Songs Of Leonard Cohen - Leonard Cohen

Released in 1968 Leonard Cohen's début album, Songs of Leonard Cohen was an apt answer to the psychedelic albums of the summer of love. The Canadian had long been a poet and a novelist and had waited until he was 33 before releasing an album of his folk songs.

While the album was not immediately successful in the US (only going gold in 1989) it was a hit in the UK and Europe which embraced the style and the lyrical content of Cohen's songs.

The album begins with the classic Suzanne. The song details an encounter Cohen had with Suzanne Verdal, the wife of sculptor Armand Vaillancourt, in Montreal. Suzanne Verdal is now homeless living in her car in Venice Beach California. Cohen said he never had relations with her, only imagined what they would be like. The song is like most of the album, sparse and dream like. With Leonard's lyrics taking the listener's by the hand and leading us all to that river.

This whole album brings the listener to different places. It burrows its way into your conciousness and takes root. Songs like So Long Marianne, Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye, and The Sisters Of Mercy are the big hitters and are instantly recognisable. But hidden amongst the crowd of hits is the superb Masters Song and Teachers

This lonely album is filled with Cohen's personal stories, sometimes listening to this album makes you feel almost embarrassed to have such access to his personal life. All put so beautifully in Cohen's forceful yet minimalist style. An album to be enjoyed on your own with a bottle of wine.

Track Listing

1. "Suzanne" – 3:48
2. "Master Song" – 5:55
3. "Winter Lady" – 2:15
4. "The Stranger Song" – 5:00
5. "Sisters of Mercy" – 3:32
6. "So Long, Marianne" – 5:38
7. "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" – 2:55
8. "Stories of the Street" – 4:35
9. "Teachers" – 3:01
10. "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong" – 4:23