Leonard Cohen On Croatian Top 40 Album Chart
JULY 29, 2010
After Leonard Cohen's July 25th performance at the Arena Zagreb in Croatia an incredible sixteen of Mr. Cohen's albums appear this week in the Croatian Top 40 album chart (Hrvatska Top Lista).
Leonard Cohen's 'Songs From The Road' Showcases Most Outstanding Performances From Ongoing World Tour
JULY 15, 2010
In 1999, after an extended break from the spotlight, 64-year old Leonard Cohen returned to the recording studio and world stage with a passion. From then until now, his albums, concerts and DVD releases have informed a new generation. At the same time, Cohen has heroically fulfilled the dreams of his first generation of fans that have been following his career at Columbia Records since his debut LP in 1967.
Following the celebration of his 40th year as a Columbia artist in 2007 and coinciding with his induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in March 2008, Cohen thrilled his fans by announcing his first tour dates in 15 years. He's gone on to play the most prestigious and beautiful venues in virtually every corner of the globe, mesmerizing and charming audiences with performances that were hailed as some of the best of his career. "When legend Cohen takes to the stage," raved Ireland's The Independent (June 2008), "it's no less than a cultural event of Biblical dimensions."
One dozen of Leonard Cohen's most famous songs from those recent world tour performances - at auditorium halls, festivals, arenas, and stadiums from Tel Aviv to London, from across Europe to the California desert and his native Canada - are now collected on SONGS FROM THE ROAD. The 12-song program filmed in high def and recorded in 5.1 surround sound will be issued in four separate packages: The DVD+CD package will be a 6 panel 2-disc digipack, identical to last year's Leonard Cohen Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970. The Blu-ray will be in a standard amray case, the DVD will be in a standard DVD amray case and the CD in a standard jewel case. All will be available at all retail outlets starting September 13th through Columbia/Legacy, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.
As a bonus, the DVD and Blu-ray configurations will include a 20-minute "behind the scenes" backstage interview with the individual band members. The interviews were conducted by Leonard's daughter, Lorca Cohen.
The sets also feature two different sets of annotations. One is a rare album liner notes essay written by Leon Wieseltier, literary editor of The New Republic. The other is a detailed track-by-track insider's commentary written by Ed Sanders, who served as producer of the sound recording and editing, and producer and director of the video recording and editing. "I was there for every rehearsal," he begins. "I was at every sound check. I was present at every show."
Sanders' notes provides precious insight into the selection process for the twelve outstanding performances captured on SONGS FROM THE ROAD. For "Chelsea Hotel" (Royal Albert Hall, London, 11/17/2008), Sanders writes "Between sound check and show time Leonard would often play his guitar in the dressing room. In the early stages of this leg I would find him practicing 'Chelsea Hotel'. It came as a surprise to everyone (especially those on stage!) when at Rotterdam he launched into it solo after 'Tower of Song'. He continued to rehearse it with the band until the arrangement was ready. The version presented here is the second full-band performance. At the time I thought it was exceptionally compelling and I told Leonard so during intermission. He replied that he thought it went well; that he could feel the presence of a certain 'someone' as he sang it."
SONGS FROM THE ROAD is not only a tribute to Cohen's consummate artistry as a concert performer, it is also a tribute to his enduring worldwide popularity at this time in his career. The program complements his 2-disc DVD release of last year, Live In London, recorded on July 17, 2008, at London's 02 Arena, one of Europe's largest indoor venues. Live In London marked his first concert collection to be released since the 2001 CD, Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979. (Note: The O2 Arena selections on SONGS FROM THE ROAD are from November 2008.)
It is ultimately Cohen's ageless songs that draw faithful audiences - new fans and old - to his advance sold-out concerts. (The 2008 tour dates sold over 700,000 tickets alone, across 84 shows worldwide.) SONGS FROM THE ROAD represents every decade of his life as a recording artist, from the 1960s ("Suzanne" from his 1967 debut, Songs Of Leonard Cohen; "Bird on the Wire" and his interpretation of "The Partisan" both from his second album, 1969's Songs From a Room) - to the '00s ("That Don't Make it Junk" from 2001's Ten New Songs).
Along the way, SONGS FROM THE ROAD revisits Cohen's 'greatest hits' from the 1970s ("Famous Blue Raincoat" and "Avalanche" both from 1971's Songs Of Love and Hate; "Chelsea Hotel" from 1974's New Skin For the Old Ceremony, and "Lover, Lover, Lover" from the 1979 Field Commander Cohen recordings) - the 1980s ("Hallelujah" and "Heart With No Companion" from 1984's Various Positions) - and the 1990s ("Waiting for the Miracle" and "Closing Time" from 1992's The Future.)
"Throughout the show," Wieseltier concludes in his essay, "it was never clear whose gratitude was greater, Cohen's or the audience's. He seemed to find at every stop the sisters of mercy whom he immortalized in one of his oldest and most tender songs.... And now, wherever this precious man wanders, the famous blue raincoat notwithstand¬ing, people sing 'hallelujah!' The Psalmist himself could not have asked for more."
Tracklisting is identical for DVD, CD, Blu-ray, and vinyl LP:
1. Lover, Lover, Lover (Ramat Gan Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel, September 24, 2009)
2. Bird On the Wire (Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, Scotland, November 6, 2008)
3. Chelsea Hotel (Royal Albert Hall, London, England, November 17, 2008)
4. Heart With No Companion (Oberhausen King Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Germany, November 2, 2008)
5. That Don't Make it Junk (O2 Arena, London, England, November 13, 2008)
6. Waiting for the Miracle (HP Pavilion, San Jose, California, November 13, 2009)
7. Avalanche (Gothenburg Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden, October 12, 2008)
8. Suzanne (MENA Arena, Manchester, England, November 30, 2008)
9. The Partisan (Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland, October 10, 2008)
10. Famous Blue Raincoat (O2 Arena, London, England, November 13, 2008)
11. Hallelujah (Coachella Music Festival, Indio, California, April 17, 2009)
12. Closing Time (John Labatt Centre, London, Ontario, May 24, 2009
NEeMA Releases New Record 'Watching You Think' - Produced In Association With Leonard Cohen and Pierre Marchand
JUNE 11, 2010
Toronto, ON - Recording artist, poet and dancer, NEeMA is set to release her new album 'Watching You Think' on June 29, 2010. Throughout the summer NEeMA will be performing live across Canada in celebration of the release.
The album 'Watching You Think' was produced by Montréal-born NEeMA in association with Leonard Cohen and Pierre Marchand (Sarah McLachlan, Ron Sexsmith). Of NEeMA's work, Leonard Cohen has said, "in the midst of all the static, a voice of true feeling arises - a rare event!" Cohen also drew the haunting portrait of NEeMA, which serves as the album's cover.
Pierre Marchand, one of the most admired and celebrated producers in contemporary music has said about NEeMA "an inspiring presence - her evocative lyrics and warm voice paint beautiful, timeless stories and portraits." The album was partially recorded, and mixed at Marchand's studio in Montreal.
Sure to please music lovers of many stripes, NEeMA's 'Watching You Think',displays the artist's international background and experience, seamlessly melding elements of world music, folk, and jazz with a good measure of pop. NEeMA's songs of love, life and simple observations read like parables and sound instantly familiar to listeners who will find themselves singing along effortlessly by the second chorus.
Her voice delivers twelve original stories, in an uninhibited and authentic style, and is complemented perfectly by some of Montreal's best musicians, who add nuance to every mood and emotion. The musicians include Howard Bilerman, Tim Kingsbury (Arcade Fire), Tom Mennier (Martha and Rufus Wainwright), Joe Grass and Miles Perkin (Lhasa de Sela), and Gurpreet Chana (Nelly Furtado).
The production of the record is stunningly clear and spacious and the character on the whole remains unusually intimate. This should come as no surprise considering that 'Watching You Think' was produced in association with Leonard Cohen and Pierre Marchand. Others involved in the album's production are Haig V and Fred Bouchard. Neema's 'Watching You Think' is a confident and mature chronicle of a remarkable song writing talent.
With much positive feedback, her 2006 debut album Masi Cho was nominated for a MIMI (Montreal International Music Initiative) in the World & Roots category. Over the last few years NEeMA has toured Canada, Ireland, Australia, England and the US. In the summer of 2007 she performed over 33 concerts including Nova Scotia's Privateer Days Festival and the South Country Fair Festival in Alberta. Other highlights include her 2008 concert at the Electric Picnic Festival in Ireland, the 2008 Winterfolk Festival in Toronto and Canadian Music Week, and two sold-out shows at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2009.
Born of Egyptian and Lebanese decent, NEeMA's presence on and off stage is powerful and charismatic, and her voice is honest and unique. She has traveled and experienced the world in ways that many wish they could. She has spent time with the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa; she has had the privilege of working with Tribal elders managing Wekweti, an isolated First Nation community in northern Canada. And with her journeys she has acquired an undeniable ability to communicate her stories through poetry and song, exploring those themes that are dear to the human heart.
Leonard Cohen To Be Inducted Into The Songwriters Hall Of Fame
FEBRUARY 18, 2010
Leonard Cohen, along with Jackie DeShannon, David Foster, Johnny Mandel and Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn and Al McKay, will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this year. The organization, which is dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create popular music around the world, returns for its highly anticipated 41st annual induction and awards dinner, scheduled for Thursday, June 17 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Special award honorees will be announced at a later date.
"Our 2010 inductees are truly representational of the heart and soul of the world's Popular Music soundtrack," commented Chairman/CEO Hal David. "We are looking forward to another memorable evening where we honor their extraordinary accomplishments."
The full press release can be viewed at www.songhall.org.
Leonard Cohen To Be Honored With Grammy Lifetime Award
DECEMBER 11, 2009
Grammy.com has announced the Lifetime Achievement Award honorees for 2010 and Leonard Cohen is one of them, alongside artists including Loretta Lynn and Michael Jackson. The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to honor lifelong artistic contributions to the field of recording.
"This year's honorees are a prestigious group of diverse and prominent creators who have contributed some of the most distinguished and influential recordings," says Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "Their outstanding accomplishments and passion for their craft have created a timeless legacy that has positively affected multiple generations, and will continue to influence generations to come. It is an honor and privilege to recognize such talented individuals who have had and will continue to have such an influence in both our culture and the music industry."
The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 31, 2010 on CBS.
North American Broadcast Premier of Leonard Cohen Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970
DECEMBER 9, 2009
The premier broadcast of Leonard Cohen's legendary 1970 Isle of Wight performance is scheduled for December 13 in North America on HDNET. Directed by Oscar-nominated Murray Lerner, the beautiful film captures Cohen's magical 2 a.m. performance and interviews with festival attendees and musicians Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson and Judy Collins. Check your local listings for air-time and additional showings!
Leonard Cohen Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 is available on CD/DVD, Vinyl Double-LP and Blu-ray. Full track listing and purchase details can be found at < ahref="http://www.leonardcohen.com/music.cgi?album_id=23" target="blank">www.leonard-cohen.com.
New Leonard Cohen European Tour Dates Added
NOVEMBER 4, 2009
New tour dates for Leonard Cohen's European leg of the tour have just been announced! Starting in Caen, France on Monday, March 1, 2010, the tour will wrap in Zagreb, Croatia on Monday, March 15. Click here to visit the Tour section of the site for a full list of dates.
These dates have been added to Leonard's current tour with the majority of tickets going on sale this Thursday, November 5, 2009. Tickets for the European tour can be purchased here.
