LEON RUSSELL
''GIMME SHELTER! THE BEST OF LEON RUSSELL, DISC TWO''
NOVEMBER 12 1996
140:22
1 /Hello Little Friend
Leon Russell/feat: The Asylum Choir/2:49
2 /Sweet Home Chicago
Marc Benno / Leon Russell/feat: The Asylum Choir/3:18
3 /Tryin' to Stay 'Live
Marc Benno / Leon Russell/feat: The Asylum Choir/2:44
4 /Ballad for a Soldier
Leon Russell/feat: The Asylum Choir/4:23
5 /A Song for You
Leon Russell/4:04
6 /Dixie Lullaby
Leon Russell / Chris Stainton/2:30
7 /Hummingbird
Leon Russell/3:57
8 /Delta Lady
Leon Russell/4:02
9 /Pisces Apple Lady
Leon Russell/2:46
10 /Old Masters (Masters of War)
Bob Dylan/1:34
11 /Stranger in a Strange Land
Don Preston / Leon Russell/feat: The Shelter People/3:59
12 /Crystal Closet Queen
Leon Russell/feat: The Shelter People/2:56
13 /Home Sweet Oklahoma
Leon Russell/3:24
14 /She Smiles Like a River
Leon Russell/2:56
15 /Beware of Darkness
George Harrison/4:33
16 /Tight Rope
Leon Russell/2:53
17 /Me & Baby Jane
Leon Russell/3:51
18 /Manhattan Island Serenade
C. R. Bridges / Leon Russell/3:23
19 /Magic Mirror
Leon Russell/4:52
20 /This Masquerade
Leon Russell/4:18
DISC TWO
1 /Roll Away the Stone
Greg Dempsey / Leon Russell/3:56
2 /Prince of Peace
Greg Dempsey / Leon Russell/4:27
3 /Sweet Emily
Leon Russell/3:07
4 /Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
M. Christian / Traditional/feat: Hank Wilson/4:23
5 /She Thinks I Still Care
Steve Duffy / Dickey Lee Lipscomb/feat: Hank Wilson/4:24
6 /In the Jailhouse Now
Jimmie Rodgers/feat: Hank Wilson/2:21
7 /If I Were a Carpenter
Tim Hardin/3:43
8 /Leaving Whipporwhill
Leon Russell/3:49
9 /Time for Love
Leon Russell/3:51
10 /Will O' the Wisp
Leon Russell/0:54
11 /Little Hideaway
Leon Russell/3:59
12 /Back to the Island
Leon Russell/5:13
13 /Bluebird
Leon Russell/3:58
14 /Lady Blue
Leon Russell/3:29
15 /She Belongs to Me
Bob Dylan/3:19
16 /Wild Horses
Mick Jagger / Keith Richards / Bill Shore / David Wills/3:30
17 /Anything Can Happen
Bruce Hornsby / Leon Russell/4:06
18 /Faces of the Children
Bruce Hornsby / Leon Russell/3:45
19 /Everybody's Talking 'Bout the Young
J.J. Cale / Leon Russell/1:46
20 /It's Alright with Me
Leon Russell/3:10
REVIEW
by Richie Unterberger
It's a little problematic to put together a compilation of such an album-oriented artist. But unless you're very deeply into the Leon Russell catalog, this two-CD, 40-track best-of will serve as a retrospective of all that you need, largely covering his work from the first half of the '70s (a couple of songs from his 1992 Virgin album are also included) and featuring his best-known hits, big and small. It's a well-done tour through his blend of swamp rock, gospel, and bits of blues and country, with material from eight of his Shelter LPs, including the one he recorded in 1969 as part of the Asylum Choir. Interesting rarities include a 1974 single of "Wild Horses," a 1970 cover of Dylan's "She Belongs to Me" that only showed up on a compilation, and a folk-rockish 1965 single for Dot.
BIOGRAPHY
by Jason Ankeny
The ultimate rock & roll session man, Leon Russell's long and storied career includes collaborations with a virtual who's who of music icons spanning from Jerry Lee Lewis to Phil Spector to the Rolling Stones. A similar eclecticism and scope also surfaced in his solo work, which couched his charmingly gravelly voice in a rustic yet rich swamp pop fusion of country, blues, and gospel. Born Claude Russell Bridges on April 2, 1942, in Lawton, OK, he began studying classical piano at age three, a decade later adopting the trumpet and forming his first band. At 14, Russell lied about his age to land a gig at a Tulsa nightclub, playing behind Ronnie Hawkins & the Hawks before touring in support of Jerry Lee Lewis. Two years later, he settled in Los Angeles, studying guitar under the legendary James Burton and appearing on sessions with Dorsey Burnette and Glen Campbell. As a member of Spector's renowned studio group, Russell played on many of the finest pop singles of the 1960s, also arranging classics like Ike & Tina Turner's monumental "River Deep, Mountain High"; other hits bearing his input include the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man," Gary Lewis & the Playboys' "This Diamond Ring," and Herb Alpert's "A Taste of Honey."
In 1967, Russell built his own recording studio, teaming with guitarist Marc Benno to record the acclaimed Look Inside the Asylum Choir LP. While touring with Delaney & Bonnie, he scored his first songwriting hit with Joe Cocker's reading of "Delta Lady," and in 1970, upon founding his own Shelter Records imprint, he also organized Cocker's legendary Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour. After the subsequent tour film earned Russell his first real mainstream notoriety, he issued a self-titled solo LP, and in 1971 appeared at George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh following sessions for B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan. After touring with the Rolling Stones, Russell increasingly focused on his solo career, reaching the number two spot with 1972's Carney and scoring his first pop hit with the single "Tight Rope." While the success of 1973's three-LP set Leon Live further established his reputation as a top concert draw, response to the country-inspired studio effort Hank Wilson's Back was considerably more lukewarm, as was the reception afforded to 1974's Stop All That Jazz. 1975's Will O' the Wisp, however, restored his commercial luster, thanks in large part to the lovely single "Lady Blue."
In June of 1975, Russell married singer Mary McCreary; the following year the couple collaborated on The Wedding Album, issued through his newly formed Paradise Records label. Also in 1976, the Russell-penned "This Masquerade" earned a Grammy Award for singer George Benson. He and McCreary reunited for 1977's Make Love to the Music, and upon completing the solo Americana, Russell teamed with Willie Nelson for 1979's Willie & Leon. He then spent the next two years touring with his bluegrass band, the New Grass Revival, issuing a live LP in 1981; although Paradise shut down later that year, the label was reactivated for 1984's Hank Wilson, Vol. 2 and Solid State. Russell spent the remainder of the decade largely outside of music and did not resurface until issuing the Bruce Hornsby-produced Anything Can Happen in 1992. The album appeared to little fanfare, however, and another long period of relative inactivity followed prior to the 1998 release of Hank Wilson, Vol. 3: Legend in My Time. Face in the Crowd appeared a year later. Moving into the new century, Russell issued Moonlight & Love Songs, an album of cover songs, in 2002, followed by Angel in Disguise five years later in 2007. A trio of releases, Almost Piano, Bad Country, and In Your Dreams, appeared in 2008.
''GIMME SHELTER! THE BEST OF LEON RUSSELL, DISC TWO''
NOVEMBER 12 1996
140:22
1 /Hello Little Friend
Leon Russell/feat: The Asylum Choir/2:49
2 /Sweet Home Chicago
Marc Benno / Leon Russell/feat: The Asylum Choir/3:18
3 /Tryin' to Stay 'Live
Marc Benno / Leon Russell/feat: The Asylum Choir/2:44
4 /Ballad for a Soldier
Leon Russell/feat: The Asylum Choir/4:23
5 /A Song for You
Leon Russell/4:04
6 /Dixie Lullaby
Leon Russell / Chris Stainton/2:30
7 /Hummingbird
Leon Russell/3:57
8 /Delta Lady
Leon Russell/4:02
9 /Pisces Apple Lady
Leon Russell/2:46
10 /Old Masters (Masters of War)
Bob Dylan/1:34
11 /Stranger in a Strange Land
Don Preston / Leon Russell/feat: The Shelter People/3:59
12 /Crystal Closet Queen
Leon Russell/feat: The Shelter People/2:56
13 /Home Sweet Oklahoma
Leon Russell/3:24
14 /She Smiles Like a River
Leon Russell/2:56
15 /Beware of Darkness
George Harrison/4:33
16 /Tight Rope
Leon Russell/2:53
17 /Me & Baby Jane
Leon Russell/3:51
18 /Manhattan Island Serenade
C. R. Bridges / Leon Russell/3:23
19 /Magic Mirror
Leon Russell/4:52
20 /This Masquerade
Leon Russell/4:18
DISC TWO
1 /Roll Away the Stone
Greg Dempsey / Leon Russell/3:56
2 /Prince of Peace
Greg Dempsey / Leon Russell/4:27
3 /Sweet Emily
Leon Russell/3:07
4 /Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
M. Christian / Traditional/feat: Hank Wilson/4:23
5 /She Thinks I Still Care
Steve Duffy / Dickey Lee Lipscomb/feat: Hank Wilson/4:24
6 /In the Jailhouse Now
Jimmie Rodgers/feat: Hank Wilson/2:21
7 /If I Were a Carpenter
Tim Hardin/3:43
8 /Leaving Whipporwhill
Leon Russell/3:49
9 /Time for Love
Leon Russell/3:51
10 /Will O' the Wisp
Leon Russell/0:54
11 /Little Hideaway
Leon Russell/3:59
12 /Back to the Island
Leon Russell/5:13
13 /Bluebird
Leon Russell/3:58
14 /Lady Blue
Leon Russell/3:29
15 /She Belongs to Me
Bob Dylan/3:19
16 /Wild Horses
Mick Jagger / Keith Richards / Bill Shore / David Wills/3:30
17 /Anything Can Happen
Bruce Hornsby / Leon Russell/4:06
18 /Faces of the Children
Bruce Hornsby / Leon Russell/3:45
19 /Everybody's Talking 'Bout the Young
J.J. Cale / Leon Russell/1:46
20 /It's Alright with Me
Leon Russell/3:10
REVIEW
by Richie Unterberger
It's a little problematic to put together a compilation of such an album-oriented artist. But unless you're very deeply into the Leon Russell catalog, this two-CD, 40-track best-of will serve as a retrospective of all that you need, largely covering his work from the first half of the '70s (a couple of songs from his 1992 Virgin album are also included) and featuring his best-known hits, big and small. It's a well-done tour through his blend of swamp rock, gospel, and bits of blues and country, with material from eight of his Shelter LPs, including the one he recorded in 1969 as part of the Asylum Choir. Interesting rarities include a 1974 single of "Wild Horses," a 1970 cover of Dylan's "She Belongs to Me" that only showed up on a compilation, and a folk-rockish 1965 single for Dot.
BIOGRAPHY
by Jason Ankeny
The ultimate rock & roll session man, Leon Russell's long and storied career includes collaborations with a virtual who's who of music icons spanning from Jerry Lee Lewis to Phil Spector to the Rolling Stones. A similar eclecticism and scope also surfaced in his solo work, which couched his charmingly gravelly voice in a rustic yet rich swamp pop fusion of country, blues, and gospel. Born Claude Russell Bridges on April 2, 1942, in Lawton, OK, he began studying classical piano at age three, a decade later adopting the trumpet and forming his first band. At 14, Russell lied about his age to land a gig at a Tulsa nightclub, playing behind Ronnie Hawkins & the Hawks before touring in support of Jerry Lee Lewis. Two years later, he settled in Los Angeles, studying guitar under the legendary James Burton and appearing on sessions with Dorsey Burnette and Glen Campbell. As a member of Spector's renowned studio group, Russell played on many of the finest pop singles of the 1960s, also arranging classics like Ike & Tina Turner's monumental "River Deep, Mountain High"; other hits bearing his input include the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man," Gary Lewis & the Playboys' "This Diamond Ring," and Herb Alpert's "A Taste of Honey."
In 1967, Russell built his own recording studio, teaming with guitarist Marc Benno to record the acclaimed Look Inside the Asylum Choir LP. While touring with Delaney & Bonnie, he scored his first songwriting hit with Joe Cocker's reading of "Delta Lady," and in 1970, upon founding his own Shelter Records imprint, he also organized Cocker's legendary Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour. After the subsequent tour film earned Russell his first real mainstream notoriety, he issued a self-titled solo LP, and in 1971 appeared at George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh following sessions for B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Bob Dylan. After touring with the Rolling Stones, Russell increasingly focused on his solo career, reaching the number two spot with 1972's Carney and scoring his first pop hit with the single "Tight Rope." While the success of 1973's three-LP set Leon Live further established his reputation as a top concert draw, response to the country-inspired studio effort Hank Wilson's Back was considerably more lukewarm, as was the reception afforded to 1974's Stop All That Jazz. 1975's Will O' the Wisp, however, restored his commercial luster, thanks in large part to the lovely single "Lady Blue."
In June of 1975, Russell married singer Mary McCreary; the following year the couple collaborated on The Wedding Album, issued through his newly formed Paradise Records label. Also in 1976, the Russell-penned "This Masquerade" earned a Grammy Award for singer George Benson. He and McCreary reunited for 1977's Make Love to the Music, and upon completing the solo Americana, Russell teamed with Willie Nelson for 1979's Willie & Leon. He then spent the next two years touring with his bluegrass band, the New Grass Revival, issuing a live LP in 1981; although Paradise shut down later that year, the label was reactivated for 1984's Hank Wilson, Vol. 2 and Solid State. Russell spent the remainder of the decade largely outside of music and did not resurface until issuing the Bruce Hornsby-produced Anything Can Happen in 1992. The album appeared to little fanfare, however, and another long period of relative inactivity followed prior to the 1998 release of Hank Wilson, Vol. 3: Legend in My Time. Face in the Crowd appeared a year later. Moving into the new century, Russell issued Moonlight & Love Songs, an album of cover songs, in 2002, followed by Angel in Disguise five years later in 2007. A trio of releases, Almost Piano, Bad Country, and In Your Dreams, appeared in 2008.
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