7. “Alcatraz” from Leon Russell and the Shelton People (1971)
Same album – different vibe. This is straight blues rock. Leon could write it, play it, and sing it. Here, he gets an assist from Eric Clapton, wailing on guitar. The song would become a fan favorite at Leon’s high-octane live shows, which you can hear on Leon Live a few years later. But I prefer the studio version of this one.
6. “Roll Away the Stone” from Leon Russell (1970)
The final track on the original release of his debut album. “It’s such a strange world that I’m living in.” That’s the opening line. How strange! Here’s who Leon got to play on this track. Eric Clapton is playing guitar. Stevie Winwood on keys. The rhythm section, borrowed from the world’s greatest rock & roll band, is Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. And Leon is pounding his piano and singing his soul out. Not bad for your first album.
5. “Magic Mirror” from Carney (1972)
Another final track, this one from the follow-up to Shelter People, features an iconic Leon Russell piano groove that few could match. It mixes blues and jazz in a syncopated rhythm that carries along one of Leon’s most openly philosophical songs.
He runs through various ways he is perceived by all those around him, trying desperately to hold onto his own sense of identity. It’s heady stuff. “The sellers think I’m merchandise – They’ll have me for a song – The left ones think I’m right – The right ones think I’m wrong.”
4. “Jumpin’ Jack Flash/Youngblood” from The Concert for Bangladesh (1971)
George Harrison put together the charity concert in support of refugees from the war-ravaged land. He got Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Ravi Shankar, and plenty of others to perform. Leon led the band through a blistering nine-minute medley of the Stones and a Stoller/Lieber song, made big by the Coasters.
As previously mentioned, Leon gave plenty of outstanding live performances and some were caught on record. This is the best. He rocks out big time on the Stones and gives the most soulful version of Stoller and Lieber that I know of.
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