Customer Reviews

Famous Blue Raincoat: 20th Anniversary Edition

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This landmark 20-year-old collaboration between songwriter/poet Leonard Cohen and singer Jennifer Warnes is in my opinion the most successful album for either artist, both artistically and commercially. Warnes' pitch perfect, emotionally charged voice teases out every last nuance and dimension of Cohen's inspired lyrical and musical compositions. Even on Cohen's most highly charged songs, one is able to fully appreciate the sweet timbre of Warnes' voice, but at the same time the sensuality and beauty of her voice never obscures the sharp edged, painfully romantic, tragic, fatalistic themes that have marked Cohen's finest and most characteristic compositions, many of which are represented on this album.

Compared with the original CD release, the sound on this remastered version is better in almost every respect, with the possible exception of the first song "First We Take Manhattan," in which a slight, digital-sounding sibilance has been added to Warnes voice. The other cuts are just great, with the digital remastering adding a more authoritative bass note and greater ambience and spaciousness to the soundstage. .

If the overall improved sound isn't enough, this remastered album offers four additional performances of Cohen compositions that are not from the original studio album sessions, including a Warnes-only live version of Joan of Arc, which is riveting even though it doesn't offer the magical duet with Cohen featured on the original studio album. Each of the four additional cuts would have been worthy of inclusion on the original release of Famous Blue Raincoat, which is high praise indeed.

Jennifer Warnes is a master of nuance and inflection. No one weds a sound to a lyric (or a lyric to a sound) better than she does. More importantly, her content has always been rich in substance and inspiring in tone. She can locate the silver linings in sadness, and remind us that we all are capable of transcending our setbacks and healing our wounds. These are among the reasons why I have been so dedicated to her music for more than thirty years, and why Leonard Cohen himself has given her his blessings repeatedly and many times over. As I would expect from the gifted singer Warnes, the familiar tunes on the 20th anniversary edition of Famous Blue Raincoat still resonate with elegance and warmth, and, technically, they sound better than ever. In the new songs, Warnes takes us to some exciting new places that will delight her fans and win her new ones. "If It Be Your Will" is an entrancing journey into poetic tenderness, while "Ballad of the Runaway Horse" is a masterful narrative that Warnes meticulously articulates with wonderfully complex rhythms, accompanied by an array of subtle sound effects that are beautifully suited to the story. And for pure soothing comfort, Warnes gifts us a sensuous lullaby for adults with "Night Comes On." A final treat is a recording of a live performance of "Joan of Arc." Accompanied by an orchestra and chorus, Warnes gives a spellbinding performance that shines with honest spontaneity and grace.

David S. Rubin

This original album was released at a time when Cohen was almost forgotten, about seven years before tribute albums like the breathtaking I'm Your Fan and the rather tepid Tower of Song would spur renewed interest in his work. Warnes' versions are always graceful and moving. She understands Cohen's music well, having done backing vocals on albums like Various Positions so she interprets his songs with loving dedication.

My favorites include Aint No Cure For Love from Cohen's I'm Your Man, Coming Back To You and Night Comes On from Various Positions, Came So Far For Beauty and Ballad Of The Runaway Horse from Recent Songs and of course the formidable Joan Of Arc where Cohen himself sings some of the verses. The title track stands out with its smoky sax and desolate ambience whilst the live version of Joan Of Arc really fires on all fours.

Warnes' voice is the perfect vehicle for Cohen's poetic lyrics of romantic longing and resigned despair. The new tracks are superb. She slightly adapted the lyric of Night Comes On to a female perspective, and Ballad Of The Runaway Horse becomes a long excursion with a complex arrangement and a display of great virtuosity in the instrumentation which includes viola and cello.

If It Be Your Will is a straightforward rendition close to the original, and the album ends on a spectacular note with the live version of Joan Of Arc, from Cohen's Songs of Love and Hate which was recorded in Antwerp in 1992 and includes the Novecento Orchestra and two choirs: Het West Brabants Operakoor and De Tweede Adem, in addition to her regular backing musicians.

The luxurious fold-out CD box contains a booklet with two line drawings by Cohen, full color and black & white photographs, letters from Lenny to Jenny, a short 1956 school essay on St Bernadette by Jenny and information on all the songs. My only complaint is that I would have loved to hear her interpretations of Suzanne and Sisters Of Mercy too.

Other Cohen tribute albums that I recommend are Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy by Judy Collins, which includes a live version of Song Of Bernadette, the song co-written by Jennifer Warnes, and the soundtack album Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man with artists like Martha Wainwright, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Jarvis Cocker, Perla Batalla, Nick Cave and U2.

I had a copy of the CD years ago but loaned it to a friend. Never saw it again. It is every bit as good today as it was 20 years ago. This belongs in every serious collection of great American Music. This disc puts to shame what passes for music these days.
Sounds better on my AUDIOPHILE system than any other pop recording I own!
This is a MUST BUY

Jennifer Warnes is a singer's singer, and Leonard Cohen is a songwriter's songwriter. They are each at the front of their game and are brilliant in unique, almost tangible ways. I am not certain whose idea the original album was, but what a wondrous pairing! Warnes adds new levels to each of the excellent Cohen songs she interprets here and does a remarkable job on her songwriting collaboration with Cohen, "Song of Bernadette."

Americans barely noticed this superb collection during its initial release; it was overshadowed by Warnes' #1 song "The Time Of My Life" of the same year. However, I don't believe anyone can say he or she has heard Jennifer Warnes at her best without hearing this recording! Warnes' immaculate interepretation of "Famous Blue Raincoat" blows Tori Amos' well-known version out of the water! Just as exquisite are "Bird On A Wire," "First We Take Manhattan" and "Ain't No Cure For Love." Warnes and her co-producer, C. Roscoe Beck, handpicked a batch of amazing musicians for this 1987 CD, including a Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar performance that is mind-blowing! Snatch this anniversary-edition CD up and listen to it like there is no tomorrow ... it's brilliant!

This edition's remastering is spectacular, and it suits the legendary engineering of this album perfectly. And the bonus tracks are anything but "B" material. Oh, and just wait until you hear Warnes' live solo version of "Joan of Arc"! Chances are, you'll be left speechless.

This CD is a must for any audiophile or fan of solid, intelligent, vibrant music. I'd give this CD 100 stars if I could! Buy this CD for yourself and an extra one for someone you love.

I love the voice of Jennifer Warnes. She takes these songs by Leonard Cohen, and she makes these songs her own. "First We Take Manhattan" is my favorite cut. I love the guitar playing by the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan here. "Famous Blue Raincoat" is a song that sounds like a love letter between two people who are apart from each other. I love the saxophone playing on this track. "Song of Bernadette" is a lovely track. The piano playing accompanies Jennifer's vocals well here. "Aint No Cure For Love" is a very pretty song with a romantic tone. "Joan of Arc" is an interesting song about the thoughts and feelings of this historic figure. I love the beat of this song very much. Jennifer Warnes sounds so melodic and crisp throughout this disc. I really enjoyed listening to this CD.

I have had this product in record format, cassette and cd, and I for one have listened to it rather consistently through the years. So why in the world would I buy it again. I bought it simply for the spectacular additions-"Night Comes On", Ballad of Runaway Horse" If it Be Your Will" and a live version recorded in 92 of "Joan of Arc" I have no idea when these additional songs were recorded, but "Night Comes On' is my favorite song in the whole package.

There is something about Jennifer's voice that is both soothing and menacing. She teases us with her 3 octive range and makes us wait for the operatic high note or that spoken interplay. She is the best interpreter of Cohens work.

I am always disappointed that this artist has chosen a sort of reclusive recording career and barely non-existant concert path. That is a shame because she has such a wonderful voice. For some reason, she turns down projects, and will only do projects that she feels illuminate her art. But I would be happy to hear her sing the phone book..

I don't think there's much to say that hasn't been said for 20 years already; this is an amazing work of art. so for me and many others, the only question is regarding the sonic quality of the remastering in this new 16 bit cd pressing. "Spectacular" is all I can tell you. It is like hearing it for the first time in many ways. I have 3 vinyl copies, both domestic and import, and as good as they are this simply blows them away!
There is word posted on the Steve Hoffman Music Forum (via Jenny's website) that there will be vinyl of this new mastering. That is gonna be something. hard to 'picture' it sounding any better than this though. but of course it can and I'm sure it will. still, this is soo good it isn't exactly necessary to reoutfit yourself for records if you no longer have the setup. though you should anyway of course!

oh yea, the packaging, photos et al are worthy of the album. the ink even smells good. I'm saving the extra cuts for tomorrow!

"Famous Blue Raincoat," or "Jenny Sings Lenny," is perhaps that rare composite of poetry, put to melody, put to voice, and put to the kind of orchestral spirit that musically animates the possibilities of a complete work of art. [If only Jennifer Warnes would take the cue from her fans and those of her muse, Leonard Cohen, and lend her celestial voice to a new collection of Cohen's great canon of songs.]Every song on the original and on the re-issue--even the extra tracks--sustain the art of the song through performances and arrangements that reveal the scaffolding of genius and inspiration required in the architecture of the song itself. Melodically, Cohen's inventive arc and Warnes' devotion to the inherent possibilities of Cohen's invention, clearly allow her voice to achieve what his cannot. Songs like "Joan of Arc" (which is reprised on this set with a moving live version), "Song of Bernadette,""Came So Far for Beauty," and "Famous Blue Raincoat" achieve melodic force with Warnes' voice, which is heartbreaking and tender, but has a power that underscores her own possession of Cohen's songs. There really isn't anything quite like this record in that regard. I have never tired of this work, mostly because of its intimacy and its unyielding search for an essence of being, which is the essence of what ails the heart. The title song itself may be unnerving in its assault on the very betrayal of being, but Warnes' performance puts the sins of Cohen's persona where he belongs--in the netherworld of regret. This is an album for the ages and deserves a book-length appraisal. It is dark, it is lovely.

Leonard Cohen...incredible, legendary songwriter. Singer? Not so much. But in this collection of songs a wonderful singer, Jennifer Warnes, brings his music to life as no one else ever has. I was introduced to the original album 20 years ago and my memories of it (and the person who introduced me to it) are bittersweet and probably inextricably intertwined. However, my cassette copy of it from that time has had to serve me all these years as I've never been able to find it on CD. Now with this 20th anniversary rerelease, I'll be able to hear all the songs in even greater glory, plus extras. It's an experience I would recommend to anyone who enjoys hearing incredible songs performed by a sensitive and nuanced voice. My favorite, which breaks my heart to this day, is the one Warnes co-wrote with Cohen, "Song of Bernadette."

Order this, listen and be amazed.