Song of the Day: "Who by Fire"

Leonard Cohen's classic, with Sonny Rollins, PJ Harvey, David Gilmour, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova plus industrial strength Coil.

Greg Mitchell is the author of a dozen books and now writer/director of award-winning films. He was also a longtime editor of the legendary Crawdaddy.

With the deaths of famous and influential musicians, and others, still fresh in mind, today we feature one of Leonard Cohen’s (or anyone’s) greatest songs, “Who by Fire,” which first arrived nearly half a century ago. Of course, it emerges from Leonard’s Jewish roots, echoing the words of the Unetanneh Tokef prayer. He performed it live right up to his last tour. You might say one of his final songs, ”You Want It Darker,” served as a kind of bookend, especially with the singers from his former Montreal synagogue.

Enjoy, then share, comment or subscribe, it’s still free. If you missed our Crosby tribute, here it is. A local legend also died this week, the Philly/Jersey d.j. and music man Jerry “Geator With the Heater” Blavat, which inspired me to re-post my night with Springsteen and the Geator. Cartoon of the Day down below.

One of my favorite all-time videos, and TV moments—Leonard joined by the legendary Sonny Rollins, who did not disappoint with an epic solo.

PJ Harvey’s cover was used as them opening theme music for each episode of the so-so 2022 series Bad Sisters (though we love Sharon Horgan).

Glen Hansard with Once co-star Marketa Irglova and the fine guitarist Javier Mas who was part of Leonard’s band during his final decade. BTW, Glen and Marketa finally touring together again later this year.

A touching recent cover by Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour with his family during Covid lockdown.

If you ever wondered what it might sound like from an industrial band—admit it—here is Coil’s take.

Cartoon of the Day

Greg Mitchell is the author of a dozen books, including the bestseller The Tunnels (on escapes under the Berlin Wall), the current The Beginning or the End (on MGM’s atomic bomb movie twisted by the White House and Pentagon), and The Campaign of the Century (on Upton Sinclair’s left-wing race for governor of California), which was recently picked by the Wall St. Journal as one of five greatest books ever about an election. His 2021 film, Atomic Cover-up, drew extraordinary acclaim, and his current one, The First Attack Ads, aired over hundreds of PBS stations this past fall. For nearly all of the 1970s he was the #2 editor at the legendary Crawdaddy. Later he served as longtime editor of Editor & Publisher magazine. He recently co-produced a film about Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.