Customer Reviews

Shelter People

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Russell's great self-titled debut set the bar pretty darn high (The DCC Gold Disc is another Steve Hoffman five star masterpiece). The sophomore jinx was not in effect, with "Shelter People" being one of his best record. Leon has gone on to write a lot more wonderful, beautiful music, but it's "Shelter People" that stands as both a defining collection and sign of the times.

You could attribute this to hindsight, but this record has always been my signpost for the end of the sixties 'peace and love' marketing campaign. There is a certain... ache, a nod that there are some dark times a' comin'. The weariness (wisdom?) is palpable.

The opener "Stranger In A Strange Land" sets the mood perfectly. It's not just one of Leon's best songs, but should be on any *real* Best Songs Ever list.

Maybe some of the weariness it's simply having just pulled off the impossible: putting together and leading Joe Cocker's "Mad Dogs And Englishman" band. That alone's worth sainthood (read the liner notes in the Cocker record). Leon delivers a nice four minute travelog of the tour with "The Ballad Of Mad Dogs And Englishmen."

We get two Dylan covers (five, counting the bonus tracks), "It's A Hard Rain Gonna Fall" and "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" are both great reads.

"Alcatraz" tells the tale of the (then) latest hose job the American Indians were getting.

The original closer, George Harrison's "Beware Of Darkness" is as good a read as the orginal. The three excellent bonus tracks tacked to the end makes for a softer landing.

The sound quality is great as usual, thanks to the DCC "trademark of quality" Steve Hoffman. If there's a complaint to make, it's that this disc hasn't gotten the same gold/remaster treatment that Leon's debut did.

If you're new to Leon's music, this or "Leon Russell" are the best places to start. Classic rock and Joe Cocker fans both should have these records. Highly recommended.

This album reflects Leon at his peak, in my opinion. The album contains his classic song "Stranger In A Strange Land" as well as good amount of Bob Dylan covers ("Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," "Love Minus Zero," "She Belongs To Me," "It Takes A Lot To Laugh (It Takes A Train To Cry" and "It's All Over Now Baby Blue)." It also contains "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" which he wrote about his tour with Joe Cocker. I don't mind telling you when this thing came out in 1971 it blew us all away and frankly it rated high indeed on any stoner's list of LP's. Listening to it today, it holds up just fine and sounds as well as if it were just released. Some people might consider a little too country (although more accurately it's country blues) but this baby rocks. It only reached #17 on the charts but it stayed there for over 20 weeks as I recall. A classic album and it is the reason Leon acquired his reputation of "The Master of Space and Time." Check it out and see why.

The Lawton, OK-born Master of Space and Time was a great favorite of mine from more than thirty years ago, and Leon Russell and the Shelter People was my favorite album. I loved the guy; I even wanted to talk like him - didn't have to work much at that one. Loved that piano work. I had everything of his up through Hank Wilson's Back or whatever that was. I was driving to Virginia from Texas last spring, reached into the stash of casettes when the CD's had run out, pulled something out, and popped it in. Stranger in a Strange Land came up; what a sweet, pleasant surprise - I hadn't heard it in perhaps twenty years, thought I had lost the tape, but it was wonderful to hear again. What a great opening song, like Lauper's I Drove All Night, it whacks you in the head straightaway. You just jump straight into this soulful song in the first notes and that bluesy moan of Leon's. I still enjoyed the songs straight through to the end of the tape, some more than ever. Beware of Darkness, Hard Rain Gonna Fall, It Takes a Train to Cry. It was great music then and now. It's fabulous music on its own merits, and it's a little moment of time in music that means a great deal to me. Made me dig out Mad Dogs and Englishmen at my next stop. Leon's blues- and gospel-influenced early work may not be for everyone, but I call him a master and I call this his best work.

During the time period of this album (1970 - 1972) Leon Russell was the top rock concert act in the world. Back in the day when most rock groups had four or five members, Leon Russell hit the road with no less than ten top of the line performers, including Derek and the Dominos bassist Carl Radle, and Rev. Patrick Henderson and Black Grass.

On Leon Russell and The Shelter, you get a studio recording that captures much of Leon's concert feel - but where you can understand the words, and the instruments are balanced well. I don't remember if the the personnel are the same, but the feel is right there! Starting with "Of Thee I Sing," and through to the end of the album you'll be looking for a flat peice of ground so you can dance. The piano work is awesome, combining Leon's Black Gospel style (he also played on some of Andrae Crouch's albums) with a bit of blues, honky and country.

If you're a musician, you'll want this album for the "utility licks" and turn arounds and the gold nuggets of playing that Leon throws out there. This album is the one I learned to play pianq from, by listening to it over and over and picking it out bit by bit.

All in all, it's a great selection of a genre of music that is timeless and will make you feel good - and you definitely won't get an inferiority complex as you sing along with Leon! It's about the feeling rather than having a velvety smooth David Gates (Leon also played with him, in the sixties, prior to Bread) voice. Get it!

This will become your favorite Leon Russell CD. It starts off with "Stranger In A Strange Land", a timeless classic, and includes "Beware of Darkness" (Beatles influence) and "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" (Bob Dylan influence). Absolutely Leon at his best!! A must have CD if you are a fan of Leon.

I had a tape of the original recording in the 70's that is now long past its use by date. This remix is excellent, each instrument is bright and clear with no loss at the bass end (and no tape hiss). The liner notes list the performers on each track and the recording details. Not important for everyone but necessary for those who are interested in the music makers. This CD is a must for Leon Russell fans and comes with three bonus tracks each performed in Leon Russell's unmistakable style.

I feel I need to write something on this album, artist. I'm 50 years old tomorrow 11/23/05. Leon has been the inspiration of my musicical enjoyment for over 30 years. I was recently asked that if I were to be put in confinment and were to be allowed 1 CD/ALBUM to listen to for the next 5 years of my life that I would choose this one. I do a radio show here in southeast Alaska on public radio KRBD Ketchikan. I've been doing it since 1989. Leon Russell is the heart of my music. His soul,his voice, his song writing will live on forever as long as I'm still around. I've been lucky enough to have captured him live in Seattle with Edgar Winter a couple of times and even danced to his music...Too cool. Thank you Leon....How many days has it been since I was born...How many days till I Die

Leon's big band sound of gospel,blues,country is all captured on this stunning release catapulting him into stardom.
All the cuts are classics even the Dylan and Harrison covers, and despite using different studios from LA to Alabama,London,there is a cohesiveness to the overall sound that I find very live at your face akin to that whole Delaney and Bonnie,early solo Clapton,Cocker's Mad Dog and Englishman sound where all excess is contained on the album..all were intertwined as some happy family.
A unique 1970's piece of history.

There is no musician who can compare to Leon Russell. He is a singer, a songwriter, an arranger, a musician, a producer, and more. His experiences with other artists in the music industry read like a Who's Who.

This collection from 1971 is full of energy. Some of my personal recommendations are Stranger in a Strange Land, Of Thee I Sing, Alcatraz, Beware of Darkness, Sweet Emily, It's All Over Now Baby Blue, Home Sweet Oklahoma, and The Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen.

If you love Leon's work this collection is a must-have. Also if you love Leon, visit his website and get the address for the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame to nominate him as an inductee while he is still around to enjoy the glory he so deserves.

I first saw Leon Russell at the Concert for Bangla Desh at Madison Square Garden in 1971. Soon after, I relocated to Tulsa, Leon's hometown, and had the opportunity to see him record and play with the top musicians of the day. This is quintessential Leon, a must for any music buff of this era. After Benno and Mad Dogs, Leon takes it up a notch with these love songs to his friends ( Sweet Emily), and his hometown. His tributes to Dylan are some of the finest recorded, and Stranger In A Strange Land remains one of the finest R&B rockers of all time. Leon at his best!