Leon Russell (album)

Last updated
Leon Russell
LeonRussellAlbum.jpg
Studio album by
Released23 March 1970 (1970-03-23)
RecordedSeptember 1969 – January 1970
Studio
Genre
Length38:06
Label Shelter (US)
A&M (UK)
Producer Denny Cordell, Leon Russell
Leon Russell chronology
Look Inside the Asylum Choir
(1968)
Leon Russell
(1970)
Leon Russell and the Shelter People
(1971)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
Christgau's Record Guide B+ [3]

Leon Russell is the debut solo album by the singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Leon Russell. It followed his debut with the Midnight String Quartet and a production by Russell and Marc Benno billed as the Asylum Choir.

Contents

"A Song for You", written by Russell for this album, is a slow, pained plea for forgiveness and understanding from an estranged lover. The tune is one of Russell's best-known compositions. It has been performed and recorded by over 200 artists, spanning many musical genres. Elton John has called the song an American classic. [4] [5]

On January 17, 2018, "A Song for You" was added to Grammy Hall of Fame. [6] [7]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Leon Russell except where indicated

Side one

  1. "A Song for You" – 4:08
  2. "Dixie Lullaby" (Russell, Chris Stainton) – 2:30
  3. "I Put a Spell on You" – 4:10
  4. "Shoot Out on the Plantation" – 3:10
  5. "Hummingbird" – 3:57

Side two

  1. "Delta Lady" – 4:00
  2. "Prince of Peace" (Russell, Greg Dempsey) – 3:05
  3. "Masters of War (Bob Dylan) – 1:20
  4. "Give Peace a Chance" (Russell, Bonnie Bramlett) – 2:15
  5. "Hurtsome Body" – 3:35
  6. "Pisces Apple Lady" – 2:50
  7. "Roll Away the Stone" (Russell, Greg Dempsey) – 3:06

The 1993 "Gold Disc" CD reissue contains 5 bonus tracks:

  1. "The New Sweet Home Chicago" (Russell, Marc Benno) – 3:11
  2. "Jammin' with Eric" (Russell, Eric Clapton) – 4:14
  3. "Indian Girl" – 4:08
  4. "Shoot Out on the Plantation" (solo piano version) – 3:31
  5. "(Can't Seem To) Get a Line on You" (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) – 4:16

Personnel

Technical

"This album is dedicated to: Chris Stainton / George Harrison / Ringo Starr / Charlie Watts / Bill Wyman / Eric Clapton / Klaus Voorman / BJ Wilson / Alan Spenner / Jim Gordon / Greg Dempsey / Stevie Winwood / Jim Horn / Mr. & Mrs. Bramlett / Bobby Whiplash / Clydie King / Merry Clayton & Joe Cocker, for their inspirational music."

Charts

Chart performance for Leon Russell
Chart (1970–1972)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [10] 9
US Billboard 200 60

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek and the Dominos</span> English–American blues-rock band

Derek and the Dominos was an English–American blues rock band formed in the spring of 1970 by singer-guitarist Eric Clapton, keyboardist-singer Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon. All four members had previously played together in Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, during and after Clapton's brief tenure with Blind Faith. Dave Mason supplied additional lead guitar on early studio sessions and played at their first live gig. Another participant at their first session as a band was George Harrison, the recording for whose album All Things Must Pass marked the formation of Derek and the Dominos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Mason</span> British singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1946)

David Thomas Mason is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic, and went on to play and record with many notable pop and rock musicians, including Paul McCartney, George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Steve Winwood, Fleetwood Mac, Delaney & Bonnie, Leon Russell, and Cass Elliot.

<i>Eric Claptons Rainbow Concert</i> 1973 live album by Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert is a live album by Eric Clapton, recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London on 13 January 1973 and released in September that year. The concerts, two on the same evening, were organised by Pete Townshend of the Who and marked a comeback by Clapton after two years of inactivity, broken only by his performance at the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971. Along with Townshend, the musicians supporting Clapton include Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood and Jim Capaldi. In the year following the two shows at the Rainbow, Clapton recovered from his heroin addiction and recorded 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974).

<i>Live at the Fillmore</i> (Derek and the Dominos album) 1994 live album by Derek and the Dominos

Live at the Fillmore is a live double album by Derek and the Dominos, recorded in two performances in October 1970 at the Fillmore East and released on 22 February 1994. It includes live material previously released on the In Concert album, live material previously released on Eric Clapton's Crossroads box set, and several previously unreleased numbers.

<i>Eric Clapton</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton is the debut solo studio album by English rock musician Eric Clapton, released in August 1970 by Atco and Polydor Records.

<i>Crossroads</i> (Eric Clapton album) 1988 box set by Eric Clapton

Crossroads is a 1988 music collection box set of the work of Eric Clapton released by Polydor Records. The set includes his work with the Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends and Derek and the Dominos, as well as his solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Stainton</span> Musical artist

Christopher Robert Stainton is an English session musician, keyboard player, bassist and songwriter, who first gained recognition with Joe Cocker in the late 1960s. In addition to his collaboration with Cocker, Stainton is best known for his work with Eric Clapton, The Who, Andy Fairweather Low and Bryan Ferry.

<i>On Tour with Eric Clapton</i> 1970 live album by Delaney & Bonnie & Friends

On Tour with Eric Clapton is a 1970 album by Delaney & Bonnie with Eric Clapton, recorded live at the Fairfield Halls, England. Released on Atco Records, it peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard 200 in April 1970, at No. 39 on the UK Albums Chart, and was certified a gold record by the RIAA.

<i>Joe Cocker!</i> 1969 studio album by Joe Cocker

Joe Cocker! is the second studio album by English singer Joe Cocker, released in November 1969. Following the template of his first LP, the album features numerous covers of songs originally performed by Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Leonard Cohen, and future touring partner Leon Russell. Cocker also co-wrote one song, "That's Your Business Now", with Chris Stainton, who was a frequent songwriting partner.

The ARMS Charity Concerts were a series of charitable rock concerts in support of Action into Research for Multiple Sclerosis in 1983. The first event took place at the Royal Albert Hall on September 20, 1983, with subsequent dates occurring in the United States, with slightly different lineups of musicians.

<i>In Concert</i> (Derek and the Dominos album) 1973 live album by Derek and the Dominos

In Concert is a live double album, recorded by Derek and the Dominos in October 1970 at the Fillmore East and released January 1973.

<i>D&B Together</i> 1972 studio album by Delaney & Bonnie and Friends

D&B Together is the sixth album by Delaney & Bonnie and Friends and their first for Columbia Records. It was their last album of new material, as Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett would divorce soon after its release.

<i>Eric Clapton at His Best</i> 1972 greatest hits album by Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton at His Best is a two-LP compilation of Eric Clapton's work after he left his earlier band Cream, released in September 1972. It was concurrently released with a two-LP compilation of Cream tracks, Heavy Cream, along with "at His Best" solo retrospectives by Cream's other members Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker.

<i>Backtrackin</i> 1984 compilation album by Eric Clapton

Backtrackin' is a two-disc compilation album by Eric Clapton spanning the years 1966 to 1980. It was released in 1984. The compilation contains all of Clapton's best known songs with Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos, and his solo 1970s work through his 1980 live album Just One Night. This compilation album is made in Germany and is only available in the United States as an import. It was originally released by Starblend Records, and has since been reissued by Polydor Records. This 2 CD compilation is currently out of print in some markets while still available in some form in others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delaney Bramlett</span> American musician (1939–2008)

Delaine Alvin "Delaney" Bramlett was an American singer and guitarist. He was best known for his musical partnership with his wife Bonnie Bramlett in the band Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, which included a wide variety of other musicians, many of whom were successful in other contexts.

<i>Time Pieces Vol.II Live in the Seventies</i> 1983 live album by Eric Clapton

Timepieces Vol. II Live in the Seventies is a live album released in 1983 by Eric Clapton.

<i>Mad Dogs & Englishmen: The Complete Fillmore East Concerts</i> 2006 live album by Joe Cocker

Mad Dogs & Englishmen: The Complete Fillmore East Concerts is a live album by Joe Cocker, recorded in New York City in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let It Rain (Eric Clapton song)</span> 1972 single by Eric Clapton

"Let It Rain" is a song and single written and released by the British rock musician Eric Clapton and Bonnie Bramlett; it appears on his 1970 debut studio album Eric Clapton. In 1972 it was released as a single as part of the promotion for his compilation album Eric Clapton at His Best

<i>Leon Live</i> 1973 album by Leon Russell

Leon Live is a live album by singer and songwriter Leon Russell recorded on August 28, 1972, at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California. It was Russell's first live album and was originally released as a three-LP set in a tri-fold cover on Russell's Shelter Records label. The album was mixed at Ardent Studios and distributed by Capitol Records. The album peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and received a gold certification for sales of over 500,000 albums. Leon Live was re-released on CD by The Right Stuff Records in 1996. The album has gold certification for sales of over 500,000 albums in the US and Canada

<i>Live in Japan</i> (Leon Russell album) 1975 album by Leon Russell

Live in Japan is an live album by singer and songwriter Leon Russell. The album was recorded two live tour sessions. The first record section is a 1973 tour show at Budokan in Japan on November 8, 1973. The second recorded section is from a 1971 tour show in Sam Houston Coliseum. While the album had some of Leon's new hits, like "Tight Rope" and "A Song for You," the album did not chart in the top 200. His early live album Leon Live peaked at #9 on the U.S. charts. The album was first released as a vinyl LP by Shelter Records. Live in Japan was re-released on CD by Omnivore Recordings in 2011 and again in 2013 with bonus tracks. The album was by produced by Leon Russell, Nobuya Itoh, Peter Nicholls and Denny Cordell. The new CD releases were after Leon recordings earned six gold records. He received two Grammy awards from seven nominations. In 2011, he was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. One of his biggest early fans, Elton John, said Russell was a "mentor" and an "inspiration". They recorded their album The Union in 2010, which earned them a Grammy nomination.

References

  1. "Leon Russell – Leon Russell". Discogs. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Leon Russell". Allmusic. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: R". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved March 12, 2019 via robertchristgau.com.
  4. The Encyclopedia of Country Music, 2012: "In 1970 Russell released his self-titled debut solo album, including such enduring songs as 'Delta Lady' and 'A Song for You,' both written for versatile vocalist Rita Coolidge. He followed with Leon Russell and the Shelter People (1971) and ..."
  5. discogs.com A Song for You
  6. NewsOK.com Leon Russell's 'A Song For You' added to Grammy Hall Of Fame, by Nathan Poppe, January 17, 2018
  7. Tulsa World News, Leon Russell song selected for Grammy Hall of Fame, By Jimmie Tramel, Jan. 18, 2018
  8. 1 2 Castleman, Harry; Podrazik, Walter J. (1977). "1970: And God Had Indigestion". All Together Now: The First Complete Beatles Discography 1961–1975 (2nd ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p.  87. ISBN   0-345-25680-8.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hopkins, Jerry (21 January 1970). "Winwood, Watts & Starr as Sidemen". Rolling Stone (50). San Francisco: Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.: 8.
  10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 262. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.