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List Price: $7.99 | | Label: Sony
Salesrank: 8865
Released: October 25, 1990 |
| Our Price: $2.84 |
| Used Price: $1.80 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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The Best of Leonard Cohen Track Listing:
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 Review:
No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: COHEN,LEONARD
Title: BEST OF LEONARD COHEN
Street Release Date: 03/28/1988
Domestic
Genre: FOLK
Description of The Best of Leonard Cohen:
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
The Best of Leonard Cohen Reviews:
Leonard is a Great Singer!!! 
2009-12-05 - Who is a great singer, maybe someone like Whitney Houston perhaps. Yes she does have powerful voice but I don't think she even writes her own material. I don't want pick on her and her kind, I wish them all success on American Idol and beyond. Too me Leonard is the definition of a great singer! Someone who I actually want to hear singing, someone who writes great lyrics and beautiful musical accompaniment. LEONARD COHEN IS THE DEFINITION OF A GREAT SINGER!
World Citizen Cohen
2009-12-01 - "The Best Of Leonard Cohen" is distilled from his first 4 albums, and nicely summarizes his earliest 8 years as a singer. Prior to this he was chiefly known in his native Canada (since 1956) as a published poet/novelist. Cohen established himself as a major songwriter right off the bat with "Songs Of Leonard Cohen" (1967) - and continued to do so on "Songs From A Room", "Songs Of Love And Hate", and "New Skin For The Old Ceremony" (1974).
I think "The Best Of" (1975) was his most important album. He gained many new fans that were too young to know his 60's output, and were happy to catch up. Most of the people I know came to Cohen through this - then went back and bought his first four. Their continued devotion has ensured his stardom to this day. Some other examples that served the same purpose: Judy Collins' "Colors Of The Day", and Rolling Stones' "Hot Rocks".
As a late starter (not recording until in his thirties) - Cohen bypassed having any youthful embarrassments. From the first album on he came off as urbane, witty, debonair, thoughtful, and well-travelled. These were the songs of a man who had been around and learned some things. I once read that the writer Gustave Flaubert toiled for days over each sentence of "Madame Bovary". It's known that Cohen did the same, and the evidence is here. He's only recorded 7 more studio albums since (for a total of 11), and they are all worth having. His later involvement with Buddhism has only deepened his understanding and empathy. It pleases me enormously that he can still sell out a concert hall no matter where he goes in the world.
There's "More Best Of Leonard Cohen" (1997), and a 2-disc "Essential" - but for me and countless others this was our introduction. Let it be yours.
The Enigma Of Leonard Cohen 
2009-03-17 - Leonard Cohen always seemed to me to be the odd man out in the swirl of the folk revival of the early 1960's. Yes, sure he did his time at the Chelsea Hotel (something of a rite of passage for some singer/songwriters). He certainly, either through his music or lifestyle, did not merely represent some hippie faddism. He was just a little too old and little too proper writer, in the European sense, for that. Yet, although some of his material could well be played in the beat cafés of the late 1950's, there too his work seems too civilized for that raucous crowd. A viewing several years ago of a film documentary on his life, work and times "Bird On A Wire" only added to my confusion about where to pigeonhole Mr. Cohen.
So now you see my dilemma. In any case the best place to start to get an appreciation for the work of this very talented and driven lyricist (I cannot say much for his vocal accomplishments as it will be the lyrics that will stand the test of time, not the voice) is this compilation of his best work, circa 1975. Haven't we all had, or wanted to have, male or female, that "Suzanne" of the first song. This is probably his best known song, and I think rightly so as a secondary anthem of the 1960's. Included here are the heart-wrenching lyrics of "Bird On Wire", as well as "Sisters Of Mercy" and "So Long, Marianne". Cohen tips his hat to the Chelsea Hotel experience in "Chelsea Hotel No. 2". As I run through this list there is one thought that does occur to me. If you are in a depressed or melancholy mood it is best to save this CD for some other time. But do listen to it.
The Best of Leonard Cohen -CD audio
2009-02-02 - Being a serious L. Cohen fan, this is a stellar collection of earlier work. In my opinion, some of his best! Not ever known for his vocal chops, lyrics that are insightful, provocative, intelligent, with arrangements that showcase his lyrics, I prefer this to the current drone of insidious hip-hop and rap rantings.
Awesome CD
2008-07-04 - Leonard Cohen is an awesome and insightful artist. If you are looking for something different to listen to, give Leonard a try on.
