Legendary debut with 2 bonus tracks

Cohen's timeless debut has been enhanced by the addition of 2 extra tracks. The lilting poetry of Suzanne lures the listener into his world of romantic and spiritual yearning while introducing Essence his sound: a deep monotone framed by sublime female backing vocals over simple but engaging melodies. Master Song, Winter Lady and Stranger Song reinforce the desolate landscape Although the melodies are less immediate. Cohen's genius shines brightly on the Immortal Sisters Of Mercy, a strange mixture of the spiritual and the sensual That must be one of the most beautiful musical poems in the English language.

This Delicate gem is Followed by the powerful and evocative So Long Marianne and the understated Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye, Both Masterpieces of words, melody and arrangement - the female vocals on Goodbye is Especially impressive. Stories of the Street Appears as a poem in one of Cohen's 1960s poetry books: Selected Poems 1956-1968 and deals with a visit to Havana during the revolution of just after. Interesting Fact: The Line "some girls wander by mistake" from Teachers which later used as an album title by the goth band Sisters Of Mercy: Some Girls Walking By Mistake.

One Us Can not Be Wrong addresses the beloved in a series of strange images before moving on to melodic whistling and ending with bitter shouted la la LAHS. For Those interested in other artists 'take on Cohen: Suzanne has been beautifully covered by inter alia Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen on the tribute: Democracy and Geoffrey Oryema: I'm Your Fan, while Sting and The Chieftains' Celtic version of Sisters Of Mercy is available on Tower of Song: The Songs of Leonard Cohen tribute album. On the I'm Your Fan Tribute there are interesting interpretations of Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye by Ian McCulloch, Stories Of The Street by That Petrol Emotion and So Long Marianne by James.

This reissue booklet includes liner notes by Anthony DeCurtis, three black & white photographs of LC and two full-color paintings by the artist. Both tracks were specially originally produced by John Hammond and for reissue by Bruce Dickinson. The second, Blessed Is The Memory, is the more immediately appealing with its lovely organ flourishes.