Oct 2002

Leonard Cohen is one of the most interesting and enduring, if not the most successful singer-songwriters of the last forty-odd years. Over the course of nine volumes of poetry, two novels, and fourteen albums of music he has entertained and inspired millions. This collection, chosen by Cohen himself, includes tracks which defined their time - such as 'Suzanne', 'Bird On A Wire', 'First We Take Manhattan' and 'Night Comes On'. Spanning four decades 'The Essential Leonard Cohen' contains a total of thirty-one tracks on two digitally remastered CDs.

• Q (1/03, p.131) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...This is a genteel, 2CD stroll through the bardic Canadian's romance-pitted past. There are riches galore..."
  Uncut (12/02, p.155) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...This is the kind of collection that converts non-believers..."

This double CD set contains the most popular tracks by the Canadian singer-songwriter, Leonard Cohen. His career spans five decades and material is included here from his 1968 debut right through to his 2001 release, 'Ten New Songs'.

Cassette available on Columbia (86884)/[69699-86884-4].
NOTES:
Personnel includes: Leonard Cohen (vocals).
Producers include: John Simon, Bob Johnston, John Lissauer, Leonard Cohen, Henry Lewy.
Compilation producers: Leanne Ungar, Bruce Dickinson.
Recorded between 1967 & 2001. Includes liner notes by Pico Iyer.

Montreal's Leonard Cohen was a well-respected poet and novelist before he ever entered the songwriting fray in the 1960s. His dark, poetic vision rivaled that of Dylan, and his songs inspired countless cover versions, by everyone from Judy Collins to Nick Cave. Over the years, he honed his craft to a razor's edge, his passion always expertly undercut by a biting sense of black humor. His early recordings were largely acoustic affairs, but by the end of the 1980s he had reinvented his sound, successfully incorporating synthesizers and contemporary production techniques while still sounding very much like himself (and gaining a new generation of followers in the process).