Dear Leonard: The Cohen Collection

“Sublime… There are many tributes to Leonard Cohen. Among my favorites are Jennifer Warnes, Perla Batalla and Judy Collins. To that list add Dear Leonard: The Cohen Collection by Reid Jamieson.” – Mike Regenstreif, Folk Roots/Folk Brancheses

Vancouver’s Reid Jamieson turns the master into the muse with 7 compelling covers plus the original title track, DEAR LEONARD – a haunting open letter to the man himself, about a deal to be struck between one tongue-tied singer and this well loved ladies man. A luminous homage to the master of song DEAR LEONARD: The Cohen Collection features Anne Lindsay (Jim Cuddy, James Taylor) on burning violin, and Reid’s wife and cowriter Carolyn Victoria Mill who produced the record and sang lead on the track Suzanne.

TRACK LISTING

1. Dance Me To The End Of Love 4:13
2. Hey That’s No Way To Say Goodbye 3:07
3. Tower Of Song 4:44
4. Bird On The Wire 2:44
5. Alexandra Leaving 5:10 *
6. Suzanne (feat. Carolyn Victoria Mill) 5:03
7. Dear Leonard 4:03 ** (original ode to Leonard Cohen)
8. Hallelujah 4:39

CREDITS

All songs written by Leonard Cohen,
except * ‘Alexandra Leaving’
written by Leonard Cohen & Sharon Robinson,
and ** ‘Dear Leonard’
written by Reid Jamieson & Carolyn Victoria Mill.
All vocals and instruments Reid Jamieson,
except Anne Lindsay on violin,
and additional vocals by CVM on ‘Suzanne’.
Recorded and mixed by Reid at home in Vancouver, BC.
Produced by Carolyn Victoria Mill. Photos and artwork by CVM.
Mastered by Brock McFarlane/CPS.

#4 Top 50 British Columbia Album Chart |
#5 Top 50 Alternative Folk Album Chart International
#35 Top 50 Folk Album Chart |
#23 Top 50 Canada Album Chart

DEAR LEONARD

The only original on the album, this haunting ode to a lady’s man puts forth the deal one tongue-tied singer is willing to strike; Reid’s comparative youth and voice, in exchange for Leonard’s wisdom and words. Written by Reid Jamieson and Carolyn Mill.

Dear Leonard I write you today
my proposal in song
My struggle lies where you are strong
I’ve wrestled with words for so very long

Line after line
as each conversation was wrung,
pinned to the ground, silence won
Started and ended
before I’d begun

I’ll lend you the blue of my eye
and a body still young
the voice of an angel, sweet sound
from my guitar and tongue
If you lend me the lines of your years
and the ease of your song
Inside this bargain, we’ll both belong

Dear Leonard please understand
this is only a loan
While I’ll be the skin to your bone
I long for sacred hymns of my own

Yes I’d call to sing you the phone book,
that old tired tome
yet onto the fire it’s thrown
Were you the author
we’d still take her home

I’ll lend you the blue of my eye
and a body still young
the voice of an angel, sweet sound
from my guitar and tongue
If you lend me the lines of your years
and the ease of your song
Inside this bargain, we’ll both belong

Should I kneel and praise the son?
Climb your mountain
take of vow of none?
Is that where your
confidence comes from?
Your holy audience of one?

No I’ve never believed in my soul
No poet, my stories untold
I swallow the seeds of them whole
while yours still grow…

Dear Leonard it’s late and
I really should let you go
You’ve helped me
more than you know
Using you as you did her
And that’s how it goes

I’ll lend you the blue of my eye
and a body still young
the voice of an angel, sweet sound
from my guitar and tongue
If you lend me the lines of your years
and the ease of your song
Inside this bargain, we’ll both belong

Dear Leonard I write you today
My proposal in song

REVIEWS

There are many tributes to Leonard Cohen that have been recorded over the years. Some have drawn on various artists while others have been by specific artists. Among my favorites are Famous Blue Raincoat by Jennifer Warnes, Bird on the Wire by Perla Batalla and Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy by Judy Collins. To that list add Dear Leonard: The Cohen Collection by Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Reid Jamieson.

In this seemingly too-brief, 33-minute set, Reid offers sublime versions of seven Cohen classics and the title song, his own tribute – written with his wife, Carolyn Victoria Mill – to the master songwriter and poet. The arrangements – mostly just Reid’s vocals and guitar and Anne Lindsay’s always-exquisite violin – serve to focus attention on Cohen’s sublime lyrics and melodies. And while each of the Cohen songs is so very familiar these interpretations make them sound new again.

Among the highlights here are haunting versions of “Dance Me to the End of Love,” so beautifully enhanced by Anne’s violin, “Tower of Song,” Cohen’s homage to the art of great songwriting, and a version of “Suzanne,” THE great Montreal song which features a lovely lead vocal by Carolyn.

The CD cover, by the way, is a homage to the cover of The Best of Leonard Cohen, Cohen’s first compilation LP released in 1975.

– Mike Regenstreif, Folk Roots/Folk Brancheses

Catalog: RAJ010. UPC Barcode: 875531012118.

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