[Hallelujah 40] -- Forty years ago this week, Leonard Cohen released his seventh studio album, Various Positions. This was also his first studio album since 1979's Recent Songs. The new album was well-received, with compliments on its "lucid and beautiful production" (Rolling Stone) and recognition as "a stunning return to form" (AllMusic). Various Positions did not chart in the US, but it fared very well in Spain, Portugal, and Scandinavia, and even garnered moderate success in the UK (peaking at #52 on the charts).
The two singles were "Dance Me to the End of Love" and "Hallelujah." Yeah, that "Hallelujah." While it didn't get much attention in 1984, covers of the tune pretty much blew up in 1991 (John Cale) and 1994 (Jeff Buckley). And now it's pretty much a standard.
Even if you're not a fan of Cohen's vocal stylings, and I am, you have to give him credit as an important songwriter of great skill.
Flashback: Various Positions (December 11, 1984)
And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
I'll see you in seven!
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