But Leon being Leon, he followed those commercial successes with a country-tinged studio effort. Many fans weren't ready to cross that particular bridge. People tended to take him as a deep-fried, Southern-sounding rock act - though Russell is actually from Oklahoma - and were disappointed when he didn't play along.
But Russell's was clearly a spirit forged on variety, on not just the spice of life but the entire spice rack. He made his bones working across the spectrum, from arranging Ike and Tina Turner's towering single "River Deep, Mountain High" to playing a key role in the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man," Gary Lewis and the Playboys' "This Diamond Ring" and Herb Alpert's "A Taste of Honey."
His career began to slow, and for a while it looked like 1975's Will O' the Wisp — which produced the single "Lady Blue" - would be Russell's last great side. He was silent for much of the period from 1979-92.
But with Anything Can Happen (produced by the then-hot Bruce Hornsby), he finally reemerged both as a recording artist - famously collaborating later with Willie Nelson — but more particularly as a tireless touring act, even well into his '60s. His hair, and his ever-whitening beard, grew longer - but so did Leon Russell's legend as the consummate musician and never-ebbing rebel.
His records, and his concerts, are a strange mixture, this gospelly get-down groove coupled with a strange and strained vocal. It's down-home, happy and bedraggled - like a middle-aged hound dog. Leon can howl like that, too, his voice and his music so unadulterated and unique.
The difference now is, we accept that. Russell is the square peg finally, blessedly, crammed into the round hole.
He is what he is. A guy who crosses these bridges as he comes to them.
Article comments
1 - Jon Sobel
Nice job! LR is way too underappreciated. I used to have a greatest hits collection that I listened to over and over when I was in my twenties.
2 - Frank S
Nick- thanks for un-forgetting Leon.
There are many of us who have never forgotten him and he has remained a part of our lives from the time we first heard him. He is on a constant US tour and is singing his songs to us. Hopefully this will last forever.
3 - mary ann
Thanks for remembering Leon and what a contribution he has made to the music world! And, yeah, he's still at it!
4 - Elaine Elmer
Leon Russell, very much his own person with classical music training; playing since he was 4 and professionally since 14, has the ability of seeing through much worldly B.S. calling a spade a spade, with great soul and heartfelt expression.
His versatility includes ability to jump and rock
with truely irresistable rhythm.
I don't know exactly why radio stations would rarely play his music after the '70s but that
was the case. Was it due to his own record company and no kickbacks? Did he offend somehow ?
A conversation I had with some of his staff, late '80s revealed they had been trying unsuccessfully to get it played. Was it just not
popular as to current demand?
He has almost always remained productive musically; dealt with some severe health problems...a down to earth true musician, with
a solid core of devoted fans, currently picking up newer generations.