16-10-2022, 11:10
VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ HERE IT IS: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen
![[Image: 91zwK1cmhuL._SX466_.jpg]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91zwK1cmhuL._SX466_.jpg)
Track Listing
1 “Steer Your Way” - Norah Jones
2 “Here It Is” - Peter Gabriel
3 “Suzanne” - Gregory Porter
4 “Hallelujah” - Sarah McLachlan
5 “Avalanche” - Immanuel Wilkins
6 “Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye” - Luciana Souza
7 “Coming Back to You” - James Taylor
8 “You Want It Darker” - Iggy Pop
9 “If It Be Your Will” - Mavis Staples
10 “Seems So Long Ago, Nancy” - David Gray
11 “Famous Blue Raincoat” - Nathaniel Rateliff
12 “Bird on the Wire” - Bill Frisell
Fascinating. Yes, this is a covers album, but it’s been carefully, lovingly and thoughtfully curated by producer Larry Klein, paying close attention to the pairings and the actual music (which is marvelous and of the jazzy persuasion, hence positioning in this thread), just as much as the lyrics. Looking at some of the artists chosen for the interpretations, I had a few doubts, I have to say! And they were almost completely unfounded – all the tracks are tastefully done, IMHO. Was very trepidatious about “Hallelujah”, especially, as it’s been done to death, pretty much, so one might be forgiven for thinking there could not possibly be anything new under the sun. Surprise! Sarah McLachlan manages to pull something completely different out of her hat – huh!
Another big surprise was Iggy Pop who imbues “You Want It Darker” with urgency, menace and panache – compelling, and memorable. I would not have known Peter Gabriel was the voice on the title track – it’s almost as though these vocalists have put on some sort of LC cloak and that his spirit had a guiding hand in the whole thing – they may be slightly different arrangements, but all are 100% respectful of the legacy of the man and his muse. There are two instrumentals, courtesy of Bill Frisell and a selection of accompanying musicians – “Avalanche” and “Bird on a Wire”. Kudos to the rather skilled Mr Klein, say I!
Where to start?? Ok – here goes –
“You Want It Darker” – Iggy Pop – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXmgKy3HWnE
“Seems So Long Ago, Nancy” - David Gray (who sounds so different to his usual self – amazing) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEN0hJwO-vM
“Steer Your Way” – Norah Jones – superb delivery, in my view – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeGNed1BTVo
“Coming Back To You” – James Taylor- oooh, the pathos … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTwBZntbigg
“Here It Is” …
Track Listing
1 “Steer Your Way” - Norah Jones
2 “Here It Is” - Peter Gabriel
3 “Suzanne” - Gregory Porter
4 “Hallelujah” - Sarah McLachlan
5 “Avalanche” - Immanuel Wilkins
6 “Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye” - Luciana Souza
7 “Coming Back to You” - James Taylor
8 “You Want It Darker” - Iggy Pop
9 “If It Be Your Will” - Mavis Staples
10 “Seems So Long Ago, Nancy” - David Gray
11 “Famous Blue Raincoat” - Nathaniel Rateliff
12 “Bird on the Wire” - Bill Frisell
Fascinating. Yes, this is a covers album, but it’s been carefully, lovingly and thoughtfully curated by producer Larry Klein, paying close attention to the pairings and the actual music (which is marvelous and of the jazzy persuasion, hence positioning in this thread), just as much as the lyrics. Looking at some of the artists chosen for the interpretations, I had a few doubts, I have to say! And they were almost completely unfounded – all the tracks are tastefully done, IMHO. Was very trepidatious about “Hallelujah”, especially, as it’s been done to death, pretty much, so one might be forgiven for thinking there could not possibly be anything new under the sun. Surprise! Sarah McLachlan manages to pull something completely different out of her hat – huh!
Another big surprise was Iggy Pop who imbues “You Want It Darker” with urgency, menace and panache – compelling, and memorable. I would not have known Peter Gabriel was the voice on the title track – it’s almost as though these vocalists have put on some sort of LC cloak and that his spirit had a guiding hand in the whole thing – they may be slightly different arrangements, but all are 100% respectful of the legacy of the man and his muse. There are two instrumentals, courtesy of Bill Frisell and a selection of accompanying musicians – “Avalanche” and “Bird on a Wire”. Kudos to the rather skilled Mr Klein, say I!
Where to start?? Ok – here goes –
“You Want It Darker” – Iggy Pop – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXmgKy3HWnE
“Seems So Long Ago, Nancy” - David Gray (who sounds so different to his usual self – amazing) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEN0hJwO-vM
“Steer Your Way” – Norah Jones – superb delivery, in my view – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeGNed1BTVo
“Coming Back To You” – James Taylor- oooh, the pathos … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTwBZntbigg
“Here It Is” …
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson