the song): Suzanne. I knew the melody, since a great dutch artist had made a beautifull translation of it and I knew that song. I downloaded the song, together with a bunch of other songs that I heard that day, but Suzanne was the best one. I played it over and over again, combined with the dutch version.
I listened to some other songs of Cohen on youtube, but I must admit I wasn't to crazy about it. It seemed slow and a bit sad. Having discovered so much other music that days, I left it with Suzanne.
A few months later, I was in a bar with a friend. We ran in to a very interesting man, who we only knew vagely. He joined us at the table and we started talking about theatre, poetry and everything else that came up. Then he asked us what music was special to us, what lyrics we thought were special.
I said I had fallen in love with Suzanne and the man was so excited, that we ended up singing the song together. He asked me if I knew more songs of Cohen. I had to admit I didn't. Although I did know Hallelujah, but only the version by Rufus Rainwright that was used for Shrek. THat knowlenge was good enough for us to sing Hallelujah together, although I didn't completely get it. This man was thrilled to see someone of my age that knew and could sing along with Cohen, although it was only two songs.
I had a great evening and I was very inspired by the man we talked to. As I got home, I soon started to search for the music of Leonard Cohen.
I found a lot and I started listening to it. I must admit, it took me some time to get used to, because the music of today is so different.
But soon I found some great peace in his voice. I fell in love with the lyrics, the voice, the music, everything.
When I heard "take this waltz" I knew that that was a song my mum used to listen to. I remember her singing along when I was very little.
The more I heard it, the more I loved it. I listened to nothing but Leonard, I sang along with all the lyrics and I even went out of my way to learn the French words on The partisan (with translation next to it and asking a French man I knew if I did it right).
Last saturday I went to the concert in Amsterdam and I haven't been able to listen to anything but Leonard since.
I get a lot of missunderstanding around me. No one of my age seems to like him like I do. Everybody thinks I'm a bit weird with this music, but I don't care.
I guess I was just born a few years to late
I hope in time coming, I will run into the man in the bar again. I want to thank him for showing me Cohen, for giving me this gift. And this time, I will be able to sing more then just the two songs with him.
Here in the Netherlands, every year we have a radioshow that airs for a few days untill the 31th of december. All this time is spent with the 2000 best songs all times as voted by the dutch people.
I love this show. I listened to it through the internet with the playlist next to it, in hopes to discover music that I had missed, being so young.
And then I heard (I think you can guess the song): Suzanne. I knew the melody, since a great dutch artist had made a beautifull translation of it and I knew that song. I downloaded the song, together with a bunch of other songs that I heard that day, but Suzanne was the best one. I played it over and over again, combined with the dutch version.
I listened to some other songs of Cohen on youtube, but I must admit I wasn't to crazy about it. It seemed slow and a bit sad. Having discovered so much other music that days, I left it with Suzanne.
A few months later, I was in a bar with a friend. We ran in to a very interesting man, who we only knew vagely. He joined us at the table and we started talking about theatre, poetry and everything else that came up. Then he asked us what music was special to us, what lyrics we thought were special.
I said I had fallen in love with Suzanne and the man was so excited, that we ended up singing the song together. He asked me if I knew more songs of Cohen. I had to admit I didn't. Although I did know Hallelujah, but only the version by Rufus Rainwright that was used for Shrek. THat knowlenge was good enough for us to sing Hallelujah together, although I didn't completely get it. This man was thrilled to see someone of my age that knew and could sing along with Cohen, although it was only two songs.
I had a great evening and I was very inspired by the man we talked to. As I got home, I soon started to search for the music of Leonard Cohen.
I found a lot and I started listening to it. I must admit, it took me some time to get used to, because the music of today is so different.
But soon I found some great peace in his voice. I fell in love with the lyrics, the voice, the music, everything.
When I heard "take this waltz" I knew that that was a song my mum used to listen to. I remember her singing along when I was very little.
The more I heard it, the more I loved it. I listened to nothing but Leonard, I sang along with all the lyrics and I even went out of my way to learn the French words on The partisan (with translation next to it and asking a French man I knew if I did it right).
Last saturday I went to the concert in Amsterdam and I haven't been able to listen to anything but Leonard since.
I get a lot of missunderstanding around me. No one of my age seems to like him like I do. Everybody thinks I'm a bit weird with this music, but I don't care.
I guess I was just born a few years to late
I hope in time coming, I will run into the man in the bar again. I want to thank him for showing me Cohen, for giving me this gift. And this time, I will be able to sing more then just the two songs with him.
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
That's a long story. This is a story of my life... I'll try to tell it shortly:
In 1988 when I was eight, I heard Take This Waltz from a record player in my grandmother's house. I think that was Christmas and the record belonged to my uncle. I found it somehow few months later at home. I was hypnotized and fascinated. I took this record to school, tried to translate the lyrics with a dictionary - that's how I started to learn English. I often compared them to Maciej Zembaty's Polish translations of Leonard Cohen songs. Tried to transform it. My father saw this fascination and when I was 10 I had four C-60 cassettes filled with Leonard's music gathered from my father's friends. There weren't any covers, so I gave my own titles to songs, drew my own "artwork". My parents bought me a small synthesizer. That time I knew nearly all songs of Leonard Cohen and very, very little other songs. I started to listen to Polish singer-songwriters, to Bob Dylan and another singing poets few years later. But Leonard was always on the top. Nobody, except my closest family and closest friends, I ever considered closer to me than this man. And all of that just because of songs.
What can I say - these songs taught me how to think, how to receive the poetry. I've learned how to play and sing through them. I've learned that my own sadness can be truly beautiful. I've learned about what is important. I've learned about self-confidence and modesty. I've learned about love. I've learned a lot. Nobody gave me so much, except of my parents maybe. Parents gave me love, Leonard taught me about love.
I owe my life to music and music flows trough me owing to Leonard Cohen. The fact that the last two albums are mostly about passing away, the fact that nobody lives forever make me feel depressed. I just love this man as a young kid loves his almost unseen beloved grandpa. After my dream came true and I could attend the concert (Amsterdam, Jul 12) I can't stop thinking about him and worrying about his health and endurance during the tour.
Sometimes I ask myself: am I normal? But as I said before - it is a story of my life.
Sorry about my grammar, I hope these words are understandable.
In 1988 when I was eight, I heard Take This Waltz from a record player in my grandmother's house. I think that was Christmas and the record belonged to my uncle. I found it somehow few months later at home. I was hypnotized and fascinated. I took this record to school, tried to translate the lyrics with a dictionary - that's how I started to learn English. I often compared them to Maciej Zembaty's Polish translations of Leonard Cohen songs. Tried to transform it. My father saw this fascination and when I was 10 I had four C-60 cassettes filled with Leonard's music gathered from my father's friends. There weren't any covers, so I gave my own titles to songs, drew my own "artwork". My parents bought me a small synthesizer. That time I knew nearly all songs of Leonard Cohen and very, very little other songs. I started to listen to Polish singer-songwriters, to Bob Dylan and another singing poets few years later. But Leonard was always on the top. Nobody, except my closest family and closest friends, I ever considered closer to me than this man. And all of that just because of songs.
What can I say - these songs taught me how to think, how to receive the poetry. I've learned how to play and sing through them. I've learned that my own sadness can be truly beautiful. I've learned about what is important. I've learned about self-confidence and modesty. I've learned about love. I've learned a lot. Nobody gave me so much, except of my parents maybe. Parents gave me love, Leonard taught me about love.
I owe my life to music and music flows trough me owing to Leonard Cohen. The fact that the last two albums are mostly about passing away, the fact that nobody lives forever make me feel depressed. I just love this man as a young kid loves his almost unseen beloved grandpa. After my dream came true and I could attend the concert (Amsterdam, Jul 12) I can't stop thinking about him and worrying about his health and endurance during the tour.
Sometimes I ask myself: am I normal? But as I said before - it is a story of my life.
Sorry about my grammar, I hope these words are understandable.
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
-
Auld Reekie
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:58 pm
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
1985. I was working in Canada for a year and on the night in question, after a few beers, was feeling homesick. I was alone in a bar which had a TV in the corner playing music videos- I guess MTV. Most mid 80s music left me cold- I felt there was a blandness to much of the music unlike the music of "my era", the late 60s and 70s. Suddenly a video came on of this stricking looking and amazing sounding man singing a song about dancing and the end of love. He was clearly much older than most rock stars of the time and his voice, a deep bass baritone was totally unlike the helium voiced "rawk" stars so prevalent at the time. I was immediately captivated. The caption told me this was Leonard Cohen, a man I had heard of, but never, until that moment, heard sing. I had of course heard all the cliches about how depressing his music was supposed to be but to me, at that moment, this was the most exciting song I had heard in ages.
After I returned home, I quickly bought the parent LP, Various Positions, which on the principle that "The first cut is the deepest" remains one of my favourite LC albums. I sought out the earlier albums which in those pre-internet shopping days was not always easy-it was easy to find The Songs of LC, but Death of a Lady's Man took a bit of tracking down- and since then have loved the man and his music.
Thank you Leonard, for helping a homesick Scotsman through a difficult time!
After I returned home, I quickly bought the parent LP, Various Positions, which on the principle that "The first cut is the deepest" remains one of my favourite LC albums. I sought out the earlier albums which in those pre-internet shopping days was not always easy-it was easy to find The Songs of LC, but Death of a Lady's Man took a bit of tracking down- and since then have loved the man and his music.
Thank you Leonard, for helping a homesick Scotsman through a difficult time!
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
I'm 33 years old now, but I can't really remember when I heard the voice of Leonard Cohen for the first time. Maybe he just found me or I was attracted Cohen's serious face on the cover of his first record. I'm always looking for sad and lonely music. At that moment, almost 15 years from now, I used to think that I discovered something nobody knew and I kept it for myself, until some of my friends told me that they were also listening to Leonard Cohen. The thing that kept me listening to his music, except from the timeless quality, is the fact that many of the artists that I like have covered the work of Cohen (Will Oldham, R.E.M., Nick Cave, Jeff Buckley, John Cale). I never thought I would see Cohen live, but 2008 is almost a magical years. I've already seen him once in Amsterdam and got tickets for two other shows in the fall (Copenhagen, Oberhausen). Most likely I will also go to the show in Rotterdam when it's on sale. It's gonna be busy in October, because another hero of mine, Daniel Johnston, is also touring.
You know who I am...
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
I was living in San Antonio, Texas while stationed in the US Air Force in 1989. I made it a practice to always try and fit in to the local culture of whatever place I was stationed while serving, and so while in Texas, of course I got into the whole country music scene. For some reason, I made it a habit to watch Austin City Limits every weekend. To be a part of the studio audience for Austin City Limits, you have to sign up months in advance, and you don't always get control over who you will see...you just get assigned a date to be there, and whoever is performing is who you end up seeing. And one week, Leonard Cohen appeared.
I could tell that the studio audience of die-hard country fans was confused by LC's appearance. At the time, the big stars were George Strait, Randy Travis, Reba, and Earl Thomas Conley. LC was simply not a typical Austin City Limits act. But as I watched him and listened to his songs, I was blown away by just about every song he was singing. He had just released "I'm Your Man", and this concert favored songs from that album. I didn't know who I was watching, though, since I missed the introduction to the show. I thought that I was seeing Dustin Hoffmann do a concert! I waited for the credits, saw the name, and went out to a record store within an hour of ACL ending. I bought "I'm Your Man", and while I loved it, I didn't see the one song that moved me the most, which was "Joan of Arc".
Every chance I could get, I would pick up an LC album, wherever he was sold. I hated the studio version of Joan of Arc....and always wanted to hear it the way he had sung it on ACL. It was years later that "Cohen Live" was released, which finally had a version of Joan of Arc that I liked. "Cohen Live" is my favorite of all of his albums.
I could tell that the studio audience of die-hard country fans was confused by LC's appearance. At the time, the big stars were George Strait, Randy Travis, Reba, and Earl Thomas Conley. LC was simply not a typical Austin City Limits act. But as I watched him and listened to his songs, I was blown away by just about every song he was singing. He had just released "I'm Your Man", and this concert favored songs from that album. I didn't know who I was watching, though, since I missed the introduction to the show. I thought that I was seeing Dustin Hoffmann do a concert! I waited for the credits, saw the name, and went out to a record store within an hour of ACL ending. I bought "I'm Your Man", and while I loved it, I didn't see the one song that moved me the most, which was "Joan of Arc".
Every chance I could get, I would pick up an LC album, wherever he was sold. I hated the studio version of Joan of Arc....and always wanted to hear it the way he had sung it on ACL. It was years later that "Cohen Live" was released, which finally had a version of Joan of Arc that I liked. "Cohen Live" is my favorite of all of his albums.
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
I harbour a quiet embarressment about only discovering this amazing man recently, in my 4th decade. Still, better late than never and to my incredible surprise, on the eve of a tour to Australia.
My first experience of Leonard was spending an evening with two very dear friends, enjoying a rum, good food and great company. I was then introduced to the tribute concert in honour of Leonard Cohen on DVD. I was smitten from the first bar of "I'm Your Man" sung by Nick Cave, the theatrics of "Everybody Knows" by Rufus Wainwright, the passion of Anthony singing "If It Be Your Will" and so on...... I am since then, deeply in love and have an insatiable thirst to drink more and more of Leonard Cohen. A "Cohenohlic". Leonard arrived at a time when I needed him most, and has had an astounding therapeutic effect on my life.
Suffice to say, Leonard now accompanies me everywhere. My three children understand that listening to Leonard is a mandatory requirement of car travel and my collegues appreciate that Leonard must resonate through the office on an almost permanent basis. Occasionally, I will spend a day without him just to feel the rush of emotion flood through my veins and pump into my heart upon hearing him again. I was hopelessly addicted with the first hit and now have a daily Leonard Cohen habit. I have been chasing the dragon ever since and no other comes close. Caught - hook, line and sinker.
I still have so much more to discover about this man, his music, his writing and his poetry. I'm off to pull up the anchor and set sail on this journey. Its great to be aboard.(albeit a little nerve-wracking!)
Louise
My first experience of Leonard was spending an evening with two very dear friends, enjoying a rum, good food and great company. I was then introduced to the tribute concert in honour of Leonard Cohen on DVD. I was smitten from the first bar of "I'm Your Man" sung by Nick Cave, the theatrics of "Everybody Knows" by Rufus Wainwright, the passion of Anthony singing "If It Be Your Will" and so on...... I am since then, deeply in love and have an insatiable thirst to drink more and more of Leonard Cohen. A "Cohenohlic". Leonard arrived at a time when I needed him most, and has had an astounding therapeutic effect on my life.
Suffice to say, Leonard now accompanies me everywhere. My three children understand that listening to Leonard is a mandatory requirement of car travel and my collegues appreciate that Leonard must resonate through the office on an almost permanent basis. Occasionally, I will spend a day without him just to feel the rush of emotion flood through my veins and pump into my heart upon hearing him again. I was hopelessly addicted with the first hit and now have a daily Leonard Cohen habit. I have been chasing the dragon ever since and no other comes close. Caught - hook, line and sinker.
I still have so much more to discover about this man, his music, his writing and his poetry. I'm off to pull up the anchor and set sail on this journey. Its great to be aboard.(albeit a little nerve-wracking!)
Louise
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
Welcome aboard Louise!
2008 Toronto June 6/ 2009 New York Feb 19 Oakland April 13 14 Coachella April 17 Ottawa May 25 26 Barcelona Sept 21 Las Vegas 11/12 San Jose 11/13
2010 Malmo Aug 4 Gothenburg Aug 12 Las Vegas Dec 10 & 11
2012 Verona 9/24 San Jose 11/7. Montreal 11/28 11/29/ 2013 Oakland 3/2 NYC 4/6
Hamilton 4/9
2010 Malmo Aug 4 Gothenburg Aug 12 Las Vegas Dec 10 & 11
2012 Verona 9/24 San Jose 11/7. Montreal 11/28 11/29/ 2013 Oakland 3/2 NYC 4/6
Hamilton 4/9
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
I have gone to the same record store for 30 years, on and off. About 15 years ago I walked in one day and Leonard was playing. I went up to the guy working and said "Who is this guy?" He told me and suggested I get I'm Your Man as an introduction. So I did and promptly went out and bought everything I could find by Leonard. Which wasn't much I have to say. I've had to special order most of the cd's I have. I then found out about his books, repeat the same process.
Anyone I think may be open to him I suggest they listen to him. Although I suggest Ten New Songs, my favorite. To date, I have "turned on" many people to Leonard. The man is an icon and it was about damn time that they put him in the hall of fame.
How it affects me you ask? It puts into words what I can't and the music reaches a part of me that has been dormant out of starvation. It makes me think about things and challenges me to explore. And shows me I am not "weird", as I've been told. Others let their mind ponder the same things I do.
Anyone I think may be open to him I suggest they listen to him. Although I suggest Ten New Songs, my favorite. To date, I have "turned on" many people to Leonard. The man is an icon and it was about damn time that they put him in the hall of fame.
How it affects me you ask? It puts into words what I can't and the music reaches a part of me that has been dormant out of starvation. It makes me think about things and challenges me to explore. And shows me I am not "weird", as I've been told. Others let their mind ponder the same things I do.
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
I first heard of Leonard Cohen Wednesday of this week. I feel so foolish. I do recall that song on Natural Born Killers, now that some of you have mentioned it. Anyway, on Wednesday, I was looking at videos of Roy Orbison and KD Lang. I came across one where she sings Halleluja. It sounded familiar, but I didn't know from where. I saw his name, so I typed it into Youtube and ever since, I can't stop watching him or listening to him. I am hooked. I want to read all of his books and buy all of his CDs. I am obsessed. What a beautiful, brilliant man! I am 48. Is he too old for me?
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
Hi again Debbie!
I too found Leonard via YouTube and Hallelujah. Watched Jeff Buckley and then noticed one with Leonard from a German tv show in the late 80's. I was overcome, even though the "choir" and clothes were dated. Think I must have watched it 20 times in the first couple of days before I noticed all the other videos to view. That ignited something in me that hasn't stopped yet! Leonard is so awesome. Not only his song-writing ability...not only his poetry....not only his voice, but his humbleness, his true gentleness....... and his gut-twisting sensuality.....
Since you have discovered Leonard, also check out Anjani Thomas....and "Blue Alert". They are romantically and professionally linked. She too is awesome, and a beautiful soul. Enjoy!
Diana~
I too found Leonard via YouTube and Hallelujah. Watched Jeff Buckley and then noticed one with Leonard from a German tv show in the late 80's. I was overcome, even though the "choir" and clothes were dated. Think I must have watched it 20 times in the first couple of days before I noticed all the other videos to view. That ignited something in me that hasn't stopped yet! Leonard is so awesome. Not only his song-writing ability...not only his poetry....not only his voice, but his humbleness, his true gentleness....... and his gut-twisting sensuality.....
Since you have discovered Leonard, also check out Anjani Thomas....and "Blue Alert". They are romantically and professionally linked. She too is awesome, and a beautiful soul. Enjoy!
Diana~
-
violetfish
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:36 pm
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
My dad used to play LC on the weekends. In high school we had a class called North American Literature and he was one of the writers we studied. his music is like magic to me. It touches my heart.
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
Hi Diane. Thank you for responding. This weekend, I bought The "Essential Leonard Cohen" music CDs. I love them. I also bought his lates book, "Book of Longing". I love it. If I met him in person, I'd be all over him.
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somewhat_nifty
- Posts: 688
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:23 am
- Location: London, UK
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
I found Leonard Cohen back at university, about 8 years ago now. I was in a bar with some friends and there was a singer there, he was pretty good. One of the songs he did was Hallelujah, which at that point I had never heard before. I was just silent for the rest of the song while the conversation carried on around me (bit rude I know ). After asking if anyone knew what the song was, one of my friends mentioned the original was by Leonard Cohen, and I went out the next day and got Various Positions, and that was it really 
Completely blown away by his stuff in a way I have never (yet) been with another artist - such amazing lyrics and beautiful melodies, combined with his unique voice. It really speaks to me. I don't know anyone else really who likes him, although luckily I've managed to convert my boyfriend (he'd really be suffering otherwise 
). I'm still on a slight high from having seen him live in London recently (twice ). He managed to move me to tears, which has never happened to me before with music, they were nights I'll never forget.
). After asking if anyone knew what the song was, one of my friends mentioned the original was by Leonard Cohen, and I went out the next day and got Various Positions, and that was it really Completely blown away by his stuff in a way I have never (yet) been with another artist - such amazing lyrics and beautiful melodies, combined with his unique voice. It really speaks to me. I don't know anyone else really who likes him, although luckily I've managed to convert my boyfriend (he'd really be suffering otherwise ). I'm still on a slight high from having seen him live in London recently (twice ). He managed to move me to tears, which has never happened to me before with music, they were nights I'll never forget.I'm chained to the old masquerade...
2008: London O2 14th Nov, RAH 18th Nov; 2009: NY RCMH 16th May, Weybridge MBW 11th July, Barcelona 21st Sept; 2010: Sligo 31st July, Lille 25th Sept, Las Vegas 11th Dec; 2012: Wembley Arena 8th Sept, Dublin 11th Sept 2013: London O2 21st June, London O2 14th Sept
2008: London O2 14th Nov, RAH 18th Nov; 2009: NY RCMH 16th May, Weybridge MBW 11th July, Barcelona 21st Sept; 2010: Sligo 31st July, Lille 25th Sept, Las Vegas 11th Dec; 2012: Wembley Arena 8th Sept, Dublin 11th Sept 2013: London O2 21st June, London O2 14th Sept
Re: The first note - how you found LC and how it affected you
Finally a chance to relate how / when I first heard the songs of Leonard Cohen. I have never forgotton it.
To begin, it wasn't the 1st time I had heard him. As a teenager in the 70's, I was familiar with "Suzanne" and "So Long, Marianne" from the radio. Although I liked these 2 songs, I didn't pursue his music further because my music taste was more into guitar rock.
But..........one Sunday morning in mid-January, 1978.
The previous evening I had dropped by the apartment of 2 relatives for an evening of hockey, music and a drink or two. I had just returned to college from the Christmas break.
Ended up staying the night and the next morning around 11 am as I was preparing to go home, one of my relatives said "Hey, have you heard this Leonard Cohen album I received this Christmas". While they preceded to place the vinyl record on the turntable, I scanned the album jacket for info such as musicans involved, producer, etc.
I read the lyrics from the album as the music played. To this day, I recall the words that went through my mind as I sat spellbound on the edge of the sofa:
"Wow! This is Leonard Cohen".
Have been a fan ever since.
The album: Death of a Ladies Man
Today, this is my least liked Cohen recording, mainly because of the wall of sound production and it is not a recording I would recommend to someone as an introduction to the songs of L Cohen. Fortunately for me, I had to further explore his songs / music. I do enjoy this album and play occasionally, still with a feeling of what could have been music wise but also with that initial experience in mind. (possible someday the production / master tapes can be cleaned up and re-released - what a gift)
I have thought about this over the years and have felt that upon 1st listening to this recording I could hear through all the over done production mess (a freight train could have run through the living room and I wouldn't have noticed) and had a feeling what L Cohen may have wished for. Possible? Who knows. All I know is that his songs over the years allow me to think, provide me a soothing feel that goes so deep, a feeling that he understands me......when I need someone but no one else is around.
Thanks for the opportunity to relate.
Jazz
p.s. listening to "songs of Leonard Cohen" as I compose this.....and enjoying it very much for the millionth time......
To begin, it wasn't the 1st time I had heard him. As a teenager in the 70's, I was familiar with "Suzanne" and "So Long, Marianne" from the radio. Although I liked these 2 songs, I didn't pursue his music further because my music taste was more into guitar rock.
But..........one Sunday morning in mid-January, 1978.
The previous evening I had dropped by the apartment of 2 relatives for an evening of hockey, music and a drink or two. I had just returned to college from the Christmas break.
Ended up staying the night and the next morning around 11 am as I was preparing to go home, one of my relatives said "Hey, have you heard this Leonard Cohen album I received this Christmas". While they preceded to place the vinyl record on the turntable, I scanned the album jacket for info such as musicans involved, producer, etc.
I read the lyrics from the album as the music played. To this day, I recall the words that went through my mind as I sat spellbound on the edge of the sofa:
"Wow! This is Leonard Cohen".
Have been a fan ever since.
The album: Death of a Ladies Man
Today, this is my least liked Cohen recording, mainly because of the wall of sound production and it is not a recording I would recommend to someone as an introduction to the songs of L Cohen. Fortunately for me, I had to further explore his songs / music. I do enjoy this album and play occasionally, still with a feeling of what could have been music wise but also with that initial experience in mind. (possible someday the production / master tapes can be cleaned up and re-released - what a gift)
I have thought about this over the years and have felt that upon 1st listening to this recording I could hear through all the over done production mess (a freight train could have run through the living room and I wouldn't have noticed) and had a feeling what L Cohen may have wished for. Possible? Who knows. All I know is that his songs over the years allow me to think, provide me a soothing feel that goes so deep, a feeling that he understands me......when I need someone but no one else is around.
Thanks for the opportunity to relate.
Jazz
p.s. listening to "songs of Leonard Cohen" as I compose this.....and enjoying it very much for the millionth time......