Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat

Warnes’ breakout album

A startlingly talented artist capable of applying her art to any number of musical genres and succeeding at them all, Warnes, one of the original cast of the 1968 stage musical Hair, produced this, her sixth album in 1987. Clearly reflecting her roots as backing singer to Leonard Cohen in the early 70s, Warnes interprets old Cohen ditties such as Bird On A Wire, along with the newly-penned Cohen song, First We Take Manhattan and co-written Song Of Bernadette. Her innovative approach and arrangements take her old boss’ work by the scruff of the neck and shakes it until it squeals. Up until this release, Warnes had been accused of releasing albums of promise but not much else. A career launching pad, Famous Blue Raincoat revealed her maturing interpretive skills for the first time.

Cisco/Private Music | 82092-4

Reviewed by Paul Rigby
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