Post Description

This 1975 compilation does a good job of synopsizing the early career of one of the world's finest songsmiths. Cohen's initial modus operandi was to deliver dark, poetic imagery in a sedate but effective manner over his own nylon-string fingerpicking. Musically, early tunes like "Suzanne," "Bird on the Wire," and "Sisters of Mercy" adhere to traditional folk ballad form, but the literary depth of the lyrics and the fragile, human imperfections of Cohen's voice were virtually unprecedented. As he moved into the '70s, he explored darker, less polite avenues. "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "Last Year's Man" are portraits of emotional devastation similar in style to the work of Jacques Brel. Cohen's irreverence and black humor always kept him from going over the top, as exemplified by the frank, ironic tone of "Chelsea Hotel," a song written for Janis Joplin. The Best of Leonard Cohen is a satisfactory starting point for neophytes, and those who find themselves intrigued should simply start at the beginning of Cohen's very consistent catalog and work their way through. 


Track listing
 
All songs written by Leonard Cohen except as noted.

 1."Who by Fire" - 2:30
 2."So Long, Marianne" - 5:37
 3."Chelsea Hotel #2" (Cohen, Ron Cornelius) - 3:04
 4."Lady Midnight" - 2:55
 5."Sisters of Mercy" - 3:34
 6."Bird on the Wire" - 3:24
 7."Suzanne" - 3:46
 8."Lover Lover Lover" - 3:19
 9."Winter Lady" - 2:15
 10."Tonight Will Be Fine" - 3:47
 11."The Partisan" (A. Marly, H. Zaret) - 3:23
 12."Diamonds in the Mine" - 3:48