Yesterday, I received a record from my friend Greg Ashley. It was his re-recording of the entire Leonard Cohen’s 1977 album, Death of a Ladies’ Man. I was immediately intrigued when he messaged me about it, as it is one of my top 3 favorite Cohen albums.
Death of a Ladies' Man is an unusual choice for a Leonard Cohen album. It is not one of the late singer’s most popular or critically acclaimed albums, and the artist himself was not complimentary about it. The album's unconventional style is likely due to the fact that it was co-written and produced by Phil Spector, who was known for his eccentric and often controversial methods. Though the writing sessions were productive, the recording sessions were rife with the usual Phil shenanigans.
How did two such diametrically opposed figures as Phil Spector and Leonard Cohen come together to create an album?
Phil Spector was a flamboyant producer known for his "wall of sound" production style infused with the occasional erratic behavior, paranoia, with the habit of firing guns in the studio. Leonard Cohen was a resigned, fatalistic poet who wrote songs about “love, loss, and redemption”.
The resulting album is an acquired taste. It is not the usual hushed whispers with strings floating on top, you’re used to hearing from a Cohen record but rather a cacophony of madness. It is like a party thrown by Spector to coax Cohen out of his depression only to devolve into a spiral drunken singalong.
Although it was a commercial failure outside of Sweden, Death of a Ladies Man is considered a cult classic. I won't bore you with the Behind the Music episode or rehash reviews, but I do recommend giving it a listen.
Track highlights
True Love Leaves No Traces
Iodine
I Left A Woman Waiting
Don’t Go Home With Your Hard-On
This album is best enjoyed with a glass of your favorite bourbon or a rich Brandy Alexander in a corner booth of a stuffy club on a muggy summer night.
Brandy Alexander Recipe
Add 1 1/2 ounces of cognac, 1 ounce of dark creme de cacao and 1 ounce cream into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or a coupe glass.
Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.