New poetry CD: "1957"

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jarkko
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New poetry CD: "1957"

Post by jarkko »

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New Audio CD by Grayscale Records (to be released on November 10, 2017 in Europe and on December 15 in North America)
When singer Leonard Cohen died in November 2016, the whole world mourned. He was a much loved Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, novelist and painter, whose work explored religion, politics, isolations, sexuality and personal relationships. He started writing poetry in the early 1950s and his first published book of poetry came out in 1956. He is probably best known for the music he started to record in the 1960s, but this collection of early recordings provides a fascinating insight into his modus operandi. Available here, for the first time, the listener is granted a rare glimpse into his creative process many years before he achieved fame and international respect.

For Wilf And His House (1955)
Beside the Shepherd (1956)
Poem (1955)
Lovers (1955)
The Sparrows (1955)
Warning (1956)
Les Vieus (1954)
Elegy (1955)

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These recordings are taken from the vinyl album "Six Montreal Poets" (released in 1957; a quite rare collectors item today).

We don't know yet if this new audio CD is authorized or not.

Copied from www.leonardcohenfiles.com/poems1.html:
In 1957 Folkways Records released the "Six Montreal Poets" album with A.J.M. Smith, Irving Layton, Louis Dudek, F.R. Scott, A.M. Klein, and Leonard Cohen - all reading their own poetry on the record

Folkways Records was one of the largest independent record companies of the mid-twentieth century. Founded by Moses Asch in 1947 and run as an independent company until its sale to the Smithsonian Institution in 1987, Folkways issued nearly 2,200 titles of folk and traditional music from America and other countries, literature, poetry and documentaries.
Thanks to Dominique Boile for finding the sales ad of this new audio CD!
1988, 1993: Helsinki||2008: Manchester|Oslo|London O2|Berlin|Helsinki|London RAH|| 2009: New York Beacon|Berlin|Venice|Barcelona|Las Vegas|San José||2010: Salzburg|Helsinki|Gent|Bratislava|Las Vegas|| 2012: Gent|Helsinki|Verona|| 2013: New York|Pula|Oslo|||
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jarkko
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Re: New poetry CD: "1957"

Post by jarkko »

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I copied this different cover version from a Chinese website.

The album was not released on November 10 in Europe as announced. Rights issues involved?
1988, 1993: Helsinki||2008: Manchester|Oslo|London O2|Berlin|Helsinki|London RAH|| 2009: New York Beacon|Berlin|Venice|Barcelona|Las Vegas|San José||2010: Salzburg|Helsinki|Gent|Bratislava|Las Vegas|| 2012: Gent|Helsinki|Verona|| 2013: New York|Pula|Oslo|||
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Mabeanie1
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Re: New poetry CD: "1957"

Post by Mabeanie1 »

Six Montreal Poets was released on CD a few years ago and is still available from Amazon UK or US:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Six-Montreal-P ... real+poets

There are reasonably priced copies - new or used - available via the Marketplace. You can also buy streaming or MP3 versions.

Wendy
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jarkko
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Re: New poetry CD: "1957"

Post by jarkko »

This is true Wendy. In 2004 it was re-released on CD by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings / 1957 Folkways Records. This was an official CD release using the original LP cover art:
(photo from The Files)

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The forthcoming "Leonard Cohen 1957" by Grayscale Records might be an unauthorized reissue (we don't know if it is legal or not).

We have seen a lot of bootlegs recently. Dominique Boile emailed me some days ago about another strange boxed set, The Leonard Cohen Archive:
Audio CD (19 Jan. 2018)
Number of Discs: 6
Format: Box set
Label: Broadcast Archive
According to Amazon, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Archives-6cd-B ... nard+cohen
6CD BOX SET FEATURING LEONARD COHEN AT HIS LIVE FINEST The tragic loss of the extraordinary composer and performer Leonard Cohen, in November 2016, left fans of the great man saddened and bereft. However, Leonard left behind an unparalleled body of work which not only stands as testament to his glorious career, but one which remains and vital, and will remain just as relevant to future generations for as long as people enjoy sophisticated, high quality music and poetry. This box set contains 6 CDs featuring some of the finest live performances Cohen ever gave. All CDs include separate booklets, each with its own liner notes, while the set is completed in an elegant outer-box.
My first guess is that this is a bunch of recent bootlegs, now copied and re-released in a box. Let's wait and see.
1988, 1993: Helsinki||2008: Manchester|Oslo|London O2|Berlin|Helsinki|London RAH|| 2009: New York Beacon|Berlin|Venice|Barcelona|Las Vegas|San José||2010: Salzburg|Helsinki|Gent|Bratislava|Las Vegas|| 2012: Gent|Helsinki|Verona|| 2013: New York|Pula|Oslo|||
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