Leon Russell was an American musician & songwriter who was involved with numerous bestselling records during his 60-year career. He recorded at least 31 albums & 430 songs. He collaborated with many notable artists such as Joe Cocker, The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Ike & Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones & so many more.
Leon wasn’t just capable of delivering feelings, he was an incredibly talented musician who artists wanted in their recording sessions. Leon was the quiet talent of his era.
Elton John did Leon's induction speech to the rock n roll hall of fame. It was so heart warming. And Elton was a huge admirer of Leon, and his body of work, and the hundreds of artist Leon was part of there recordings.
Wiki's first statement for the song: "A Song for You" is a song written and originally recorded by rock singer and pianist Leon Russell for his first solo album" Leon recorded it in 1970, Andy Williams and Donny recorded it in 1971.....200 others covered it, too. Great song.....
Leon was, for the most part, a song writer. This may be my very favorite song that he wrote, and I LOVE Leon's version, even though his voice wasn't 'traditionally' beautiful -- to his fans it was.
The "Master Of Space And Time's Leon was on just about every top hit in the 60's. Country, Rock, Soul, even Gospel, he was everywhere. Arranging and playing. He was part of the Wrecking Crew, a sought after group of studio musicians.
A lot of people covered Leon's songs, because he wrote so beautifully. No one could sing them like he did, because his voice is so distinctive and he never sang a song the same way each time. Leon's songs were mostly autobiographical and you can tell he's re-living it in the performance. Even that was different each time. Here's a link to an interview with him talking about his very early days auditioning for Jerry Lee Lewis when Leon was 14 and being hired and traveling with him for 2 years. ruclips.net/video/OgJOhvK7lMM/видео.html
Leon Russell WROTE and originally recorded the song “A Song for You” for his first solo album, which was released in 1970 on Shelter Records. To me, his version cannot be beat. I luckily saw him in person 3X and he was simple magnificent.
Leon was definitely a rocker, but he was born in Oklahoma and that country sound is definitely there in his voice. Glad you enjoyed this - I love Leon Russell. You might give a listen to something on his Leon Live album from 1973. Prince of Peace is fantastic.
@Donna M, Yes! Both my parents were born in Oklahoma, and I spent many a day there visiting family. He’s most definitely got that accent. I’m a huge fan!
Leon started his musical career as a member of the famed studio musicians called "The Wrecking Crew" in Los Angeles. These musicians are who you hear on a large majority of hits from the 1960' and 70's studio recordings. Other members included Glen Campbell piano, Hal Blaine drums, Tommy Tedesco guitar, Carol Kaye bass, among others. Leon Russell and Glen Campbell went on to have their own very successful careers as artists.
Leon is more Delta rock blues. You can't miss that influence in him and others from that area like Dr. John, the Neville Brothers, even the early Doobie Brothers. For a great uptempo Leon song, try the version of Delta Lady that was filmed on this same set. I think it was a tv special.
Leon was a writer of Standards that many others had to cover because those songs are that damn good and he was an awesome performer on stage . Elton John said Leon was a big influence on him ..
That thing you hear that sounds country is his accent. He's from my home town of Tulsa, Oklahoma and he has that drawl. Another song he wrote that was HEAVILY covered was This Masquerade. George Benson among others covered it.
@@ohaleno When he was putting the Mad Dogs and Englishmen thing together to help Joe Cocker out of his tax situation, he'd play out at Mohawk Park on Saturdays for free! Me? Will Rogers High School. Class of '73! lol
First time on your site...loved this video. We live in different worlds...I have known the Leon version of this song from back in the day, have been a huge Leon fan forever and saw him live once in a small saloon in the 1980's. Funny thing, I only heard the Donny version of this about 2 days ago on RUclips. I also love Donny and loved the version he did, it is a lot smoother, the way only he can do it. But I have to say, for such a powerful, beautiful song, the pure rawness of the original Leon version as done in the video you watched cannot be beat. ❤
Leon was an amazing character. Great singer-songwriter, studio level piano/keyboard player. And a world class producer as well (Freddie King, Delaney, Bonnie and Friends, Asylum Choir). But his career had faded quite a bit towards the end of his life, and he was being forgotten until his friend Elton John put him back in the spotlight by collaborating on an album with him. Which was great, because if anybody ever deserved not to be forgotten, it's Leon Russell.
My Favorite song by Leon is My cricket and me. " No I'm not crying, These ain't tears in my eyes. I'm so happy, I'm dying with laughter" ... Super song.. Thank you for doing these reactions!!
Thanks Nick, what a pleasure hearing Leon again, A Song For You is so beautiful and shows his musical genius. He wrote this song for the singer Rita Coolidge, who he was dating at the time. Nick you are right in seeing the connection of the song for Leon is REAL. That recording was from The Homewood Session, a 6 hour unrehearsed and unscripted session. It was broadcast on one-hour TV special on KCET TV (Los Angeles) and is Claimed to be the first national broadcast of a stereo rock and roll performance there are other great moments from the Session . The lady making the pie is Emily Smith who was Leon's personal assistant and very much a part of Leon's life, He wrote a song for her called Sweet Emily , also performed in the full session. SWEET EMILY ruclips.net/video/vJOL9g9Ncy4/видео.html Also the incredible and Original Blues Man Furry Lewis plays 3 songs ruclips.net/video/tJEjpG4ggcg/видео.html. Both links are worth a listen..
This is 1 of my favorite songs of all time. I always thought it was Donny's song. A couple of years ago I saw Leon's rendition. I knew Leon was an amazing songwriter, but I'd never heard his voice & felt I'd never want to listen, but wanted to compare it to Donny's song. I'll never like it. No, no, hell to the d@mn naw. W/in 10 seconds, I was like 😲...uhhhhhhhh WTF is this??? It was BEAUTIFUL!! Wow! That was just as beautiful. Then realized it's Leon's song. TFOH. I felt every lyric & note. So powerful. Loved it!
I heard this when I was a young girl. The depth of feeling in this song captured my heart. I still love the simplicity and complexity of this creation 50 some odd years later. Thank you so much for sharing young man! 😽💋🎶
He made a career of playing piano on hundreds of records as a super session player before he began to write these classic songs. He was a tremendous artist who never really became big as a solo artist but collaborated greatly with many, perhaps most famously with Joe Cocker on the Mad Dogs & Englishmen album and tour. Great artist.
Check out the live version of this song with Leon, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles. ruclips.net/video/2UW4ELmVD9M/видео.html It is so moving - near the end of Ray’s life and it’s like Willie knows. Three amazing musicians and friends, paying respect and singing together.
Hey Brother, you can pull up this entire "Leon Russell and friends" concert and I know you will really enjoy the experience. He plays for an hour with his band, including a couple blues songs by the old man you see among the folks there. You will get a deeper sense of Leon beyond what you've seen here. As usual great insight from you on your journey.
please, just carry on, life is is just Leon tell you the process. challenge the human heart.... inclusive,free, revolutionary.... transcend the time and human expression
Big Guy - This Masquerade (George Benson), Hummingbird (BB King), Delta Lady (Joe Cocker)...so many great songs written by Leon. He wasn't the greatest singer but he was original and a big influence on the playing style of Elton John.
I think Leon had his own style of singing, not unlike Joe Cocker having his own style. Attending a Leon Russell concert was banging rock with some style elements of a church revival. As he sang, “With the help of the good Lord and a little artificially induced religious experience, everything is gonna be all right.” Leon gave some of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.
The version everybody tends to miss out on is Ray Charles’ back & white video. There are several videos of him performing it. The black & white version w/ full orchestra is the best IMHO.
You have got to react to "Lucky Daye delivers a powerful performance of "A Song For You"". There is a harpist and Lucky with his band. Simply incredible. He is so talented and does this song justice.
Most people have no idea who Leon Is. He was a member of the wrecking crew. The studio musicians who played on every song you heard on the radio. Every beach boys song yo ever heard, that's Leon playing piano.
What I think the best version of this song is from Willie Nelson 70th birthday party. Leon Russell opens, Willie does a part and then Ray Charles nails the rest. The story is that Ray Charles was already pretty ill and the guys let Ray play it out. As good as Ray has ever been and maybe better... if you don't react to it, listen to it, and Ray Charles fans... this is something special
Yeah you’re right about songs people think are the original. In my era it was songs like “Woodstock” that people thought it was a Crosby Stills Nash song but NO it was Joni Mitchell. The big hit “ Without You” wasn’t Harry Nilsson’s song it was Badfinger
For me you can't beat Leon's version, the emotion which he clearly connects to, is visceral RIP Leon
I agree. Leon was amazing, and he was an incredible performer. If he was ever in town, anywhere, I went to see him.
Leon Russell was an American musician & songwriter who was involved with numerous bestselling records during his 60-year career. He recorded at least 31 albums & 430 songs. He collaborated with many notable artists such as Joe Cocker, The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Ike & Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones & so many more.
You could have just said that he collaborated with everyone.
I love Leon Russell. Leon Russell actually wrote this. RIP. ♥️♥️♥️
Legend. He wrote this song & He played with EVERYONE and wrote so many hits for others 💕💕💕💕💕
My dad's favorite person ❤ Thank you for that, we played that at my daddy's funeral 💖💋
Leon wasn’t just capable of delivering feelings, he was an incredibly talented musician who artists wanted in their recording sessions. Leon was the quiet talent of his era.
He wasn’t quiet in concert, though. Every song was double speed!
Elton John did Leon's induction speech to the rock n roll hall of fame. It was so heart warming. And Elton was a huge admirer of Leon, and his body of work, and the hundreds of artist Leon was part of there recordings.
Wiki's first statement for the song: "A Song for You" is a song written and originally recorded by rock singer and pianist Leon Russell for his first solo album" Leon recorded it in 1970, Andy Williams and Donny recorded it in 1971.....200 others covered it, too. Great song.....
Leon was, for the most part, a song writer. This may be my very favorite song that he wrote, and I LOVE Leon's version, even though his voice wasn't 'traditionally' beautiful -- to his fans it was.
The "Master Of Space And Time's Leon was on just about every top hit in the 60's. Country, Rock, Soul, even Gospel, he was everywhere. Arranging and playing. He was part of the Wrecking Crew, a sought after group of studio musicians.
So many artists covered this song. But, Leon is the true master of space and time. He's a true legend. RIP Leon. ✌️❤️
Well said. ❤
Never heard this song sung by anyone named Donny, but I have loved Leon Russel’s version forever. My nephew was named after him.
I suggest you go listen to Donny's version cause it's killing whatever this is..much love
Leon is the man! He wrote things like Delta Lady
I'd LOVE to see you react to the studio version of this. Just stunning. 🤘🤘❤️
Thank you for your appreciation of the Master of Time and Space. You see the raw emotion and soul in it.
A lot of people covered Leon's songs, because he wrote so beautifully. No one could sing them like he did, because his voice is so distinctive and he never sang a song the same way each time. Leon's songs were mostly autobiographical and you can tell he's re-living it in the performance. Even that was different each time. Here's a link to an interview with him talking about his very early days auditioning for Jerry Lee Lewis when Leon was 14 and being hired and traveling with him for 2 years. ruclips.net/video/OgJOhvK7lMM/видео.html
I never heard of Donny, but I love this song by Leon Russell. It pulls at the heart strings. 💕🎶⭐️
Leon Russell WROTE and originally recorded the song “A Song for You” for his first solo album, which was released in 1970 on Shelter Records. To me, his version cannot be beat. I luckily saw him in person 3X and he was simple magnificent.
Great artist. His collaboration with Joe Cocker, "Mad dogs and Englishmen".
Donny made it famous, but Russell sings with so much passion.
Leon was definitely a rocker, but he was born in Oklahoma and that country sound is definitely there in his voice. Glad you enjoyed this - I love Leon Russell. You might give a listen to something on his Leon Live album from 1973. Prince of Peace is fantastic.
I was going to say that. I'm from Tulsa & Leon lived here.
@Donna M, Yes! Both my parents were born in Oklahoma, and I spent many a day there visiting family. He’s most definitely got that accent. I’m a huge fan!
Great Song written by Leon. Brilliant Songwriter and musician and producer ❤❤
Lady making biscuits, too! 😮😉🤣❤
the moment you started singing, before playing the master live, I knew you were in for a shock...
"I love you a place where there's no space and time." BEAUTIFUL. LR wrote many many tunes
Leon wrote this for his wife. When Aretha Franklin's tour bus driver played this she made him replay it multiple times so she could hear it again.
His first wife and musical partner, Mary McCreary, a stunningly beautiful Black woman.
Leon was a prolific song writer. When he wrote music he said he didn't want to write hits. He wanted to write standards so everyone could sing them.
Leon started his musical career as a member of the famed studio musicians called "The Wrecking Crew" in Los Angeles. These musicians are who you hear on a large majority of hits from the 1960' and 70's studio recordings. Other members included Glen Campbell piano, Hal Blaine drums, Tommy Tedesco guitar, Carol Kaye bass, among others.
Leon Russell and Glen Campbell went on to have their own very successful careers as artists.
Leon is more Delta rock blues. You can't miss that influence in him and others from that area like Dr. John, the Neville Brothers, even the early Doobie Brothers. For a great uptempo Leon song, try the version of Delta Lady that was filmed on this same set. I think it was a tv special.
Love Delta Lady, a real classic.
Leon was a writer of Standards that many others had to cover because those songs are that damn good and he was an awesome performer on stage . Elton John said Leon was a big influence on him ..
That thing you hear that sounds country is his accent. He's from my home town of Tulsa, Oklahoma and he has that drawl.
Another song he wrote that was HEAVILY covered was This Masquerade. George Benson among others covered it.
My hometown is Tulsa too. Was raised on his music!
@@ohaleno When he was putting the Mad Dogs and Englishmen thing together to help Joe Cocker out of his tax situation, he'd play out at Mohawk Park on Saturdays for free!
Me? Will Rogers High School. Class of '73! lol
First time on your site...loved this video. We live in different worlds...I have known the Leon version of this song from back in the day, have been a huge Leon fan forever and saw him live once in a small saloon in the 1980's. Funny thing, I only heard the Donny version of this about 2 days ago on RUclips. I also love Donny and loved the version he did, it is a lot smoother, the way only he can do it. But I have to say, for such a powerful, beautiful song, the pure rawness of the original Leon version as done in the video you watched cannot be beat. ❤
My favorite song of all time.
Beautiful song, beautiful voice. RIP Leon. You are still loved by the world.
Leon was one of our guys for a long time and wrote and played with so many...
Leon played the piano like he was in church. So beautiful.
Loved this. Beautiful song.
Leon was an amazing character. Great singer-songwriter, studio level piano/keyboard player. And a world class producer as well (Freddie King, Delaney, Bonnie and Friends, Asylum Choir). But his career had faded quite a bit towards the end of his life, and he was being forgotten until his friend Elton John put him back in the spotlight by collaborating on an album with him. Which was great, because if anybody ever deserved not to be forgotten, it's Leon Russell.
My Favorite song by Leon is My cricket and me.
" No I'm not crying,
These ain't tears in my eyes.
I'm so happy,
I'm dying with laughter"
...
Super song..
Thank you for doing these reactions!!
Thanks Nick, what a pleasure hearing Leon again, A Song For You is so beautiful and shows his musical genius. He wrote this song for the singer Rita Coolidge, who he was dating at the time. Nick you are right in seeing the connection of the song for Leon is REAL.
That recording was from The Homewood Session, a 6 hour unrehearsed and unscripted session. It was broadcast on one-hour TV special on KCET TV (Los Angeles) and is Claimed to be the first national broadcast of a stereo rock and roll performance there are other great moments from the Session . The lady making the pie is Emily Smith who was Leon's personal assistant and very much a part of Leon's life, He wrote a song for her called Sweet Emily , also performed in the full session.
SWEET EMILY ruclips.net/video/vJOL9g9Ncy4/видео.html
Also the incredible and Original Blues Man Furry Lewis plays 3 songs
ruclips.net/video/tJEjpG4ggcg/видео.html. Both links are worth a listen..
Thanks for the info. ❤
No, Leon DiD NOT write “A Song For You” for Rita Coolidge…. That is a fact.
Leon and Joe Cocker where in the group Mad dogs and the Englishman
This is 1 of my favorite songs of all time. I always thought it was Donny's song. A couple of years ago I saw Leon's rendition. I knew Leon was an amazing songwriter, but I'd never heard his voice & felt I'd never want to listen, but wanted to compare it to Donny's song. I'll never like it. No, no, hell to the d@mn naw. W/in 10 seconds, I was like 😲...uhhhhhhhh WTF is this??? It was BEAUTIFUL!! Wow! That was just as beautiful. Then realized it's Leon's song. TFOH. I felt every lyric & note. So powerful. Loved it!
NEED TO REVIEW “STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND”!!! His best song ever. Period. Perioddddd!
This is such a beautiful song. I heard Allison Janney sing this with James Taylor on a show called mr sunshine.
I heard this when I was a young girl. The depth of feeling in this song captured my heart. I still love the simplicity and complexity of this creation 50 some odd years later. Thank you so much for sharing young man! 😽💋🎶
Leon put together the Mad Dogs and Englishman tour in about one month. When it came to music production he could do it all.
Try a week
Leon put the MD&E tour music & musicians together and ready to go in exactly 6 days!! Not a month.
@@belindadimarcello4705 Well since I wasn't there and can only go by what I have read. Does it really matter. The point is the guy was amazing.
He made a career of playing piano on hundreds of records as a super session player before he began to write these classic songs. He was a tremendous artist who never really became big as a solo artist but collaborated greatly with many, perhaps most famously with Joe Cocker on the Mad Dogs & Englishmen album and tour. Great artist.
Nobody does this like Leon. None better.
Check out the live version of this song with Leon, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles. ruclips.net/video/2UW4ELmVD9M/видео.html
It is so moving - near the end of Ray’s life and it’s like Willie knows. Three amazing musicians and friends, paying respect and singing together.
Hey Brother, you can pull up this entire "Leon Russell and friends" concert and I know you will really enjoy the experience. He plays for an hour with his band, including a couple blues songs by the old man you see among the folks there. You will get a deeper sense of Leon beyond what you've seen here. As usual great insight from you on your journey.
Leon wrote this masterpiece.❤ He was from Oklahoma.
It's called "The Tulsa Sound" that you're hearing and Leon was one of the originators.
He's an original
Love Leon
please, just carry on,
life is is just Leon tell you the process.
challenge the human heart....
inclusive,free, revolutionary....
transcend the time and human expression
Big Guy - This Masquerade (George Benson), Hummingbird (BB King), Delta Lady (Joe Cocker)...so many great songs written by Leon. He wasn't the greatest singer but he was original and a big influence on the playing style of Elton John.
I think Leon had his own style of singing, not unlike Joe Cocker having his own style. Attending a Leon Russell concert was banging rock with some style elements of a church revival. As he sang, “With the help of the good Lord and a little artificially induced religious experience, everything is gonna be all right.” Leon gave some of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.
Hope u do more Leon...Love this man
Leon was a Oklahoma boy. Also a member of the wrecking crew.
The version everybody tends to miss out on is Ray Charles’ back & white video. There are several videos of him performing it. The black & white version w/ full orchestra is the best IMHO.
wow love this
Leon wrote this song❤
My fave was 'Tightrope'
Leon wrote the song !!
You have got to react to "Lucky Daye delivers a powerful performance of "A Song For You"". There is a harpist and Lucky with his band. Simply incredible. He is so talented and does this song justice.
Its the "Tulsa Sound"
Who's Donny Hathaway?
Leon Russell wrote this song back in 1970.😎😎😎😎
Look at Joe Cocker at the famous Woodstock concert. Leon was there playing for him.
you'd love his song "delta lady"!
Look him -up on Wikipedia. He’s a legend. No exaggeration.
There's a version with Leon, Willie, and Ray live you,lol find on tube right before Ray passed that's incredible
Most people have no idea who Leon Is. He was a member of the wrecking crew. The studio musicians who played on every song you heard on the radio. Every beach boys song yo ever heard, that's Leon playing piano.
South Oklahoma grown. So yep, Soul with a bit country thrown in.
What I think the best version of this song is from Willie Nelson 70th birthday party. Leon Russell opens, Willie does a part and then Ray Charles nails the rest. The story is that Ray Charles was already pretty ill and the guys let Ray play it out. As good as Ray has ever been and maybe better... if you don't react to it, listen to it, and Ray Charles fans... this is something special
Leon wrote this song and sang it better than anyone else could ever do! Eho is Donnie Hathaway???
Yeah you’re right about songs people think are the original. In my era it was songs like “Woodstock” that people thought it was a Crosby Stills Nash song but NO it was Joni Mitchell. The big hit “ Without You” wasn’t Harry Nilsson’s song it was Badfinger
Pete Ham wrote it.
Without You, that is.
@@debrabeck9630 yeah like I said Ham and Evans of Badfinger
Oops. Sorry. Need to up my knowledge of Badfinger members. I think Nilsson wrote Without Her, which probably leads to some confusion. Mea Culpa.
@@debrabeck9630 Nope but Nilsson made it a HIT.
Look up Leon Russell's version of AHard Rain's A Gonna fall. It is a 1962 Bob Dylan song. Awesome!
Leon Russell wrote this. I think the Carpenters did the first cover.
Leon wrote this song for his first wife and musical partner, Mary McCreary, a stunningly beautiful Black woman.
Respect was written by songwriter: singer
Carole King.
Leon Russell said about this performance that he just came off of touring and that’s why his voice sounds extra raspy
Fine music. Check out Leon and the Shelter People
The Carpenters covered his song “Superstar” and George Benson covered his song “The Masquerade”
You should hear the Carpenters version, Karen Carpenter singing.
Listen to Karen Carpenter sing it.Its chilling
Ray charles singing a song for you make me cry
Look at the groups he played for or help with LP.
Nice
Its a GOSPEL song
sounds like new york state of mind.... :/ but this older and better ;*
If you get a chance listen to Leon sing George Harrison’s “Beware of Darkness” ☮️💟
Reaction videos; not only am I lazy and uncreative, I'm culturally ignorant as well.
Dude, I'd been listening to Leon for almost 2 years on records and radio before I knew he was white.
That's Emily his secretary, etc..
It’s a tragedy that he’s not a household name
Why is your video here wrecked by words when no one elses video is?
For me, the best version of this song is from Willie Nelson.
I'm not a fan of his voice on this song... Donny's version TO ME is smoking this... i appreciate him for writing it, though
Nobody does this like Leon. None better.