Retrospective: The Best Of

That CD was a presente to my brother in law. He was so happy! Thanks to the seller!

I wore the other two out taking it to the beach and on the road! Leon Russell is a musician's musician and I've been in love with his music since Mad Dogs and Englishmen so many years ago. This CD is spectacular as it's filled with some of his best work from his impressively long career. Younger folk who may not be familiar with Leon Russell are in for a treat. His songs have been covered by the best of the best year after year. My kids found themselves singing along to several songs immediately (A Song For You is a great example) because they had heard so many covers over the years. His trademark, bluesy, honky-tonk style piano and distinctive vocal style still sound fresh even 45 years later, as in A Song For You. There are very few disappointing cuts on this CD - it's one you can play straight through over and over. I wasn't as thrilled with Rolling in My Sweet Baby's Arms, but not enough to skip it. Stranger In A Strange Land thrills me to no end, with its rich, gospel-style backup choir. Back To The Island still mellows me out. The Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen still delights. This Masquerade still evokes the same soulful feelings I had when I first heard it. Tightrope still brings me to my feet. I've had the pleasure of seeing Leon Russell live in a small venue and it reminded me to make sure my young family members experience this incredible musician because none of us are getting any younger. I consider it to be essential to any good Rock and Roll music library.

This CD is a "Best of" better than Leon's previous selections of favorites. Featured are my favorites, his incredibly fine ballads, now multi-genre classics: "A Song for You", "Lady Blue", "This Masquerade". From the great "Carney" album also come more ballads, "Magic Mirror", "Tightrope", "Out in Woods". "Back to the Island" is achingly yearning, and hypnotically atmospheric. But there's lots of hard-rocking stuff, too. The recordings are the originals, and sound quality is excellent. Leon Russell was at the epicenter of the rock world when he came on the scene in the 60s, playing keyboards with many other rock greats, not least of whom was Joe Cocker -- Leon headed up the Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour band. Though Cocker was better known, Leon had the ultimate 'chops.' When you listen to his own music, you can see that he is a composer and player of greater depth and sophistication than most of his peers. And he can boogie like no one else. I had the good fortune to stumble upon a small concert by the new Leon Russell band last year at The Cutting Room in New York. What a thrill to be so close up to this old idol after so long! It was impossible to sit still! Surrounded by his huge mane of now-white hair, the ole "Master of Space and Time" is infirm, he walks with difficulty. But his fingers are totally alive, and he seems to be doing well. Two of his daughters are in the band, which is tight as can be -- raising hopes for more recordings beyond this retrospective. This is a fine introduction to the music of this rock legend. It's as fresh now as it was then!

Perfect shape Like new

Love Leon and was happy with this cd. Brought back memories of days gone by and just how good he was.

This is a really good selection of Leon Russell's "Honky-Tonk" style of rock and roll. I listened to this first in the car and really enjoyed it and then listened later at my desk on a Bose CD player and it really knocked my socks off! I never used to be a big fan of Russel's but think I really missed out by not listening to much more of this really legendary singer and arranger.

He's from Tulsa and went to the same highschool as my husband and I. Husband loves his music

Great Leon Russel album!! Have wanted it for a very long time!! Most of his greatest hits!! Thank you so very much!!