Did I Ever Love You: Leonard Cohen

Gary Peters · Post by **Gary Peters** » 30 Nov 2020 6:05 am

As part of a covers album I'm working on, I got up the guts to try and do this, one of my favourite songs. It's a song you have to be old to get right, and I'm feeling pretty old at the moment. Doesn't mean I got it right, but I got as close as I could. Maybe I'm not old enough.

https://soundcloud.com/user-581188416/d ... nard-cohen

Gary

Tucker Jackson · Post by **Tucker Jackson** » 30 Nov 2020 12:38 pm

Leonard would be proud. I'm happy to report that you are an old, old man. So old, you think this Twitter hashtag is for playing Tic Tac Toe.
Sorry... I meant Noughts and Crosses ("two countries separated by a common language," and all that, but united by adding pedal steel to Leonard Cohen songs).

Gary Peters · Post by **Gary Peters** » 30 Nov 2020 12:53 pm

Thanks Tucker, for officially confirming that I am indeed remarkably old. In 1979, here in the UK, I was voted 'Young Jazz Musician of the Year' (no, really!) so I've always had proof that I was young (not many people can say that, a bit like release papers from the asylum proving you're sane), so now I have the proof I needed to bookend the series (or life you might call it).

Great song though ain't it?

G

Tucker Jackson · Post by **Tucker Jackson** » 30 Nov 2020 2:32 pm

Wow, "Young Jazz Musician of the Year," that's a serious pedigree! No wonder your recordings sound like you know your way around, you know... music.

You must have been annoyed to have worked up your chops only to see the Clash own 1979 (they're on my mind because I went to the store today and they had replaced the Muzak with "London Calling." Which I endorsed. Sorry...
.

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 30 Nov 2020 3:26 pm

Another good show Gar, soulful indeed...cheers me old mate ðŸ˜ŠðŸ‘ðŸ»

Gary Peters · Post by **Gary Peters** » 1 Dec 2020 2:25 am

Thanks Larry (and Tucker again)

If you don't know it, you should check out Leonard's original on 'Popular Problems'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo0C1_wb8yA

It eclipses my version in every way...except one: no steel!!

But it was always crying (no pun intended) out for one.

G

Tucker Jackson · Post by **Tucker Jackson** » 1 Dec 2020 11:21 am

I'm pretty sure he did this song the time I flew to Oakland to see the gig. Wanted to catch him before he stopped touring due to his age. Turned out to be the final tour, and he died three years later.

At that show, the Webb Sisters were just great handling those backup vocals. There was a secondary guitarist who had a pedal steel and was a good player, but he only played it on a few songs.

Gary Peters · Post by **Gary Peters** » 1 Dec 2020 12:35 pm

You're a lucky man!

Those backing vocals...jeez!!

G

Edward Efira · Post by **Edward Efira** » 1 Dec 2020 5:31 pm

Beautiful, gave me the chills, Bravo.

Gary Peters · Post by **Gary Peters** » 2 Dec 2020 12:41 am

Thanks, Edward. Yes, I got the chills too when listening to the final mix. I don't think that's ever happened before. Maybe that's an age thing too!

G

Edward Efira · Post by **Edward Efira** » 2 Dec 2020 6:05 pm

And it's cold outside

Jim Norman · Post by **Jim Norman** » 4 Dec 2020 11:04 pm

That was great, Gary. And thanks for including the link to Leonardâ€˜s version â€“ â€“ thatâ€™s a new one for me. Great tune. And I love your version.

Gary Peters · Post by **Gary Peters** » 5 Dec 2020 12:51 pm

Thanks Jim...yes, it's a great song. Hope I can write stuff like that when I'm in my 80's!

Checked out your band...nice Fessenden you have there!

Gary