We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago……
It was an unlikely hit single. The first track on Leon Russell’s 1972 album “Carney’, “Tightrope” cracked the Top 15 despite Russell’s quirky voice and persona.
Russell, a native Oklahoman, who had headed to LA in the 60’s and became a sought after session piano man, was best known at this time for writing hits for other people…he wrote hits for Gary Lewis & The Playboys, he wrote “The Letter”, he wrote “Delta Lady”and “A Song For You” …he was a touring bandleader for Delaney & Bonnie and Joe Cocker…he ran the band at George Harrison’s “Concert for Bangladesh.
He also released some highly respected LPs in the early 70’s. But I don’t think many people expected “Carney” to reach # 2 on the charts and go Gold.
Outside of the hit single, the album is quirky and even weird at times. Listen to “Acid Annapolis”, written with guitarist Don Preston. It sounds like something Preston would have done during his stint with The Mothers of Invention.
There are some winners on the disc. I like “Me And Baby Jane” and “My Cricket” two straight out love songs. I also like the tongue in cheek humor of “If The Shoe Fits” and the rollicking fun of “Roller Derby”.
Another standout track is “This Masquerade”. I think I first heard this song when the Carpenters did it. George Benson also had a hit with it. Those two versions are much different than what you hear here. And that’s OK.
Russell employs some other old pros on the record including Carl Radle on bass and the ubiquitous Jim Keltner on drums and percussion.
Critics were mixed on this LP…liking the rootsy parts…disliking the psychedelic weirdness of the other parts.
Russell seemed like a weird dude….and that’s OK…what was also weird is that he managed to have a hit on his own instead of just cashing the royalty checks.
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