leonardcohenforum.com

'The Collection' - comprises 5 cds (as Tom said):
The Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Various Positions
I'm Your Man
The Future
Ten New Songs
There is no information indicating that they have been remastered, and I believe they are not. They are the 5 albums from which most of the current tour setlist is taken, repackaged in card sleeves, like mini versions of the original LPs. There is also a cd-sized booklet with tracklistings for each cd, and 3 photos: An early one of a younger,bearded Leonard sitting in a boat,playing guitar;a double page centre pic of LC on stage from 2008 tour; and a recent pic by Lorca Cohen of him sitting at table with cased guitar at his side.
Sony cashing in on the current tour.
Here in UK 'The Essential' 2disc version has been re-issued. Placed at no. 56 in charts at HMV yesterday.
Sony cashing in on current tour.

I bought The Collection. I paid £21 for it.

I like it. It's nice to have the LP replica sleeves, the box is attractive and sturdy and production values are high. The 3 photos in the "new" booklet are all in the 2008 tour programme.

Red Poppy wrote:I'll say it again.
Sony & co continue the rip-off.
What next - a series of LC CD singles.
And 35 euro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get off our backs Sony.
The answer is to boycott the repackaging of old material.

Rip off , you are being too kind to Sony. It is daylight robbery. I refuse to buy repackaged old material.

(Meagre) CD 3 Tracklisting revealed for Leonard Cohen Essential 3.0 is:

1. Seems So Long Ago, Nancy (3:39)
(L. Cohen)
Recorded 1968
From: Songs From A Room Columbia 88697 04740 2 Produced by Bob Johnston

2. Love Calls You By Name (5:38)
(L. Cohen)
Recorded 1970
From Songs Of Love And Hate Columbia 88697 04741 2 Produced by Bob Johnston

3. A Singer Must Die (3:17)
(L. Cohen)
Recorded 1974
From: New Skin For The Old Ceremony Columbia CK 33167 Produced by John Lissauer

4. Death Of A Ladies’ Man (9:19)
(L. Cohen/P. Spector)
Recorded 1977
From: Death Of A Ladies’ Man Columbia sel # TK Produced by Phil Spector

5. The Traitor (6:14)
(L. Cohen)
Recorded 1979
From: Recent Songs Columbia 36264
Produced by Leonard Cohen & Henry Lewy

6. By The Rivers Dark (5:20)
(L. Cohen/S. Robinson)
Recorded 2001
From: Ten New Songs Columbia 69699 85953 2 Produced by Sharon Robinso

7. The Letters (4:48)
(L. Cohen/S. Robinson)
Recorded 2004
From: Dear Heather Columbia 82796 92891 2 Produced by Sharon Robinson


Source: http://www.legacyrecordings.com/News/Ne ... 6ee61b1057

Is this even worth downloading or bootlegging?

This is a right royal rip-off!! But nothing when compared to Dylan's new Bootleg Series Vol 8 which will be available in a 2 CD set for about £15 or in a deluxe 3 CD version for £100. Now that is taking the p*ss.

I picked this up in JB but it is disapointing because the third CD doesn't sound like it has been remastered.
I so wanted a better recording of DOALM!

BM

Well, my impression was quite opposite!? All songs on 3rd CD sound much better to my ears, especially DOALM (drums, beats, voice... all is much clearer and sound higher than on my nice-price CD).

Well Tom you had me listening again but I can not tell the difference between my copy of DOALM and this 'new' version.

Back in the eighties I swore off nice price copies of my treasured LPs after a few disappointments (I thought they sounded worse than my well loved vinyl!) but I have downloaded songs as they became available on iTunes and that is what I am comparing it too.

Hey, maybe your ‘ear’ is more refined than mine. I’d be interested to know what others think.

BM

The DOALM on the third disc sounds 'cleaner' but not improved to any major difference. I would hope a "naked" DOALM CD might be in the future - similar to the Naked Let It Be by the Beatles. Phil Spector's enhancements as well as his private arrangements altered Leonard's original vision. Warner Brothers' brokering their partnership and Sony's current rights to Leonard's catalogue would seem to dash any hopes of fixing Leonard's "failed masterpiece".

kokenpere/michael

The only time I would buy old stuff I already have in a new package if there was a 'remastered' version on DOALM.

IMHO all the other compilation CDs are pointless if you have the albums already. You can make up your own favourites on a tape, CD or MP3-player.