Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • NPR

    Leonard Cohen And Harry Nilsson Are Releasing New Albums, Whether They Like It Or Not

    Beloved, but gone — when it comes to our favorite artists, the assumption is that more is always better. But what effect do these patchworked releases have on their legacies?
    by Tom Moon Nov 21, 2019 5 minutes
    Leonard Cohen, performing at Rod Laver Arena on November 20, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia.

    The only thing we know for sure about new posthumous studio albums from Leonard Cohen, Harry Nilsson, Prince, Arthur Russell and others: Final approval did not come from the artists themselves. At some point, a producer – or manager, or official from the estate or other individual a step removed from the name on the marquee – acted as the artist's proxy and gave an OK to release the work to the public.

    With artists of a certain stature, the assumption is that every scrap is worth sharing. Fans have come to think they're entitled to bonus material for any album worthy of an "anniversary edition" – all the alternate takes, early live versions and, naturally, those rambling 3 a.m. edge-of-consciousness demos documenting the first arrival of a hook.

    Often, these unearthed rarities offer more than just a few unfamiliar songs. Alternate versions can enhance understanding

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from NPR

    NPR1 min read
    How Flying Got So Bad (or Did It?)
    We often hear that air travel is worse than it's ever been. Gone are the days when airplanes touted piano bars and meat carving stations — or even free meals. Instead we're crammed into tiny seats and fighting for overhead space. How did we get here?
    NPR1 min read
    The Sunday Story: Roy Wood Jr. on the Road to Rickwood
    What does a comedian know about baseball? And what can America's oldest baseball field tell us about the civil rights movement?Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama is America's oldest ballpark. It's older than Wrigley Field and Fenway park. But its
    NPR2 min read
    The Jawbone Of Washed-up Whale In New Zealand Was Removed With Chainsaw And Stolen
    The jawbone of a nearly 50-foot sperm whale that washed ashore in New Zealand's southernmost region has been removed. While the act is illegal, it's also considered disrespectful to the Māori people.

    Related Books & Audiobooks