SUZANNE / THERE WAS A MAN

Hey, I just found an interesting band I'm willing to know deeper, thanks to a Facebook friend who mentioned them. PEARLS BEFORE SWINE were an American folk rock band active in the late 60's and early 70's, led by singer-songwriter Tom Rapp whose solo albums are also catalogued here under his band. It's the second album Balaklava (1968) that most listeners consider their best one. This single has two songs from it.

'Suzanne', the extremely well known Leonard Cohen song, was first recorded by Judy Collins, understandably best remembered as Cohen's own version from 1967, and covered by hundreds of artists all around the world ever since. This serene version is among the early ones and totally new to me. Not very far in spirit to Cohen's own interpretation, I believe this is easy to like by any friend of Cohen's music. Tom Rapp's voice is pleasant and emotionally deep without being too expressive. The arrangement is elegant and nuanced. I can't name with certainty all the instruments used on this particular song, but the English horn of the guest musician Joe Farrell fits in very beautifully.

'There Was a Man' is a calm, acoustic guitar centred song actually pretty much in the Leonard Cohen vein. Story telling by singing is essential on it, but also musically it's pleasant if you like this kind of folk music. Four solid stars within the genre, not much of prog or psych flavours to be heard though.