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......which singers/songwriters he admires? I don't remember reading it anywhere.

Malcolm

.

He did many times.

Beside Dylan, and Ray Charles, we know for sure that his favorite artist, at least in last decade or so, is Tom Waits. He mentioned also some older country singers, and he even did his Top Ten in one moment (what's quoted in Leonard Cohen In His Own Words)

Here the hitlist mentioned by Tom Sakic:
(Taken from "Leonard Cohen - in his own words")

Leonard Cohens top five 1985
1 Take these chains from my heart- Ray Charles
2 Tangeld up in blue- Bob Dylan
3 Jezebel- Frankie Lane
4 Piece of my heart- Janis Joplin
5 Concierto de aranjuez- Rodrigo

and Cohens top ten 1988:
1 Window up above- Georg Jones
2 A case of you- Joni Mitchell
3 Bronsville Girl- Bob Dylan
4 Etüde Op.10 No. 1 in C-Dur- Chopin
5 Losing Hand- Ray Charles
6 House without love- Roy Orbison
7 La chambre d l'hôtel- Edith Piaf
8 Waltzing matilda- Tom Waits
9 Famous Blue Raincote- Jennifer Warnes
10 I fall to pieces- Patsy Cline

Interesting thread - thank you all for posting!

I remember to have heard somewhere that Leonard mentioned Blueberry Hill: I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill...... the ultimate song line, something like that.

Makes me smile. All of his favourite songs make me happy somehow. I can relate to every one of them.

Hi Elsie,

It was actually the line "the Moon stood still on Blueberry Hill" that Leonard said was real poetry.

All good things, John E

Hello John,

Your memory works better than mine! Real poetry ... and very romantic too, isn't it. Funny to think that Leonard got inspired by listening to Fats Domino and his piano. Makes a lot of sense to me:-)


Best regards, Elsie