It does seem to be on the rise, doesn't it? ****ing idiotic. If it's that urgent, pull over, it isn't difficult.
From a personal point of view Leonard Cohen is the most pertinent to me of all the 2016 deaths. A huge influence over a long period of time. It was almost compulsory to have his first 2 albums when I was in the 6th form. Always played them over the years then some time later I bought Various Positiions because it had the original (proper) version of Hallelujah and with that I discovered Dance Me To The End Of Love. Crap year.
I had the good fortune to be at Mr. Cohen's Regina concert on April 28, 2013. I think he was pushing 80 at the time and performed brilliantly for about three hours. A true legend. RIP.
I saw him at the O2 in '08 and then again in '13 at the LG Arena - two really good concerts, his voice certainly wasn't ever the best but he surrounded himself with brilliant musicians and great backing singers, The Webb sisters and Sharon Robinson being great examples of singers he used to compliment his gravelly voice. RIP Leonard, you've earned it. Closing Time indeed!
I can recommend the album of his songs by Jennifer Warnes "Famous Blue Raincoat". I must have listened to it hundreds of times in the late 80s.
And I'll support the recommendation but I can't stand Jennifer Warnes for stealing the limelight from Joe Cocker at the Acadamy Awards (Up Where We Belong - An Officer and A Gentleman) back in the early eighties, ****ing bitch!
Nice piece at the beginning when he describes how the rights for this song was stolen by a friend but rather than any bitterness he is glad he felt it wrong to get rich from it, as it is such a beautiful song. Now that's a proper artist.
and now Robert Vaughn. I know we're getting to the stage where the war-time and post war generation are getting on - but seriously what is going on with 2016 - this year is brutal.
