The Essential Leonard Cohen

Post by **jarkko** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 10:11 am

I have now posted the cover photo and track list
of the forthcoming 2 CD selection "The Essential
Leonard Cohen" (to be released on October 22).
Use the links on the front page at
http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com

Jarkko

peter danielsen · Post by **peter danielsen** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 1:46 pm

I bet the women will love this cover, I am almost in love myself.

How about putting the linernotes there as well.

Peter

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 1:56 pm

1. What was the point of us voting ?
2. I'm disappointed that there are no songs from Death of a Ladies Man. It seems that is the only past in LC's life that he wants nothing to do with. It is a pity really, I think it is second only to Songs of Love and Hate.
Talking of which there is only one song from that one. Is there more information how the song selection was done and by whom ?
Still, it will be a good introduction to many or a great collection for folks who just want to have a overview.

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 2:48 pm

Well it seems that democracy has not yet come to this part of the world. I am glad that I did not vote but then I didn't think that it would have mattered anyway. Nevertheless it is sad to be proved correct.

By the way, Jarkko, watch out for the spelling cops before they come after you. We all know they are out there watching us.

Partisan · Post by **Partisan** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 3:33 pm

The songs selected are patchy to say the least. "Essential" is about the last term i would use to describe this. Only one from Love and Hate, and Recent Songs. Over half the time given over to the last three albums, the latter two of which being his worst work. Democracy? Give me strength! One of the biggest piles of steaming excrement by anyone, let alone Leonard. Avalanche? Where? Ask any fan for their list of essential Cohen and you will find that one, yet is is always ignored by Sony.

This is definately a selection picked by a record company executive. I just stopped being a completist. The only good news is i can use the money i just saved getting Martha Wainwrights CD. I would recommend anyone else to do the same.

p.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 3:59 pm

Not having gone to the list yet, it certainly appears that "So Long, Marianne" was placed on it.

(A) My impression of the vote [as stated] was that our votes and reasons were to be taken into consideration by Leonard, not that they were to be the final determinant.

(B) My impression of Jarkko's comment that [paraphrased] since the vote was so close, that his guess was that "So Long, Marianne" would be selected.

(C) My interpretation of A&B is that Leonard was struggling between the two songs, perhaps leaning toward Marianne, with Master Song still nudging at him. Or, perhaps leaning toward Master Song, with certain personal feelings of loyalty and love, and the message of bypassing bitterness and retaining friendship with the essence of love [very unique in the world of love songs], nudging at him [more strongly than Master Song in the above].

(D) In either case, had Master Song received a clear and convincing vote [the purpose of our vote] heavily outweighing Marianne, my guess is Sony would likely have gone with that.

(E) For me, Essential implies, "If you can't [i.e. afford] or aren't inclined to buy them all, or don't know where to start, these are the ones that will get you started and will give you a representative view. You can always go on from there.

(F) With these, I think of both newcomers; and people worldwide who are not comfortable with the English language, are forced to deal with interpretation, and who struggle with the meaning of Leonard's lyrics [including newcomers].

(G) I see afficionados already having their choices at home for listening.

(H) With Marianne, with its simplicity, it is more direct and much easier for someone to interpret accurately for understanding, and has such a beautiful, very unique and uncommon message in the world of love songs, within it. I really look forward to seeing the other selections.

(I) In quandaries myself, I've sought outside opinions and if feedback received was pretty even, have gone with my original leaning or instincts. If not, I've reconsidered and sometimes chosen another course, based on facts/reasoning I hadn't considered. As I recall, we were told or given the impression that Leonard was struggling with the final choice. I feel our vote had a lot of purpose.

~Lizzytysh

linmag · Post by **linmag** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 6:27 pm

Does the Trades Descriptions Act cover CDs? 'Essential' is definitely a misrepresentation here. This is the 'easy listening' Cohen. However, as I said somewhere else, whoever did the selection was on a loser from the start. We were never all going to agree with the final choice. Maybe these were considered more accessible to new listeners, on the grounds that existing admirers would already have the original albums.

Our voting probably did have a purpose, though. There is almost certainly a mathematical model somewhere that allows you to calculate how many people are potentially interested in releases by LC from the number who responded to the vote. Hopefully Sony will decide that there are enough of us out here to justify putting a little pressure on Leonard to deliver on the live album.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 7:22 pm

I've seen the list and the final selection of soul photo, which I've seen before and have always loved. I see several songs that don't come under "easy listening" sound, except perhaps for the already-enlisted Leonard appreciator. With the interpretations and meanings of the lyrics, those having difficulty with English, as well as newcomers, will still be duly challenged on others. These come under essential from my perspective [what definition does the Act use, Linmag Linda?

]. For both newcomers and non- or barely-English-speaking people, I feel the list is great! For me, as well.....and I'll be using it as gifts for some people I've [die-hard] tried to get to listen to [and appreciate] him.....and my copy will be what I play, from October 2002 on, when I introduce someone else to him.
Thanks, Sony and Leonard. You've accomplished a difficult task well, and my money will be well-spent.
Sincerely,
Lizzytysh

chrisbarratt · Post by **chrisbarratt** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 11:35 pm

I guess this was always going to be a tricky one. Distilling the best of his 4 albums onto one (i.e. "Greatest Hits") is hard enough to do (and no-ones ever going to be completely happy), but the whole of his work onto a double? Naturally there's going to be contention especially amongst die-hards! I think the best thing to do is to consider this "an introduction to " LC's work for those not as familier with it as us. It's not being compiled and marketed with those who own all his cd's in mind, it's a tool to draw people in and discover the greatness for themselves. It remains to be seen how successful this will be. I was drawn into LC's music after seeing the film "Pump Up The Volume" as a 17 yr old in 1991. I went out and bought "I'm Your Man" for "Everybody Knows", and was then lent "Greatest Hits" by a friend. I was hooked, especially to his early work, and all due to one film featuring what was then one of his most recent songs. I hope Sony do a good job marketing this and a lot more people discover the wonder of LC, as I feel that when you mention him to people they trot out the same "Miserable", "bedsitter" cliches, yet most of the people who say this aren't familier with his work whatsoever.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Sep 17, 2002 4:25 am

What does "bedsitter" mean, Chris? I've never heard the term, perhaps because I've never been in the UK. I agree with what you've said regarding the most appropriate way to look at this compilation. I believe that it is definitely not intended for the "rank" of listener typically found on this site. However, polling those who don't know of him yet.....

~Lizzytysh

linmag · Post by **linmag** » Tue Sep 17, 2002 5:28 pm

It wasn't so much the content of the songs that I was describing as easy listening, Elizabeth, as their musical quality. There is a whole batch of songs such as 'Let's sing another song, boys' and 'Leaving Lady Greensleeves', which is completely unrepresented here. This 'tortured' voice was an important part of Leonard's early output, and I think it should not have been ignored in a compilation that purports to be 'Essential'.

peter danielsen · Post by **peter danielsen** » Tue Sep 17, 2002 5:39 pm

I agree with linmaq, why is it that only the more gentle side of Cohen, and not the desperate side, must be presented. The compilation share lots of songs with the first best of.

And "The Partisan"!!! was that even written by Cohen?

peter danielsen · Post by **peter danielsen** » Tue Sep 17, 2002 5:45 pm

I just checked, the Partisan was not written by Cohen, and in my opinion therefore should not have been on the essentiel Leonard Cohen CD, at least not with other songs written by him, held out(For ex. J. of Arc)

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Sep 17, 2002 6:30 pm

Thanks, Linda. I suspected what you meant, but since your comment came on the heels of Master Song's not being included, I thought of the "sound" of it and decided it could still be considered Easy Listening, as well. So, reverted to the lyrics being the issue. I agree that "Let's Sing Another Song, Boys" would've been appropriate and great to have included. Again, I'm wondering what were their criteria in making the selections?
~Lizzytysh

chrisbarratt · Post by **chrisbarratt** » Tue Sep 17, 2002 8:55 pm

Lizzy,
The term "bedsitter" means someone who lives in cheap temporary accomodation, a small damp flat for instance. Lazy UK journalists have often bandied this phrase about when commenting on LC, I guess someone somewhere must have heard someone in a bedsit playing LC and the phrase stuck. Like "depressing" and "morbid", I can't see it. Some of his more darker work can be challenging but to me his best known work, like the debut album, is joyous, gentle music. Albeit with a dark undertow, it is far less challenging than many other more celebrated artists output. Or am I biased?