Midnight String Quartet "Rhapsodies For Young Lovers" (Viva, 1966)
Russell arranged and conducted this album of pop-exotica instrumentals; the record did well on the charts and helped establish his presence as a studio pro...
Marc Benno "Look Inside The Asylum Choir" (Mercury-Smash, 1968)
Leon Russell "Leon Russell" (Shelter, 1970)
Leon Russell "...And The Shelter People" (Shelter, 1971)
Leon Russell & Marc Benno "Asylum Choir II" (Shelter, 1971)
Leon Russell "Carney" (Shelter, 1972)
This album was Russell's biggest commercial success, hitting #2 on album charts...
Leon Russell "Leon Live" (Shelter, 1973)
Leon Russell "Hank Wilson's Back" (MCA-Shelter, 1973)
Leon Russell "Stop All That Jazz" (Shelter, 1974)
Leon Russell "Will O' the Wisp" (Shelter, 1975)
Leon Russell & Mary Russell "Wedding Album" (Paradise, 1976)
Leon Russell & Mary Russell "Make Love To The Music" (Paradise, 1977)
Leon Russell "Americana" (Paradise, 1978)
Leon Russell & Willie Nelson "One For The Road" (Columbia, 1979)
Leon Russell "Life And Love" (Paradise, 1979)
Leon Russell & The New Grass Revival "The Live Album" (Warner, 1981)
Leon Russell "Hank Wilson, Vol. II" (Paradise, 1984)
"Hank Wilson" was an alter-ego created by roots crooner Leon Russell back in the late '70s, sort of an outlaw/oldies singer who allowed him to indulge his preference for classic country, even while Nashville coasted into "Rhinestone Cowboy" terrain. Now the gag continues, and the new Hank Wilson albums have become straight-up country cover albums, packed with oldies like "I'm Movin' On," "Wabash Cannonball" and "Oh Lonesome Me." The great thing is that these records are a lot of fun... Russell really has a command of this material, and an understanding of how to make it work. If you have an yen for old-time country music, then you might get a real kick out of these records.
Leon Russell "Solid State" (JDC, 1984) (LP)
Leon Russell "Anything Can Happen" (Atlantic, 1992)
Leon Russell "Crazy Love" (Leon Russell Records, 1992)
Leon Russell "Hymns Of Christmas" (Leon Russell Records, 1995)
Leon Russell "Hank Wilson, Vol. 3: Legend In My Time" (Leon Russell Records, 1998)
Leon Russell "Face In The Crowd" (Leon Russell Records, 1999)
Leon Russell "Blues: Same Old Song" (For Life, 1999)
Leon Russell "Live At Gilley's" (Atlantic, 2000)
Leon Russell "Guitar Blues" (Leon Russell Records, 2001)
Leon Russell "Signature Songs" (Leon Russell Records, 2001)
Leon Russell "Hank Wilson v.4: Rhythm & Bluegrass" (Leon Russell Records, 2001)
Volume Four of this series is a collaboration with the New Grass Revival, adding a bluegrass twist added to the mix. The great thing is that these records are a lot of fun... Russell really has a command of this material, and an understanding of how to make it work. If you have an yen for old-time country music, then you might get a real kick out of these records.
Leon Russell "Moonlight And Love Songs" (Leon Russell Records, 2002)
Leon Russell "In Your Dreams" (Leon Russell Records, 2003)
Leon Russell "Bad Country" (Leon Russell Records, 2003)
Leon Russell "Almost Piano" (Leon Russell Records, 2003)
Leon Russell "A Mighty Flood" (Leon Russell Records, 2006)
Leon Russell "Angel In Disguise" (Leon Russell Records, 2006)
Leon Russell & Elton John "The Union" (Decca, 2010)
Leon Russell "Live In Japan" (Omnivore, 2011)
Archival recordings from 1971-73, from shows in Texas and Japan...
An Oklahoma native, Leon Russell was a key figure in the roots-music rock'n'roll of the 1970s, and along with artists such as J. J. Cale, part of the so-called "Tulsa Sound," a laid-back mix of blues, rock and soul that underscored the eclectic spirit of the era. Russell worked prolifically as a studio player and backup musician before breaking out as a solo star in the early '70s, becoming known for his high-energy live performances and soulful arrangements. Country music was one of the undercurrents in his sound, but he also found some of his biggest commercial success with explicit forays into pure twang, recording several albums under the pseudonym "Hank Wilson," as well as scoring a chart-topping Country hit from a duet album recorded with Willie Nelson. Here's a quick look at Russell's work...
