Songs from a Room
| Songs from a Room | ||||
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| Studio album by Leonard Cohen | ||||
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Publication |
April 1969 |
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| Label (s) | Columbia Records | |||
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Format (s) |
LP, CD |
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Title (number) |
10 |
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running time |
35 min 38s |
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Songs from a Room is the second music album by the Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen , released in April 1969 . With Bird on the Wire, it contains one of Cohen's best-known pieces and is considered the most typical work of his early career.
Emergence
After disputing with John Simon over the production of Songs of Leonard Cohen , Cohen chose Bob Johnston for his next album . He also played the keyboard in the background band, as well as various other musicians, especially strings , and singers.
Like Suzanne , Bird on the Wire was published by Judy Collins in 1967 before Cohen's own version . Another track, Priests , was planned for the album, but Cohen never released it himself; Versions exist by Collins (1967) and Richie Havens (1969).
Style and content
The album remains stylistically similar to its predecessor, the background music has become even more spartan and Cohen begins to sing deeper. With the jew's harp , an instrument appeared for the first time, which is often regarded as a typical characteristic of Cohen.
In Story of Isaac the theme of religion is taken up again, it tells the critical biblical story of the near sacrifice of Isaac .
Also noteworthy is The Partisan , with which Cohen first brought out a song that was not written by himself. It was written in 1943 by Anna Marly (music) and the French Resistance fighter Emmanuel d'Astier (text) and was later supplemented by an English text by Hy Zaret . Here you can see Cohen's roots in francophone Québec , as well as with The lost Canadian from the later album Recent Songs . In the French passages, however, the female accompaniment is in the foreground, Cohen can only be heard much weaker.
The other pieces partly treat feelings and life paths in a poetic way like the previous album, but partly also socially critical tones emerge ( A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes , The old Revolution ).
Success and aftermath
The album sold better than its predecessor immediately after its release, reaching number 63 on the Billboard charts in the US and number 2 in the UK . The critic generally rated the album at a high level. Some were of the opinion that it was a slight disappointment compared to the celebrated debut work, others found the musical implementation even more successful. Cohen himself found that it was only on this album that the instrumentation really did justice to his pieces.
Cohen later opened all of his concerts with Bird on the Wire . There are cover versions of Johnny Cash , Joe Cocker , Willie Nelson , Jennifer Warnes and Suzanne Vega, among others . Kris Kristofferson says he wants the opening lines Like a bird on the wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir, I have tried in my way to be free. have them written on his tombstone.
Track list
A Side (16:59)
- Bird on the Wire 3:23
- Story of Isaac 3:31
- A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes 3:10
- The Partisan 3:20
- Seems So Long Ago, Nancy 3:35
B-Side (17:52)
- The Old Revolution 4:42
- The Butcher 3:11
- You Know Who I Am 3:24
- Lady Midnight 2:50
- Tonight Will Be Fine 3:45
Bonus tracks
- Like a Bird (Bird on the Wire) - 3:21
- Nothing to One (You Know Who I Am) - 2:17
Web links
- Lyrics and audio samples
- Songs from a Room at Allmusic (English)