This landmark 20-year-old collaboration between songwriter/poet Leonard Cohen and singer Jennifer Warnes is in my opinion the most successful album for either artist, both artistically and commercially. Warnes' pitch perfect, emotionally charged voice teases out every last nuance and dimension of Cohen's inspired lyrical and musical compositions. Even on Cohen's most highly charged songs, one is able to fully appreciate the sweet timbre of Warnes' voice, but at the same time the sensuality and beauty of her voice never obscures the sharp edged, painfully romantic, tragic, fatalistic themes that have marked Cohen's finest and most characteristic compositions, many of which are represented on this album.

Compared with the original CD release, the sound on this remastered version is better in almost every respect, with the possible exception of the first song "First We Take Manhattan," in which a slight, digital-sounding sibilance has been added to Warnes voice. The other cuts are just great, with the digital remastering adding a more authoritative bass note and greater ambience and spaciousness to the soundstage. .

If the overall improved sound isn't enough, this remastered album offers four additional performances of Cohen compositions that are not from the original studio album sessions, including a Warnes-only live version of Joan of Arc, which is riveting even though it doesn't offer the magical duet with Cohen featured on the original studio album. Each of the four additional cuts would have been worthy of inclusion on the original release of Famous Blue Raincoat, which is high praise indeed.

This original album was released at a time when Cohen was almost forgotten, about seven years before tribute albums like the breathtaking

and the rather tepid

would spur renewed interest in his work. Warnes' versions are always graceful and moving. She understands Cohen's music well, having done backing vocals on albums like Various Positions so she interprets his songs with loving dedication.

My favorites include Aint No Cure For Love from Cohen's

, Coming Back To You and Night Comes On from

, Came So Far For Beauty and Ballad Of The Runaway Horse from

and of course the formidable Joan Of Arc where Cohen himself sings some of the verses. The title track stands out with its smoky sax and desolate ambience whilst the live version of Joan Of Arc really fires on all fours.

Warnes' voice is the perfect vehicle for Cohen's poetic lyrics of romantic longing and resigned despair. The new tracks are superb. She slightly adapted the lyric of Night Comes On to a female perspective, and Ballad Of The Runaway Horse becomes a long excursion with a complex arrangement and a display of great virtuosity in the instrumentation which includes viola and cello.

If It Be Your Will is a straightforward rendition close to the original, and the album ends on a spectacular note with the live version of Joan Of Arc, from Cohen's

which was recorded in Antwerp in 1992 and includes the Novecento Orchestra and two choirs: Het West Brabants Operakoor and De Tweede Adem, in addition to her regular backing musicians.

The luxurious fold-out CD box contains a booklet with two line drawings by Cohen, full color and black & white photographs, letters from Lenny to Jenny, a short 1956 school essay on St Bernadette by Jenny and information on all the songs. My only complaint is that I would have loved to hear her interpretations of Suzanne and Sisters Of Mercy too.

Other Cohen tribute albums that I recommend are

by Judy Collins, which includes a live version of Song Of Bernadette, the song co-written by Jennifer Warnes, and the soundtack album

with artists like Martha Wainwright, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Jarvis Cocker, Perla Batalla, Nick Cave and U2.

I found this outstanding CD in a store in Edinbough while traveling through Scotland in the late '80s. Perhaps the first shock is to hear Cohen's lyrics (so well-suited for his voice) sung so beautifully and passionately and so right by soprano Warnes. The vocals, instruments, arrangements, and production are all tight -- you can feel Warnes breath as she sings about love, lust, and loneliness. All the songs are winners, but "Song of Bernadette" belongs to Ms. Warnes. I'm a big fan of Leonard Cohen's books, poetry and music and this treatment of his songs by Warnes remains one of my favorite works. If you want to turn a friend onto Cohen, but are concerned that his voice (like Dylan's) may be too distracting for your friend (his or her loss), try this CD. Jennifer will win them over.

I first heard, "Famous Blue Raincoat" back in 1987. It was first given to me by a friend that knew I would like 2 songs, "Joan of Arc," and "Song of Bernadette." The latter is about Saint Bernadette who, as a young girl, was blessed with a series of apparitions from the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I was 19 back then and had never heard such a sumptuous recording. I was impressed with the high level of complexity and depth in each song. They were each like epic movies; fully realized. I literally needed time to recover after listening to each song before I could begin the next.

The years came and went, and by word of mouth this virtually un-publicized recording quietly sold and sold and sold...so well, the demand for copies exceeded the legally available supply.

Frustrated by the poor sound quality of bootleg copies being sold, and further disappointed by the confining effects of digital sound reproduction when the album was sloppily released on Compact Disc; Jennifer wanted to re-release the album in a form that re-created the legendary, outrageous, sonics found on the original release. So, to mark the 20th anniversary, Jennifer re-mastered the recordings. She actually "un-mastered" them to be more precise. Bypassing all mixing boards and simply sending the music from the original analog master tapes directly to disc. She clearly loves this music. In fact, She kept the original master tapes in a closet in her home. They were found to be in better shape than the copies that were professionally archived!

Even the four additional tracks are exquisite. Contrary to many reports they are not left-overs from the original sessions. They were recorded after the album was released and at least one of the songs was lovingly rehearsed in Jennifers' living room. Hearing them is like finding buried treasure. "Ballad of the Runaway Horse" is simply a masterpiece.

Leonard's lyrics have a dark beauty all their own. The musicians are each, "A" listers. The spot on vocal interpretation and crystalline voice of Jennifer Warnes meld these songs into a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. "Famous Blue Raincoat" has stood the test of time. I deeply love this work, and I am thrilled to recommend it. This re-mastering has truly expanded the soundstage of the music. The highs are higher and the lows are lower. Every instrument has room to breathe here. Jennifer sounds like she is in the room with you! WHAT A VOICE! Give this new release a listen. See if you too don't fall under its spell...

For the record..so to speak, there are really 3 purchase options to consider:

1. The standard re-mastered anniversary C.D. This includes a 24 page booklet on the making and history of the album.

2. A limited edition GOLD version. With expanded booklet notes. The C.D.'s recording surface is electroplated in 24 carat gold. Gold provides a more even recording surface and ultimately a more faithful reproduction of the source material. Not to mention gold is an infinitely less corrosive element than today's standard Compact Disc recording surface.

3. An ultra limited, (only 6000 copies were pressed) box set on vinyl. It is recorded at 45 RPM, which requires 3 discs to hold the work. Each disc is recorded on 180 gram, virgin vinyl, for the highest quality analog sound reproduction available. It also has an extra demo track of "A Singer Must Die" not available anywhere else!

I had a copy of the CD years ago but loaned it to a friend. Never saw it again. It is every bit as good today as it was 20 years ago. This belongs in every serious collection of great American Music. This disc puts to shame what passes for music these days.

Sounds better on my AUDIOPHILE system than any other pop recording I own!

This is a MUST BUY