Synopses & Reviews
Leonard Cohen, one of the most admired performers of the last half century, has had a strange and eventful life. Now, for the first time, he tells his story in his own words, via more than fifty interviews conducted worldwide between 1966 and 2012.
In Leonard Cohen on Leonard Cohen—which includes a foreword by singer Suzanne Vega and eight pages of rarely seen photos—the artist talks about “Bird on the Wire,” “Hallelujah,” “Famous Blue Raincoat,” and his other classic songs. He candidly discusses his famous romances, his years in a Zen monastery, his ill-fated collaboration with producer Phil Spector, and his long battle with depression. He also comments on his classic poetry and novels, the financial crisis that nearly wiped out his savings, and his remarkable late-career resurgence.
Here you’ll find interviews that first appeared in the New York Times and Rolling Stone, along with conversations that have not previously been printed in English. Some have been broadcast but never published. And some of the material has not been available until now in any format, including the many illuminating reminiscences that contributors supplied specifically for this definitive anthology.
Review
"...Burgers discerning editorial hand selects those conversations with Cohen that offer insights into his music. For longtime fans as well as newcomers to Cohens work." —Publishers Weekly
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"This book will appeal to Cohen aficionados and researchers. Readers will gain a wealth of information about his take on life..." —Library Journal
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"This is a must for Cohen fans." —Starred review, Booklist
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“It would be silly for you not to own a copy." —The Awl
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"A treasure trove for Leonard Cohen fans—the dazzling, wide-ranging collection of interviews that Jeff Burger has unearthed not only offers the songwriter's story in his own words, but reveals that Cohen's language in conversation can be every bit as magnificent as his lyrics." —Alan Light, author, The Holy or The Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley and the Unlikely Ascent of “Hallelujah” "Burgers book is at once fascinating and frustrating." —Pop Matters
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"This is a collection of more than fifty interviews Cohen conducted between 1966 and 2012. And if you think LC is even a fraction as important to ones sanity as I do, youll be interested to see whats in it." —TheNation.com
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"Burger has assembled an excellent mosaic image of LC ... and the results are both very thorough and very satisfying." —GroundControl Magazine
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"The result is a fascinating and discursive oral autobiography." —Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
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"These interviews are a far greater form of “biography” than any of the recent books published." —The Leonard Cohen Files
Review
“That Cohen is brilliant is no revelation, but to witness that brilliance so lovingly expressed over the years is pure joy. That such a mind exists is hard to fathom, yet heres the proof. Hes as funny as a great humorist, as wise as a scholar, and speaks in parables and poems almost as perfect as his songs. This is a great and rare window into the dedication it takes to be a true artist in modern times. Engrossing, entertaining, and endlessly inspirational.” —Paul Zollo, author of Songwriters on Songwriting
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“ Jeff Burger has selected interviews and quotes, many of which haven’t [previously] been published in English, that will prove as fascinating to Cohen newcomers as to his most diehard fans.”—
Parade magazine
Review
“I love the way Cohen speaks [in this book]—he is so disarming and seductive. I always burst out laughing; he is funny and deep.”—Bella Freud, Vanity Fair
Synopsis
Offering fans an extensive look at the artists own words throughout the past four decades, Springsteen on Springsteen brings together Q&A-formatted articles, speeches, and features that incorporate significant interview material. No one is better qualified to talk about Springsteen than the man himself, and hes often as articulate and provocative in interviews and speeches as he is emotive onstage and in recordings. While many rock artists seem to suffer through interviews, Springsteen has welcomed them as an opportunity to speak openly, thoughtfully, and in great detail about his music and life. This volume starts with his humble beginnings in 1973 as a struggling artist and follows him up to the present, as Springsteen has achieved almost unimaginable wealth and worldwide fame. Included are feature interviews with well-known media figures, including Charlie Rose, Ted Koppel, Brian Williams, Nick Hornby, and Ed Norton. Fans will also discover hidden gems from small and international outlets, in addition to radio and TV interviews that have not previously appeared in print. This collection is a must-have for any Springsteen fan.
About the Author
Jeff Burger is the editor of Springsteen
on Springsteen: Interviews, Speeches, and Encounters. He has contributed to
Barron’s,
Family Circle,
GQ, the
Los Angeles Times,
Reader’s Digest, and more than seventy-five other magazines, newspapers, and books, including many national and international music periodicals. He has published interviews with such leading musicians as Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Tom Waits, the Righteous Brothers, and the members of Steely Dan. He lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey.