Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979 is a live album by Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen

Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...

 released in 2001. Songs were recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon

Hammersmith Apollo

Hammersmith Apollo is a major entertainment venue located in Hammersmith, London. Designed by Robert Cromie in Art Deco style, it opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace cinema, being re-named the Hammersmith Odeon in 1962...

, London, on 4, 5, and December 6, 1979 and at the Dome Theatre

Brighton Dome

The Brighton Dome is an arts venue in Brighton, England that contains the Concert Hall, Corn Exchange and the Pavilion Theatre. All three venues are linked to the rest of the Royal Pavilion Estate by an underground tunnel to the Royal Pavilion in Pavilion Gardens and through shared corridors to...

, Brighton, on December 15, 1979. Cohen said it was his best tour ever.

Accompanying Cohen was the jazz band Passenger from Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas

Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...

, consisting of members Steve Meador on drums, Roscoe Beck on bass, Mitch Watkins on guitar, Bill Ginn on keyboards and Paul Ostermayer on sax and flute. Other tour members included violinist Raffi Hakopian, oud

Oud

The oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...

ist John Bilezikjian, and backup singers Jennifer Warnes

Jennifer Warnes

Jennifer Jean Warnes is an American singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. She is known for her interpretations of compositions written by herself and many others, as well as an extensive playlist as a vocalist on movie soundtracks.Between 1979 and 1987 Warnes surpassed Frank Sinatra as...

 and Sharon Robinson.

Track listing

• Written by Leonard Cohen, except where noted.

1. "Field Commander Cohen" – 4:25
2. "The Window" – 5:51
   • violin solo by Raffi Hakopian
3. "The Smokey Life" – 5:34
   • duet with Jennifer Warnes
4. "The Gypsy's Wife" – 5:20
   • violin solo by Raffi Hakopian
5. "Lover Lover Lover" – 6:31
   • includes two long oud solos by John Bilezikjian
6. "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" – 4:04
   • violin solo by Raffi Hakopian
7. "The Stranger Song" – 4:55
8. "The Guests" – 6:05
   • violin solo by Raffi Hakopian
9. "Memories" – (Cohen, Phil Spector
   Phil Spector
   Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
   
   ) 4:38
   • sax solo by Paul Ostermayer
10. "Why Don't You Try" – 3:43
    • duet with Sharon Robinson, solo by Paul Ostermayer
11. "Bird on the Wire" – 5:10
    • guitar solo by Mitch Watkins
12. "So Long, Marianne" – 6:44

External links

• Album lyrics from The Leonard Cohen Files