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Leonard Cohen's still touching us with his mind

One of the many revelations in the fascinating documentary "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man," which just opened in Atlanta, is a jaw-dropper.

The Montreal-born poet-musician and self-styled "ladies' man," now a silver-haired 71, confesses that he didn't consummate the relationship with the muse of "Suzanne," the indelibly sensual ballad that launched his songwriting career when Judy Collins covered it in 1966. This despite lyrics that suggest Barry White with a Ph.D in modern lit that have put listeners in the mood for lust for four decades: "You know that she will trust you / For you've touched her perfect body with your mind."

(enlarge photo) Read reviews of "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man."

But then again, that's so Leonard

Cohen — the chronicler of eternal longing, the poet who's always plied his trade at the corner of Profane and Sacred. This is the same Cohen who took himself out of music business circulation for much of the '90s after becoming drawn to the spiritual flame of Rinzai Buddhism, only to emerge from a Southern California mountain monastery speaking not of newfound wisdom but of learning from his monk-teacher the difference between Remy Martin and Courvoisier. And this is the same world-weary vocalist with the oddly expressive monotone rumble who proclaimed with mordant wit in the 1987 tune "Tower of Song" that he was "born with the gift of a golden voice."

His writer's voice is what attracted John Hammond, famous for signing talents from Billie Holiday to Bob Dylan, to bring Cohen, already in his 30s and a published novelist, to Columbia Records. Cohen, who had grown up inspired by Hank Williams and even played in a country band called the Buckskin Boys as a teen, had given poetry readings, often accompanied by music, across North America. Hammond figured the music could be more than background, that the songwriter could be the singer, too.

Though he's never achieved Dylan's eminence, Cohen has amassed a fervent international following via only 11 studio albums spanning a 38-year recording career.

He has had his brushes with broader fame, especially in the romantic realm. He sang explicitly of his dalliance with Janis Joplin in "Chelsea Hotel No. 2" and later was engaged to actress Rebecca De Mornay, who even got a production credit on his 1992 album "The Future." Phil Spector, the famed rock producer now accused of murder, was behind the boards for 1977's "Death of a Ladies' Man," an album critics and Cohen accused him of bludgeoning with overproduction.

His early, sparely recorded songs graced the soundtrack of Robert Altman's "McCabe & Mrs. Miller," and former backup singer Jennifer Warnes' 1987 collection of Cohen covers, "Famous Blue Raincoat," garnered raves. He's been the subject of two tribute albums, covered by everyone from R.E.M. to Elton John.

Now comes "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man," a pastiche of frank and funny interviews with the singer woven through a Sydney Opera House concert of his songs, lovingly interpreted by mainly much younger artists such as Nick Cave, Beth Orton and Rufus Wainwright.

The critically acclaimed documentary, along with the release of his 12th book, the poetry collection "Book of Longing," appears to position Cohen to be discovered by yet another generation with literary leanings. Another crop ready to fall in lust to the wistful words of "Suzanne."

Three Recommended Albums:

"The Songs of Leonard Cohen" (1968): A debut so brooding, austere and intense, you wonder if they had to remove sharp objects from the studio. With classics including "Suzanne," "Sisters of Mercy" and "So Long, Marianne."

"I'm Your Man" (1988): Cohen recasts himself as a kind of Eurotrash lounge singer, complete with background soul singers cooing to his most deadpan lyrics.

"The Essential Leonard Cohen" (2002): This two-CD, 31-song overview is the best of several available compilations, if a mite heavy on later material.

Cohen in verse

"You are a fine-looking old man"
I said to myself in the mirror
"And what is more
you have the correct attitude
You don't care if it ends
or if it goes on
And as for the women
and the music
there will be plenty of that
in Paradise"
Then I went to the Mosque
of Memory
to express my gratitude

—  excerpt from "The Correct Attitude," from 2006's "Book of Longing" (HarperCollins, $24.95)

Cohen in song

Like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
Like a worm on a hook,
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
If I, if I have been unkind,
I hope that you can just let it go by.
If I, if I have been untrue
I hope you know it was never to you.

—  excerpt from "Bird on the Wire," from the 1969 album "Songs From a Room"