A roots rock eccentric whose path often intersected with the mainstream,
Leon Russell helped shape the sound and sensibility of rock & roll in the early 1970s, both as a singer/songwriter -- his "A Song for You" and "Superstar" became inescapable standards of the era -- and as a bandleader. His own records, as well as the albums he made with
Joe Cocker -- he was the ringleader during the singer's career-making
Mad Dogs & Englishmen era -- defined the careening, soulful superstar aesthetic of the time, music that lived on through the work of such acolytes as
Elton John.
John isn't on
A Song for You: A Tribute to Leon Russell. He helped spark a
Russell revival while the pianist was still around, cutting the duet album
The Union in 2010, a good 13 years prior to this 2023 tribute. This salute performs the essential function of introducing
Russell's music to a new generation of listeners, which means this record is rife with Americana and indie artists. The elder artists are
Pixies, who throttle "Crystal Closet Queen" with affection, and
Bootsy Collins, who provides a grinning counterpoint to
US Girls on "Superstar." The remainder of the record features younger musicians who treat
Russell with reverence -- generally, there are no grand reinterpretations of his music -- but are loose enough to have a good time with his shaggy blend of rock, soul, and country. That means each of the performances allows the singer's personality to shine through without obscuring
Russell's inherent oddball nature.
Orville Peck preens on "This Masquerade";
Bret McKenzie of
Flight of the Conchords earnestly tackles "Back to the Island" with an assist from
Preservation Hall Jazz Band;
Margo Price sounds angelic on "Stranger in a Strange Land";
Durand Jones & the Indications tap into the murky swamp-R&B of "Out in the Woods," and
Tina Rose and
Amy Nelson -- the daughters of old partners
Leon Russell and
Willie Nelson, respectively -- give "Laying Right Here in Heaven" a cheerful funk. Then, there's
Hiss Golden Messenger, who concludes the album by turning "Prince of Peace" into a reassuring, empathetic groove that seems to channel
Russell without explicitly evoking him. It's an excellent way to end this fine tribute: The spirit of
Russell lives on. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
![Rockstar [4 LP]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0843930095285_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Rockstar [4 LP]")
![Cleopatra [LP]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0803020173811_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Cleopatra [LP]")
