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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 /TiVo
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Don Was, A&R - Willie Weeks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tommy Lipuma, Producer - Leon Russell, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elton John, Producer, Executive Producer - Doug Sax, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ELLIOT SCHEINER, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Johnson, ComposerLyricist - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shari Sutcliffe, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Abe Laboriel, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Montgomery, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chandler Harrod, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Simmons, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronette Bowie, Unknown, Other
℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Don Was, A&R - Willie Weeks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tommy Lipuma, Producer - Leon Russell, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Producer, Executive Producer - Doug Sax, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ELLIOT SCHEINER, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shari Sutcliffe, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Abe Laboriel, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ALVIN CHEA, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Perry Morgan, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Montgomery, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Louis Price, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Chandler Harrod, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Simmons, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronette Bowie, Unknown, Other - William Cantos, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Don Was, A&R - John Clayton, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Gilbert Castellanos, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Lipuma, Producer - Leon Russell, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elton John, Producer, Executive Producer - Charles Owens, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - George Bohanon, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - HOAGY CARMICHAEL, Composer - Doug Sax, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stuart Gorrell, Author - ELLIOT SCHEINER, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shari Sutcliffe, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Maurice Spears, Bass Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jeff Hamilton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Montgomery, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Ford, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Bijon Watson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Dechter, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Callet, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Porter, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ira Nepus, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Fiddmont, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sal Cracchiolo, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Christoph Luty, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Rickey Woodard, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Clay Jenkins, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - JEFF CLAYTON, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Chandler Harrod, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ronette Bowie, Unknown, Other
℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Don Was, A&R - Willie Weeks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tommy Lipuma, Producer - Leon Russell, Piano, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elton John, Producer, Executive Producer - Doug Sax, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ELLIOT SCHEINER, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Leisz, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shari Sutcliffe, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Haven Gillespie, ComposerLyricist - Abe Laboriel, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ALVIN CHEA, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Perry Morgan, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Goldings, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Robben Ford, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Montgomery, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Louis Price, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Beasley Smith, ComposerLyricist - Chandler Harrod, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ronette Bowie, Unknown, Other - William Cantos, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Don Was, A&R - Mark Lambert, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - E.Cooley, Composer - J.Davenport, Composer - Willie Weeks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tommy Lipuma, Producer - Leon Russell, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elton John, Producer, Executive Producer - Doug Sax, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ELLIOT SCHEINER, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shari Sutcliffe, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Abe Laboriel, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ALVIN CHEA, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Perry Morgan, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Goldings, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Montgomery, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Louis Price, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Chandler Harrod, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Simmons, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronette Bowie, Unknown, Other - William Cantos, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Reid, ComposerLyricist - Don Was, A&R - John Clayton, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tommy Lipuma, Producer - Leon Russell, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elton John, Producer, Executive Producer - Doug Sax, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ELLIOT SCHEINER, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Leisz, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shari Sutcliffe, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Hamilton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Goldings, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Montgomery, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chandler Harrod, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ronette Bowie, Unknown, Other
℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Don Was, A&R - John Clayton, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Gilbert Castellanos, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Lipuma, Producer - Leon Russell, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Ellington, Composer - Elton John, Producer, Executive Producer - Charles Owens, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - George Bohanon, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Doug Sax, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ELLIOT SCHEINER, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Francis Webster, ComposerLyricist - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shari Sutcliffe, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Maurice Spears, Bass Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jeff Hamilton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Montgomery, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Ford, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Bijon Watson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Dechter, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Callet, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Porter, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ira Nepus, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Fiddmont, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sal Cracchiolo, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Christoph Luty, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Rickey Woodard, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Clay Jenkins, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - JEFF CLAYTON, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Chandler Harrod, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ronette Bowie, Unknown, Other
℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Don Was, A&R - John Clayton, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tommy Lipuma, Producer - Leon Russell, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elton John, Producer, Executive Producer - Doug Sax, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ELLIOT SCHEINER, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Herbert Magidson, ComposerLyricist - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shari Sutcliffe, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Allie Wrubel, ComposerLyricist - Elena Barere, Unknown, Other - Jeff Hamilton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Broadbent, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jill Dell'Abate, Unknown, Other - Brian Montgomery, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Wilson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Chandler Harrod, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ronette Bowie, Unknown, Other
℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Don Was, A&R - John Clayton, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tommy Lipuma, Producer - Leon Russell, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Anka, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Producer, Executive Producer - Doug Sax, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ELLIOT SCHEINER, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Leisz, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shari Sutcliffe, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Elena Barere, Unknown, Other - Jeff Hamilton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Broadbent, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jill Dell'Abate, Unknown, Other - Brian Montgomery, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Wilson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Chandler Harrod, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ronette Bowie, Unknown, Other
℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Don Was, A&R - John Clayton, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Gilbert Castellanos, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Lipuma, Producer - Hugh McCracken, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Leon Russell, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elton John, Producer, Executive Producer - Charles Owens, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - George Bohanon, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Doug Sax, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ELLIOT SCHEINER, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shari Sutcliffe, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - BILLY JOEL, ComposerLyricist - Maurice Spears, Bass Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Jeff Hamilton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Montgomery, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Ford, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Anthony Wilson, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bijon Watson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Dechter, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Callet, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Porter, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ira Nepus, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Fiddmont, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Sal Cracchiolo, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Christoph Luty, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Rickey Woodard, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Clay Jenkins, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Orchestra/Member, AssociatedPerformer - JEFF CLAYTON, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Chandler Harrod, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ronette Bowie, Unknown, Other
℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Don Was, A&R - Willie Weeks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tommy Lipuma, Producer - Leon Russell, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Elton John, Producer, Executive Producer - Doug Sax, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ELLIOT SCHEINER, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shari Sutcliffe, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Fuller, ComposerLyricist - Larry Goldings, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Robben Ford, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Montgomery, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mable Cordle, ComposerLyricist - Chandler Harrod, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ronette Bowie, Unknown, Other
℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Don Was, A&R - John Clayton, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Willie Weeks, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tommy Lipuma, Producer - Darrell Leonard, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Leon Russell, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Producer, Executive Producer - Doug Sax, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - ELLIOT SCHEINER, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Al Schmitt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shari Sutcliffe, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - James Gordon, Clarinet, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Montgomery, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ira Nepus, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Chandler Harrod, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Simmons, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ronette Bowie, Unknown, Other
℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
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 /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:48:09
- Main artists: Leon Russell
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Blue Note Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2014 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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