Leonard Cohen 30-Day Tribute ... Day 20: Album #4 New Skin for the Old Ceremony

Click here for "Who by Fire" ***

Day 20: Album #4 - "Who by Fire"

Released in 1974, New Skin for the Old Ceremony is the fourth studio album by Leonard Cohen. On this album he began to move away from the minimal instrumentation of his earlier work, with the use of violas, mandolins, banjos, guitars, percussion and other instruments producing a more orchestrated (but nevertheless spare) sound. The album has been certified silver in the UK, but never entered the Billboard Top 200.

Wikipedia: For his fourth album, Cohen chose to work with John Lissauer, a recent college graduate and rising producer whose jazz background contrasted sharply with Bob Johnston, the Nashville-based producer who had been at the helm of Cohen's two previous releases. Lissauer assembled a new group of musicians to join Cohen in the studio, including double bass player John Miller, as well as engineers Rip Lowell and Leanne Ungar. Lissauer brought a European tinge to many of the songs, adding a depth and richness by employing woodwinds, viola, and strings. The album is notable for its very dry mix, with reverb and echo used very sparingly.

Side one

View full tribute playlist here.

1. "Is This What You Wanted" – 4:13
2. "Chelsea Hotel #2" – 3:06
3. "Lover Lover Lover" – 3:19
4. "Field Commander Cohen" – 3:59
5. "Why Don't You Try" – 3:50

Side two

1. "There Is a War" – 2:59
2. "A Singer Must Die" – 3:17
3. "I Tried to Leave You" – 2:40
4. "Who by Fire" – 2:33 ***
5. "Take This Longing" – 4:06
6. "Leaving Green Sleeves" – 2:38