Comeback all uphill for Russell
G. * 01/22/99
Denver Post
(Copyright 1999)
Talk about a legendary career.
Leon Russell was a noted musician-arranger-producer for Phil
Spector's epochal sessions in the '60s, and he also helmed the
keyboards on the Byrds' "Mr. Tambou- rine Man" and other influential
rock records. He led Joe Cocker's touring band, Mad Dogs and
Englishmen, and his compositions were covered by artists like George
Benson ("This Masquerade") and the Carpenters ("A Song for You").
He made his own music, too. When his "Leon Live" went gold a
quarter-century ago, Russell was one of the brightest stars in pop
music. But it was the Oklahoma-born pianist's last major hit. He
released a series of tongue-in-cheek experimental country-western and
jazz albums, but never regained his huge following.
Is the enigmatic Russell, 57, in the mood for another comeback
attempt? He returns with "Face in the Crowd" - the swampy gospel
blues sound harks back to his early-'70s work. The project, in
stores Tuesday, is his guitar album.
"The only guitar I play is blues," Russell says. "After I saw
Albert King at the Ash Grove in Los Angeles, I couldn't seem to play
any other way."
Russell's voice is rougher, and the album suffers from average
songs ("Love Is a Battlefield" is replete with war sound effects).
The good news? He's kicked off a tour and will stop at the Buffalo
Rose in Golden on Feb. 9. New releases Five more reasons to go to a
record store in the coming week:
