Posting at 1HeckOfAGuy.com and DrHGuy.com will be on hold while DrHGuy follows Douglas Adams’ admonition in Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency:
Let’s think the unthinkable, let’s do the undoable. Let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all.
Posted in DrHGuy.com, HOAG Site
With a spring in his step, the Coolest Canadian Alive skipped onto the stage of the Halifax Metro Centre, and within seconds he was kneeling at the altar of romance. Leonard Cohen bowed down before acoustic guitarist Javier Mas, plucking the nylon strings like a Barcelona balladeer on Dance Me to the End of Love, setting the tone for a show designed to reach through the heart and grasp at the soul. “I hope this isn’t a farewell tour,” deadpanned the 78-year-old poet of song. “Not to be morbid, but in a sense, we’re all on a farewell tour.”
From Review: Cohen Lifts Halifax To Tower Of Song by Stephen Cook. Chronicle Herald: April 14, 2013. Access full review at the link.
Dance Me to the End of Love
The Future
Bird on a Wire
Everybody Knows
Who By Fire
Darkness
There Ain’t No Cure for Love
Amen
Come Healing
First We Take Manhattan
A Thousand Kisses Deep
Anthem
Intermission
Tower of Song
Suzanne
Heart With No Companion
Waiting for the Miracle
Show Me the Place
Anyhow
Lover Lover Lover
Alexandra Leaving (sung by Sharon Robinson)
I’m Your Man
Hallelujah
Take This Waltz
1st Encore
So Long, Marianne
Going Home
Closing Time
2nd Encore
Famous Blue Raincoat
If It Be Your Will (sung by the Webb Sisters)
Save the Last Dance for Me
3rd Encore
I Tried to Leave You
Source: Review: Cohen Lifts Halifax To Tower Of Song by Stephen Cook. Chronicle Herald: April 14, 2013
Credit Due Department: Photo atop post by Ted Pritchard. Second photo (just above Setlist) by lukedecoste via Statigram. Third photo (just above “Intermission”) by Joey Carenza at Notes From The Road. Final photo by lukedecoste via Statigram.
Working on my mother’s estate following her death last month, I came across the 1949 hospital billing for my birth.
My mother was the hospital’s guest on the fourth day of her stay (perhaps because she was a hospital volunteer) so my folks saved a slick $6 after paying the bill in full. Sounds about right.
Posted in Self-Referential
Biggest Influence on My Music – The jukebox. I lived beside jukeboxes all through the fifties. … I never knew who was singing. I never followed things that way. I still don’t. I wasn’t a student of music; I was a student of the restaurant I was in — and the waitresses. The music was a part of it. I knew what number the song was.
- Leonard Cohen (Yakety Yak by Scott Cohen, 1994)
Leonard Cohen’s Jukebox: Over the years, Leonard Cohen has mentioned a handful of specific songs he favors. Leonard Cohen’s Jukebox is a Heck Of A Guy feature that began collecting these tunes for the edification and entertainment of viewers on April 4, 2009. All posts in the Leonard Cohen’s Jukebox series can be found at the Leonard Cohen’s Jukebox Page.
As fans and ongoing readers know, Judy Collins and Leonard Cohen were profoundly influenced by one another.1 Our interest today, however, is focused on one song that clearly had an impact on Cohen as he began his career as a singer-songwriter.
The following excerpt is from Leonard Cohen Is A Poet Who Is Trying To Be Free by Marci McDonald (Toronto Daily Star, April 26, 1969):
Judy Collins – My Father
Leonard Cohen & Judy Collins singing on Judy’s 1976 Soundstage TV concert
Credit Due Department: The photo atop this post is from Songs of Leonard Cohen — Herewith: Music, Words and Photographs and was found at the inestimable Speaking Cohen site. The photo at the end of this post is by Jon Randolph and was contributed by Dominique BOILE, this photo Photo
Leonard Cohen – The Guests
ZDF-TV Rock Pop Special
München, Deutschland, October 31, 1979
BBC4music
Posted in Leonard Cohen
As the 7,000 or so people who attended his remarkable concert at Copps Coliseum discovered Tuesday night – if they didn’t know already – Cohen is the true artist. Not just “artist of the year,” but artist for all of time. Cohen trotted out on stage at 8:10 p.m. and literally skipped off it at 11:40, three-and-a-half hours later. He and his exceptionally talented nine-member backing ensemble performed 29 songs, including three sets of encores. The first standing ovation began before he even had a chance to start his opening anthem, Dance Me To The End Of Love. There were several more to follow, as Cohen delved deep into his expansive repertoire of life, death, love, sex and the whole damn thing.
From Cohen at Copps by Graham Rockingham. The Spectator: April 10, 2013
Dance Me To The End Of Love
The Future
Bird On The Wire
Everybody Knows
Who By Fire
Darkness
Ain’t No Cure For Love
Amen
Come Healing
First We Take Manhattan
A Thousand Kisses Deep (Recitation)
Anthem
Second Set
Tower Of Song
Suzanne
Waiting For The Miracle
Show Me The Place
Anyhow
Lover Lover Lover
Alexandra Leaving (Sung By Sharon Robinson)
I’m Your Man
Hallelujah
Take This Waltz
Encore
So Long Marianne
Going Home
Closing Time
Second Encore
Famous Blue Raincoat
If It Be Your Will
Save The Last Dance
Third Encore
I Tried To Leave You
Credit Due Department: Setlist Source: Cohen at Copps by Graham Rockingham. The Spectator: April 10, 2013. Photo atop this post by John Rennison via Twitter. Black & white image of Leonard Cohen by Joey Carenza at Notes From The Road. Photo of audience & stage by SimaSaharZerehi via Instagram.
Posts At DrHGuy Site
Featuring the best video of each of the songs performed during the 2013 Leonard Cohen Old Ideas World Tour
Best Of
2013 Leonard Cohen Tour
Video Setlist
Note: The Best Of 2012 Leonard Cohen Tour Video Setlist is still available.
The Man: Leonard Cohen
The Book: Fifty Shades Of Grey
This Is The Video That Had To Be Made
All posts in this series are listed at 78 Things To Celebrate About Leonard Cohen On His 78th Birthday: The Summary Page
The events of Leonard Cohen's life and career are marked on a timeline accompanied by audio and video recordings of Cohen's songs and poems as well as links to more information.
"Do I Have To Dance All Night" was performed many times in concerts but was never released in the US.
As part of my crusade to popularize this song, I've cobbled together 2 videos - one for the semi-funky 1976 version with Laura Branigan and one for the 1980 more gypsy, less disco version - that kinda sorta fit the music.
As of Dec 19, 2012, the video of the 1976 version of Do I Have To Dance All Night has been viewed 70,152 times.
The 1980 version has been viewed 16,458 times.
See both versions at
Both videos include links to keys to the sources of the clips and the identities of the backup singers and others who are featured.
The complete story of "Do I Have To Dance All Night" is available at The Best Leonard Cohen Song You've Never Heard (Probably)
Heck Of A Guy offers 3 videos of clips and photos from The Leonard Cohen World Tour:
1. The Original Heck Of A Guy Dear Leonard Cohen - Thanks For The Tour. I Hope It Was Good For You, Too. Video Celebration Of The First 14 Months Of The 2008-2009 World Tour can be viewed at
Thanks For The Tour
2. A video, focusing on the Summer 2009 concerts can be seen at Thanks Again For The Tour - The Encore Video
3. The highlight video celebrating the Fall 2009 USA concert series is online at Thanks, Leonard Cohen, For Coming To The USA - Video Celebration
The Cohen Fandemic
Endemic for decades in areas such as Canada, Norway, Poland, and France, Leonard Cohen Fan Syndrome has become a world-wide epidemic in the past 2 years, spread by the Leonard Cohen World Tour and abetted by proselyting carriers despite efforts by authorities to quarantine these individuals at LeonardCohenForum.
Diagnostic Criteria
Based on the observations of DrHGuy, standardized criteria for the pertinent Axis II diagnosis are now available at
Cohenphilic Personality Disorder
Danger Signs
In addition to the formal medical description of this diagnosis, Heck Of A Guy has also compiled a list of the aberrant behaviors which indicate one is at high risk for being a full-fledged fan of Leonard Cohen. These signs and symptoms can be found at
Warning Signs Of Leonard Cohen Fan Syndrome
More Signs That You May Be A Leonard Cohen Fan
Signs You May Be A Leonard Cohen Fan #3
Signs You May Be A Leonard Cohen Fan #4
All You May Be A Leonard Cohen Fan If … entries
can be found at the
You May Be A Leonard Cohen Fan If … Page
Also See
This video features the first version of the song Leonard Cohen would later revise into "Chelsea Hotel #2" along with images of Leonard Cohen, Janis Joplin - whose liaison with Cohen at the Chelsea Hotel led to the creation of the song, the Hotel itself, and other associated people & places.
New Video –
Chelsea Hotel #1 By Leonard Cohen
Viewed over 91,825 times as of April 16, 2013
This composite of Leonard Cohen’s recitations of “A Thousand Kisses Deep” over the years is accompanied by a video montage of drawings by and photos of the Canadian singer-songwriter.
A Special Composite Presentation Of “A Thousand Kisses Deep” By Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen recites the "God Is Alive; Magic Is Afoot" passage from "Beautiful Losers" which was later popularized by Buffy Sainte-Marie. Cohen's performance took place in 1967.
Heck Of A Guy offers, with assistance from Randy Newman and Etta James, the writer and performer, respectively, of "You Can Leave Your Hat On," a look at Leonard Cohen As Hunk.
Photos of or related to Leonard Cohen that fall into specific themes have been among the ongoing features at DrHGuy, HOAG's sibling site. Galleries displaying collected images of 3 of these themes are now available at
Signs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen posters, ads, marquees, banners, ...
L Cohen – Smokey Life
Images associated with Leonard Cohen’s history of smoking
Shades Of Leonard Cohen
Shots of Leonard Cohen and his musicians with sunglasses
Leonard Cohen On Tattoos
Tattoos inspired by Leonard Cohen
Kissing CohenLeonard Cohen kissing and being kissed
All Cohen photo categories are listed at The Leonard Cohen Photo Categories Page
In 1966 Joni Mitchell wrote and sang a song called "Winter Lady." In 1967, the year Mitchell and Cohen had their romantic fling, Leonard Cohen wrote and sang a different song that was also called "Winter Lady."
A comparison of these 2 songs as well as a video that includes each artist performing his or her version of "Winter Lady" can be found at
“Winter Lady” By Joni Mitchell & “Winter Lady” By Leonard Cohen
L Cohen In A Parallel, Funnier Universe
Great Performances
Easily Missed Songs
CBC Interviews
Biographical Items
At The Movies & On TV
Other
Cohen Reference Pages
Also see Leonard Cohen Search, a Leonard Cohen-focused Custom Search Engine & Reference Index
Tactics & Strategies
Weddings & Such
Mom
Funny As A Broken Hip
Download this hitherto unknown private taping of 14 songs and a poem performed by Leonard Cohen on Dec 15. 1979 at the Dome Theatre in Brighton.
The last time Leonard Cohen sang "The Guests" was 1985
- until Oct 5, 2012 in Madrid
Click to follow DrHGuy
Leonard Cohen's Favorite Songs By Other Artists
Over 35 tunes performed by Dylan, Janis Joplin, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Otis Redding, Chuck Berry, The Platters, Joni Mitchell, George Jones, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Jay-Z, and other musicians.
Read what Cohen said about them and listen to the music at
NEW: Leonard Cohen’s Jukebox Video Playlists
Composed of tracks from Leonard Cohen’s Jukebox, the Jukebox Playlists are an alternative to listening to the songs one at a time
Watch Leonard Cohen's "How I Got My Song" speech with no Spanish overdubbing whatsoever and read a direct English transcript of the talk:
Upgraded Video Of Leonard Cohen’s Prince of Asturias Awards Speech
For an in-depth perspective on this monumental speech, see
Dissecting The Sublime: Annotating Leonard Cohen’s Prince Of Asturias Awards Speech
Photos, Videos, & More
See photos of Leonard Cohen's arrival in Oviedo, the opening of Leonard Cohen: The B-Side - Drawings And Engravings Of A Multidisciplinary Artist, his speech and press conference, his tribute conference, the lost and found Famous Blue Sharpie, and more at:
Leonard Cohen Prince of Asturias Events: HeckOfAGuy
Leonard Cohen Prince Of Asturias Events: DrHGuy
Note: Almost all HeckOfAGuy and DrHGuy posts contain different content.
... I never had a chance. I was - and this is the only word that fits - smitten. I still am.
She was smart and quick-witted, although it would take me 3 years to recognize that she was, in fact, much smarter than me, and then another 2 years to forgive her for that. She was also good-looking and unabashedly sexy.
And, we fell madly, irredeemably, unflinchingly in love.
Complementing the unlikely story of how Julie and I met, fell in love, and - 9 years, 2 husbands, 1 wife, and 2 careers later - got together to spend an outrageously wonderful 20 years together before her death, a video, set to the poignant "In My Secret Life" by Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson, is now available that evokes the role Julie, who died 10 years ago, continues to play in my life.
The written account of the story (think When Harry Met Sally meets Waiting For Godot) starts, appropriately, at This Is How A Love Story Began
The video can be found at And We’re Still Making Love In My Secret Life - A Video For Julie
Clicking on Taste of LC - Heck Of A Guy and Taste of LC - DrHGuy finds posts from those sites that feature Leonard Cohen's choices in furniture, clothing (including suits, fedoras, caps, berets, other hats, boots and other footwear, swimsuits, and in at least one case cut-offs), art, jewelry, food, books, magazines, alcohol, tobacco, firearms, ... - all of which offer a different perspective on Leonard Cohen.
These posts may also be pertinent to style:
See Uncut Reviews The Other Leonard Cohen Album
The Other
Leonard Cohen Album
This Heck Of A Guy compilation includes unreleased Leonard Cohen performances over a 30+ year period.
Track List: Vol 1
1. Feels So Good (The Other Blues Song)
2. Book Of Longing
3. The Darkness
4. Puppets
5. Lullaby
6. Do I Have to Dance All Night (1976)
7. Blues By The Jews
Track List: Vol 2
1. Red River Valley
2. Never Got To Love You (Duet with Anjani)
3. Can't Help Falling In Love
4. Ride Around
5. The Union Makes Us Strong
6. We Shall Not Be Moved
7. To Love Somebody
8. The Hypnotist (Poem)
9. Chelsea Hotel #1
10. There's No Reason Why You Should Remember Me
11. Streets Of Laredo
12. Do I Have To Dance All Night (1980)
More information and MP3 downloads are available at Now Available - The Other Leonard Cohen Album
Another Other
Leonard Cohen Album
Now, Another Other Leonard Cohen Album, the second collection of unreleased Leonard Cohen songs joins the popular The Other Leonard Cohen Album to offer fans of the iconic singer-songwriter a total of 3 CDs of musical treats. Another Other Leonard Cohen Album includes the following tracks plus liner notes by Sylvie Simmons.
1. Je Veux Vivre Tout Seul
2. Kevin Barry
3. Die Gedanken Sind Frei
4. Store Room
5. As Time Goes By
6. Don’t Go Home with Your Hard-on
7. Blessed is the Memory
8. Silent Night
9. Dead Song
10. Another Saturday Night
11. Ballad of the Absent Mare
12. Guerrero
13. The Butcher
14. Un As Der Rebbe Singt
15. Song to the Machines
16. If It Be Your Will
17. Thirsty for the Kiss
18. A Thousand Kisses Deep
19. I Tried To Leave You
20. Whither Thou Goest
21. Mr Cohen Must Be Going
More information and MP3 downloads are available at Presenting Another Other Leonard Cohen Album
Heck Of A Guy celebrates Leonard Cohen’s 77th birthday (September 21, 2011) with a video of scenes from Leonard Cohen’s life and photos of fans expressing their affection for Mr. Cohen, all set to “I Love Leonard Cohen” by Robin Grey.
Previous Leonard Cohen Birthday Videos
Leonard Cohen at 75 Birthday Video
The video begins with Jennifer Warnes singing the gorgeous but routinely overlooked "Way Down Deep," which is followed by Leonard Cohen's recitation of "A Thousand Kisses Deep" in Dublin to juxtapose the earliest performed precursor of Cohen's now classic "A Thousand Kisses Deep" with the most recent version.
Video Back Online – Jennifer Warnes’ Way Down Deep &
Leonard Cohen’s A Thousand Kisses Deep
For instructions for making the original Chocolodka as well as information about and recipes using Chocolodka, see
Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen had a fling in the 1960s that, for unspecified reasons, was short-lived, with Cohen instigating the parting.
It was then and is now a complex connection. In 1988, Cohen said, I'm still very friendly with Joni - I had dinner with her before the tour, and I have the same admiration for her as you do. But I think it was Noel Harrison who came up to me in the LA Troubadour and said "How do you like living with Beethoven?"
The full story is at Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell: Just One Of Those Things
That's right - the entire 2008-2010 Leonard Cohen World Tour, including the events that triggered the Tour, have been compressed into one 60 second video.
Don't blink.
Unreleased music from Anjani's performances in Warsaw, Poland and Joe's Pub, New York.
The Anjani Birthday Montage includes selections of favorites, especially songs from the Blue Alert album.
The review of Anjani's Blue Alert album is found at Blue Alert - A Recommendation That Will Make You Want To Kiss Me
Other important Anjani links:
