leonardcohenforum.com

Hi. I heard this song yesterday and the artists were listed as LC and Chris Rea. Can anyone give me any information about this recording? When was it done and what album it's on. It's great!
Thanks,
Stephanie

I'm embarrassed because now I'm thinking that it's not LC at all on the recording. I've searched everywhere and can't find any record of an association between the two artists. Perhaps their voices are similar?
Stephanie

The song you heard comes from Chris Rea's album
"The Road to Hell". Chris is a popular British rock
musician and has absolutely nothing to do with Leonard.
Jarkko

Thanks for your reply Jarkko. That clears things up for me.

Stephanie

Yes, Jarkko got in first to clarify the matter. All I would add is that "The Road To Hell" is a great song, one of Chris Rea's best. By the way, the "road" in question is the M25 motorway which circles London.

I've never heard the song. So, is the title to suggest that the road itself is that bad, with the traffic or confusion of it; or that the road leads to London, and hence Hell?

Road to Hell is actually about a time in Chris`s life when he had to undergo surgery for cancer and the recovery was going to be the road to hell.

Thanks, Smile ~ That's a huge difference! Was the road that Andrew mentioned the road he took to get to the hospital for the operation and treatment/therapy/recovery?

~Lizzytysh

Smile, that may also be true, but chris rea has stated many times it is about the M25. the reason it is the road to hell is it goes nowhere. assuming it is clear it takes around 2 hours to travel, and you just end up back where you started. talking heads may have had a more accurate title for it but that is chris reas view of it. for a better understanding of it i would suggest Good Omens by Terry Pratchett. there is a bit early on in it about the construction of the M25. A humourous piece of course, but it gives an understanding as to how the road is viewed in england.
p.

I beleive it was the long road ahead he was going to have to make recovery as I think it was something to do with his stomach and he was not recording for a couple of years after the op.

Hi Smile,

Well, it sounds like M25 would be a good metaphor for that....kinda like being in a holding-pattern for awhile.

~Lizzytysh

I did hear this story on an interview he gave so I think I`m close to the mark.