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 Leon Russell
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| Author | Topic: Leon Russell |
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Ally Member From: Edinburgh, UK |
posted 01 June 2000 08:30 AM
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Hi, Been listening to a lot of Leon Russell... Hank Wilson vols I and III to be precise .. and think it's fantastic. Especially at a time when people are complaining about the quality of "new country" (strange term, don't quite understand it)and teh lack of steel on a lot of releases. Sonny Garrish's playing on vol III is outstanding. What other Leon Russel stuff is worth listening to? There's a rare vinyl shop here that has a stack of lps; I'd be interested in any recommendations. Oh, and back to vol III ... there's 20 minutes of audio notes on the end.. just Leon and teh producer talking over the tracks and musicians, which is almost as good as the songs themselves. How I'd imagine the country music station in heaven would sound. Cheers AC ------------------ |
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Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 01 June 2000 09:33 AM
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It depends what you are after, if you want to hear Leon doing whacked out psyche gospel rock then get his two Asylum Choir Lp's. His 1970 debut 'Leon Russell' is a lovely mix of soul and roots music, LA meets Memphis soul and country funk. It is a real companion piece to Joe Cocker's 1970 LP {cut in LA with Leon}, or Delaney & Bonnie's 1969 Lp 'Accept No Substitute' with Leon playing some truly fine gospel piano to their soulfull gospel rock. Leon's live Lp's from the 1970's are a great example of over the top showmanship and excitement crammed onto vinyl, although the one he cut with the Newgrass Revival is probably the best. |
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Mike Dennis Member From: Stevens Point WI. |
posted 01 June 2000 11:27 AM
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I'm a true blue Hank Wilson fan... and I never get tired of listening to Vol I. What can be better then the twin steel sound of Weldon Myric and Pete Drake on Leon's version of "She Thinks I still Care" or Curley Chalker's haunting solo on "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" which sounds like some kind of Ray Charles arrangement. It seems that they really captured the sound of the 1950's on those recordings, slap acoustic bass and all... and read the list of guest musicians... JJ Cale, Billy Byrd, Hal Rugg, Johnny Gimble, Weldon Myric, Pete Drake... on and on.. and Leon's voice sounds so Okie.. after all he is originally from Oklahoma. Vol III is great... opening with the gutsy "16 Tons" and it only gets better. I couldn't stop playing it... Vol II is currently being remixed by Leon and should be re released soon. Our local club owner had a chance to get the Hank Wilson III show here last year but decided not too... man was I bummed... He also had a chance to book Wayne Hancock and flubbed that too. Good to hear there are other hank wilson fans out there. Leon Russell... a highly under rated musician, a great producer and a top Nashville session pianno player... and he's good friends with Willie too. Mike Dennis [This message was edited by Mike Dennis on 01 June 2000 at 11:29 AM.] |
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Gregg Galbraith Member From: Goodlettsville,Tn.,USA |
posted 01 June 2000 12:38 PM
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As I recall, Tommy Alsup once told me that Leon played piano on one or both of Willie Nelson's albums on the Liberty label |
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Jerry Hayes Member From: Virginia Beach, Va. |
posted 01 June 2000 01:01 PM
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A lot of people don't know that the mega hit by George Benson "This Masquerade" was written and originally recorded by Leon Russell. Although guitar is actually my first instrument I still prefer Leon's recording of this song. He's without a doubt one of the greatest song sylists ever! He had a monster hit (at least on the West Coast) of a song called "Tightrope" which had some of the coolest piano you ever heard in your life! I like the Hank Wilson stuff too but he's got a lot more to him. Check out the live Joe Cocker record of "Mad Dogs and Englishmen", Leon's featured on that one along with Rita Coolidge. I don't know if he still is but, he was married to a black girl singer named Mary I believe and they recorded an album together in the 70's which was pretty good. A lot of times I find some of these CDs in the Public Library. They have a lot of stuff that's not found in regular record stores. ------------------ |
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JB Arnold Member From: Longmont,Co,USA |
posted 01 June 2000 01:16 PM
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Leon also played piano on a lot of the early Phil Spector wall of sound recordings. the guy has been everywhere! John ------------------ |
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Janice Brooks Moderator From: Pleasant Gap Pa |
posted 01 June 2000 03:53 PM
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Someone mentioned his work while Willie Nelson was on Liberty. I belive he also did some cuts with Gary Lewis and the Playboys. ------------------ |
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Mark Herrick Member From: Los Angeles, CA |
posted 01 June 2000 09:15 PM
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I think he also played piano on some Jan & Dean tunes in the 60's. |
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Mike Dennis Member From: Stevens Point WI. |
posted 02 June 2000 08:31 AM
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Leon Also did session work with Frank Senatra in the early sixties. Janice... Leon was Gary Lewis and The Playboys... he put the band together as their producer.. but according to a recent interview... it's an embarrassing episode of his career that he'd rather forget [This message was edited by Mike Dennis on 02 June 2000 at 08:32 AM.] |
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Mike Dennis Member From: Stevens Point WI. |
posted 02 June 2000 08:37 AM
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PS.. I saw Leon in a small club in Madison Wi. in 1985, it was the Leon Russell and Edgar Winter band tour... real good show. Highlight.. Leon played piano and sang solo "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" on stage by himself. It nearly brought tears to my eyes. |
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Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 02 June 2000 04:51 PM
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Jerry, yeah Leon did playon some of Willie's early stuff, as did Jim Pierce on other sessions. The Mad Dogs tour CD is still out and it's an amazing group, three drummers, about four backing singers, Leon steals the show in the film though, switching from piano to lead, dancingwhile doing guitar solos and generally pumping up the crowd and fellow bandmembers. Quite the showman. The first Hank Wilson LP was cut with Nashville veterans and the second version of the Newgrass Revival. ------------------ |
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