Description

In 1999, after an extended break from the spotlight, 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. Hes 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 Irelands The Independent (June 2008), its no less than a cultural event of Biblical dimensions.

One dozen of Leonard Cohens most famous songs from those 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 recorded in 5.1 surround sound is issued as a 2-LP 180-gram audiophile vinyl in a gatefold jacket. CD, DVD and Blue Ray sets will also be available.

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 insiders 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 Cohens 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 Londons 02 Arena, one of Europes 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 Cohens 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, 1969s Songs From a Room) to the 00s (That Dont Make it Junk from 2001s Ten New Songs).

Along the way, SONGS FROM THE ROAD revisits Cohens greatest hits from the 1970s (Famous Blue Raincoat and Avalanche both from 1971s Songs Of Love and Hate; Chelsea Hotel from 1974s 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 1984s Various Positions) and the 1990s (Waiting for the Miracle and Closing Time from 1992s The Future.)

Throughout the show, Wieseltier concludes in his essay, it was never clear whose gratitude was greater, Cohens or the audiences. 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.