LEON RUSSELL. The Master of Space and Time’s Journey Through Rock & Roll History. By Bill Janovitz.
I grew up listening to Leon Russell's records. He banged away on the piano (pre-Elton John!) and sang with a gravel-choked twang, a drawl, a growl, a southern snarl. I can cut through thousands of reviews and evaluations on Leon Russell and boil it his appeal down to one thing: Leon Russell simply didn't sound like anybody else.
I was familiar with his career, I thought I knew a bit about him. Then I read Bill Janovitz’ book… and I knew nothing. This is a fascinating and exhaustive musical biography about rock legend Leon Russell. Bill Janovitz has been a music historian for decades. His book is as colorful and readable as any biography I’ve read, about music or otherwise, absolutely packed with fascinating information.
Leon Russell lived among the world's biggest musical performers: Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra, George Harrison, Willie Nelson, Elton John. In his heyday he filled arenas and stadiums. He lived a classic rock star life, made a fortune, and lost a fortune.
Leon Russell was born in Lawton, Oklahoma as Claude Russell Bridges, in 1942. He loved music from the start and played many instruments, but was especially fond of the piano. As a teenager in Oklahoma he lied about his age and joined the road band of Jerry Lee Lewis until he packed up and moved to Los Angeles in the mid-60s where he quickly became part of the glorious early days of rock'n'roll.
Using the name Leon Russell, he hung out with musicians and found his way into recording studios where he quickly gained a reputation as a top arranger, session musician, pianist, singer and composer. Meeting countless musical wannabes, (and letting many move into his communal home in the Hollywood Hills) he opened his own recording studio in 1967 and became part of Delaney and Bonnie’s wildly popular hit band. The book is especially thorough with these early SoCal years when Russell worked with such stars as Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Glen Campbell, Herb Alpert, Clapton, Harrison, and the Byrds.
Leon Russell’s public breakthrough came when he organized and appeared with Joe Cocker, in what came to be known forever as The Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour. Its movie would quickly follow, where Leon stole the show. Leon was bandleader for a vast and varied group of very eclectic musicians, adding extra instruments, horns, more guitars. This was no staid traditional quartet; the Joe Cocker show was expansive, jammed with performers and back-up singers. The sound was booming and unusual, the spirit and the energy remarkable. The worldwide concert tour was a raging success, and suddenly everybody wanted to work with Leon Russell. His was a special talent.
Continuing to contribute to many records for others, Russell grew his hair and finally issued his first solo debut album in 1970 entitled, Leon Russell. The record received enormous critical acclaim, featuring such timeless hits as “A Song for You”, “Roll Away the Stone”, “Delta Lady”, and “Pisces Apple Lady”. It features a jaunty, live piano sound, unpolished lyrics, and an unrehearsed or underproduced tone. Celebratory and improvisational, it was the same texture that he’d achieved with the Joe Cocker sessions. The record is a mix of rock, soul, blues, and southern country, knit together with Leon’s unique and unmistakable drawl. Backup musicians on the album are a who's who of legendary rockers: Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Charley Watts and Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, Steve Winwood, Bonnie Bramlett, and a song from Bob Dylan.
With Mad Dogs and Englishmen and his debut album, Leon was now squarely in the public eye. He got a call from George Harrison, who used the power of The Beatles for the good. There was a catastrophe on the other side of the world, and asked Leon if he'd help organize the Concert for Bangladesh. The album and movie followed. Leon toured with the Stones and released a highly acclaimed second solo album. His career rolling, Russell toured, made records, toured and toured some more.
The book details each record, often song by song, describing the influences on Leon, and those whom he influenced as well. We follow Leon’s move back to Tulsa, his three marriages, the seemingly endless buying of cars, buses, homes and real estate, children, and substance abuse. We also see his career slowly slip down, the hits stop coming, money is mismanaged, and his health deteriorates.
I have many takeaways from this book. There's simply no end to the number of headliners Leon Russell worked with. He was close with George Harrison, Elton John, Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Rita Coolidge, Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, David Crosby, the Grateful Dead, Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett, Chuck Berry, Dwayne Allman, Herb Alpert, the Beach Boys, Jeff Beck, Tom Petty, David Bowie, Jackson Browne, Gary Busey, Dan Ackroyd and John Bellucci, Bobby Keys, Freddie King, Lynyrd Skynyrd, JJ Cale, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young and Edgar Winter. And many many more.
Author Bill Janovitz retells tales and anecdotes of Leon's interactions with these musicians. It’s all truly memorable musicology. One aspect sticks out… that Leon was always on the edge of technology. He was the first to use synthesizers, electronic pianos, one of the first to try a music video. He owned studios in Oklahoma and California. In the end his writing, production and performance credits are on over 400 songs. He alone released more than 30 albums. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 74.
Leon’s slow but steady fade from the music scene breaks your heart. He continued to perform live for the rest of his life, but the big stadium show turned into arena show; the arenas turned into theaters; theaters turned into clubs, and clubs turned into smaller and smaller clubs. Leon had demons and fell victim to problems with his weight, health, marriage, business management, and constant money troubles, despite large royalties.
Elton John plays a starring role late in the book. Russell’s very first song on his first album is the famous, “A Song for You”. It's perhaps his signature ballad; he sounds sad and lonely, in a haunting way. But in 1970, the song inspired a young Elton John to write the classic “Your Song”, which became John’s first international hit and sent him to stardom. Late in Leon’s life, his career was revitalized by Elton John who learned of Russell's health and financial problems, sought him out, helped and collaborated on a record and brief tour. Further, Elton was instrumental in placing Leon Russell into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If nothing else, you set this book down knowing that Elton John is a great human being.
You read Leon Russell's biography to learn of one man's powerful and endless contributions to the early days of music. You also read this book because it's a journey through rock'n'roll history. Anecdote after anecdote, the lives of so many different people intersect. You read this book because it's absolutely packed with information, things you just did not know.
Leon Russell’s rowdy way of recording and staging shows influenced such stars as the Stones and Bruce Springsteen. He's written countless songs that if you don't know them by name, you'll certainly recognize when you hear them: “A Song for You”, “Tightrope”, “Stranger in a Strange Land”, “The Letter”, “Roll Away the Stone”, “Delta Lady”, “This Masquerade”, “Shoot Out at the Plantation”, “Dixie Lullaby”, “I Put a Spell on You’, “Hummingbird”, “Prince of Peace”.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book that can be read on a musical level, and a biographical level. It's a replay of the glorious 70s and 80s, very often from a very different perspective, all about one of the most creative, interesting and underappreciated artists of the rock era.
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Leon’s version of Rollin’ in my sweet baby’s arms was great! I had the privilege of seeing him in person ♥️
Leon Russell was amazing