''Blue Alert'' is a
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
album recorded by
Anjani, girlfriend and longtime backing singer of iconic Canadian singer-songwriter and poet
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, and novelist. Themes commonly explored throughout his work include faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, soc ...
, who also produced the album and wrote the lyrics. Also on the production team was
John Lissauer, known for having previously produced two of Cohen's albums: ''
New Skin for the Old Ceremony'' (1974) and ''
Various Positions
''Various Positions'' is the seventh studio album by Leonard Cohen, released in December 1984 (and February 1985). It marked not only his turn to a modern sound and use of synthesizers (particularly on the opening track), but also, after the harm ...
'' (1984).
The album was released in Canada on May 2, in the United States on May 19, and in Europe on June 5, 2006, by Columbia Records. It debuted at No. 16 on the ''Billboard'' Top Jazz Albums chart.
Track listing
# "Blue Alert" – 5:39
# "Innermost Door" – 3:16
# "The Golden Gate" – 3:08
# "Half the Perfect World" – 4:06
# "Nightingale" – 3:00
# "No One After You" – 4:09
# "Never Got to Love You" – 4:36
# "The Mist" – 3:08
# "Crazy to Love You" – 4:51
# "Thanks for the Dance" – 4:38
All songs written by Anjani Thomas (music) and Leonard Cohen (lyrics).
"Nightingale" was previously recorded by Cohen on ''
Dear Heather''. "The Mist" contains lyrical elements from "As the Mist Leaves No Scar", the same poem "True Love Leaves No Traces" is based on (see ''
Death of a Ladies' Man''). Later (2012), Leonard Cohen recorded his own version of "Crazy to Love You" for ''
Old Ideas
''Old Ideas'' is the twelfth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, released in January 2012. It is Cohen's highest-charting release in the United States, reaching number 3 on the ''Billboard'' 200, 44 years after the release o ...
'', and "Thanks for the Dance" on his 2019 album of the same name.
Personnel
* Leonard Cohen – arranger, producer
* Larry Corbett – cello
* Bruce Dukov – violin
* Danny Frankel – drums
* Pamela Goldsmith – viola
* Brian Leonard – violin
*
Greg Leisz
Gregory Brian Leisz ( ; born September 18, 1949) is an American musician. He is a songwriter, recording artist, and producer. He plays guitar, dobro, mandolin, banjo, lap steel and pedal steel guitar.
Biography
Leisz grew up in the garage ba ...
– lap steel guitar
*
John Lissauer – clarinet, arranger, keyboards, baritone saxophone
*
Jeremy Lubbock – string arrangements
;Technical
* Stephen Marcussen – mastering
* Ed Sanders – producer, engineer, mixing
References
External links
Anjani's HomepageBlue Alert Homepage
- Music Box, April 2007 (Vol. 14, #4)
Review
by Pico Iyer
Siddharth Pico Raghavan Iyer (born 11 February 1957), known as Pico Iyer, is an English-born essayist and novelist known chiefly for his travel writing. He is the author of numerous books on crossing cultures including ''Video Night in Kathman ...
in ''Shambhala Sun Magazine''
{{Authority control
2006 albums
Vocal jazz albums
Anjani albums
Columbia Records albums