Talk:Songs from a Room

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[edit] Worse than debut?

How can this album be considered as commecrially weaker release, when it reached #2 at UK charts and #63 at Billoboard, while his first album was #13 (UK) and #83 (US). Also, many fans hated the "over-production" of the debut release, particularly the UK listeners, and many of them still consider 2nd LP to be his best record. Cohen himslef said he turned to Johnston (after some fights with Simon during mixing sessions of first album), and thatt with him he finally achieved the ascetic sound he thinks as being the most appropriate for his songs. Thus, not only commecrially, but artistically Cohen's 2nd LP seems to be better than the first one... Tomsak 13:22, 6 December 2005 (UTC)

I agree with you on all accounts here, Tom. – Hattrem 22:00, 6 December 2005 (UTC)

I edited it a little, so you can see it & make corrections.

Christgau said it was worse. So does the AMG. It's mostly in his vocals - compared to the first record (and even for Cohen) they're rather indifferent. Also, the arrangements aren't always ideal (the jew's harp is a distraction, the guitar is mixed too low, and the bass is overbearing) and they get monotonous. Finally, Cohen is writing mostly about politics here, and generally speaking he's better off writing about love and despair. -Maggie --64.229.64.62 15:32, 12 August 2006 (UTC)

Comments re. "Priests" incorrect. I definitely owned an LP of LC's in the ealy 1970s with a recording of "Priests" by him. I'm fairly sure it was on "Songs from a Room". Why has it been erased from history?...Was it the Jazz Police???????

[edit] Musicians

I have one doubt more - I am not sure can we refer to Cornelius as Cohen's band leader, because Bob Johnston was on both tour, playing organ and keyboards, and I'd guess he's supposed to be bandleader, as he already gathered the musicians in the studio in the first place... That fact should be checked in the books. Tomsak 09:41, 7 December 2005 (UTC)

Okay, we will leave out the term "bandleader", although I don't think it's a problem for the producer not to rehearse and lead the band.

But where did you find the detailed information about the backup musicians? – Hattrem 05:12, 10 December 2005 (UTC)

All tour musicians are listed in Devlin's book about the tours (and copied to The Files from there), but I either don't have the full list of people who appeared on first three albums - only the names I gathered from Devlin's, Nadel's books and Dorman&Rawlin's and other places.Tomsak 14:37, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

I guess that I found those few names for this particular album in Devlin's "In Every Style of Passion".Tomsak 14:39, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

Thank you, that's good to know. – Hattrem 16:29, 16 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Signature sound?

Is it correct to call the Jew's harp Cohen's "signature sound"? I don't recall it being on any other records than Songs from a Room and Dear Heather. – Hattrem 07:09, 19 December 2005 (UTC)