While Leonard Cohen has enjoyed a comeback of religious proportions over the past few years, the man and his music still resonate with same poetic language, genteel but never easy melodies and statuesque, albeit often dark, humour. Leonard’s recent return is based on new generations discovering what the old guard have known for years; that Leonard Cohen is one of contemporary music’s rare geniuses. But Cohen has rarely worn his musical influences on his sleeve. So while anyone who is familiar with his work will be aware of his enormous love for the poetry of Garcia Lorca, few will know he was also influenced by the Phi Spector Sound or the country tunes of George Jones.
This CD contains 25 tracks which illustrate the diverse and often surprising selection of music that has inspired and influenced Leonard Cohen throughout his career. Giving a rare insight into the composers and performers he respected most, when hearing this compilation as a whole, the listener cannot help but be astonished at how those unique songs of Cohen’s were often informed by the music he listened to prior to his own career in music began.
1. Solea Por Federico Garcia Lorca 1:09
2. Careless Love Josh White (Trad, Arr. Handy, Williams, Koenig) 3:21
3. Jezebel Frankie Laine (Shanklin) 3.08
4. Which Side Are You On? Almanac Singers (Reece) 2:06
5. La Complainte du Partisan (The Partisan) Anna Marly (Marly, Vigerie) 3:05
6. Goodnight Irene The Weavers (Ledbetter, Lomax) 3:29
7. Red River Valley Gene Autry (Trad) 2:25
8. Tennessee Waltz Les Paul / Mary Ford (King, Stewart) 3:10
9. Be My Baby The Ronettes (Spector, Greenwich, Barry) 2:31
10. Just One More George Jones (Jones) 2:44
11. The Great Pretender the Platters (Ram) 2:39
12. Unchained Melody The Righteous Brothers (North, Zaret) 3:05
13. What’d I Say Ray Charles (Charles) 3:11
14. The Twist Hank Ballard (Ballard) 2:35
15. Supermarket In California Allen Ginsberg (Ginsberg) 2:22
16. Turn! Turn! Turn! Judy Collins (Seeger, Scripture) 3:41
17. Downhearted Blues Alberta Hunter (Hunter, Austin) 2:51
18. Jokerman Bob Dylan (Dylan) 4:50
19. Deadbelly Jack Kerouac (Kerouac) 1:05
20. Charlie Parker Jack Kerouac (Kerouac) 3:45
21. California Joni Mitchell (Mitchell) 3:36
22. Get It While You Can Janis Joplin (Joplin) 3:21
23. Gloomy Sunday Billie Holiday (Seress, Carter, Lewis, Javor) 3:14
24. I Shall Be Released Joan Baez (Dylan) 2:10
25. Your Cheatin’ Heart Hank Williams (Williams) 2:43