Where do i start?

sheffmark · Post by **sheffmark** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 8:36 pm

Hello everyone!

I only own one Leonard Cohen album "Greatest Hits".
I'd love to start collecting all of them but which ones do you advise getting first as a starting point with a view to getting all of them eventually?
Many thanks for your help!!

MaryB · Post by **MaryB** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:11 pm

This might help you get started. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=22629&hilit=which+album+to+buy
With the release of his newest album, opinions might change.

sheffmark · Post by **sheffmark** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:07 pm

Thank-you MaryB i'll certainly scan through that for ideas!

What a lovely, helpful person you are!!

Thank-you!!

John Etherington · Post by **John Etherington** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:25 am

It might be a good idea to start with Leonard's "Complete Studio Albums Collection", since all of the albums have been remastered and it only costs £24.99 on Amazon.

sheffmark · Post by **sheffmark** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:20 am

Thank-you John,i did look at that and it seems like a bargain.
Is it this one?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/imag ... 16&s=music

John Etherington · Post by **John Etherington** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 2:19 am

That's the one! Since you would be well advised to buy all of Leonard's albums (and probably will anyway) you might as well go for it, if you can afford it. The "greatest hits" album contains a fine collection of songs, but the albums from which they come are so great that it's best to have them in their entirety - especially "Songs of Leonard Cohen", "Songs From a Room" and "Songs of Love and Hate". The mid-period is often overlooked, but "Recent Songs" and "Various Positions" are both superb albums. "I'm Your Man", "The Future" and "Ten New Songs" contain Leonard's excellent later songs...oh, and then there's "Old Ideas", which you'll want to buy, too!

sheffmark · Post by **sheffmark** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 2:28 am

Oh yes "Old Idea's" is the new one isn't it?
It's been well recieved in the press.
I will get the box set as it contains the first 11 album's i believe.

This is the album i have now that has whetted my appetite!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/imag ... 16&s=music

Many thanks for your help John,and i cant wait to buy the boxset and dig in!

John Etherington · Post by **John Etherington** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:18 pm

sheffmark - I'd forgotten that the latest version of "Greatest Hits" contains some of Leonard's later material. There was an earlier version of this (same cover) that only covered the first four albums. The box-set does include eleven albums. As well as those I've mentioned, it includes the other three studio albums - "New Skin For the Old Ceremony", "Death of a Lady's Man", and "Dear Heather" - all of which are great, but slightly more patchy by Leonard's standards of excellence. "Old Ideas" is the new one.

All good things, John E

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:49 pm

The Essential Leonard Cohen, 2CD disc Leonard himself edited in 2002. (There was 2008 re-releases in at least 4 different packages during the world tour.)

sheffmark · Post by **sheffmark** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 2:56 am

Thank-you to all who gave me advice!
I'm going to buy the 11CD boxset so i can start at the beginning and work my way through each CD in order.
Of course i'll be buying "Old Ideas" but i'll save it till i've heard all the CDs in order.
This way i can see the changes in the albums through the years.
Later i'll be buying the "Live" albums too!

MaryB · Post by **MaryB** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:37 am

sheffmark,

'Studio Albums', that John has told you about, is indeed a fantastic choice and value (I've seen it available for around $44 USD)!

In the past, like Tom, I have touted the benefits of 'The Essential'. This piece of product gives an fantastic overview of LC's music - the changes in voice timbre, music progression, etc.... It allows you to hone in on songs that you find appealing and then in turn to pursue the album in which that particular song appeared.

Choosing the box set and following the evolution of his music is an excellent way to appreciate what he has done over the decades.

By all means, do not overlook 'Old Ideas', which IMHO, is very quickly becoming my favorite.

Best regards,
Mary

John Etherington · Post by **John Etherington** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 8:28 pm

Hi Sheffmark,

I would say you've made exactly the right decision! (that is buy the great value re-mastered box-set, listen to the albums in order, then buy "Old Ideas" and the live albums).

"The Essential Leonard Cohen" is the best overall compilation of classic tracks, but it contains virtually all of the tracks that you have on the "Greatest Hits" album. There is much more to explore...

Happy listening! John E

Where do i start?

Where do i start?

Re: Where do i start?

Re: Where do i start?

Re: Where do i start?

Re: Where do i start?

Re: Where do i start?

Re: Where do i start?

Re: Where do i start?

Re: Where do i start?

Re: Where do i start?

Re: Where do i start?

Re: Where do i start?