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36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best U.S. pop albums of the last 20 years!, January 4, 2002
This review is from: Famous Blue Raincoat (Audio CD)
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 this CD was, but what a wondrous pairing! Warnes adds new levels to each of the eight 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; 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 without hearing this recording first! 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 CD up and listen to it like there is no tomorrow...it's brilliant!
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bright Vocals and Dark Lyrics, August 19, 2000
This review is from: Famous Blue Raincoat (Audio CD)
I found this outstanding CD in a store in Edinbough while traveling through Scotland in the late '80s. Perhaps the first shock is to hear Cohen's lyrics (so well-suited for his voice) sung so beautifully and passionately and so right by soprano Warnes. The vocals, instruments, arrangements, and production are all tight -- you can feel Warnes breath as she sings about love, lust, and loneliness. All the songs are winners, but "Song of Bernadette" belongs to Ms. Warnes. I'm a big fan of Leonard Cohen's books, poetry and music and this treatment of his songs by Warnes remains one of my favorite works. If you want to turn a friend onto Cohen, but are concerned that his voice (like Dylan's) may be too distracting for your friend (his or her loss), try this CD. Jennifer will win them over.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Acclaimed for its great sound when released, Warnes, February 24, 2001
This review is from: Famous Blue Raincoat (Audio CD)
When this CD was released, it received critical acclaim both for its quality of music and the quality of the recording. This CD was deemed a benchmark for a great warm sound that took full advantage of the digital domain. Even today, reviewers of stereo equipment use this CD to judge a products sound quality. Leonard Cohen writes very literate lyrics and haunting melodies. Jennifer Warnes does an outstanding job of interpreting these Cohen standards. You will probably recognize "Bird on a Wire" but the title song "Famous Blue Raincoat" is almost worth the price of admission just on it's on. Jennifer Warnes is a very gifted vocalist and one of those consummate artists that just never made it.The CD is no longer available in the U.S., however, the import version is available and at a very reasonable price. So you should purchase this one now before it also becomes not available.
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