All songs written and arranged by Leonard Cohen, except "Came So Far For Beauty", co-written and arranged by John Lissauer, and "Un Canadian Errant", written by M.A.Gerin - Lojoie in 1842

"The Guests"
John Bilezikjan : Oud
Raffi Hakopian : Violin
Abraham Laboriel : Bass
Randy Waldman : Organ
Leonard Cohen : Acoustic Guitar
Jennifer Warnes : Background Vocals

"Humbled In Love"
Steve Meador : Drums
Charles Roscoe Beck : Bass
Bill Ginn : Electric Piano
Mitch Watkins : Electric Guitars
Paul Ostermeyer : Saxophone
Background Vocals: Stephanie Spruill, Maxine Willard, Julia Tillman, James Gilstrap, Roger St.Kenerly

"The Window"
Abraham Laboriel : Bass
Randy Waldman : Organ
Raffi Hakopian : Solo Violin
John Bilezikjian : Oud
Ed Lustgarden : Cello
Leonard Cohen : Acoustic Guitar
Jennifer Warnes : Background Vocals

"Came So Far For Beauty"
John Miller : Bass
John Lissaur : Piano

"The Lost Canadian"
Mariachi Band under the direction of Luiz Briseno
Violins: Luis Briseno, Miduel Sandoval, Agostin Cervantes, Armando Quintero
Trumpets: Pablo Sandoval, Jose Perez
Ricardo Gonzales : Guitar
Felipe Perez : Biguela
Everado Sandoval : Guitarron
Arranged by Leonard Cohen

"The Traitor"
Raffi Hacopian : Solo Violin
John Bilezikjian : Oud
Randy Waldman : Organ
Abraham Laboriel : Bass
Leonard Cohen : Acoustic Guitar
Strings arranged and conducted by Jeremy Lubbock

"Our Lady Of Solitude"
Steve Meador : Drums
Bill Ginn : Piano
Garth Hudson : Yamaha
Earle Dumler : Oboe
Charles Roscoe Beck : Bass
Mitch Watkins : Electric Guitars

"The Gypsy's Wife"
Charles Roscoe Beck : Bass
John Bilezikjian : Oud
Raffi Hacopian : Violin
Garth Hudson : Accordian
Leonard Cohen : Acoustic Guitar

"The Smokey Life"
Steve Meador : Drums
Charles Roscoe Beck : Bass
Bill Ginn : Electric Piano
Leonard Cohen : Acoustic Guitar
Earle Dumler : English Horn
Vocal Duet: Leonard Cohen and Jennifer Warnes
Strings arranged and conducted by Jeremy Lubbock

"Ballad Of The Absent Mare"
Mariachi Band under the direction of Luiz Briseno
Violins: Luis Briseno, Miduel Sandoval, Agostin Cervantes, Armando Quintero
Trumpets: Pablo Sandoval, Jose Perez
Guitars: Ricardo Gonzales and Leonard Cohen
Filipe Perez : Biguela
Everado Sandoval : Guitarron

Produced by Leonard Cohen and Henry Lewy
Recorded and mixed by Henry Lewy at A & M Studios, Hollywood, Ca
Assisted by Skip Cottrell, Greg Falken, Dereg Dunan
Mastering Engineer: Bernie Grundman
Harmony: Jennifer Warnes
Cover Portrait and Illustrattions by Dannie Lawrence
Art Direction: Glen Christensen

I owe my thanks to Joshu Sasaki, upon whose exposition of an early Chinese text I based "Ballad of the Absent Mare"; to the late Robert Hershorn, who, many years ago, put into my hands the book of the old Persion poets Attar and Rumi, whose imagery influenced several songs, especially "The Guests" and "The Window"; to John Lissauer with whom I worked on earlier version of "The Traitor" and "The Smokey Life";to Nancy Bacal, who rescued "The Lost Canadian" from the out-takes; to Stu Brotman, who introduced me to the work of John Bilezikjian and Raffi Hacopian; to Jules Chakin, who brought to our sessions the finest players in the city; to Peter Carpin of CBS, for his attention, profesional and personal, to this project; to Sal Monte and Charlie Lawery for their hospitality at A&M to my mother, Masha Cohen, who reminded me, shortly before she died, of the kind of music she liked.
This record is dedicated to my friend Irving Layton, incomparable master of the inner language