John Cale - Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah (1991)

"Hallelujah" is a song written by Canadian singer Leonard Cohen, originally released on his album "Various Positions" (1984). Achieving little initial success, the song found greater popular acclaim through a recording by John Cale, which inspired a recording by Jeff Buckley. It has been viewed as a "baseline" for secular hymns.

Following its increased popularity after being featured in the film "Shrek" (2001), many other arrangements have been performed in recordings and in concert, with over 300 versions known.The song has been used in film and television soundtracks and televised talent contests. "Hallelujah" experienced renewed interest following Cohen's death in November 2016 and appeared on many international singles charts, including entering the American Billboard Hot 100 for the first time.

John Cale's cover first appeared on "I'm Your Fan" (1991), a Leonard Cohen tribute album, and later on his live album Fragments of a Rainy Season (1992). Cale's version has vocals, piano, and different lyrics that Cohen had only performed live such as "I used to live alone before I knew you" and "All I ever learned from love was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you". Cale had watched Cohen perform the song and asked Cohen to send him the lyrics. Cohen then faxed Cale 15 pages of lyrics. Cale claims that he "went through and just picked out the cheeky verses."

Cale's version forms the basis of most subsequent performances, including Cohen's performances during his 2008–09 world tour. Cale's version is used in the film "Shrek" (2001), but Rufus Wainwright's version appears on the soundtrack album. Cale's also appears on the first soundtrack album for the TV series "Scrubs" and as the ending song of the "Cold Case" episode "Death Penalty, Final Appeal".

Tracklist:

1 –John Cale - Hallelujah 4:06
2 –Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah 4:34
3 –John Cale - The Queen & Me 3_19

John Cale - Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah (1991)

(320 kbps, cover art included)