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Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979

Leonard Cohen - Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979 Audio CD

A fair review of the Leonard Cohen "Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Leonard Cohen reviews here, or go back to the Leonard Cohen tabs.

Band: Leonard Cohen
Title: Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979
Rating:

Release Date: 2008-03-01
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Field Commander Cohen 2: Window 3: Smokey Life 4: Gypsy's Wife 5: Lover, Lover, Lover 6: Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye 7: Stranger Song 8: Guests 9: Memories 10: Why Don't You Try 11: Bird on the Wire 12: So Long, Marianne

Leonard Cohen live in his prime
The tour kicked off last year in Europe, and recently the CD/DVD set "Leonard Cohen Live in London" was issued. Leonard Cohen continues to gather major acclaim, and rightfully so, for his recent tour. It is a great live set, but it made me reach back to an earlier live album of Cohen.

"Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979" (12 tracks; 63 min. ; released in 2000) was recorded on Leonard Cohen's European tour in December, 1979, on the heels of the release of his "Recent Songs" album earlier that year. The album rightfully focuses on that album, brining 4 tracks from it, one better than the other: "The Window", "The Smokey Life", The Gypsy's Wife" and "The Guests". The other album that is featured heavily is 1974's "New Skin for Old Ceremony", featuring the hit "Lover Lover Lover" (perhaps the best track on this album), and also "Field Commander Cohen" and "Why Don't You Try". Cohen's classic debut album also get three tracks, and it is when you hear him in particular on these tracks that the 30 year difference between this set and the "Live in London" set becomes clear. On this album Cohen is in his prime (44 years at the time), and in great command of both his guitar playing and his voice, which sounds markedly better than on the "Live in London" set.

In all, of Cohen's four official live albums (1973's "Live Songs", this one, "Cohen Live" from his 1994 tour, and the just released "Live in London" one), this one is, from an artistic perspective, the best one in my book. It is Leonard Cohen at the top of his game, period. While the "Live in London" carries a lot of sentimental weight (and there is nothing wrong with that), any Leonard Cohen fan will want to have "Field Commander Cohen" in his or her collection.

A Great Place To Start...
Sharing his work with the uninitiated can be a bit tricky. Leonard Cohen is one of my favorite artists. Some people may be initially turned off by his distinctive voice or the stark production of his solo records. I found this record is a great introduction to Mr. Cohen's work. It is very musical and Mr. Cohen creates a warm performance. The backing group (Passenger) fleshes out the songs in many interesting ways not present in the solo recordings. My wife loves the violin work on the record. That being said I would not call any performance here my "favorite" version of a song. Mr. Cohen's solo records offer the strongest emotional impact, but as far as being able to throw a Leonard Cohen record on in the car without the rest of the occupants mutinying this record fits the bill. .

Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979
It is strange to think that it was just released (2000), when the concerts where like almost 3 decades prior. Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979 is a live album by Leonard Cohen and has songs from his shows at the Hammersmith Odeon in London and Dome Theatre in Brighton. Cohen himself has said that this was his best tour to date. The book-let is a work of art with many nice photographs and all the lyrics are included. Here we have so many gems, but to mention a few would be the following, i. e. , Hey,that's no way to say goodbye, The stranger song and so long, Marianne. 5/5.
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Some studio versions surpassed
Cohen's vocals & guitar are supported by the voices of Jennifer Warnes & Sharon Robinson, John Bilezikjian on lute & mandolin, Raffi Hakopian on violin and the band Passenger with bass, keyboards, drums, electric guitar, saxophone & flute. Recorded live in London & Brighton in December 1979, this wonderful live album was released only in 2000. Field Commander is far removed from Live Songs (1974) with its almost unbearably distressing tracks like Please Don't Pass Me By.

Most of the tracks come from Recent Songs (1979) and New Skin for the Old Ceremony (1974) whilst Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967) is represented by three songs, Songs from a Room (1968) by Bird on a Wire and the controversial Death of a Ladies' Man (1978) by Memories. Some of these live versions have more depth, flow and sensitivity than the original studio recordings, especially those from New Skin.

One of those is the title track which has a segment of the old song Rum & Coka-Cola made famous by the Andrews Sisters, which adds a touch of humor. The masterpiece The Window, one of Cohen's most exquisitely esoteric songs with its arresting symbolism, also takes on a new dimension here. The backing vocals & the violin playing of Hakopian are sublime and Leonard deservedly acknowledges him at the end. This version is different, not better, than the original on Recent Songs.

The tender slow songs The Smokey Life & The Gypsy's Wife follow, the last rendered especially beautiful by the lute of Bilezikjian. I prefer this interpretation of Lover Lover Lover over the studio version by far; it flows beautifully, the texture is enhanced by the lute and there are new words comprising a final verse. The 1960s classic Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye with its stirring violin, is another highlight whilst The Stranger Song seems to exude more personality than the original.

The graceful vocal arrangements, oblique lyrics, violin & lute all contribute to make The Guests ache with a beauty beyond words. And how great to have a different rendition of at least one of the songs from Ladies' Man in the form of Memories. Needless to say, this rendition is less strained but retains a measure of intensity whilst the doo-wop backing vocals & wailing sax are ever so charming. At the conclusion, Leonard cites all the instrumentalists over enthusiastic applause.

Why Don't You Try gets a jazzy treatment with soulful female vocals - a bit like the track Always on The Future. Then two of Cohen's most famous songs follow to conclude the album. They may both be somewhat over-familiar by now, but this version of Bird on the Wire is genuinely soulful and the awesome performance of So Long, Marianne with its lilting rhythm and elegant instrumentation is worth it. As a matter of interest, Perla Batalla has a live version of Bird On A Wire on the soundtrack album Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man.

Cohen's voice still sounds young here whilst the consummate playing of the band Passenger fits his music like a glove. Those trademark female vocals delicately enhance the music with subtle shades of meaning & feeling; in this regard, Jennifer Warnes performs a live version of Joan of Arc on the 20th anniversary edition of Famous Blue Raincoat. Bilezikjian & Hakopian add the final strokes of excellence that turn the album into a triumph & treasure. Field Commander Cohen ought to be in every fan's collection.
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You can see a complete list of all Leonard Cohen discography, or go back to the Leonard Cohen tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.