As a big fan of his earliest 2 albums - 'Songs of' (1967) and 'Songs From a Room' (1969) for some time now I decided it was long overdue to sample a bit more.
So I got hold of 'Various Positions' (1984?) purely because I wanted to hear the original version of Hallelujah. It seemed to be pretty formulaic with both lyrics and melodies being disappointingly predictable. The 80s percussion turned me off massively too.
Was this a foolish move? Should Cohen records be investigated in a purely chronological order? Is there specific periods that should be avoided?
I can appreciate Leonard's lyrics
I really only have a few albums: a greatest hits, I'm your man, and something else or two. I rarely listen to them.
I tend to think other people do his songs mo' better.
no
despite production faults, other than maybe one of his mid 90s records that i forget the name of its all gold.
give various another few spins, its a classic.
^ this
Even when the production is rooted in it's time, the man's voice, poetry and spirit always shine through and are the most important things.
His set at Glastonbury was amongst the happiest hour and forty minutes of my life
The man is god-like.
The first four albums are absolutely essential. Not just for a Leonard Cohen fan but for fans of music period.
You seem to suggest that you enjoy the folkier-Cohen from the above post so I'd probably advise listening to 1979's 'Recent Songs' next. It is a grossly underrated Cohen album and was a 'return to his roots' after the Phil Spector wall of soundtreatment.
As for later Cohen, 'I'm Your Man' is generally everyones starting point. It's a wonderful marriage of synthesizers, keys and -that- voice. Plus it's arguably his finest set of lyrics.
Avalanche
from Songs of Love and Hate is one of the coolest things ever.
^^^^^^^^^^^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-oLmOm9vk0
If you enjoyed
the first two albums, then you should definitely get his 3rd album, "Songs of Love and Hate". Probably my favourite of his, and includes 2 of his best songs, Avalanche and Famous Blue Raincoat.
Everything from the 80s onwards is marred slightly by horribly dated MOR production, but you shouldn't let this put you off. Every album is full of amazing songs, and however dodgy the arrangements are, there's still Laughing Len's "golden voice" cutting through it all.
Death Of A Ladies Man..
is fantastic. It's produced by Spector, and it's quite odd really, very different to the rest of his stuff.
"don't go home with your hardon" hehehe.
You can't go wrong
with I'm Your Man. As mentioned above, it's all about the lyrics.
definately get 'Songs of Love & Hate' and 'New Skin For the Old Ceremony'
both similar in sound to the first two records.
songs of love & hate is like the darkest thing ever recorded, simply amazing. the bit in avalanche where he sings: 'I have begun to long for you..' with the cello in the background is one of my favourite musical things ever.
new skin for the old ceremony was recorded in 74 and was the last of his 'folk' records before 'Death of a Ladies Man'.
would also recommend the live record from 1979 'field commander cohen'. it's usually a fiver in fopp and is really wonderful.