Finding Leonard Cohen

Recently I've come into contact with a number of people who've never heard of Leonard Cohen. I want to say, "Where have you been?" With a name like Cohen you might guess he was a composer of Broadway musicals. He is a composer and a lyricist, but of ballads and contemporary folk music. Much of his music, which he also performs, is deeply personal. Some of it is romantic; much of it is down right gut-wrenching.

It is easy to draw parallels between Cohen and Bob Dylan. Both are are of Jewish ancestry. Though born 7 years apart (1934 & 1941, respectively), they span the same era and began their careers in the troubled 60s. Both wrote ballads, folk, and protest songs.  Neither can really sing, but rather talk their way through the lyrics. Both are rather reclusive. For my money, Cohen is the better poet, perhaps even the greatest poet of the rock era --Dylan and Lennon notwithstanding. [NB: Cohen was born in Canada.]

Cohen is more well-known and respected in Europe, at least partially due to the fact that Columbia Records did not properly promote his work, e.g., declining to release his Various Positions album in the U.S., which BTW contains his most well-known song "Hallelujah." I discovered Cohen myself while listening to the radio --in Germany. I heard "Dance me to the end of love," also on Various Positions, and promptly called the radio station. Even if you've never heard of Leonard Cohen, you've no doubt heard his music performed by others. His music has been featured in several Hollywood movies, most notably Robert Altman's McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971).

Want to discover Leonard? The best place to start is The Best of Leonard Cohen (1990), not exactly a greatest hits anthology; I can think of just one Cohen song that ever topped the charts, "Suzanne," and that was recorded by Judy Collins. "Hallelujah" is on the CD, but if you want my favorite, "Dance me to the end of love," you'll have to buy Various Positions.