York City, the video features Stevie Ray Vaughan playing his weathered "Number One" guitar (with its distinctive "SRV" logo) on the Brooklyn Bridge. Cohen also appears with Warnes in the video. The 20th anniversary edition of the music video contains a German intro about the West Berlin discotheque bombing. The album version of the song is 3:47 in length, whereas the single is 3:32 long. A promotional 12-inch single version, entitled "Jennifer Warnes — First We Take Manhattan, Radio Remix — featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan", contained extended and edited versions. Personnel Vocals – Jennifer Warnes Lead guitar – Stevie Ray Vaughan Guitar – Robben Ford Bass guitar – Roscoe Beck Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta Percussion – Lenny Castro Synthesizer – Russell Ferrante Synthesizer programmed by – Gary Chang Leonard Cohen version Leonard Cohen's own quasi-synth-pop version of "First We Take Manhattan" (with additional verses) was released in 1988 as the first track on his album I'm Your Man. Cohen's then-girlfriend, Dominique Issermann, shot a black and white promotional video for Cohen's version of the track. On his 1988 tour, instead of the original, Euro-disco-influenced arrangement of his studio version, Cohen introduced the new, funk-influenced arrangement, suggested by his backing singers Perla Batalla and Julie Christensen. He continued to perform the song this way in 1993, 2008 and 2009 tours. Cohen's studio recording plays over the closing credits of the 2009 film Watchmen. Personnel Jeff Fisher – arranger and performer Leonard Cohen – vocals and production Anjani – vocals Peter Kisilenko – Bass Other cover versions The song has been covered dozens of times. Most notably, R.E.M. contributed a cover for the Cohen tribute album I'm Your Fan (1991). Their presence on the compilation led to a re-arranging of the I'm Your Fan track list. In the US release of the tribute, R.E.M.'s cover appeared as the first track, rather than House of Love's "Who by Fire" which was the starting track in all other countries. The song also appeared as a B-side on some versions of the single "Drive". Joe Cocker covered "First We Take Manhattan" on his 1999 album No Ordinary World. Charts Jennifer Warnes version R.E.M. version References 1987 singles 1987 songs 1988 singles Ariola Records singles Black-and-white music videos Columbia Records singles Jennifer Warnes songs Joe Cocker songs Leonard Cohen songs R.E.M. songs Songs about New York City Songs written by Leonard Cohen Warren Zevon songs Works