A long overdue apology

[NicholasC]

In a different time and place - to be exact 1979 and London - I was a Product Manager at CBS Records in London. Life was never less than busy and frequently featured artists turning up at short notice or unannounced. This was not necessarily an unalloyed pleasure.
One day I was told that Mr Cohen and his manager were downstairs, so off we trooped to lunch. Leonard was INCREDIBLY polite and attentive. I feel I gave him nothing more than that I was frightfully busy (I was) and not a fan (I wasn't - too many lighters in the air for my taste).
It was some time after that, not associated with any particular album or track (though Hallelujah helped) that I realised I had lunched with and had the opportunity to commune with a great artist very deserving of my respect.
Leonard, if you did, in fact receive the impression that I was not as courteous as I wish I would have been, please accept my apologies.

Nicholas

[lizzytysh]

That's a very honest, kind, truthful, and human apology, Nicholas.
I hope Leonard sees it... though who knows if or for how long he remembered how it went that day .
I have a feeling he may understand being incredibly busy... and I suspect you didn't really make your lack of fandom as well known as you may think you did as you look back.
Well, 1979... just shows it's never too late for an apology, even though Leonard might say you don't even owe him one.
I'm happy to see that you finally came around to appreciating him in the manner he's always deserved that appreciation.

Welcome to the Forum, Nicholas .
I hope you have the opportunity to see him perform sometime in the next year or two.


~ Lizzy

[Jonnie Falafel]

Hi Nicholas ~

Thanks for this contribution. CBS generally didn't get behind Leonard's work at the time did they - too busy promoting what they thought of as bankables like The Cash. Leonard wasn't hip. Of course, now he's hip and bankable it's another story... the quality of the product hadn't changed. I remember CBS didn't even release Various Positions outside Europe - the very album that brought Hallelujah to the world. Hope Leonard sees this.... although perhaps he saw these things as just something one had to do, pretty much in the same way as I'm sure you did.

[seadove]

I suppose we should convert this thread to: Where were you and what did you do in 1979?

I discovered Cohen in 1970. To be exact it was in November(ish). I barely arrived in Israel and still did not know the language.

But if Mr Nicholas would have given him the attention he deserved in 1979 maybe I and a lot of others would know Cohen by then.

I am wondering how a great talent can go unnoticed in the record industry.

Anyhow, fact is that he's here entertaining the world loud and clear.

Hallllllllelllluyah!!

[MaryB]

Nicholas,

Having had been in the music business myself for over 25 years, I understand where you are coming from. One is innundated with so many artists, it becomes a real possibility that a gem gets overlooked.

I don't know if LC will read your post, but I wager that if he did, and IF he didn't remember this encounter, that he would still appreciate your courtesy in offering him this apology - well done.

I truly enjoyed reading your post. Welcome to the forum!

Best regards,
Mary