JENNIFER WARNES-FAMOUS BLUE RAINCOAT.
JENNIFER WARNES-FAMOUS BLUE RAINCOAT.
A few days ago, I put my Ipod on shuffle, and as sometimes happens, after a few tracks, it played a fantastic track. That track was Famous Blue Raincoat, the title track from Jennifer Warnes’ 1987 album Famous Blue Raincoat. I had not listened to this album for a few months, so looked the album out, put it on the compact disc player, and listened to it, not once, but twice. When I had finished listening to the album, I thought that this was an album that I should write an article on. It is an album that in many ways is, underrated and one that many people either do not know about, or have forgotten about. Hopefully, once you have read this article, you will decide that you want to go out and buy this album, and you too, will enjoy this album as much as I have since its release in 1987.
Jennifer Warnes was born Jennifer Jean Warren, in Seattle, Washington in March 1964, and was raised in Ananheim. She was able to sing, and wanted to sing from an early age. When she was seven, she was offered her first recording contract. Her father decided that Warnes was far too young to become a recording artist, and turned the contract down. From then until the age of seventeen, she sang in the local church, and also at local pageants. Aged seventeen, Warnes was offered an opera scholarship to the Immaculate Heart College. However, that was not for her, and durning the mid 1960s, she decided to follow in the footsteps of Joan Baez, and become a folk singer. For the next few years, she toured the various clubs and theaters, singing folk music.
Then in 1968, Warnes signed a record contract with Parrot Records, who were a subsidiary of London Records. She recorded her debut album I Can Remember Everything in 1968, however, it failed to chart in either the US or UK. Later in 1968, she joined the cast the television program The Smothers’ Brothers Comedy Hour. In November 1968, Jennifer Warnes joined the California cast of the stage musical Hair. She played the female lead in this version of Hair. At this time she was still performing using the name Jennifer Warren. However, early on in her career, she was advised to change her name from Jennifer Warren to Jennifer Warnes. This was to avoid her being confused with a Broadway and film actress also called Jennifer Warren.
In 1969, Warnes released a single in the UK called Let the Sunshine In on London Records. This single was released by her using the name Jennifer. This was prior to her changing her name, so to avoid any confusion over her name, she dropped her surname from the title. Also in 1969, she released her second album See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Heal Me. Once again, the album failed to chart in either the UK or US.
In 1971 Warnes met Leonard Cohen. This was to proved to be an important meeting for Warnes and Cohen. Warnes remained a friend of Cohen’s since then. She was one of Cohen’s backing singers on his tour of Europe. Then she was the vocal arranger and guest singer on Cohen’s albums Live Songs, Various Positions, I’m Your Man, The Future, Filed Commander Cohen and Recent Songs. Warnes duetted with Cohen on the song The Smokey Life on Recent Songs.
Warnes released her third album Jennifer in 1972. This album was released on the Reprise record label. Like her first two albums, this album was not successful commercially. It failed to chart in either the UK or US. This album was produced by John Cale, formerly of the Velvet Underground
1976 saw Warnes release her fourth album entitles Jennifer Warnes. This album provided her with her breakthrough single Right Time of the Night. This reached number six in Billboard hot one hundred.
In 1979 Warnes recorded a song for the film Norma Rae called It Goes Like It Goes. This won her an Academy Award for the best original song. She was nominated for a second Academy Award in 1981, for her song One More Hour from the film Ragtime. One More Hour was written by Randy Newman. Then in 1982 she won another Academy Award for best original song for Up Where We Belong, which she sang with Joe Cocker for the film An Officer and A Gentleman. The song reached number one in the Billboard hot one hundred. Warnes won a third Academy Award for her duet with Bill Medley called (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life. This song was from the film Dirty Dancing. The song also won a Golden Globe award.
Also, in 1979 Warnes released a new album. The album was Shot Through the Heart. This album charted in the US, reaching number ninety-four in the US charts.
The album that this article is about, Famous Blue Raincoat was released in 1987. It was Warnes tribute album to her long term friend Leonard Cohen. All of the songs on the album were written by Cohen. The songs come from a variety of Cohen’s album, from 1969‘s Songs From A Room to 1984‘s Various Positions. Two of the tracks were from Cohen’s new album I’m Your Man, which was then unreleased. Famous Blue Raincoat reached number seventy-two in the US and thirty-three in the UK charts. The album was well received by critics on its release, and features a number of well known musicians, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, David Lindley and Van Dyke Parks. Leonard Cohen sang a duet with Warnes on the track Joan of Arc.
After the release of Famous Blue Raincoat, Warnes only released two further albums, 1992’s The Hunter and 2001’s The Well. Neither of these albums made any impact on the charts in either the UK or US. Since then, she has recorded tribute songs for artists like Warren Zevon and Ian Tyson. In 2009 she embarked on a tour of parts of the US. Then in 2010, she started working on a new solo album of new original material. As yet, this album has not been released.
The first song on the album is First We Take Manhattan. When Famous Blue Raincoat was released, First We Take Manhattan had not been released by Leonard Cohen. It was on his new album I’m Your Man. Having heard both songs many times, I like both versions for different reason. Warnes brings the song to life, by singing the song slightly quicker. Her voice suits the song well, and the arrangement is totally different to Cohen’s version. What I do like about Cohen’s version though, is the way the backing singers accompany him. Here, the way the song is arranged, the guitar solo fills in the gaps where the backing singers were in Cohen’s version. This track starts the album well, and is an interesting interpretation of this song.
On Bird On A Wire, she really slows the song down. When you listen carefully to the lyrics, you are struck by how powerful they are. Cohen is quite simply a master of his craft, when it comes to songwriting. Such a beautiful song needs the right person to sing it. Jennifer Warnes is that person. She sings the song exceptionally well, her interpretation and inflection is perfect. She allows plenty of space in the song. simply a master of his craft, when it comes to songwriting. Such a beautiful song needs the right person to sing it. Jennifer Warnes sings the song exceptionally well, her interpretation and inflection is perfect. The track is well arranged and produced. There is nothing added to the song that you feel does not belong there. Quite simply, this is a beautiful version, of a beautiful song.
The title track, Famous Blue Raincoat, is the next track on the album. With all of the tracks on the album, it is difficult not to compare Warnes’ version with Cohen’s original version. This version differs to the original as it begins with a really atmospheric and moody saxophone solo. Warnes slows the song way down, and goes on to perform the song beautifully. The arrangement is minimalist, and features a tenor saxophone drifting in and out of the track, occasionally. This is used sparingly, and makes it even more effective. Once again, this is a lovely song, well performed by Warnes.
Joan of Arc is the next track on the album. The track has an unusual arrangement at the start. For nearly the first minute of the track, hardly anything happens, occasionally an instrument plays briefly, almost as if it is being tuned. This almost spoils the track for me. Thereafter, Warnes sings a moving duet with Leonard Cohen. Their voices compliment each other, and this is a good version of the song. However, this track is not as good as the previous tracks. It is not a bad song, or bad version of this song. The problem is, that Warnes has set the standard so high, with the first three songs on the album.
On the next track, Ain’t No Cure For Love, Warnes returns to the high standards she set with the first three songs on the album. This was the second song on the album that was taken from Cohen’s unreleased album I’m Your Man. She interprets Cohen’s lyrics really well, and give a good performance on this track. She demonstrates quite a wide vocal range on this track. It is interesting listening to how both singers choose to interpret the same song. Although I like Warnes version, in fact, like it a lot, Cohen’s version is just that little bit better. It is not Cohen’s vocal I prefer, it is the arrangement on Cohen’s version I prefer. The ideal version would be, Warnes singing the song the way it is arranged on Cohen’s version.
Coming Back To You is a lovely song on this album. Again, Jennifer Warnes has just the right voice to sing the song. The lyrics on this song tell a story, a story that is sad and heartfelt. To be able to deliver such powerful and sad lyrics, a vocalist must deliver the song the correct way. Warnes is able to do that. She sets the correct mood for the song, and the arrangement compliments her delivery. This is a song that Warnes has interpreted perfectly, and is, for me, the best version of this song.
Unlike the majority of songs on this album, this is a song that Cohen did not write himself. Song of Berandette is a song he co-wrote with Bill Elliott and Jennifer Warnes. This song begins with a piano and strings. Warnes then sings the song accompanied only by the piano. Later in the tracks feature, adding to the beauty and atmosphere. The lyrics are probably, amongst the best on this album. The way its is arranged is quite simple. Jennifer Warnes delivers a hauntingly beautiful performance, of this beautiful song.
A Singer Must Die is the penultimate song on Famous Blue Raincoat. On this song, at the start, Warnes is only accompanied by backing singers. They manage to produce the sound of a choir. This track is arranged by veteran producer, arranger and musician Van Dyke Parks. His arrangement of this track is masterful. The sound produced by Warnes and the backing singers is joyous. This track, is easily, one of the best on the album.
The final track on the album is Came So Far For Beauty. This is the second song on the album that Cohen only co-wrote. He co-wrote the song with John Lissauer. The lyrics to the song when you listen to them, are sad, and read almost like a warning. It is another track that benefits from Warnes’ style of vocal delivery. Once again, she slows the song way down, this has the effect of adding to the song’s effectiveness and dramatic impact. It is a a great song, and is a fitting way to end the album.
If, having read this article, you are interested in buying this album, I can honestly say that it is a great album, full of great songs. It is interesting to hear how Warnes has chosen to interpret Leonard Cohen’s music. In my opinion, she interpreted each song really well. In some cases, I prefer her version to Cohen’s original. If you have previously hear Cohen’s music, this album is well worth buying, because here, you will hear the songs sung in a different way. Warnes sings the songs in a different way. Her voice has none of Cohen’s gruffness, and in some cases, brings the songs to life. Warnes is much more of singer than Cohen. Should you never have heard Leonard Cohen’s music, I would suggest you go out and buy Famous Blue Raincoat, and also, a couple of Leonard Cohen albums. Two Leonard Cohen albums to buy to compare these songs are I’m Your Man and Greatest Hits. This will give you the chance to compare and contrast the two different versions of each song. Famous Blue Raincoat is a great album that I believe deserves a place in your record collection, it features some wonderful songs, sung by a singer with a great voice, who is backed by a very talented group of musicians. Buy this album and you will listen to it time after time. Standout Tracks: Bird On A Wire, Song of Berandette, A Singer Must Die and Came So Far For Beauty.
JENNIFER WARNES-FAMOUS BLUE RAINCOAT.
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