p2pnet news | Music:- There are some memorable lines in the press release announcing Our Lady Peace frontman Raine Maida’s first solo album ‘The Hunter’s Lullaby’ being released by Kingnoise Records November 13, recorded in Maida’s home studio.

Among the bio gems are:

• The album was ‘written and recorded without the persuasive hand of a major record label.’ (Boy, there’s a potential music industry sticker!)
• ‘Developed over the last year during the late evening hours in his private studio, the album delivers a deeply personal picture of the man as an
• artist in the 21st century.’ [Archivists: Also check Gord Downie's two solo albums 'Coke Machine Glow' (2001) and 'Battle of the Nudes' (2003)].
• ”The Hunter’s Lullaby’ is an unique album that stands out in today’s musical landscape.’
• ‘The Hunter’s Lullaby is a courageous album by an artist who is reveling in the freedom of creative and commercial independence.’
• ‘I’m not exactly sure where my record fits in today’s musical landscape, but I take comfort in that. I have two very young children who will one day judge me by this work. Fear and courage are brothers.”

Meanwhile, Maida’s website welcomes viewers with: “This site represents a rebirth, a declaration and an invitation to share in the power of the word through music, prose and poetry.

“It is meant to be interactive and a forum not only for my emotional equations but yours as well. With humility, courage and a sense of humour we will navigate these waters together.”

Leonard Cohen is no Raine Maida

For 50 years, over 16 albums, 10 volumes of poetry, and two novels, Leonard Cohen has touched and inspired fans, writers and musicians the world over.

However, there are signs that one of Cohen’s most beloved songs “Hallelujah’ should be shelved before it reaches Morris Albert ‘Feelings’ status.

The night prior to being named ‘Canadian Idol’ winner, Hamilton rocker Brian Melo performed renditions of Hallelujah’ and Bon Jovi’s “All I Ever Wanted.’ The next night, 2.75 million Canadians tuned in for the program’s season finale when he won.

Melo is among the hundreds who have covered “Hallelujah.’ The most memorable are: John Cale on the Cohen tribute album ‘I’m Your Fan’ (1991); the late Jeff Buckley on ‘Grace’ (1994); Rufus Wainwright on the soundtrack of ‘Shrek’ (2001); and k.d. lang on ‘Hymns of the 49th Parallel’ ( 2004) Two years ago, Lang wowed the audience at the Canadian Songwriters’ Hall of Fame show with a rendition with Cohen leading the standing ovation.

There are also significant contributions by Bono, Bob Dylan, Joel Kroeker, Patricia O’Callaghan, Fiona Apple, Gob’s Mule, Imogene Heap, Joe Wilson, Hilary Scott, and Allison Crowe.

Cohen first recorded “Hallelujah” on his 1985 album ‘Various Positions.’ Its lyrics contain specific biblical references alluding to David’s harp-playing used to soothe King Saul, and his affair with Bathsheba. The line, “She broke your throne and she cut your hair” likely is a reference to the source of Samson’s strength from the Book of Judges.”Hallelujah” has been used extensively in television and films, including in such movies as ‘Basquiat,’ ‘A Lot Like Love,’ ‘Shrek,’ ‘St. Ralph,’ ‘Deliver Us from Evil,’ ‘Kissed by Winter,’ ‘Lord of War ,’ and such television series as ‘Falcon Beach,’ ‘The West Wing,’ ‘Scrubs,’ and ‘Crossing Jordan.’

Perhaps, its most poignant use was the closing moments of NBC’s ‘Dateline’ on April 17, 2007 that covered the massacre on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, During the playing of the song, a montage of photographs related to the tragedy was displayed.

Jenny & Lenny

Before achieving fame singing the hit moving songs ‘I’ve Had the Time of My Life’ ‘Up Where We Belong’ Jennifer Warnes’ released the remarkable a 9-song Leonard Cohen tribute ‘Famous Blue Raincoat’ on Attic Records in Canada, and on Cypress Records in the U.S.

‘It was our biggest seller on the label,’ says former Attic Group president Al Mair, noting sales of 400,000 units in Canada.
Among the gems on the album, apparently initially titled ‘Jenny & Lenny,’ was her version of ‘First We Take Manhattan’ featuring the late Texasguitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Cohen himself remarked, “Very rarely someone like Jennifer Warnes comes along . . . who can bring musical qualities to the song that I can’t even approach.’

Now ‘The 20th Anniversary Edition of Famous Blue Raincoat ‘ is available in the U.S. on Shout Factory. Bernie Grundman re-mastered the original recordings using his original notes and original analog tapes, with four additional Cohen songs ‘Night Comes On,’ ‘Ballad of the Runaway Horse,’ ‘If t Be Your Will,’ and ‘Joan of Arc’ has been added along with a 24-page booklet.

Says Warnes, ‘I found my old original analog tapes in the back of a closet. They were in surprisingly excellent condition. The album has been out of release in North America since 1995. European import versions of sound different from the original Canadian (Attic) version which I have always felt to be the best sounding pressing.’

According to Mair, Attic had used the original two-track master of the album not a second or third generation copy used elsewhere.

Larry LeBlanc
[Journalist/broadcaster/historian Larry LeBlanc has been a leading figure in Canadian music for four decades. To be added to this email list write: LJLE @ aol dot com.]

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This entry was posted on Monday, September 24th, 2007 at 10:46 am and is filed under Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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