Discussion regarding "Death of a Ladies Man"

Humphrey Bear · Post by **Humphrey Bear** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:57 am

On the Steve Hoffman forum there is a thread going on where people are discussing the lousy sound quality on Cohen's "Death of a Ladies Man" album. I highly recommend to read through it:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showt ... hp?t=51502

A quote from the thread:

"Singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has recorded 11 albums, including Death of a Ladies' Man, produced by the legendary Phil Spector. Spector used unusual methods to provoke Cohen's genius, like holding a gun to the singer's head and demanding a more emotional delivery. I don't recommend that you enlist the services of a nut like Spector, nor do I think you should resort to such outrageous goads."

Another quote:

"There's some story involving the master tapes, I believe. Actually, Cohen never recorded proper lead vocals for this album. Spector left at some point during the sessions with the multitracks that featured guide vocals and refused to record anything else. Cohen explains that he had to choose between canning the whole project or release it as Spector wanted to release it. But he never had the opportunity to complete the album as he had wished to."

Jay · Post by **Jay** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:29 pm

All of that is true, Cohen wanted the album to sound more like his following album 'Recent Songs'.
I, however, continue to enjoy the album as it is.

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:01 pm

I agree that this album ha ssome rpoblems with sound, it sounds pretty muddy and confused to me, and it has be something with the remastering. I really want to see this album finally remastered, and it will be more appreciate then. I wouldn't dream about this, of course, if I don't like the album. Album is great, I simply thing the existing mix is disastrous, and that Sony should rerelease it remastered.

Humphrey Bear · Post by **Humphrey Bear** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 4:43 am

Jay wrote:All of that is true

Even the part about Spector holding a gun to Cohen's head?

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:56 am

Oh, yes. Spector held a gun to his head. A lot of artists had trouble with Spector, John Lennon included. For Spector, it was all about control. He couldn't/wouldn't let the artist have input into their own production. Like Leonard was quoted as saying, well a paraphrase, "I had the choice of taking him on, or giving up control. I gave up control". I'm sure Tom has the accurate quote, or it may even be in the post above me. I've not much time, and Humphrey, your posts stand out so spectacularly on the page, I just saw those words as I ran thru the board. Yes. It's true.

Linda.

Teratogen · Post by **Teratogen** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 10:27 am

yeah, and even with john lennon as well. spector shot a bullet into the cieling or something like that, and lennon said something like, "if you're gonna shoot me, then shoot me, but don't fuck with my ears."

Kevin W.M.LastYearsMan · Sat Dec 10, 2005 4:37 pm

Haha!! Great Lennon quote.
That reminds me of when the guy at the concert tells Dylan that there was a guy threatening to shoot him. Dylan said, "I don't mind being shot, but I don't dig being told about it."
I thought that was funny as hell.

Humphrey Bear · Post by **Humphrey Bear** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:55 am

Why would a producer bring a gun to a studio? What was he planning on doing with it?

Teratogen · Post by **Teratogen** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 10:47 am

it's phil spector. is there really any other reason that need be given?

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:28 pm

Leonard said that Spector was more or less drunk I think. I remember him quoting that Spector was holdimg the gun in one hand, and bottle in other... Some guy at the fiddle didn't impress him, so he put a gun in his head, and poor "kid" (Leonard reffered to him that way) left studio and never came back.
Now, Spector hold the gun into Leonard's head and said "I love you, Leonard" - Leonard: "I hope you do, Phil" - thats' true. Anyway, eveyrthing written on that forum about Spector-Cohen affair you linked is true.

I think Spector was holding the gun so he can motivate his musicians better...

From SpeakingCohen site:

http://www.webheights.net/speakingcohen/phono178.htm
http://www.webheights.net/speakingcohen/rs012678.htm
http://www.webheights.net/speakingcohen/rs20978.htm

Teratogen · Post by **Teratogen** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:27 am

i remember hearing from his ex-wife, ronnie spector, that when the ronettes were doing a tune (possibly "i hear a symphony"--don't know if that's the real name of the tune), he had them in the studio for nearly an entire 24-hour day doing it multiple times, over and over and over again until he liked what he heard. maybe he got tired of trying over and over and figured a gun would help make it less time.

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 11:24 am

Teratogen,

I'd guess that the tune you remember was "I Can Hear Music."
"I Hear A Symphony" was a Supremes song; I'm not aware
of the Ronettes also covering it.

Teratogen · Post by **Teratogen** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 11:28 am

hm. that's interesting. i always though phil spector wrote that song. maybe he did. maybe he produced it, too. maybe i just said it was the ronettes. or maybe the song you said is what i was thinking of. but i really don't remember!