LEONARD COHEN Songs Of Leonard Cohen 1968 DEBUT LP UK CBS 1st PRESS
£
79
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105
£ 79
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Jun 14, 2019
Sold Date
Jun 13, 2019
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1
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Great Britain
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Description
LEONARD COHEN Songs Of Leonard Cohen 1968 DEBUT LP UK CBS 1st PRESS TOP COPY
LEONARD COHENThe Songs Of Leonard Cohen
CBS (S BPG 63241) FIRST UK PRESSING (February 1968)
PLAYS BEAUTIFULLY WITH LITTLE TO FAULT AND DELIVERS DEEP, RICH AND WARM SOUND
PRESSED WITH THE FIRST ISSUE SOLID ORANGE TEXTURED CBS LABELS
MATRIX: SBPG 63241 A1 / SBPG 63241 B1
THE RECORD HOUSED IN THE ORIGINAL FRONT LAMINATED SLEEVE “Printed and made by Ernest J. Day & Co. Ltd., London W11. Patents Pending" WITH *STEREO* STICKER TO THE BACK
COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL POLY-LINED INNER SLEEVE
At a time when a growing number of pop songwriters were embracing a more explicitly poetic approach in their lyrics, the debut album from Leonard Cohen introduced a songwriter who, rather than being inspired by "serious" literature, took up music after establishing himself as a published author and poet.
The ten songs on Songs of Leonard Cohen were certainly beautifully constructed, artful in a way few (if any) other lyricists would approach for some time, but what's most striking about these songs isn't Cohen's technique, superb as it is, so much as his portraits of a world dominated by love and lust, rage and need, compassion and betrayal.
While the relationship between men and women was often the framework for Cohen's songs, he didn't write about love; rather, Cohen used the never-ending thrust and parry between the sexes as a jumping off point for his obsessive investigation of humanity's occasional kindness and frequent atrocities (both emotional and physical).
Cohen's world view would be heady stuff at nearly any time and place, but coming in a year when pop music was only just beginning to be taken seriously, Songs of Leonard Cohen was a truly audacious achievement, as bold a challenge to pop music conventions as the other great debut of the year, The Velvet Underground & Nico, and a nearly perfectly realised product of his creative imagination.
Producer John Simon added a touch of polish to Cohen's songs with his arrangements (originally Cohen wanted no accompaniment other than his guitar), though the results don't detract from his dry but emotive vocals; instead, they complement his lyrics with a thoughtful beauty and give the songs even greater strength.
And a number of Cohen's finest songs appeared here, including the luminous "Suzanne," the subtly venomous "Master Song" and "Sisters of Mercy," which would later be used to memorable effect in Robert Altman's film McCabe and Mrs. Miller.
Many artists work their whole career to create a work as singular and accomplished as Songs of Leonard Cohen, and Cohen worked this alchemy the first time he entered a recording studio; few musicians have ever created a more remarkable or enduring debut
Side One:
Suzanne (3:47)
Master Song (5:58)
Winter Lady (2:14)
The Stranger Song (5:05)
Sisters Of Mercy (3:30)
Side Two:
So Long, Marianne (5:37)
Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye (3:05)
Stories Of The Street (4:35)
Teachers (2:58)
One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong (4:25)
LABELS: EXCELLENT+
Clean, unmarked labels with just a few light spindle traces
VINYL Visual: EXCELLENT+
Both sides retain their original sheen with nothing but some harmless hairlines under bright light
VINYL Audio: EXCELLENT+
Apart from a little low-level surface on occasion (nothing really) the record plays beautifully without any issues of note.
No scratches, loud clicks or pops, exceptionally clean and a very strong EX+
A stunning record and one very highly recommended indeed
SLEEVE: NEAR MINT
The original front laminated cover is the finest I have seen.
The front has a deep unrubbed sheen and the white back is remarkably clean.
All edges are crisp and sharp and all spine text is clear and bold
POST & PACKING:
A PROTECTIVE POLY SLEEVE, NEW ANTI-STATIC LINERS, QUALITY BOX (NOT ENVELOPE) MAILER AND AMPLE STIFFENERS ARE ALWAYS USED TO ENSURE THAT YOUR RECORD ARRIVES SAFELY
UK: £5.00 (Recorded Delivery)
UK: £11.00 (Royal Mail Special Delivery Next Day by 1pm)
EUROPE: Airmail: £15.00 (International Signed For delivery)
INTERNATIONAL: Airmail: £18.00 (International Signed For delivery)
Combined Post: Additional records £1 (UK) £2 (Europe including Russia) £3 (International)
Guarantee: All records are unconditionally guaranteed (including sealed and/or unplayed) and I will offer a complete, no quibble refund upon return of the item should you not be pleased with it in any way
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841 (GS 7.0.16 (841))
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