What Are You Listening To?

[Music Head]

from my library (cd)



Next up in the Leonard series, his fourth album. Loving 7 of the 11. Same producer as the last album. I would guess this is one of Leonards lesser selling albums, not even touching the U.S. charts. It did make #24 in the U.K. Stupid americans. Columbias initial U.S. release of this album, the cover was considered too provocative and replaced with a pic of LC. Alas, my vinyl release was not from that batch. Interesting note that Chelsea Hotel #2 was said by Cohen for years to be about his fling with Janis Joplin. He later said it was not true. A treat that Janis Ian does some of the backing vocals here. Excellent live clip from 1974 on track #3. Track #11 melts me.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Leaving Green Sleeves

Best Track - Take This Longing

Many men have loved the bells
you fastened to the rein,
and everyone who wanted you
they found what they will always want again.
Your beauty lost to you yourself
just as it was lost to them.

Oh take this longing from my tongue,
whatever useless things these hands have done.
Let me see your beauty broken down
like you would do for one you love.

Your body like a searchlight
my poverty revealed,
I would like to try your charity
until you cry, "Now you must try my greed."
And everything depends upon
how near you sleep to me

Just take this longing from my tongue
all the lonely things my hands have done.
Let me see your beauty broken down
like you would do for one your love.

Hungry as an archway
through which the troops have passed,
I stand in ruins behind you,
with your winter clothes, your broken sandal straps.
I love to see you naked over there
especially from the back.

Oh take this longing from my tongue,
all the useless things my hands have done,
untie for me your hired blue gown,
like you would do for one that you love.

You're faithful to the better man,
I'm afraid that he left.
So let me judge your love affair
in this very room where I have sentenced
mine to death.
I'll even wear these old laurel leaves
that he's shaken from his head.

Just take this longing from my tongue,
all the useless things my hands have done,
let me see your beauty broken down,
like you would do for one you love.
Like you would do for one you love.

1) Is This What You Wanted - **
2) Chelsea Hotel #2 - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx83eIVkKyo
3) Lover Lover Lover - ***
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bmM8vx2zDI
4) Field Commander Cohen - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d4lCIrMtbw
5) Why Don't You Try - ***
6) There Is A War - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56hiB4eTzBE
7) A Singer Must Die - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx6FxoMhYWo
8) I Tried To Leave You - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J14XykL0LWs
9) Who By Fire - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6AQ6NkrkAo
10) Take This Longing - ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dpwJS1-uYM
11) Leaving Green Sleeves - **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs-26Bp7V7E

3's - 7
2's - 4
1's - 0

Grade - 2.6