1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #114. Leonard Cohen - The Songs Of Leonard Cohen (1968)

Leonard Cohen - The Songs Of Leonard Cohen (1968)

Label – Columbia
Producer – John Simon
Art Direction – Machine
Nationality – Canada
Running Time – 38:05

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)
1. Suzanne
2. Master Song
3. Winter Lady
4. Stranger Song
5. Sisters Of Mercy
6. So Long Marianne
7. Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye
8. Stories Of The Street
9. Teachers
10. One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong

This is one of those artists who I had of course always heard OF – just had never HEARD. It’s not that I totally disliked it either. I’m just not that impressed with it either. I can definitely see how at the time of its release, with Dylan riding high and producing fine “songs” which were more poetic in their approach than being traditional lyrics, that Leonard Cohen would venture from his established "serious" literature as an author and poet and take a stab at music. That being said, his voice just isn’t that strong, and while the “lyrics” are constructed in an artsy way like portraits of a world full of love, lust, rage, compassion and betrayal, I think I’d much rather read them in a book than hear them put to music. I read that producer John Simon added the “polish” to Cohen's songs with his additional arrangements after Cohen wanted no other accompaniment other than his guitar. (One Dylan is enough Leonard!!) but to me that’s what actually make the record more accessible and give the tracks a greater strength.
There was some success in the United States and far better in Europe, reaching #83 on the Billboard chart but achieving gold status only in 1989! while it reached #13 in UK and spent nearly a year and a half in the UK album charts. Again – not too bad but I personally wouldn’t recommend it


You can purchase the CD here
ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 11
Vince Martell of Vanilla Fudge is 64; Chris Dreja formerly with the Yardbirds is 64; Scott Mercado of Candlebox is 45;

ON THIS DATE
1969 Jim Morrison of the Doors is arrested for causing trouble on a flight from Los Angeles to Phoenix
1970 John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band is released
1972 Berry Oakley of the Allman Brothers dies in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia
1976 Rock And Roll Over by Kiss is released
2007 Scott Weiland of Velvet Revolver is arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol

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Thursday, December 31 BulletBoys Boothill Saloon Daytona Beach
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