- Come On in My Kitchen
- Big Lips
- Georgia on My Mind
- That Lucky Old Sun
- Fever
- Think of Me
- I Got It Bad & That Ain¿¿¿t Good
- The Masquerade Is Over
- I Really Miss You
- New York State of Mind
- Fool¿¿¿s Paradise
- Down in Dixieland
5
1
0602537764716
CD
$13.99
-
SHIP THIS ITEMTemporarily Out of Stock Online
-
PICK UP IN STORECheck Availability at Nearby Stores
Available within 2 business hours
Related collections and offers
13.99
Out Of Stock
Overview
Prior to his Elton John-endorsed career resurrection via the 2010 duet album The Union, Leon Russell cranked out self-released oddities to little notice. Once The Union again made Russell a draw, there was little chance that he would revive his MIDI keyboards, and Life Journey indeed stays far, far away from those cramped, tinny settings, preferring to revive the loose-limbed, woolly Tulsan rock & roll that made his reputation. Working with Tommy LiPuma -- a veteran producer who had never recorded with Russell but who helmed many successful jazz sessions, including George Benson's Grammy-winning Breezin' -- Russell primarily sticks to standards, whether they're by Robert Johnson, Hoagy Carmichael, or Billy Joel, and that's how it should be. Although he's a fine songwriter, as evidenced here by his two originals -- "Big Lips" and "Down in Dixieland," raucous numbers both -- Russell is a stylist, bending songs to fit his swinging piano and slow drawl. He may occasionally follow a straight line with a ballad but he knows how to draw out the phrases on "That Lucky Old Sun," finding an unexpected contour in familiar melody, and he finds funk in "Come On in My Kitchen" while tearing up "Fever" and leaving "New York State of Mind" as a splashy big-band celebration of the Big Apple. This small list suggests how Life Journey touches upon much of the music Russell has sung over the years -- it's heavy on R&B, blues, jazz, and swing, but strangely lacking in much country -- and LiPuma is a perfect match for this celebratory approach. Where The Union occasionally veered toward the austere, Life Journey is robust and soulful, emphasizing the raggedness of Russell's voice and smooth boogie in his playing. It's a joyous thing to hear, a record that recaptures much of the magic of Leon's Shelter records without being fussy. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Product Details
Release Date: | 04/01/2014 |
---|---|
Label: | Universal |
UPC: | 0602537764716 |
Tracks
Album Credits
Performance Credits
Leon Russell Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Vocals (Background)Maurice Spears Trombone (Bass)
George Bohanon Trombone
Alvin Chea Vocals (Background)
Keith Fiddmont Sax (Alto)
James Gordon Clarinet
Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra Featured Artist
Clay Jenkins Trumpet
Greg Leisz Pedal Steel
Jeff Clayton Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Jeff Hamilton Drums
William Cantos Vocals (Background)
James Ford III Trumpet
John Clayton Bass,Conductor
Louis Price Vocals (Background)
Hugh McCracken Guitar,Soloist
Bijon Watson Trumpet
Perry Morgan Vocals (Background)
Graham Dechter Guitar (Acoustic)
Abe Laboriel, Jr. Drums
Anthony Wilson Guitar
Gilbert Castellanos Trumpet
Darrell Leonard Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Lee Callet Sax (Tenor)
Ira Nepus Trombone
Robben Ford Guitar
Sal Cracchiolo Trumpet
Rickey Woodard Sax (Tenor)
Christoph Luty Bass
Ryan Porter Trombone
Willie Weeks Bass
Dixieland Band Featured Artist
Charles Owens Sax (Tenor)
Chris Simmons Slide Guitar
Technical Credits
Doug Sax MasteringMike Diehl Design
Herb Magidson Composer
Ryan Roth Design,Photography
Billy Joel Composer
Duke Ellington Composer
Elliot Scheiner String Engineer
Beasley Smith Composer
Eddie Cooley Composer
John Clayton Arranger
John Davenport Composer
Mark Lambert Piano Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Robert Geddins Composer
Johnny Fuller Composer
Stuart Gorrell Composer
Brian Montgomery Engineer,Pro-Tools
Tommy LiPuma Producer
Alan Broadbent String Arrangements
Dr. David Rosenbaum Composer
Haven Gillespie Composer
Allie Wrubel Composer
Hoagy Carmichael Composer
Paul Anka Composer
Paul Francis Webster Composer
Elton John Executive Producer
Leon Russell Composer,Liner Notes
Robert Johnson Composer
Jerry Fuller Composer
Otis Blackwell Composer
Mike Reid Composer
Al Schmitt Mixing,Engineer
Chandler Harrod Engineer,Pro-Tools
Herbert Magidson Composer
Shari Sutcliffe Music Contractor,Production Coordination
Jill Dell'Abate String Contractor
Mabel Cordle Composer
From the B&N Reads Blog
Page 1 of