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If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Artist: Judy Collins
Author: Leonard Cohen
Label: Elektra
Year: 1966
About Suzanne Vaillencourt, the wife of an artist friend from Montreal. On Judy's lp In My Life, revealing the author's writing talent. It also contains Cohen's Dress Rehearsal Rag. Her version opened doors for Cohen, Columbia's to begin with. While Judy convinced Cohen to perform his own songs live, John Hammond offered him a contract. Besides, there's an earlier live version of Suzanne circulating by Toronto folk band The Stormy Clovers, with a Susan (Jains) as singer. They're also rumoured to have introduced Cohen's Sisters Of Mercy. They were even Leonard's back-up band when he first dired performing his own songs live (at the Venus De Milo Coffeehouse in Montreal) and during his first TV appearance (Take 30). They never obtained any recording contract.
Covers:
Noel Harrison [son of Sir Rex; first cover]
Leonard Cohen [author on his debut]
Fairport Convention [BBC recording]
Herman van Veen [in Dutch]
Frans Halsema [parody on Herman Van Veen's version]
Fabrizio De Andre [in Italian]
Frank Boeijen [using Herman Van Veen's translation]
R.E.M. [elements in Hope; admitted by the band]
Beck [lead track from cd Songs of Leonard Cohen]
Other Cohen penned songs first released by Judy: Sisters Of Mercy, Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye, The Story Of Isaac and Bird On The Wire (see there).
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)