I need to change this. Leon Russell is not dead, again my themes are thwarted. He s a christian gospel singer now, but was a weird dude when he was younger (and somehow grey haired). And since he s born again I think that counts as dying?...
Anyway... He was a session guy and a young heartthrob:
Girls danced all over him and his piano.
Then in the 60s he a bunch of work for hippies as one of phil spectors in house guys. It rubbed off on him and he joined Joe Cockers band. they sang a bunch of songs for "The Wonder Years" among other stuff.
Then he went solo and kicked ass in a strange way.
"A song for you" Strange, candid song. Seems like there was zero lyrical editing on this one.
This one is pretty simple rock and roll, but one of the backup girls looks like shes naked.
...So that s cool.
He hung with George Harrison and sang Jumping Jack flash pretty well.
And sang a good version of wild horses
Long live the weirdos.
4 comments:
I'd never heard of Leon until I saw the Bangladesh benefit and it blew me away. His ice blue eyes and that fetching red shirt, along with the silver hair was too much. He was raunchy, I loved his cover of Young Blood.
I think he was also seminal in bringing Joe Cocker into the public eye (is that a good thing ?) when he arranged to Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour. During that era wore the Uncle Sam hat and played guitar and I think Madonna stole that look for her latest tour. Granted, Leon didn't wear fishnets.
It's a shame he's turned into a human blues jukebox. I spent a deal of money on a Leon Russell DVD last year and 75% of it consisted of dead boring pub rock gig footage where he sat behind his piano, wearing shades and not moving a muscle, doing those evergreens. Back in the day he oozed sex and wildness.
Have you checked out Leon's kids ? His son is called Jack, I think. He's also got a bunch of pretty daughters. Some of them are into music.
His album "Carney" is strangely genius, and he was certainly an asset to the Concert for Bangladesh.
Carney is one of the best albums from the whole drug daze. Love it then, love it now. Leon is unique. More so called "artists" should try it. Love ya Leon
Handi in Dallas
How about doing another version of High Heel Sneakers. The early version was great but I can't find it anywhere except in video form from 1964.
I've always loved your style of ROCK.
TJW
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