Anthony L. asked me why I said I had mixed reactions to the Leonard
Cohen music anthology, which I was very pleased to be able to find
at a local music store (Gryphon Stringed Instruments for you Bay
Area people) last week. It has songs from discs up to "I'm Your
Man", and I was delighted to be able to get the music for some of
his more recent stuff. I hope the music from "Various Positions"
becomes available soon.


Anyway, I am just a rank beginner at the piano, but I sat down and
followed the melody line of "Everybody Knows" from the book, and I
swear it's wrong. The deep notes on "Everybody knows the good guys
lost", for example, are two notes too low as far as I'm concerned (B-
flat instead of D). There's another part that sounds wrong too,
but I don't have my book and piano with me right now and I can't recall
what it was. Also, the arrangements I've looked at seem overly
simple. That's not to say they're not far beyond my current
capabilities! I just think they look simpler than complete
arrangements. For example, the bass line on "Everybody Knows" is
mostly just two repeated notes. It sounds good and maybe that's
the best way it could be arranged, but I was surprised.


I'd be interested to hear what more experienced musicians think of
the music in the anthology. Maybe when played right it sounds perfect.

Susan Cole wrote:
>  Anyway, I am just a rank beginner at the piano, but I sat down and
>  followed the melody line of "Everybody Knows" from the book, and I
>  swear it's wrong. The deep notes on "Everybody knows the good guys
>  lost", for example, are two notes too low as far as I'm concerned (B-
>  flat instead of D).


Sounds like the way Cohen sing it in concert on the 1988 tour rather
than on the album. His voice hit new lows on that tour. The same is
true of some points in other songs, too.