leonardcohenforum.com

hello again everyone. i am really curious to hear from you what albums of Leonard would you recommend to a "beginner", which albums or songs are your favourite and what is that you like most about them.

Hello chani. May I say welcome from an old duffer from the UK.
Be prepared to be inundated with an avalanche of personal preferences. You will need several weeks to get through all the information which is coming your way. Byron 'sends his regards.'

i think i can deal with it. i feel a little because all of you know a lot about leonard, his songs, his life and so on. that's why i am going to "study", so that i can then express my own personal favourites. anyway, right now i really like suzanne

Having not discovered him that long ago myself, I would say go out and buy The Essential Leonard Cohen thirty one songs chosen by the man himself, in one album. It spans his career with songs from 1968 to 2001. The only song missing for me is The Window (such a beautiful song) from the Field Commander Cohen album, another good album to buy. Have fun Chani, what albums do you have?

NOT chosen by the man himself.
Don't believe the hype.
As for Suzanne, oh dear.
Well it mostly gets better.
Safest to stop at 1988.
Witnessing the decline can get a little depressing.

Welcome, Chani ! The Essential is, indeed, a good place to begin ~ with Field Commander Cohen quickly to follow. Suzanne is a wonderful song, and will always remain one of my top favourites. Be certain that you get Ten New Songs. Contrary to the expressions of a few, there has been no decline, whatsoever. Whatever you do, do not stop at 1988!

After all's said and done, I would like to see both The Master Song and The Window included on The Essential. My understanding was that the song choices were in agreement between Leonard and Sony, until the decision had to be made between So Long, Marianne and The Master Song. That's [apparently] where we came in.

~ Lizzytysh

I hate collections. so just start at the begining and work your way through. You can't go wrong. It's what the most of the rest of us did.

Well, there is one in every crowd, I am the exception. If I had started at the beginning I would not be a fan. The first song I heard was "Dance me to the End of Love" and went both directions from there. And now I am waiting for something new from him and still have not listened to all of the younger Cohen. Which songs and what attracted you to him in the first place?

Hi Chani, welcome

Take any if you liked Suzanne, you must be like it all, enjoy it

Hi Chani ~

I also feel that Glyn's suggestion is a safe bet for you. There is much to be appreciated in hearing Leonard as he himself progressed in his music. Each album has a flavour all its own, and within itself with the placement of the songs. There's nothing like anticipating the song you know comes next, just as the previous one ends. It's delicious. That, of course, is there, but in different [not as "authentic"] fashion in The Essential. With getting one album at a time, and then saturating yourself with it before going on to the next, I feel you really can't go wrong. As Glyn said, it's how many of us here did it. There's also no necessary rush, since you have , now , found him. Take your time and enjoy getting to know him. I believe you'll be glad you did.

~ Elizabeth

welcome Channi and A'af,

I first bought Various Positions after hearing Dance me to the end of love, and it is still one of my favourite albums. I then gradually bought most of the others, but not the compilations, except for the live ones such as Live Songs (1973), Cohen Live (1994), and of course the Field Commander Cohen one. Any live performance has something unique and special not heard on the normal studio production.

hi.. chani.. l really love the live albums. A wonderful version of ...Nancy on Live Songs, and a smashing Lover Lover Lover on Field Commander + Suzanne on Cohen Live are reasons good enough to buy them

paal

Glyn ~

It's so good to see you back here! Welcome home and welcome here.

~ Lizzy

hi guys! I'm new here, just found out about the existence of a forum on this site

I only have one LC album (yeah shame on mee ), but it's the album 'the essential', so I've collected the best songs, I guess.

My fave ones are Hallelujah (of course), First we take Manhatten (because of the eighties sound) and Alexandra Leaving (because the name of my ex was Alexandra)

hello everyone(especially wildrose, i'm glad there's someone "newer" than me) and thank you for your answers; i think i'll just take whatever comes into my hand and so on. margaret, now i really am interested in the life versions, i think they are great.

Suddenly the night has grown colder.
Some deity preparing to depart.
Alexandra hoisted on his shoulder,
they slip between the sentries of your heart. this is for wildrose, as an welcoming present