Famous Blue Raincoat

Famous Blue Raincoat is the sixth album by American singer Jennifer Warnes. Released in 1987, the album is comprised entirely of Leonard Cohen covers.

The pair were friends, as Warnes had toured with Cohen as a backup singer throughout the 1970s. It was through this connection that Warnes managed to include two songs – “First We Take Manhattan” and “Ain’t No Cure For Love” – before their release on Cohen’s 1988 album I’m Your Man.

Another significant feature is that of Stevie Ray Vaughan, who contributed his signature guitar talent on the opening track, “First We Take Manhattan”.

Famous Blue Raincoat garnered positive critical reception, with AllMusic commenting that the album represented the critical reevaluation of Warnes' abilities:

… suddenly a singer who had seemed like a second-rate Linda Ronstadt now appeared to be a first-class interpretive artist.