Well, so long my friend. 🍷✍ 
Leonard Cohen is a hero of mine. I was fortunate enough to see him in concert four times– his first in Toronto after his fifteen year hiatus (on a sort of pilgrimage for the very purpose), at a beautiful ornate ramshackle theater in a rundown part of Connecticut, and twice in NYC. His impact on my life over the years, and on my art, has been inestimable.
Yesterday it occurred to me that it might be nice to share some of his wonderful lesser known songs.
Here is a list of some of my personal favorites. I’ve included those I imagine people moderately acquainted with his body of work still might not know. Of course, everyone has their idiosyncratic favorites. It’s amazing how many great songs there are in his oeuvre. And he has very few I’d actually consider ‘bad’; the occasionally musically lackluster ones are often redeemed by great lyrics.
Hope you enjoy these selections. I’ve included video links to each song as well.
• Teachers (1967)
• One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong [Live] (BBC Broadcast 1968)
• Story of Isaac (1969)
• Avalanche (1971)
• You Know Who I Am [Live] (Live Songs 1973)
• Nancy [Live] (Live Songs 1973)
• Lover Lover Lover (1974)
• There Is A War (1974)
• Do I Have To Dance All Night [Live] (rare Live In Paris single – with Laura Branigan 1976)
• The Guests (1979)
• The Gypsy’s Wife (1979)
• If It Be Your Will (1984)
• Take This Waltz (1988)
• Anthem (1992)
• Boogie Street (2001)
• The Letters (2004)
• Steer Your Way (2016)
• It Seemed The Better Way (2016)
Also considered including Master Song (1967), Stranger Song (1967), Waiting For The Miracle (1992), and Who By Fire (Live In London 2009), but I’m guessing moderate listeners already tend to know these
P.S. At the bottom of the post are a few photos I took during the candlelight vigil at LC’s house in the Plateau, Montreal, a ceremony whose mournings and somber festivities extended for many days
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: Clearly these links will not work in every country, and some of them will be removed from the internet over time.
• Teachers (1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzotawVmmVc
• One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong [Live] (BBC Recording 1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON7-tf0-3Ys
• Story of Isaac (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzSSeeJRn2c
• Avalanche (1971)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQe88ybEIe8
• You Know Who I Am [Live] (Live Songs 1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAPhSmlfnmo
• Nancy [Live] (Live Songs 1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr7nkyRK9bQ
• Lover Lover Lover (1974)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYkJuAb0mMk
• There Is A War (1974)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncdY2nGKzBs
• Do I Have To Dance All Night [Live] (rare Live In Paris single – with Laura Branigan 1976)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqzdk6NhAs4
• The Guests (1979)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxY_8Tu1CoI
• The Gypsy’s Wife (1979)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cky05oQAIsc
• If It Be Your Will (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_Qk_4emjEs
• Take This Waltz (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytdjYjM-cLg
• Anthem (1992)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCS_MwkWzes
• Boogie Street (2001)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rswKZ0PNY_0
• The Letters (2004)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFcrn8Dg2LI
• Steer Your Way (2016)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nyMrjGX2vk
• It Seemed The Better Way (2016)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nyMrjGX2vk
– Nov 12, 2016
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