Customer Reviews

Asylum Choir II

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Initially kept in the can until Leon Russell started hitting his stride in the early '70s, Asylum Choir II is an artifact from 1967-1969. This was a fertile time for music. All the popular themes of the times show up here: protests of the Vietnam war in Down on the Base and Ballad for a Soldier; notes on the political scene and corporate profit-making in the face of the war in Sweet Home Chicago, Tryin' to Stay Alive, Lady in Waiting, and Straight Brother; and, of course, love in Hello Little Friend (which would later prove a hit for Joe Cocker when Leon was running that show). The tracks sound fairly dated in part because many songs were so topical.

Although Leon Russell is credited as contributing bass, guitar, piano, keyboards, vocals, and being the producer while Marc Benno is credited as a performer and producer, the music does not suffer from the "Winwood" syndrome, which occurs when one musician tries to do everything and the resulting product sounds flat and uninspired. Quite the opposite, the music, for the most part, is jaunty and full-bodied.

For example, on Straight Brother, the sound is a rich pastiche of fiddle, wah-wah, percussion, bass, and some great vocals from, I would guess, Rita Coolidge (set up in the Intro to Rita). Which also begs the question: who else is making some uncredited guest appearances? I find it hard to believe the late Carl Radle only served as a photographer and never plugged in his bass here. Could one of the drummer Jims (Gordon or Kneltner) be sitting in, too? No doubt, there are quite a few uncredited performers lurking on this recording, perhaps uncredited because of contract issues.

Russell, who was just gaining his musical footing about the time this album was orginially recorded, wrote some great lyrics and sings with great verve. His vocals, veering from ragged to howling, still can conjure chills on Straight Brother. And his keyboard playing is articulate and quirky, a harbinger of what was yet to come.

The bonus tracks are curiosities at best, likely the product of some acid-tinged sessions that extended way past any sane hour of the night. Still, Henri the Clown is catchy litte ditty that can get stuck in your head.

This CD is a great time capsule: you may not like everything you find, but you will dig through the whole thing.

If you ever wanted to know what Leon Russell was up to before he became a huge star, here is the disc. Containing the entire second Asylum recordings with five recordings from the "Look Inside the Asylum Choir" album (not on CD now or probably ever), "Asylum Choir II" shows Leon at his eclectic best. "Lady in Waiting," "Hello Little Friend," "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Straight Brother" (actually a guilty pleasure are just great tracks. "Welcome to Hollywood" (from the "Look Inside..." album) is another excellent track which shows Leon and co-hort Marc Benno attempting to be studio wizards. And while they never really made it to Lennon-McCartney status, it's a fun ride all the same. By the way, dig the "Intro to Rita..." banter with Leon and Rita Coolidge. Heavy!

This is a most excellent collection of bluesy funky tunes. We enjoyed this as children with our folks in the early 70's and it is still timeless today. We want to share these great funky tunes and lyical themes with our kids! It is a world view that should not be forgotten! A heartfelt snapshot in time! A classic to be passed on to yet another generation!

If you have never heard Asylum Choir II and you are a student of classic rock n roll then you HAVE to get it on CD. So many underground classics are on this CD like Straight Brother, the risque Salty Candy, Sweet Home Chicago, Learn How To Boogie, etc.

The CD has 5 bonus tracks that are questionable as to why those 5 were included (not the best choices in my opinion). But, the CD is excellent and unlike other artists of the era the songs are not dated.

This is a must have for all who love rock n roll.

I first heard this album when I was 12 years old. Me and all three of my brothers have each bought multiple copies of this record on vinyl over the course of our lives. This record was a mainstay around our house growing up, and we still sing these songs when we are together. This past Halloween, my youngest brother and I saw Leon Russell in Austin, and brought our vinyl copy for him to autograph. While standing in line, we found out from another fan that Marc Benno was going to be in Austin the day before Thanksgiving. We went to see him and got him to sign it as well. He told us there were only five copies of the vinyl LP with both of their signatures on it. We now have it framed and on the wall with the rest of our autographed collection. So, I just bought Asylum Choir II on CD, so I can listen to this amazing album full of great songs that are indelibly etched in my memory, as well as the memories of my brothers. A great Classic Rock album that you will NEVER hear on radio these days. Check out "Straight Brother," "Ballad for a Soldier," "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Learn How to Boogie." Like the man says, "when you're bass player's flat and your drummer drags, don't you wish you had a fag." Uh, that would be a cigarette. I'm 45 and this one is still a classic after more than 30 years.

Asylum Choir II is a wonderful recording.

I've been through at least 3 vinyl LP's of this

since it came out and was thrilled when it got to CD!

Some of the words are a bit dated but the music is FUNKY

and ROCKIN' and Leon is in top form (Ray Charles on acid).

Also, this is one of my favorite PRODUCED albums ever.

The sound seperation and "stereo play" of the different

instruments and vocals is incredible and will DRAW you

in closer. This great CD should be studied for ANY serious

student of record production!

I also like the first recording of the Asylum Choir

named "Look In..." and would have gladly bought that CD

too but for SOME REASON they decided to pick SOME of the

better tracks of "Look In..." and use then as BONUS TRACKS

for this release. Missing are "Indian Style" and the

incredible "Thieves In The Choir" and a few others that

NEED TO BE HEARD! Why they were ommited is just crazy!

As an aging hippie, this album brings back sooo many memories. The songs are also extremely relevant today since so many of Leon's early works were protest songs over the Vietnam war.

The CD itself doesn't have the best sound quality - hasn't been enhanced at all - but it is as good or better than the old vinyl album.

If you want to get an old hippie on his/her feet dancing, put on this CD and crank up the sound all the way.

IMHO, "Down At the Base" is the best protest song of the sixties with the exception of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' In the Wind." "Tryin' To Stay Live" is desperate, tragic, and funny -- personal freedom, or the desire for it, never sounded so good. The rest of the CD (with the exception of some of the bonus tracks) reveals a thinking man with fast ivory fingers and a love of the blues and rock and roll. This recording is exciting and unique. If you like Leon's great, unique vocal delivery and blazing, straightforward, inventive songs, you will like this CD. Marc Benno throws in production values, a couple of tunes, great background vocals, and some instrumentation that really separate this work artistically from Leon's work with Dylan and Joe Cocker. Really just a fantastic experience.

This isn't all Leon's best- if you're new to him try "And the Shelter People" or perhaps "Carney" first.

I had the "Look Inside" LP (which accounts for about the 2nd half of the cuts on this issue)when it first came out, and there are a couple of cuts on here that I remember being absolutely dreadful, or at least completely disposable. "Icicle Star Tree", "Death of the Flowers" and "Mr. Henri" are wretched excess...perhaps the since-lost Mr. Benno was driving on these.

The original Asylum Choir cuts average a lot better and have some standouts.

There are 2 songs, however, that are as good as anything Leon ever did- "Welcome to Hollywood" and "Soul Food" are masterpieces and are well worth the purchase price all by themselves. Whatever you think of the rest of this CD, you'll be glad you have these 2 songs in your collection.

PS- Leon still does a concert on his birthday in his home town of Tulsa, OK. Contact the Brady Theatre there for details- a pilgrimage well worth making!

Good old college years, how could I forget. Still have my LP, (have you priced needles for turntables lately?-geez). The CD is great to have & portable. "But when your bass players flat & your drummer drags, don't you wish you had a fag..." perhaps smoke it in "Sweet Home Chicago". Treat yourself/Marc Benno & Leon work well together.