Leon Russell was one of the most esteemed studio session men in rock history, having appeared on an eye-popping number of records by legends such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby Darin, Phil Spector, Frank Sinatra, the Byrds, and the Beach Boys. Russell’s solo work benefited from his amazing collaborators, as the likes of George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, various Rolling Stones and others helped Russell put the finishing touches on his albums through the years. The ‘master of space and time,’ Russell blended together Southern soul, gospel, country, rock and piano-man singer / songwriter stylings. “A Song For Leon” celebrates Leon’s life and career,
There’s an echo of that sacredness in the new star-studded tribute album “A Song for Leon“, a faithful compilation of standards and surprises that turn the miracle of Leon Russell’s music over in the light. With a track list boasting big names in the world of contemporary Americana and beyond, the new record is stuffed with genre standard bearers like Margo Price, Hiss Golden Messenger and Nathaniel Rateliff. These are offset by more outside-the-box cuts from the Pixies, Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie, Canadian avant-pop act U.S. Girls and funk legend Bootsy Collins, with breakout turns from emerging talents like Chicago-born singer songwriter Monica Martin scattered in-between. Richer are the moments on “A Song for Leon” when the music of the old master grows new wings.
The best example can be found in the show-stealing collaboration between Megan Remy’s genre-scrambling U.S. Girls project and Parliament-Funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins. Together they turn the Carpenters-recorded 1971 hit “Superstar” (co-written by Russell and Bonnie Bramlett) into a deep, synth-funk freakout that stands boldly on its own two feet.
The Fat Angel Sings 