Customer Reviews

Leon Russell

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Leon Russell is easily one of the most underrated and underappreciated artists of all time. This, his first solo album (although when listing his albums in chronological order, I list the earlier recorded but later released "Asylum Choir 2" as his first) is the one that people should get into to become familiar with Leon's interesting musical mix. Blues, country, rock and gospel all fuse together into something some people have called Okie-Swamp music. Whatever you call it, it is incredibly infectious. And the Gold Disc is the way to go on this release because not only do you get the original order of the album (which places Russell's odd cover of Dylan's "Master of War" into proper context), you get the original cover art (with the famous Shelter egg in the top left hand corner of the sleeve), and a great number of bonus tracks including a sped up version of his Asylum-era "Sweet Home Chicago," (now called "The New Sweet Home Chicago") an awesome jam between Leon and Eric Clapton, an alternate version of "Shootout on the Plantation," a great unreleased track ("Indian Girl") and "Shine a Light" which features Leon on piano, Ringo Starr on drums and Mick Jagger singing (oddly enough, this song is credited to Leon Russell here but when it turned up later on "Exile on Main Street," it was credited to Jagger and Richards...truth be told, it sounds more Jagger and Richards to me). Aside from the bonus tracks, the album has been remastered back to its original mix (the album version of "Shootout on the Plantation" sounds more piano laden) and all of the studio banter and stops and starts have survived. And on top of all of this, "Delta Lady," "A Song For You," "Hummingbird," "Roll Away the Stone" and "Pieces Apple Lady" have never sounded better. This is the first time Leon put out so many great tracks on one album. Later, he would make more profound albums, more personal albums, more diverse albums and more complex albums but he never made a more fun album.

After years of being a session player for tons of "Big Name" acts, Leon fianally went out on his own to record this album (now released and remastered on CD). It was time to ask many of the folks who he'd worked for to contribute here on this these tracks. Well, it wasn't hard, they all wanted to be a part of his first release. George Harrison guitar playing on Leon's first album led to his participation in the first rock and roll benefit concerts, the "Concert for Bangladesh.

This album was released on Shelter Records, owned by Leon and producer Denny Cordell, along with early albums by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Phoebe Snow and The Gap Band, also three albums that Leon produced and played on for the great blues guitarist, Freddie King. In the 1970's Leon was established as a major live performer and was reported by Billboard Magazine to be the top concert attraction in the world by 1973. Many different performers OPENED for Leon in this period including Elton John, ZZ Top, Willie Nelson and Charlie Daniels.

This was his first effort on the way to the top. Your collection of the era will not be complete without this CD... ENJOY!

Leon's first album is absolutely mystical. This is music straight from Leon's soul to yours. The music somehow captures the values of the sixties while simultaneously capturing the tangible essence--like skinny dipping, or your first hippy kiss, or moving into a slightly renovated barn.

If your house were burning down and you had to grab three Leon albums, this one, Will O' the Wisp, and The Wedding Album would be the three. In a small fire of course, you'd have to grab Leon and the Shelter People, too.

I won't hesitate to give this album 5 stars. It's my favorite by Leon Russell, whose voice I love. What comes through, though, is his passion and his tenderness. A Song for You, Hummingbird, and Delta Lady are three of the most beautiful songs you'll find on any album in the last 30 years (well, no, I haven't heard them all). It's a shame that this master songwriter has never received the recognition he deserves. To give you a sense of where I rank this album, let me say this: If I had to quickly name my 5 favorite albums of all time, I'd probably pick Rolling Stones' Beggars Banquet, Van Morrison's Moondance, this album by Leon Russell, Taj Mahal's Giant Step and and and, I don't know, maybe Abbey Road or the White Album just because you'd have to include something by the Beatles. Point is: Leon Russell ranks right up there.

This album is one of a handfull that I've always updated...first the vinyl, wore that out; then the cassette; that ended up eaten in my car player; and now the CD. I love this album and as I grow older, I like it even more. I first got into Leon Russell when he was doing the Bonnie and Delaney and Joe Cocker thing...then he came out with this, his first album and I snatched it up. The list of musicians who appear on this album reads like a who's who of 1969 rock...it quickly became a favorite: I bet I've listen to this album over 1000 times...it is ageless. Honestly, there is just no getting tired of this album; it's that good. Great songs: "A Song for you" brings a tear; a beautiful love song that has just enough Russell grit and soul to appeal to an old male rocker like myself! "Hummingbird" same thing...then mix in rockers like "Delta Lady", "Put a Spell on You", "Hurtsome Body" (my favorite), and geez...all the others! It is just a great, great album...I know I always do these rave reviews and give 5 star ratings, but it is because these are albums that I have loved for 35 years and will always have them around in one "medium" or another....This, however, is my favorite of favorites! A can't miss buy.

I was inspired when I first saw Leon in concert, playing the guitar and jumping off the piano on stage in Richmond, Va., in the early '70s. The way he fused gospel, rock, honkytonk and blues with his own inimitable voice is amazing. He was somehow at the right place and time (thus earning the title of "master of space and time") and with the right musicians to bring about a realy new sound in this album. There is NOTHING like this album anywhere.

Note: I lost my "Leon Russell" CD in a shipping moving "accident" from Singapore to Bangkok, and I am today ordering a new one! That is after having listened to this album for about 30 years, and probably more than 1000 times.

This is by far one of the best albums of my collection. I have been a Leon fan since 1970, and think that this and Asylum Choir II are probably my favorites of his. His voice is so unique and his writing is wonderful. As one other reviewer said, grab this one if your house is on fire. 55555 stars all the way!

I didn't discover this album until about 5 years ago. I heard him on Mad Dogs and Englishmen but had not thought of buying his solo albums.
This is his debut solo album and its great.
This isn't surprising since the list of guest musicians is a whos who from the 60s and 70s:
George Harrison
Eric Clapton
Steve Winwood
Chris Stainton
Klaus Voorman
Bobby Whitlock
etc...

The star though is Leon himself.
I've got to honest here, his voice may not be to everybodys taste, but I like it.
A Song For you has been covered by many people - this remains the best version.
Delta Lady is better known for the Joe Cocker version - but its Leon's song and this is great version.
Shoot out on the Plantation features Leon's distinctive Piano work (as indeed a lot of the album does) and is my favourite track. This and Dixie Lullaby are great rock 'n' roll tracks.

Theres also some great Gospel influnced Rock on this album. Such as Give Peace a Chance (this is not the Lennon song).
In the same way I Put a Spell on You is not the song Nina Simone made famous. Leon wrote all the material except the bonus track which is a slightly odd Dylan cover.

This is the album I have played the most over the last few years and at the moment I show no signs of getting bored with it!

How anyone could rate this album less than five stars is beyond my comprehension. Leon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton...great musicianship, great songs, great vibe! The original title of the LP was "Can a Blue Man Sing the Whites?", and Leon is a very soulful blues vocalist full of raw emotion and energy. Larry the Lawyer, if you have no appreciation of the blues, you should refrain from rating records such as this one. I had the pleasure of meeting Leon in '74, when I was 18 years old, and he was (and I'm sure still is) a very personable, unpretentiously nice guy. But his music speaks for itself.

From early sessions with the Byrds, and production ally to Phil Spector, to arranging Gary Lewis & The Playboys lightweight fare, Leon Russell was well known inside the music world of the 1960s. With this first album tour-de-force, many in the late '60s rock intelligensia paid tribute to his participation and influence on their own work. From delta soul to gospel tinged rock & roll, Leon Russell hits all of the high notes that would define his career. As noted in earlier reviews, "A Song For You" and "Hummingbird" are stellar tunes, and "Hurtsome Body" and "Delta Lady" keep pace. But, for me, the true highlights are the rampaging "Shoot Out On The Plantation" and "Prince Of Peace". Both songs capture Russell at his best with both lyrical clarity and musical muscle powering the performance. This album, coupled with "Asylum Choir II" with Marc Benno (recorded a year earlier but of the same vintage musically), capture the Leon Russell that we all loved. He would make other significant albums but, as is so often the case, the first major work defines all that is to come. The promise of Russell's first album was sustained well into the middle 1970s, and the art that resulted is now ours forever. When I first heard this record in the summer of 1970, I was mesmerized. Now, 36 years later, the music is as fresh and original as it was then...only improved with the understanding that the intervening years have conferred. And then, of course, it's just great listening...made when American rock was still exploring the possibilities. Russell found a unique corner to define...and a made it his own. If you haven't listened to this for awhile, put it on and indulge. If you don't already have it, buy it. You'll never regret it.