Famous Blue Raincoat (album)

Last updated

Famous Blue Raincoat
Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat.png
Studio album by
Jennifer Warnes
ReleasedNovember 1986
Recorded1986
Studio
  • The Complex, Record Plant and Salty Dog Recording (Los Angeles, California)
  • Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood, California)
  • Amigo Studios and Mama Jo's (North Hollywood, California)
  • The Enterprise (Burbank, California)
Genre Rock
Length41:32
Label Cypress
Producer
Jennifer Warnes chronology
Shot Through the Heart
(1979)		Famous Blue Raincoat
(1986)		 The Hunter
(1992)

Famous Blue Raincoat: The Songs of Leonard Cohen is the sixth studio album recorded by the American singer Jennifer Warnes. It debuted on the Billboard 200 on February 14, 1987, and peaked at No. 72 in the US Billboard chart, No.33 in the UK albums chart, and No.8 in Canada. Originally released by Cypress Records (RCA Records in the UK), it was reissued by Private Music after Cypress went out of business. It is the only Jennifer Warnes album to make the UK albums chart (up to September 2014).

Contents

Background

Released in November 1986, Famous Blue Raincoat is a tribute to Leonard Cohen, with whom Warnes had toured as a backup singer in the 1970s. The album's songs span much of Cohen's career, from his 1969 album Songs from a Room to his 1984 album Various Positions (on which Warnes sang), and even two songs ("First We Take Manhattan" and "Ain't No Cure for Love") from Cohen's then-unreleased album I'm Your Man .

The idea for the album originated when Cohen assisted Warnes with the lyrics of "Song of Bernadette" while on tour in 1979. Warnes had suggested the album at Arista Records and later MCA Records with no luck. The album's producer, C. Roscoe Beck said, "Leonard seemed to be A&R poison." [1]

Guest contributors include guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughan, David Lindley and Robben Ford, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, keyboardist Russell Ferrante, arranger Van Dyke Parks and Cohen himself duetting on "Joan of Arc".

The album is the first record produced by Roscoe Beck. [2] The liner notes include a cartoon by Cohen of a torch being passed with the caption, "Jenny Sings Lenny."

In August 2007, a remastered and expanded 20th anniversary edition was released by Private Music with four bonus tracks.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
Robert Christgau B− [4]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Writing retrospectively for Allmusic, music critic William Ruhlmann wrote of the album

Where other singers tended to geld Cohen's often disturbingly revealing poetry, Warnes, working with the composer himself and introducing a couple of great new songs ("First We Take Manhattan" and "Song of Bernadette," which she co-wrote), matched his own versions. The high point may have been the Warnes-Cohen duet on "Joan of Arc," but the album was consistently impressive... For Warnes, the album meant her first taste of real critical success: suddenly a singer who had seemed like a second-rate Linda Ronstadt now appeared to be a first-class interpretive artist. [3]

In reviewing the reissue, Steve Horowitz of PopMatters noted, "This anniversary edition... may finally give the album the acclaim it initially deserved." [5] Peter Gerstenzanga of The Village Voice wrote after the reissue,

As much as one admires Warnes's taste in songwriters, the unadorned truth is that Cohen's dark, grave voice is a better instrument for his songs. Also, his original arrangements—from solo-guitar bare to brass-band ironic—are more fitting than the slick stuff here. Stevie Ray Vaughan playing processed blues licks on "First We Take Manhattan"? Inappropriate. Smoky sax on the title track? It's a meditation on betrayal and revenge, not a lounge song. Furthermore, Warnes's melismas (think a less histrionic Ronstadt) sound sweet, not murderous. [6]

Track listing

All songs written by Leonard Cohen except where noted.

  1. "First We Take Manhattan" – 3:47
  2. "Bird on a Wire" – 4:42
  3. "Famous Blue Raincoat" – 5:33
  4. "Joan of Arc" – 7:57
  5. "Ain't No Cure for Love" – 3:21
  6. "Coming Back to You" – 3:43
  7. "Song of Bernadette" (Jennifer Warnes, Bill Elliott, Cohen) - 3:55
  8. "A Singer Must Die" – 4:52
  9. "Came So Far for Beauty" (Cohen, John Lissauer) - 3:37
Additional tracks on 20th anniversary reissue
  2. "Night Comes On" (new recording)
  3. "Ballad of the Runaway Horse" (new recording)
  4. "If It Be Your Will" (new recording)
  5. "Joan of Arc" (live in Antwerp, Belgium, 1992)

Charts

Chart (1987)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [7] 21
Canada (RPM) [8] 8
US Billboard 200 [9] 72
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [10] 18
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [11] 33
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [12] 30
New Zealand Albums Chart [13] 7
Swedish Albums Chart [14] 39
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) [15] 22

Year-end charts

Chart (1987)Position
Canada (RPM) [16] 40

Personnel

Production

Certifications

Certifications for Famous Blue Raincoat
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [17] 3× Platinum300,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [18] Silver60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

Jennifer Jean Warnes is an American singer and songwriter who has performed as a vocalist on a number of film soundtracks. She has won two Grammy Awards, in 1983 for the Joe Cocker duet "Up Where We Belong", and in 1987 for the Bill Medley duet "(I've Had) The Time of My Life". Warnes also collaborated closely with Leonard Cohen.

<i>Songs of Love and Hate</i> 1971 studio album by Leonard Cohen

Songs of Love and Hate is the third studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. Produced by Bob Johnston, the album was released on March 19, 1971, through Columbia Records.

<i>Death of a Ladies Man</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Leonard Cohen

Death of a Ladies' Man is the fifth studio album by Leonard Cohen, produced and co-written by Phil Spector. The album was in some ways a departure from Cohen's typical minimalist style by using Spector's Wall of Sound recording method, which included ornate arrangements and multiple tracks of instrument overdubs. The album was originally released in the US by Warner Bros., and on CD and the rest of the world by Cohen's long-time label, Columbia Records.

<i>Recent Songs</i> 1979 studio album by Leonard Cohen

Recent Songs is the sixth studio album by Leonard Cohen, released in 1979. Produced by Cohen alongside Henry Lewy, it was a return to his normal acoustic folk music sound after the Phil Spector-driven experimentation of Death of a Ladies' Man, but now with many jazz and Oriental influences.

<i>Im Your Man</i> (Leonard Cohen album) 1988 studio album by Leonard Cohen

I'm Your Man is the eighth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, released on February 2, 1988, by Columbia Records. The album marked Cohen's further move to a more modern sound, with many songs having a synthesizer-oriented production. It soon became the most successful studio album which Cohen had released in the US, and it reached number one in several European countries, transforming Cohen into a best-selling artist.

<i>Unguarded</i> (Amy Grant album) 1985 studio album by Amy Grant

Unguarded is the seventh studio album by Christian and Pop singer Amy Grant, released in 1985 on A&M Records. It is Grant's first album released by A&M.

<i>Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979</i> 2001 live album by Leonard Cohen

Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979 is a live album by Leonard Cohen, released in 2001. Songs were recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, on 4, 5, and December 6, 1979, and at the Dome Theatre, Brighton, on December 15, 1979. Cohen considered it his "best tour ever".

"Famous Blue Raincoat" is a song by Leonard Cohen. It is the sixth track on his third album, Songs of Love and Hate, released in 1971. The song is written in the form of a letter. The lyric tells the story of a love triangle among the speaker, a woman named Jane, and the male addressee, who is identified only briefly as "my brother, my killer."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First We Take Manhattan</span> Song by Leonard Cohen

"First We Take Manhattan" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. It was originally recorded by American singer Jennifer Warnes on her 1986 Cohen tribute album Famous Blue Raincoat, which consisted entirely of songs written or co-written by Cohen.

<i>Living</i> (Judy Collins album) 1971 live album by Judy Collins

Living is a 1971 live album by American singer and songwriter Judy Collins, released by Elektra Records in 1971. The album is taken from performances on the singer's 1970 concert tour. It peaked at No. 64 on the Billboard 200 charts.

<i>No Sound But a Heart</i> 1987 studio album by Sheena Easton

No Sound But a Heart is the eighth studio album by Scottish singer Sheena Easton, released in 1987 on the EMI America label. The album was issued in the Canadian, Mexican and Asian markets. The album consists of midtempo and ballad songs, including the single and video, "Eternity", written by Prince. The disc features Steve Perry from Journey on backing vocals on "Still in Love" and a duet with Eugene Wilde on "What If We Fall in Love".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roscoe Beck</span> Bass player

Charles Roscoe Beck is an American bassist with a reputation as "a solid bottom-liner". Beck has played with artists like Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, Leonard Cohen, and The Dixie Chicks. He is also a successful record producer with two Grammy Award nominations.

<i>The Hunter</i> (Jennifer Warnes album) 1992 studio album by Jennifer Warnes

The Hunter is the seventh studio album by Jennifer Warnes, released in 1992.

<i>Millennium</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1993 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Millennium is the sixteenth studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire released in September 1993 on Warner Bros. Records. The album reached No. 8 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, No. 39 on the US Billboard 200, No. 18 on the Japanese Pop Albums chart and No. 29 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Millennium has also been certified Gold in Japan by the RIAJ.

<i>Robbery</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Teena Marie

Robbery is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Teena Marie, released in September 18, 1983. It is her first album for Epic Records, following her acrimonious departure from Motown the previous year. The album was written and produced by Marie herself and features contributions from Patrice Rushen, Paulinho da Costa, and Steve Ferrone among others. However, the album did not repeat the success of her last Motown release It Must Be Magic (1981) stalling at number 13 on the Black Albums chart and only reaching number 119 on the Billboard Albums chart.

<i>Good to Be Back</i> 1989 studio album by Natalie Cole

Good to Be Back is the twelfth studio album by American singer Natalie Cole. Released in April 1989 by EMI USA, it contains the hit singles "Miss You Like Crazy" and "I Do".

<i>Dangerous</i> (Natalie Cole album) 1985 studio album by Natalie Cole

Dangerous is a 1985 album by American singer Natalie Cole released on May 15, 1985, through the Atco Records-distributed Modern Records label. The album reached peak positions of number 140 on the Billboard 200 and number 48 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

<i>Ive Got the Cure</i> 1984 studio album by Stephanie Mills

I've Got the Cure is the eighth studio album by American singer Stephanie Mills, released on September 10, 1984, by Casablanca Records, her final release for the label. It features the single "The Medicine Song", which peaked at number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. The album peaked at No. 73 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and at No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<i>Twice the Love</i> 1988 studio album by George Benson

Twice the Love is a 1988 studio album by American guitarist and singer George Benson that was recorded with six production teams. The two main singles off the record were the title track "Twice the Love" and the Curtis Mayfield song "Let's Do It Again" which was a No. 1 hit for The Staple Singers in 1975.

<i>Thanks for the Dance</i> 2019 studio album by Leonard Cohen

Thanks for the Dance is the fifteenth and final studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, released posthumously through Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings on November 22, 2019. It is the first release following Cohen's death in November 2016, and includes contributions from various musicians, such as Daniel Lanois, Beck, Jennifer Warnes, Damien Rice and Leslie Feist. The song "The Goal" was released with the announcement of the album, on September 20, 2019.

References

  1. ↑ Michael Bonner (February 2017). "He would anoint us with essential oils". Uncut . p. 61.
  2. ↑ Buchholz, Brad – "Portrait of Cohen – Two generations of Austin players acknowledge the majesty of one of America's foremost song-poets", Austin360.com
  3. 1 2 Ruhlmann, William. "Famous Blue Raincoat > Review". AllMusic . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  4. ↑ Christgau, Robert (March 31, 1987). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . New York. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Horowitz, Steve. "Famous Blue Raincoat > Review". PopMatters . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  6. ↑ Gerxtenzanga, Peter. "Jennifer Warnes's Famous Blue Raincoat: 20th Anniversary Edition". The Village Voice . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  7. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 333. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  8. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Albums - March 7, 1987" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "Jennifer Warnes Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Jennifer Warnes – Famous Blue Raincoat". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Jennifer Warnes – Famous Blue Raincoat" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jennifer Warnes – Famous Blue Raincoat" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  13. ↑ "charts.nz Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat" (ASP). Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand . Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  14. ↑ "swedishcharts.com Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat" (ASP) (in Swedish). Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  15. ↑ https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  16. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1987 - December 26, 1987" (PDF).
  17. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Jennifer Warnes – Famous Blue Raincoat". Music Canada . Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  18. ↑ "British album certifications – Jennifer Warnes – Famous Blue Raincoat". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved August 19, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.