Jennifer Warnes: First We Take Manhattan

We got kicked out of our studio for a few weeks but I wanted Jennifer Warnes to bring her take on Leonard Cohen's song so I took the rest of the show to the beach and let Jennifer bring her amazing talent in her glorious version of Leonard Cohen's music. We really had no live audience as normally so it was just me, John Brunton, Joni Tosoni (our BRILLIANT director) and the rest of the crew to witness this chillingly awesome performance from FAMOUS BLUE RAINCOAT. I am so blessed to have been a part of this from my award-winning series IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL!

[@sirwinston2368]

Anybody else think Jennifer is drop-dead gorgeous?

[@marekeos]

Impossible to get enough of that voice. Absolutely one of a kind.

[@SamsungAe-mn8tt]

THIS SONG FOR MANY TEADONS, INCLUDING A KIND OF RELIGIOUS TEXTVIN IT: IS TOTALLY BANNED FROM MY PLAYLIST, AS IS ALL THE REST OF THAT PERIOD. I REALLY DO NOT CARE AT ALL OF ALL WHAT IS SAID IN THIS FUCKING SONG SUCH AS "GUIDED BY HEA VEN". GO AWAY WITH THIS FUCKING SONG. TOTALLY BANNED. LOUIS CELLAURO

[@marekeos]

@@SamsungAe-mn8tt Remember what your doctor said? 4 pills, 4 times per day. You skipped again!

[@woohooboy]

As I stated elsewhere: Leonard Cohen's sombre, word weary lyrics combined with Jennifer Warnes smooth contralto delivery and of course the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan's distinctive guitar work make this one of the most underrated late 80's pop/rock gems. It was the collective efforts of these talented people that made resulted in a great song being made.....

[@tracyfortune3297]

People were so spoiled and so unaware of the true artists. They're finding out in their ending years.

[@MRizzio]

@@tracyfortune3297 Well said Tracy. At 64 I too am finding these pearls.

[@ericvaneupen9986]

What a woman, what a voice, what a song...

[@3point14rat]

Killer voice. Any of today's 'artists' capable of doing a live performance that's actually live like this? Nope.

[@diamondmask]

This album is in my top 5 of all time. Maybe number 1. Audiophiles use it to test very high end equipment because of it's stellar production values. Jennifer has a fantastic voice and the execution of the songs is superb.

[@danserdutz6700]

Agree. Also 'The Hunter' album imo. Both are amazing. The quality of songs soulfully realized, cream o' the crop musicians with such original arrangements. are stereophile '10's - we'd test drive the components to these albums and smile. So lush and sweet still.

[@ChuckKruger]

Fantastic

[@peterwehn6008]

Was eine Tolle Künstlerin und ein toller Song

[@rikicooper3169]

She's a genius. she knew she could crack this song

[@NotMarkKnopfler]

I don't know man. We all know about Jennifer's voice, but there's something very attractive in her looks too. She really has everything. The voice, talent, intelligence, and beauty the type of beauty that is attractive to "the thinking man". That little turn in her eye is cute too. She's the whole package as far as I'm concerned. Meant with respect.

[@57sitruc]

Haven’t heard this for so long. Great song, excellent singer and SRV’s magic guitar.

[@sybillenova1465]

Very underrated singer.W o n d e r f u l voice.Met her in 1987 when still working as a celebrity journalist for German COSMOPOLITAN together with LEONARD COHEN for an exclusive interview and told her,that she needed a good fashion designer to be more mesmerizing for the show business crowd .She laughed and agreed Hopefull,we will hear from her again ....with or without new fashion designer .Voices very often get even b e t t e r with chronological age ..

[@GRDowntown2020]

Jennifer Warnes is the best interpreter of the music of Leonard Cohen. She takes the work of the master and makes it her own and definitive. Thank you for sharing!

[@kahanasam]

I was lucky enough to interview miss Warnes and she signed my CD copy of "Famous Blue Raincoat". In case you don't know, Ms. Warnes was a hugely successful studio artist and her records have sold a TON. Couldn't happen to a nicer soul. Sweet. If only all big talents were as kind.

[@ProNorden]

Is this song intentionally anti-Semitic ?

[@peskyfervid6515]

@@ProNorden Not sure, but the composer was most definitely Jewish, so you decide

[@lemorab1]

@@ProNorden How do you see this song as anti-Semitic?

[@gordprice670]

Jennifer Warnes, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Leonard Cohen - Thank you!

[@thedeadbeatdsg]

Jennifer Warnes was Leonard Cohen's backing singer for many years, I'm sure he really appreciated this version.

[@antoniomonteiro6210]

Superior voice. One of the best!

[@MrWetrock]

Great interpretation of a classic. Plus SRV❤️

[@amedeofilippi6336]

She is so talented. I love her voice.

[@bryanoshaughnessy2017]

Yes! The images of the guitar player looked like SRV, so I read the comments to see if anybody else thought it was him. The tune sounds unlikely, not blues as he used to play, but obviously "pop" music. But the notes are clear, the slides are clean, there are no buzzy mistakes or missed strings in a sloppy bar-chord. What would he be today?

[@joehart7260]

Great performance from Jennifer Warnes, and the lyrics are chilling and brilliant.

[@normaperez5767]

Excellent

[@arismultimedia]

I am mesmerized by her version song of this song.

[@volkerkruse8602]

Wonderful lady

[@PeanutGalleryGirl]

Wow, what a rare clip. Jennifer was a wise choice indeed to record this album. I remember getting a copy very shortly after it's release. It's every bit as wonderful listening to it today. Thanks for sharing this!

[@sauquoit13456]

Happy Birthday Jennifer Warnes; born on this date in 1947. {Mar. 3rd}...

[@KonstanzArrens]

Jennifer, easily the most inspired interpreter of Leonard's songs. We are "guided by the beauty of our weapons". So long, Leonard.

[@stefanp.4094]

Nice vocals by Warnes

[@michaelmitchell7223]

One of the HOTTEST rock songs ever written. What sweet revenge. It should have been #1!

[@geoffreywatts2846]

What a fine live performance!

[@rupertgrech7097]

Fantastic version and a real stand-out on the album. Love the SRV guitar work and the whole arrangement and production, in general.

[@pippaknuckle]

Stevie Ray Vaughan you legend. Good job brother! We miss you.

[@Stringman1950]

My favorite female pop singer. Maybe favorite singer over all. What a voice.

[@Spooms1961]

Such a superb voice that cuts to the soul of a song with her cry. Wow, this was a fantastic and totally sublime album for her and the music world.

[@richardmorse5307]

Jennifer Warnes’ voice pierces me to the heart!!!

[@stlyrface]

Never saw this before because frankly the appeal of Leonard Cohen has always been completely lost on me. But Jennifer Warnes is a fantastic -- and fantastically underrated -- singer. Terrific performance here. And as soon as I heard that guitar I just said whoa, can it be? Good video.

[@danaherd]

Jennifer Warnes as always is amazing.

[@rom661]

It's Stevie Ray. I think this was a little while after he did the lead work on Bowie's Puttin' Out Fire. Robbe Ford was the guitarist on the rest of the album. Brilliant album -- songwriting, production, and performance. If you one of the few people who care about such things, the 30 year re-issue has been mastered by Bernie Grundman and shows far superior to the original CD which sucked compared to the LP. The LP has been reissued in a 45rpm 3 disk set. Superb.

[@jonsouthgen]

As usual,its all about opinion. In my opinion ,this is one of the best (and,i beleive first,even before L.C.) versions of a stunning song by the finest female singer of the rock generation. Powerful,subtle,emotive,sublime, J.W. has it all. I have been listening to her for decades and never tire of doing so. I even like Dirty Dancing !!!!!!.Dirty Blue Raincoat is up there with the best collections/productions ever . Again i say,all about individual opinions.Rock on Jenny

[@AnaSilva-rm7kd]

What an amazing voice..God bless her

[@DonHornsby]

This was a masterpiece...

[@DeanGillies-ur3jv]

Love this song from the 80s beautiful voice beautiful song love you jennifer

[@chrisanthony3]

One of the greatest opening lines of any song. LC is a poetic genius.

[@iriswigle]

"Guided by the beauty of our weapons" is 2 Corinthians 10:4, "For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things for we are overturning reasonings & every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God & we are bringing every thought into captivity to make it obedient to the Christ." If it is God's will for all nations to exist, including aboriginals, then there is no weapon that can conquer the will of God. Eventually, we will win.

[@dougbright8120]

Wonderful timbre and voice control. The song suits our times too. It has started in Noo Joyzey and Virginia!

[@eulenspygel1917]

Stevie Ray Waughn on guitar,no wonder sound so good

[@peterliddell1463]

wow!!!!!!! she is supremely talented

[@itsjim2875]

Been loving this woman for over 50 years!

[@Swampzoid]

Superb singer and interpreter of song. She is top notch.

[@iriswigle]

People have questioned why there were so many young people running down the streets and what was the significance? It appears that Jennifer Warnes left the building quite suddenly after faced with a several locked doors. They may have been fans waiting outside and maybe not? Jen waited till they passed...clipped up her hair into a bob and started to run behind them in the same direction chasing whoever. They never did find her.

[@terminatina8065]

Loved her backing on Leonard’s music especially the studio version on the I'm Your Man album, where Jennifer Warnes’ is haunting ❤️Take this Waltz… listen to I’ll dance with you in Vienna… breathtaking.

[@davidbarrynorton9601]

I've had this album from day one and never tire of listening, she's sooooo.

[@MRizzio]

I guess at this late hour I am inspired to find more and more of Jennifer's profound opus. Each new song makes me want to hear her belt out one of the lyrics I penned over thirty years ago. Amazing talent. Thank you Jennifer.

[@craigadams7808]

Just pulled this album out... as I seem to every few years... just cant let it go.... cohen is simply the best song poet out there...

[@francescomoretta656]

Wonderful voice and guitar!!!!

[@48dirtfarmer]

The words of a master...our Canadian master...and the THE songbird. Glorious!

[@The22on]

what a voice - what pitch control. you could tune an instrument to her voice. amazing. i've never heard a singer hit the pitches so exactly.

[@bryangarnet3553]

One of THE VOICES........I never saw her live......MASSIVE REGRET ON MY PART

[@timj9418]

Wow, Jennifer Warnes is such a great singer with both talent and feeling in equal measure. She adds a couple of special things to this live performance, including the little vocal soaring near the end, which was not in the studio recording. I'm not a big Leonard Cohen fan--in fact, I've always thought he was overrated by the music critics and fans, though there's no doubt he wrote some excellent songs. Jennifer Warnes brought a contribution and quality to the songs that allowed me to appreciate the potential in several of his songs. She absolutely brought these songs to life for me. (I suppose you could also say she made them more palatable or commercial in the process.) And, in some ways, it may be the highlight of her career when she chose to interpret these songs, making them her own. That is, her voice and her heart seem so perfect for the songs. So deep, heartbreaking, melancholy, and emotionally rich the way she sings these songs. So this is a pairing made in heaven.

[@sirwinston2368]

Her vocal may be live but otherwise it's straight from the recording. There is no change in SRV's guitar parts. Don't mean to be argumentative. Jennifer's vocal, either way, is stellar. Plus, she's a beauty. SW

[@shersinghusa]

Amazing singer. Met her so many times. Great person too.

[@ionthetarget]

You are so lucky. Both Jennifer and Karen Carpenter are the two finest vocalists of this Century. I met Karen several times and still wish to hug Jennifer and thank her for her genius.

[@artfoursoul]

Ohh what a beautiful voice!!!

[@iriswigle]

@kevinherbert There is another possibility for the fenced in area ...a Bird in a Cage theme which some may elude to the Haulocost...rite? & 4 some, people, like Jews & Russians, they are still in a cage...rite? On the other side of this room, was a larger room with windows & the door was locked. Thus, Jennifer ran around the room, scaled the wall, grabbed a lock on the window and went out by window. Perhaps, it is a Birdie thingy. Love the "we promise you" aboriginal war chant at the end.

[@karlfisher1864]

A truly great singer. I got the distinct feeling that Stevie Ray was wanting to break out and go wild,. but he kept to the script. Hee hee. Good man!

[@csi2448]

Go check out the remix! He lets loose for pretty much the last minute of the song lol

[@youtubeadministrator684]

best voice ever

[@charlypink1]

Amazing, I love Cohen, but she has completely taken this album of his and OWNED it !!! These songs surely should belong to Jennifer Warnes now?!!! #

[@timj9418]

You are so right. She absolutely made the songs her own, and elevated them well beyond the potential they contained to begin with.

[@megatexification]

I just couldn't believe that was Stevie! This must be really old. I'm glad I found it.

[@Paintpro91952]

She is amazing!! One of the best ever!

[@morriganravenchild6613]

This is a masterpiece - we shall miss him. RIP and thanks.

[@forestsoceansmusic]

Well done man, I bought this single as soon as it was released (in 1987). What a babe!

[@billielittle]

I loved this album. I bought the tape and wore it out from so much playing. Loved it then, and it still sounds awesome today.

[@maxineasterling9463]

Love this song and it’s artist, great work Jennifer!!

[@seuldanscetteville]

enfin je découvre Jennifer Warnes... merci... merci...

[@inekedewild7566]

Beautiful version!.

[@stephenwilliams4501]

The wire mesh at the end reminds me of when Jake and Ellwood played Bob's Country Bunker. Surely NOBODY would chuck stuff at our dear Jennifer would they?

[@iriswigle]

While Brenda Lee was the first singing alias...there was a handful of other alias names and after the teen years developed into Kate Nash, Kate Bush, Judith Durham....with often hiring other females to continue to represent the musician...who would Jennifer or whoever regard as the most important ....Sissel...composer/singer for movies.

[@andydemmig1828]

Es ist irgendwie wahr geworden, heutzutage ... it' s true, nowadays

[@bbowie]

love this song from one of my favourite singers of all time! Outstanding!

[@will6825]

I forgot just how good she is. Thanks for the VID

[@joseanabarca]

Love this song alive!!!

[@wmshunn]

@khasab Jennifer Warnes was actually the first person to record this song, for an album of Cohen songs that LC himself worked on with her in 1987. Stevie Ray Vaughan plays lead guitar. Cohen didn't record the song himself until a year later.

[@danlarge9245]

awesome, great singer, she made Leonords words come to life

[@milan319]

"I'd really like to live beside you baby, I love your body, and your spirit and your clothes, but you see that line that's moving through the station, I told you, I told you, I told you, I was one of those ..." The line always got me for some reason. Missing from Leonard's version

[@jorologo]

A Real 1980s Classic.

[@MisterDeSoto]

Prophetic considering it was released three years before the fall of the Berlin wall (1989).

[@mariacarolinadasilva384]

It's wonderful! She is the greatest

[@Min2konto]

That guitar and that intro is so totally fucking awesome. Been loving this for 20y now. Fuck me this is good.

[@deandee8082]

the monster SRV.. nails it again!

[@cali4nia4me]

"Famous Blue Raincoat" is the CD; "1st We Take Manhattan" is a song on the album. Stevie Ray Vaughn's on guitar. Come to think of it, this song would've probably been banned by the gov't after 9/11 (just a thought). Great song -- great great album. Every track on this album is perfection.

[@jenmillett7]

wow.

[@chrisbird2458]

Just Gorgeous,looks and voice 🇬🇧

[@lieless3396]

Best lead guitar ever!!

[@hgostos]

We always loved you Leonard.

[@JUGAopet1]

" They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom For trying to change the system from within I'm coming now, I'm coming to reward them First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin "

[@Beagslie76]

So Famous Blue Raincoat was a album from Jennifer Warnes? I only know the song from Cohen, and that was on Songs of Love and Hate.

[@kateadams1990]

My Mom had Famous Blue Raincoat on tape when I was a kid. She's an avid reader, and a Leonard Cohen fan, I think. This makes me think of her.

[@debblackmore7460]

Beautiful Jennifer stay safe stay strong listening in lockdown love ya sending love from headway Nottingham UK xxxxx

[@chrisanthony3]

I thank you Jennifer for you led to me to Mr Cohen

[@joeflood9730]

Possibly my favourite song performance and guitar break, didn't realise it was SRV. Awesome. "But you see that line that's moving through the station" "I told you, I told you, I told you I was one of those"

[@livingfast96]

I frackin' loved this album!

[@1iad]

in this song I think that the pupil is up his teacher 'the great songer and writer ever Mr. Leonard Chen