The Best of Leonard Cohen

The Best of Leonard Cohen

Track Listings

1. Suzanne

2. Sisters of Mercy

3. So Long, Marianne

4. Bird on a Wire

5. Lady Midnight

6. Partisan

7. Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

8. Famous Blue Raincoat

9. Last Year's Man

10. Chelsea Hotel No. 2

11. Who by Fire

12. Take This Longing

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Leonard Cohen is famous as a major seller in much of the world outside the U.S., the Canadian singer-songwriter's adoptive home; in Europe, this album's title is Greatest Hits. Even listeners barely familiar with Cohen's name will know "Suzanne" and "Bird on a Wire," but those oft-covered numbers are the least of it. The former novelist's mission as a wry, resigned troubadour is better reflected in songs like "Chelsea Hotel No. 2," a remembrance of Janis Joplin with a devastating closing line, and "Who by Fire," which updates a Jewish prayer. --Rickey Wright

Tracks:

Everybody Knows
I'm Your Man
Take This Waltz
Tower Of Song
Anthem
Democracy
The Future
Closing Time
Dance Me To The End Of Love
Suzanne
Hallelujah
Never Any Good
The Great Event

Amazon.com

Canadian poet Leonard Cohen sings with great weight and authority and his lyrics are among the most elegant and scripted of the rock era. This collection is culled from his past three albums (1988's I'm Your Man, 1992's The Future, and 1994's Cohen Live) and shows a man whose voice has deepened to the point of grim, foreboding death with lyrics sharpened to masterful precision. The arrangements are deliberately clunky--the cheese- whiz female back-ups lend unusual tension bordering on parody--but the sentiments are for real. Two previously unreleased cuts, "Never Any Good" and the non-event, "The Great Event" suggest his well is currently dry. But the unrelenting bleakness of "The Future" and uneasy celebration of "Democracy" are among the past decade's most challenging pop works. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

Deep........2005-07-06

Personally, I couldn't deal with this little amount of Leonard Cohen myself, and would get his 2-disc "Essential" collection first. However, if you're looking for a single disc of hits, here you go. I actually like "More Best Of" even more than his previous "Best Of", because I'm a fan of his "deeper voice" years, and this is what you get here. Obviously the songs are tops as well. Most of his late 80's and early 90's stuff is included. "Everybody Knows", "I'm Your Man", "Tower Of Song", and "The Future". Of course at just 13 tracks this misses alot, but mostly I miss "Waiting For The Miracle" (get Essential Cohen). Anyway, this is a great starting point for the casual fan, and is wonderful music for early mornings, right on thru to "Closing Time".

The last juglar!.......2004-08-11

Leonard Cohen in his particular mood , lets you mesmerized . The best song in my opinion in this well selected collection is Dance me to the end of love , with great lyrics and greek echoes . There another winner songs like Everybody knows and Suzanne ; Democracy is powerful too .
Cohen 's style is unique . His voice in a ultralow frequency works out as another instrument ; very expressive and warmth .
Since I got this issue in 1999 I heard it at least once every month .
High creative level , expressiveness , musicality and originality .

Time to hang it up.......2002-11-26

After being stunned by the genious in Cohens first greatest hits, I had to pick this one up to see what other greats he had out there. Big mistake. This music has no structure and no raw emotion like his older works. Even the lyrics are pretty tame compared to earlier work. Obviously musicians change over the years but this sounds like something you would hear down at an Atlantic City lounge, but with a terribly weak singer. Having a band is a waste of time, most of this music sounds like it could have been generated by a cheesy synth.
I will continue to hunt down the old greats but this is just Elvis later years wish wash with nothing thought provoking except what happened over the years.

Been away too long.......2001-12-16

For too long I didn't listen. Works used in movies as varied as "Pump Up the Volume" and "Shrek", ya gotta luv it. I just keep playing it and liking it more and more, so will you.

GREAT ARTIST - QUESTIONABLE SELECTIONS.......2001-11-07

I can't believe that "FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN" is not on a "BEST OF COHEN". I would also rather hear the studio versions over the live. My advice instead is to buy "I'M YOUR MAN" and if you like that get "THE FUTURE". His newest cd is very good too. Mr. Cohen releases albums so rarely that 3 CDs in 13 years is not that much of an investment. If you want a good live tape I would seek out his PBS Austin City Limits video.

Average customer rating:

This CD was almost identical to 'The Essential Leonard Cohen".
Beautiful music, beautiful stories
leonard, you're my man
Everything that Leonard Cohen is known for on one CD
A true poet...if only he could sing

The Best of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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More Best of Leonard Cohen
Essential Leonard Cohen
The Future
Songs of Love and Hate
I'm Your Man

ASIN: B00000256G
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Suzanne
Sisters Of Mercy
So Long, Marianne
Bird On The Wire
Lady Midnight
The Partisan
Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye
Famous Blue Raincoat
Last Year's Man
Chelsea Hotel No. 2
Who By Fire
Take This Longing

Amazon.com

Leonard Cohen is famous as a major seller in much of the world outside the U.S., the Canadian singer-songwriter's adoptive home; in Europe, this album's title is Greatest Hits. Even listeners barely familiar with Cohen's name will know "Suzanne" and "Bird on a Wire," but those oft-covered numbers are the least of it. The former novelist's mission as a wry, resigned troubadour is better reflected in songs like "Chelsea Hotel No. 2," a remembrance of Janis Joplin with a devastating closing line, and "Who by Fire," which updates a Jewish prayer. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

This CD was almost identical to 'The Essential Leonard Cohen"........2007-07-28

This CD is almost a carbon copy of the other Leonard Cohen CD I bought. I woldn't have bought it if I had been given that information. However there didn't see to be any way I could find the list of songs on this CD. It's true "The Essential LC" had one or two more songs than this one, but they were precisely the songs compromised by the defect in that CD. Neither CD was satisfactory.

Beautiful music, beautiful stories.......2007-07-05

Thirty years this music has haunted, charmed and informed me, bringing the intelligent, moving poetry to a wider audience than the one found in smoky coffee shops. "The partisan" evokes memories of noble, desperate men, living by their wits, defending their homes, as simple, strong heroes when monstrous odds go against them. "Famous blue raincoat" has its own rich history, with Cohen at times confusing fans with bits and pieces of leads to explain the song. The possible interpretations are more than interesting to relish. "Chelsea hotel," "Bird on a wire," and the Top Forty hit. "Suzanne," make up part of a wonderful collection of moving, memorable melodies. Buy it, burn it to your iPod, keep the CD in your car. Enjoy.

leonard, you're my man.......2007-05-14

No one can deliver a tune like Cohen. There is a hint of the sage and the tragic in his voice. This CD recounts with a timeless quality the heartfelt revelations of a 60's New York singer/songwriter. My favorites are "Sisters of Mercy" and "Famous Blue Raincoat" but all tracks are rich with melodic insight.

Everything that Leonard Cohen is known for on one CD.......2006-08-01

For those who want to have the definitive Leonard Cohen on one CD both for fans and those who have just discovered Leonard Cohen. This CD is what Leonard Cohen was/is all about. A wonderful compilation including his classics.

A true poet...if only he could sing.......2006-07-07

Leonard Cohen is another of those songwriters whose work I have appreciated from a distance. I thought this might work as a sampler of his work, at least some of his early material. The words are sheer magic. Cohen can express emotional depth far more successfully than most writers and the tunes carry the words across. However, it seems that, Cohen, like Kristofferson, is better served when others interpret his music. There is a flat atonal sound to his singing that almost seems a separate entity from the emotion the songs are conveying. Sometimes it works like on "Famous Blue Raincoat" but most of the time I can't help but wish that someone else was singing these wonderful words. Despite this, the words do win out and this is still worth having.

Average customer rating:

hayden, in a forest of sound
A truly memorable live album!
live, breathe music
intimate and stirring performance

Live at Convocation Hall
Hayden
Manufacturer: Badman Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Elk-Lake Serenade
Skyscraper National Park
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Everything I Long For
The Closer I Get

ASIN: B00006LWRE
Release Date: 2002-09-17

Tracks:

Streetcar
I Should Have Been Watching You
Steps Into Miles
The Hazards of Sitting Beneath Palm Trees
Holster
Middle of July
Between us to Hold
I'm to Blame
Bass Song
We Don't Mind
Stem

Tracks:

Two Doors
I Don't Think We Should Ever Meet
Woody
Long Way Down
All In One Move
Bad as They Seem
Lullaby
Pots and Pans
Trees Lounge
Tell Me Why
Carried Away

Album Description

Live at Convocation Hall is a performance of songs from Hayden's three domestic releases, as well as his limited edition Canadian EP & the title track from Tree's Lounge. The performance is from his March 2002 sold-out show in Toronto, Ontario. Includes 3 new (2002) tracks, plus a cover version of Neil Young's 'Tell Me Why' (featuring guest vocals from Howie Beck & Julie Dorion). Elaborate, double digipak with a 16-page booklet designed by Hayden. Badman.

Customer Reviews:

hayden, in a forest of sound.......2006-11-15

I will admit, before I write this reveiw that I am a Hayden fan. Something about his music stirs my soul. It could be the simple, yet complex songs. It could be the beautiful, but sad songs he often writes. Hayden is an artist full of contridictions, his voice is scratchy and raw, and really not even that good, yet it fits his music perfectly.

As usual this album is warm. It reminds me of a flanel shirt you put on on a cold, crisp day as you warm up next to the hearth. The recording is good, and this is a live album, so it is not studio tight, but I think that is the point. It is a raw sound, that is often apparent in his studio releases, but here it shines through in all its striped-down glory. It is intimate and you can almost feel his breath in the microphone.

If you are a Hayden fan, I recomend this album. It has a collection of songs from all his previous albums and some tracks that are not easy to get in the states. It is a two disc album, and it would add alot to any music fans library. I hope this helped, and you find great pleasure in this artist's latest release.

A truly memorable live album!.......2003-10-22

Hayden's 2-cd live album is, for the most part, simply breathtaking. As well as showcasing some of his best songs (Middle of July, Between Us to Hold, Stem, etc) it captures some cute and funny moments of singer-audience banter. I was at this concert and loved it, and now I have this album to keep forever. I highly recommend it!

live, breathe music.......2002-12-28

this is a great, great album. I'm so happy he put out a live album. I seen him live last year in Detroit and met him, cool guy. I was a fan before that concert so I was excited to see him. If you don't feel like getting his older stuff, which i HIGHLY recommend, get this. bob dylan, leanord cohen, hayden. another musician that has talent,no, a gift. just him, his guitar, piano and harmonica.

intimate and stirring performance.......2002-11-26

When I first listened to this album I realized just how many great songs Hayden has written. It plays out like a greatest hits CD of his 7 years+ musical career. He is such a strong performer and the recording is intimate. And his in-between song bantor is hilarious. It's beautifully packaged in a foldout digipack and includes a booklet of lyrics with photos. Recommended for all fans of this remarkable songwriter/performer.

Average customer rating:

More Best of
Leonard Cohen
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005RCHI
Release Date: 2001-11-26

Average customer rating:

With the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Manufacturer: Concord Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Israel | Middle East | International | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Nostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00009WVRV
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Tracks:

Folks Who Live on the Hill
Best Is Yet to Come
Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry
By Myself
Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year
Stormy Weather
Laura
On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
Love Is Here to Stay
How Deep Is the Ocean?
Somewhere
I Won't Send Roses

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The Best of Soft Rock

Manufacturer: Sony Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B00022KJQ6

Average customer rating:

In the House of Mystery

Manufacturer: Musicaldreams.com
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000859NZ
Release Date: 2002-08-01

Tracks:

Bird on a Wire
Famous Blue Raincoat
Sisters of Mercy
Joan Of Arc
Master Song
Suzanne
Take This Longing
Seems So Long Ago, Nancy
Story of Isaac
Winter Lady
If It Be Your Will

Album Description

An audio CD of Leonard Cohen's best loved songs performed by John Bergeron. Songs included are Bird On A Wire, Famous Blue Raincoat, Sisters Of Mercy, Joan Of Arc, Master Song, Suzanne, Take This Longing, Seems So Long Ago,Nancy, Story Of Isaac, Winter Lady, If It Be Your Will. Hear audio of the song renditions that include rich vocals from John & three angels, piano, guitar, violin, bass.

Member of Leonard Cohen Web Ring, Leonard Cohen Forum, Leonard Cohen Gallery.

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