Leon Russell (album) explained

Leon Russell
Type:	studio
Artist:	Leon Russell
Cover:	LeonRussellAlbum.jpg
Recorded:	September 1969 – January 1970
Genre:	Americana^[1] country blues rock
Length:	38:06
Label:	Shelter (US) A&M (UK)
Producer:	Denny Cordell, Leon Russell
Prev Title:	Look Inside the Asylum Choir
Prev Year:	1968
Next Title:	Leon Russell and the Shelter People
Next Year:	1971

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.

"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.^{[2] [3]}

On January 17, 2018, "A Song for You" was added to Grammy Hall of Fame.^{[4] [5]}

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

• "Roll Away the Stone", "Pisces Apple Lady", "Hurtsome Body", "Prince of Peace", "Delta Lady", "Shoot Out On the Plantation", "I Put a Spell On You" - Recorded at Olympic Sound, London, September 1969
• "Give Peace a Chance" – Recorded at Ardent Recording, Memphis, November 1969
• "Dixie Lullaby" – recorded at Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles, December 22, 1969
• "Hummingbird" – recorded at Wally Heider Recording, Los Angeles, December 29, 1969
• "A Song for You", "Masters of War" – recorded at A&M Studios, Los Angeles, January 1970
• Final mixes by Glyn Johns made at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, January 17–19, 1970

Personnel

• Leon Russell – piano, guitar, bass guitar, vocals
• George Harrison – guitar^[6]
• Eric Clapton – guitar
• Delaney Bramlett – guitar
• Alan Spenner – bass guitar
• Klaus Voormann – bass guitar ^[7]
• Bill Wyman – bass guitar ^[7]
• Steve Winwood – keyboards ^[7]
• Chris Stainton – keyboards ^[7]
• Ringo Starr - drums^{[6] [7]}
• Charlie Watts – drums ^[7]
• Buddy Harman – drums
• Jim Gordon – drums
• B.J. Wilson – drums ^[7]
• Jon Hiseman – drums ^[7]
• Mick Jagger – vocals
• Bonnie Bramlett – vocals
• Joe Cocker – vocals
• Merry Clayton – vocals
• Jim Horn – saxophone

Technical

• Leon Russell – producer
• Denny Cordell – producer
• Glyn Johns – engineer, mixing
• Tom Wilkes – design
• Jim McCrary – photography

"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)^[8]	9
US Billboard 200	60

Notes and References

1. Web site: Leon Russell . Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Allmusic . August 30, 2021.
2. 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 ..."
3. https://www.discogs.com/composition/dafcda8b-3846-4392-a07c-f51adeb78609-A-Song-For-You discogs.com A Song for You
4. https://newsok.com/article/5579892/leon-russells-a-song-for-you-added-to-grammy-hall-of-fame NewsOK.com Leon Russell's 'A Song For You' added to Grammy Hall Of Fame, by Nathan Poppe, January 17, 2018
5. https://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/scene/popculture/pop-culture-leon-russell-song-selected-for-grammy-hall-of/article_a4b06b88-3f54-5543-9295-cfa69c92c655.html Tulsa World News, Leon Russell song selected for Grammy Hall of Fame, By Jimmie Tramel, Jan. 18, 2018
6. Book: Castleman, Harry. All Together Now: The First Complete Beatles Discography 1961–1975. 1977. Ballantine Books. New York. 0-345-25680-8. 2nd. Podrazik, Walter J.. 87. 1970: And God Had Indigestion. registration.
7. Hopkins . Jerry . 21 January 1970 . Winwood, Watts & Starr as Sidemen . . 50 . 8 . San Francisco . Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc. .
8. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 262.