In an interview with Alastair Pirrie of the "New Musical Express" in March 1973 - just two years after the album was released - Cohen disparaged the LP: "I suppose you could call it gimmicky if you were feeling uncharitable towards me. I have certainly felt uncharitable towards me from time to time over that record, and regretted many things. It was over-produced and over elaborated...an experiment that failed." Several of the songs from "Songs of Love and Hate" would be featured on Cohen's 1972 European tour, a trek that would be documented in Tony Palmer's 1974 documentary "Bird on the Wire". With the exception of "Last Year's Man", Cohen performed every song live (he had played "Dress Rehearsal Rag" in concert two years before "Songs of Love and Hate" was released).