Leonard Cohen

The producer who crafted Cohen's subtle string arrangements and toured with him as a keyboard player in 1972.

Leonard Cohen collaborated closely with producer Donald William "Bob" Johnston, resulting in three studio albums: Songs from a Room (1969), Songs of Love and Hate (1971), and the live recording Live Songs (1973). Their partnership extended beyond the booth; in 1972, Johnston toured with Cohen serving as a keyboard player. Johnston's production style for these sessions was distinct from his work with Dylan or Cash, focusing on subtle arrangements featuring strings, background vocals, and seasoned session musicians to capture Cohen's studio albums. Additionally, Johnston composed music for the Leonard Cohen lyric "Come Spend the Morning," which was subsequently recorded by both Lee Hazlewood and Engelbert Humperdinck.

Lore & Background

Johnston's approach to producing Leonard Cohen differed significantly from his "documentary" style used on Bob Dylan's albums or Johnny Cash's live recordings. Instead of capturing fleeting moments, Johnston provided structured support for Cohen's work. He utilized subtle arrangements incorporating strings and background vocals alongside experienced session musicians to shape the sound of Cohen's studio records. This method created a specific sonic environment that complemented Cohen's songwriting. The collaboration was deep enough that in 1972, Johnston joined Cohen on tour not just as an executive producer but actively performing as a keyboard player. During this period, Johnston also expanded his creative role by composing the music for the lyric "Come Spend the Morning," written by Cohen, demonstrating their artistic synergy extended into composition.