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It’s not just the life of Leonard Cohen.  It’s the life of his song,  Hallelujah.

When he released it on the album  Various Positions, his label in the USA,  Columbia Records, refused to release it.  It never got played and was almost forgotten…until John Cale recorded it for the tribute album I’m Your Fan and it began a life of its own. The song passed from Bob Dylan to Cale, to Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, kdlang and the  Shrek Soundtrack. Now, it’s legendary.

With Fame comes The Lame. Various singers have crushed the life out of Hallelujah in TV Talent shows. Some crediting the song to Jeff Buckley without knowing that Cohen lived it and wrote it.

Leonard wrote 130-150 verses for the song. Took him many  years. At times made him lose his famous cool.

Hallelujah started as a spiritual journey. With various Leonard rewrites it became a secular,  sexy anthem. Before and after it was released to the World, the song took on a life of its own.

Post Shrek, Hallelujah took Leonard Cohen to audiences all over the World. It’s a heartfelt film that captures the brilliance of Leonard Cohen and the song.

The film was released in 2022.

This is smashing filmmaking and epic storytelling.

The directors are Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine.

Dan Geller said “the real focus is Leonard the man asking the deep questions about the purpose of life, the challenges of life, the holiness of life, and the brokenness of life”

https://www.sonyclassics.com/film/hallelujah/

As we sat down Dan said – It’s only about one song but we managed to fit in 22 Cohen songs.

Available for screening on Netflix, Hulu, Crave, and Apple. MUNI

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays All

From  1974 to 1979 I was lucky enough to host Great Canadian Goldrush on CBC Radio  National.

Every Christmas we had a Christmas Jam – in the studio. Produced by Susan Englebert. (with assistance from Claire Lawrence)

Except for the mixed drinks, it was nothing fancy but it was an hour of heart-felt stories and songs.

The artists included Roy Forbes and Shari Ulrich.

After a handful of years, we lost our leader. Producer Susan Englebert lost her battle with Cancer.

We dedicate each of these Christmas show in  her memory.

When Goldrush left the air, Christmas Jam disappeared UNTIL Roundhouse Radio in Vancouver came on air, I had a studio to capture this magic.

I talked to Shari, Roy, and Barney Bentall and they all signed on for a reconnect.

We got 3 years of Christmas in the Round recorded and then Roundhouse went dark.

Keeping the tradition alive, this year we present Year 3 of Christmas in the Round  (2017)

and Next Week the tradition continues with The Trans Canada Highwaymen.

This Week –

The Lineup includes

Jim Byrnes

Shari Ulrich

Barney Bentall

Bill Henderson (Chilliwack)

Craig Northey   (Odds and Steven Page Trio)

On percussion Geoff Hicks (Colin James, Barney, Cuddy, Byrnes, Northey etc)

Rob Becker (guitar/vocals)

Kirby Barber (guitar/vocals)

Roy Forbes was unavailable in Year 3 BUT I found him hiding in Year One

He brings with him two songs and the slide guitar of Shaun Verreault from Wide Mouth Mason.

And yes..he does tell the story and rolls out his Christmas Classic Mince Meat Tart