''The Best of Leonard Cohen'' is a
greatest hits
A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...
album by
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. He was inducted in ...
, released in 1975. In some European countries, it was released under the title ''Greatest Hits''. This alternative title was used for the original vinyl release and for CD reissues from the 1980s onwards.
Background
According to Ira Nadel's 1996 Cohen memoir ''
Various Positions
''Various Positions'' is the seventh studio album by Leonard Cohen, released in December 1984 (and February 1985). It marked not only his turn to the modern sound and use of synthesizers (particularly on the opening track), but also, after the ha ...
'', Cohen agreed to the project because there was a new generation of listeners and he was given complete artistic control; he picked the songs, designed the package, and insisted that the lyrics be included. The album was not a hit in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
but did well in
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
, Cohen's major market at the time. He toured in support of the album in 1976, beginning in
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
on April 22 and ending in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
on July 7. It was during this tour that Cohen recorded the funky, disco-infused "Do I Have To Dance All Night" at
Musicland Studios
Musicland Studios was a recording studio located in Munich, Germany. It was established by Italian record producer, songwriter and performer Giorgio Moroder in the early 1970s. . The single was only released in Europe.
Artwork
The front cover photograph was taken in 1968 in a Milan hotel room, according to Cohen's liner notes. Alternative rock band
Ween
Ween is an American rock band from New Hope, Pennsylvania, formed in 1984 by Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo, better known by their respective stage names, Gene and Dean Ween. Generally categorized as an alternative rock band, the band are ...
based the album cover for their 1991 album, ''
The Pod
''The Pod'' is the second studio album by American rock band Ween. It was released on September 20, 1991, by Shimmy-Disc.
Production
The album was recorded from January to October 1990, at the Pod on Van Sant Road in Solebury Township, Pennsylva ...
'', after this photograph.
2009 release
In July 2009, this compilation was re-released in England under the title ''Greatest Hits'' with updated artwork and a revised track listing. Four tracks from the original 1975 version ("Lady Midnight", "The Partisan", "Last Year's Man" and "Take This Longing") were removed and nine tracks released after 1975 ("Everybody Knows", "Waiting for the Miracle", "A Thousand Kisses Deep", "The Future", "Closing Time", "Dance Me to the End of Love", "First We Take Manhattan", "I'm Your Man" and "Hallelujah") were added.
Track listings
1975 release
# "
Suzanne" – 3:50
# "Sisters of Mercy" – 3:36
# "
So Long, Marianne
"So Long, Marianne" is a song written by Canadian poet and musician Leonard Cohen. It was featured on his debut album, '' Songs of Leonard Cohen''. Pitchfork Media placed it at number 190 on their list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s".
...
" – 5:40
# "
Bird on the Wire
"Bird on the Wire" is one of Leonard Cohen's signature songs. It was recorded 26 September 1968 in Nashville and included on his 1969 album ''Songs from a Room''. A May 1968 recording produced by David Crosby, titled "Like a Bird", was added to ...
" – 3:27
# "Lady Midnight" – 2:58
# "
The Partisan
"The Partisan" is an anti-fascist anthem about the French Resistance in World War II. The song was composed in 1943 by Russian-born Anna Marly (1917–2006), with lyrics by French Resistance leader Emmanuel d'Astier de La Vigerie (1900–1969) ...
" – 3:25
# "
Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye
"Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" is a song by Leonard Cohen. It was first released in November 1967, in a version by Judy Collins on her album '' Wildflowers''. " – 2:57
# "
Famous Blue Raincoat
"Famous Blue Raincoat" is a song by Leonard Cohen. It is the sixth track on his third album, ''Songs of Love and Hate'', released in 1971. The song is written in the form of a letter (many of the lines are written in amphibrachs). The lyric tells ...
" – 5:09
# "Last Year's Man" – 5:59
# "Chelsea Hotel #2" – 3:07
# "Who by Fire" – 2:32
# "Take This Longing" – 4:05
2009 release
#"
Suzanne" – 3:48
#"
So Long, Marianne
"So Long, Marianne" is a song written by Canadian poet and musician Leonard Cohen. It was featured on his debut album, '' Songs of Leonard Cohen''. Pitchfork Media placed it at number 190 on their list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s".
...
" – 5:36
#"Sisters of Mercy" – 3:33
#"
Famous Blue Raincoat
"Famous Blue Raincoat" is a song by Leonard Cohen. It is the sixth track on his third album, ''Songs of Love and Hate'', released in 1971. The song is written in the form of a letter (many of the lines are written in amphibrachs). The lyric tells ...
" – 5:07
#"
Everybody Knows" – 5:34
#"Waiting for the Miracle" – 3:24
#"Who by Fire" – 2:33
#"Chelsea Hotel #2" – 3:05
#"Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" – 2:54
#"
Bird on the Wire
"Bird on the Wire" is one of Leonard Cohen's signature songs. It was recorded 26 September 1968 in Nashville and included on his 1969 album ''Songs from a Room''. A May 1968 recording produced by David Crosby, titled "Like a Bird", was added to ...
" – 3:25
#"A Thousand Kisses Deep" – 6:26
#"The Future" – 6:40
#"Closing Time" – 5:58
#"
Dance Me to the End of Love
"Dance Me to the End of Love" is a 1984 song by Canadian singer Leonard Cohen. It was first performed by Cohen on his 1984 album '' Various Positions''. It has been recorded by various artists and in 2009 was described as "trembling on the brink ...
" – 4:38
#"
First We Take Manhattan
"First We Take Manhattan" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. It was originally recorded by American singer Jennifer Warnes on her 1986 Cohen tribute album ''Famous Blue Raincoat'', which consisted entirely of songs wr ...
" – 5:50
#"
I'm Your Man" – 4:26
#"
Hallelujah
''Hallelujah'' ( ; he, ''haləlū-Yāh'', meaning "praise Yah") is an interjection used as an expression of gratitude to God. The term is used 24 times in the Hebrew Bible (in the book of Psalms), twice in deuterocanonical books, and four tim ...
" – 4:38
Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Best Of Leonard Cohen, The
1975 greatest hits albums
Leonard Cohen compilation albums
Columbia Records compilation albums