1979 Field Commander Cohen [Live]

 

 

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This record has been in my car for months. Yes, a Leonard Cohen album to drive to and no, I am not insane. This set of hightlights from his 1979 tour is the best live document I've ever heard from the Field Commander. Rousing versions of the title track, "Lover Lover Lover", "Memories", and "So Long, Marianne" effectively break up the more familiar, somber Cohen some know and love. He is in great voice, and the band and overall sound is incredible. Leonard sounds genuinely interested in hearing the whereabouts of his gypsy wife. "The Stranger Song" is breathed new life with a huskier, more assured vocal and "The Smokey Life" has added movement, almost a swaying quality not as apparent in the reedy original. Personally, I don't need another rendition of "Bird On The Wire", but "Memories" is normally still bouncing around in my head until we say goodbye to Marianne. Consistenly exciting, this is a great live record and a must have for anyone wanting to hear an American original at his best.

Recorded live in London & Brighton in December 1979, this wonderful live album was released only in 2000. 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. 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.

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, supplied here by Jennifer Warnes & Sharon Robinson, delicately enhance the music with subtle shades of meaning & feeling. Bilezikjian & Hakopian add the final strokes of excellence that turn the album into a treasure & triumph. Field Commander Cohen ought to be in every fan's collection.

In 1979 Leonard Cohen (45 years at that time) was touring behind the just-released "Recent Songs". 22 years later Columbia released this album, and none too soon, as it proves to be the best live album of Leonard Cohen to date.

"Field Commander Cohen: Tour 0f 1979" (12 tracks, 63 min.) gives us a great mix of Cohen songs old and new. There are 4 tracks of the then-new "Recent Songs" album, including a great "The Guests". Leonard's back-up band is Passenger, a jazz-band which appears also on "Recent Songs, and they are outstanding throughout, perhaps nowhere better than on "Lover Lover Lover" which comes with an extended instrumental intro, just beautiful. The set includes of course old staples like "Hey That's No Way to Say Goodbye", "So Long Marianne" and "The Stranger Song", all from Leonard's 1967 debut album.

The question always has been whether Leonard was a great poet who happened to write some darn good songs, or whether he was a terrific singer-songwriter in his own right. This live album should answer that debate for once and all. "Field Commander Cohen" is a terrific testament to Cohen's songs and live preformances. Strongly recommended!

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4.0 out of 5 stars Belated Gift
We had always regarded Cohen more as a poet/writer than a musician. Whoops. Certainly he remains among the most literary of the singer/songwriters, as these songs will attest... Read more

Published on Dec 30 2002 by Larry White

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Performances
Leonard Cohen sings for the broken hearts. He sings for the losers, the cast aways, the rejected lovers and the renegades. Read more

Published on Oct 2 2002 by Omer Belsky

4.0 out of 5 stars Live Cohen
Either you like Leonard Cohen or you don't. If you like him recorded, you are going to like him even more live, because, as with most music, the music is better live than when... Read more

Published on April 3 2002 by Nick

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful live performances
Cohen's best live album. This is also a nicely representative example of his post-Death work; a good portion of the selections comes from his excellent and frequenly undervalued... Read more

Published on Nov 16 2001 by Bill R. Moore

5.0 out of 5 stars An 'old' new comer to L. Cohen....
I vaguely remember hearing Leonard Cohen's records playing on an older friend's stereo. It was the early 70's and i was too young to appreciate this poet. Read more

Published on Sep 20 2001 by Laurie Eckhout

5.0 out of 5 stars An 'old' new comer to L. Cohen....
I vaguely remember hearing Leonard Cohen's records playing on an older friend's stereo. It was the early 70's and i was too young to appreciate this poet. Read more

Published on Sep 20 2001 by Laurie Eckhout

5.0 out of 5 stars Leonard Superb Cohen
This new albun (of the 1979 tour!) is Pure Gold!

Published on Sep 2 2001 by FERNANDO

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost like hearing them for the first time
I hesitated before I bought this album. The track listing didn't have many of my favourite songs, and Cohen had just put out a live album a few years back. Read more

Published on Aug 21 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, but, how about a *new* album??
This is fanatastic collection of some of Cohen's finest songs. He is in fine voice, the band is tight, and the female vox from the great Jennifer Warnes really closes the deal... Read more

Published on April 23 2001 by Rob Damm

5.0 out of 5 stars he is magic
listen his words. he can make Beauty .

Published on Mar 16 2001 by a.romero@vitalicio.es

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