Leon Live [Live]

Leon Russell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 30, 1996)
• Original Release Date: 1972
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: The Right Stuff
• ASIN: B000002U5F
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,296 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Leon Live - Rolling Along Like Thunder, February 12, 2000

By 

bob "frankendino" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leon Live (Audio CD)

This is the man who co-wrote "Blues Power" with Eric Clapton, penned "Delta Lady" which Joe Cocker immortalized and Leon later toured with Mad Dogs and Englishmen, wrote "Superstar" with Bonnie Bramlett which Chris Farley and David Spade parodied the Carpenter's version in the movie "Tommy Boy" (Don'cha remember ya told me ya love me bay-bay). He worked with Phil Spector during Phil's Wall of Sound years. He performed with George Harrison at the legendary Concert for Bangla-Desh in 1971. Leon is our unknown national treasure. This set was recorded in Long Beach, California in 1972 at a time when Leon was at his most popular. If you are a fan of gospel-tinged boogie woogie, this album will not disappoint you. Leon and his travelling roadshow are at the top of their game, and you can expect that a musician of Leon's caliber would surround himself with top-notch people. This live performance is tight and captures the essence of "Leon Live". The medley will leave you breathless. It's good time rock and roll.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHOOOO!!!, February 12, 2007

By 

James S. Morris "TheOverseer4003" (Durham, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leon Live (Audio CD)

Leon Live is, without a doubt, the ultimate Leon Russell experience. Not only that, it is one of the all-time great expressions of American popular music. While it does not have the more detailed, polished sound of his outstanding studio recordings (the sound quality here does admittedly leave something to be desired), it captures Leon's manic energy as no other album can. The spirit of blues, gospel, and rock & roll are alive and kicking like a mule on crack in this incredible performance, which rivals Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen in its scope and power. It's all at once riotous, joyful, frenzied, sophisticated, heartfelt, and even spiritual. Many of the songs are played much faster than the originally recorded tempo, which could get tedious if it wasn't done so well by the band as a whole. To begin with, Leon's vocals have never been more gritty and raw, and his periodic blues ramblings about "my baby" and other topics turn this into more of a religious experience than a rock concert. He uses his signature wild screaming to kick the band into even higher gear when necessary (ie: on every song). His piano playing is unrivaled by anyone in the business. Nobody can boogie like the Master of Space and Time, and I believe he is the greatest rock pianist of them all. Just take a listen to the "Of Thee I Sing/Yes I Am Medley" for proof. As for the rest of the band, it is a first-rate ensemble if there ever was one, borrowing heavily from Leon's handpicked Mad Dogs and Englishmen band. Don Preston's lead guitar work is truly stunning, and I find it a crying shame that virtually no one knows his name these days. Carl Radle and Chuck Blackwell form a rock-solid rhythm section amidst the seeming chaos, and the gospel choir echoes every syllable of intensity thrown at them by the lead singer (be it Leon, Don Preston, Phylliss Lindsey, or Patrick Henderson).

Highlights of the album are hard to put a finger on since the whole thing is so great. In fact, the only song I could do without would be Phylliss Lindsey's vocal feature "Some Day." Her voice is just too screechy. Otherwise, the album is built around several show-stopping medleys, including Leon's famous rendition of "Jumpin' Jack Flash/Youngblood," "The Mighty Quinn," and the aforementioned "Of Thee I Sing/Yes I Am." "Stranger In A Strange Land" and "Out In The Woods" are also superb. However, none of these lengthier pieces quite equal the 3 minutes and 54 seconds of sheer hysteria that is "Delta Lady," which appears close to the end for obvious reasons. I listen to many different styles of music, including a lot of hard rock and some heavy metal, but every minute of Leon Live rocks harder than any of that stuff. His passion, spirit, energy, and southern charm make this one of the most definitive collections of big band rock ever made. Honestly, words cannot describe how awesome this album is. It's no surprise that Leon Russell was the biggest live act in the world at the time it was recorded. Don't buy this unless you are willing to let Leon show you some REAL rock & roll!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great live CD, June 15, 2006

By 

COMPUTERJAZZMAN "computerjazzman" (Cliffside Park, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leon Live (Audio CD)

Leon Russell is one of those white guys that have got soul. And his live stuff from the early 70's is the best Leon stuff to listen to. People don't realize what a true musical talent Leon is, any kind of music he plays, he plays great. This is a great, rocking, CD and if you like Leon Russell, you will love this CD.