While Stop All That Jazz may not be Leon Russell’s best album, it is the first Leon Russell album I heard outside of his work on Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen (which was my fathers all-time favorite rock & roll album).
Being the shit-hot session man — and bandleader — that he was, Russell’s own work has unfortunately, but understandably, taken a backseat to his work with his famous peers (insert your sixties-seventies recording legend here).
His early career albums are stellar from top-to-bottom, and deserve a post of their own in the future; but in the meantime, listen to Russell’s version of the oft-covered “If I Were A Carpenter” off the aforementioned 1974 LP Stop All That Jazz. It’s just dripping with that Oklahoma soul only Leon can deliver. The (intentionally?) corny production makes it that much sweeter.
FYI: I just climbed through several boxes in storage to dig this one out. Hope some of ya’ll are down with mister Leon.
Video: Leon Russell @ The concert for Bangladesh – August 1, 1971
Download:
MP3: Leon Russell :: If I Were A Carpenter
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Amazon: Leon Russell – Stop All That Jazz
www.leonrussellrecords.com ++ myspace ++ more leon russell mp3s ++ emusic
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I forgot how leon once look and sounded. He’s given up some pretty for some substance. Great clip.
hey, thanks. I’m a fan of yours, as well.
“Leon Live” is one of the unsung amazing live albums to come out of the 70’s.
i wish they would clean up the sound on Leon Live. It’s pretty bad (on CD).
Love Leon Russell, I could listen to him sing the phonebook. Saw him recently, he’s still great , he just gets better.