Cameron Crowe’s Leon Russell and Elton John documentary “The Union” airing tonight on HBO
“The Union,” a documentary directed by Cameron Crowe (“Almost Famous”) capturing musical legends Elton John and Lawton native Leon Russell as they collaborated on their 2010 duets album, debuts at 8 p.m. tonight on HBO, reports NewsOK TV blogger Melissa Hayer.
Here is a summary of the film, provided by HBO:
After 38 years of not seeing or speaking to Leon Russell, Elton John listens to Russellʼs greatest hits album while on safari in Africa with his partner David Furnish. He is moved to tears. Distraught at the thought that Russell – whom John considers one of his greatest musical influences – has seemingly fallen into obscurity, he vows to contact his idol and propose that they collaborate on an album together.
So begins “The Union,” an unprecedented personal look into the making of John and Russellʼs acclaimed album of the same name. Stepping into The Village studio in Los Angeles, director Cameron Crowe captures a myriad of intimate moments involving the two artists, including the first-ever filming of John composing music to lyrics written by Bernie Taupin, his longtime collaborator. Underscoring Johnʼs desire that the new album sound like one of Russellʼs classics, the film is filled with concert footage of John and Russell throughout their careers, including Johnʼs first U.S. appearance at The Troubadour in Los Angeles, a show attended by Russell.
-BAM
Video: LookatOKC’s “Got It Covered” – K.C. Clifford and David Broyles take on Leon Russell’s “Superstar”
My excellent colleagues George Lang and Kyle Roberts continue their latest video series for LOOKatOKC called “Got It Covered.”
In the latest episode, husband-and-wife Oklahoma City musicians K.C. Clifford and David Broyles take on Tulsa Sound pioneer Leon Russell’s “Superstar.” Russell co-wrote the song, initially titled “Groupie (Superstar),” with Bonnie Bramlett, and it was originally recorded by Delaney & Bonnie and Friends in 1969.
In 1971, it became a big hit for the Carpenters, and since Clifford is an unabashed fan of the sibling duo, she selected “Superstar” from the roster of 12 songs by Oklahoma artists on the “Got It Covered” list.
For more information on the series, go to http://lookatokc.newsok.com/got-it-covered.
-BAM
13 Days of Oklahoma Music: Leon Russell joins the rock and roll and songwriters halls of fame
The 13 Days of Oklahoma Music continue here at BAM’s Blog, as we look back on the musical milestones state artists experienced in the past year as 2011 draws to a close.
Tulsa Sound pioneer Leon Russell’s 2010 resurgence powered through 2011.
After 50 years of rocking, the Lawton native officially rolled into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March, with British superstar Elton John, with whom Russell recorded the 2010 duet album “The Union,” ushering him into the hall.
In April, Russell and John performed on “Saturday Night Live,” with the “Rocket Man” pulling double duty as host. Also in April, director Cameron Crowe’s (“Almost Famous”) documentary chronicling the making of “The Union” will open New York’s Tribeca Film Festival.
On May 1, the singer/songwriter/pianist known as Uncle Leon played the closing day of the Stagecoach Festival. In June, Russell and Oklahoma country superstar Garth Brooks were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
And in September, Russell returned to “Home Sweet Oklahoma” to play what was believed to be his first showcase at the state fair.
Hopefully, Russell, 69, will continue his comeback into 2012.
-BAM
New releases for Dec. 6, 2011: Amy Winehouse, Black Keys, Dia Frampton, “The Help,” “Cowboys & Aliens,” “The Debt”
Amy Winehouse’s posthumous album “Lioness: Hidden Treasures,” which features a cover of Oklahoma music icon Leon Russell’s “A Song for You,” is one of the most anticipated albums among this week’s new releases, which also include The Black Keys’ eagerly awaited new record, the seventh volume of show-choir covers featured on “Glee” and the post-”The Voice” debut of Dia Frampton, one of the singers Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton mentored on the first season of the hit reality TV show.
In the movies department, several summer films are getting their DVD and Blu-ray drops just in time for Christmas shopping, including “The Help,” “The Debt,” “Cowboys & Aliens,” “The Hangover Part II” and “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.”
Since I’m a University of Florida fan, I’d like to note that the Young Readers Edition of Tim Tebow’s book “Through My Eyes: A Quarterback’s Journey” is on bookshelves today.
Here are more new CDs, DVDs and books out this week, from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
Amy Winehouse, “Lioness: Hidden Treasures.”
The Black Keys, “El Camino.”
“Glee” cast, “Glee: The Music 7.”
Dia Frampton, “Red.”
Neil Diamond, “Very Best of Neil Diamond.”
Doris Day, “My Heart (U.S. edition).”
Chevelle, “Hats off to the Bull.”
Korn, “The Path of Totality.”
The Roots, “Undun.”
DVDs
Big Love: The Complete Fifth Season
A Christmas Wedding Tail
Cowboys & Aliens
The Debt
The Hangover Part II
The Help
Law & Order: The Ninth Year
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Point Blank
The Simpsons: The Complete Fourteenth Season
Spongebob Squarepants: The Complete Seventh Season
The Three Investigators in the Secret of Skeleton Island
Books
Through My Eyes: A Quarterback’s Journey (Young Readers Edition) by Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker
Clockwork Prince Exclusive Edition (Infernal Devices Series #2) by Cassandra Clare
Red Mist (Kay Scarpetta Series #19) by Patricia Cornwell
Death Comes to Pemberley by P. D. James
One on One: Behind the Scenes with the Greats in the Game by John Feinstein
The Fire (Witch and Wizard Series #3) by James Patterson
Ruthless (Pretty Little Liars #10) by Sara Shepard
December 1941: 31 Days That Changed America and Saved the World by Craig Shirley
Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again by Donald J. Trump
-BAM
Video: Amy Winehouse covers Leon Russell’s “A Song for You” on posthumous album “Lioness: Hidden Treasures”
Amy Winehouse’s anticipated posthumous third album, ““Lioness: Hidden Treasures,” will be released Dec. 5 in the United Kingdom, and a day later in America, her team announced this week.
The Grammy-winning Brit died of alcohol poisoning in July; she was just 27 years old. She released just two albums, “Frank” and “Back to Black,” in her short lifetime, but those two albums have been incredibly influential. So, anticipation for the new album is sure to be sky-high.
For Oklahoma music fans, the album will include a special treat: A cover of Tulsa Sound pioneer and Lawton native Leon Russell’s wrenching signature ballad, “A Song for You.” Winehouse’s version of “A Song for You” will close “Lioness: Hidden Treasures.”
Here’s what the album announcement at AmyWinehouse.com says about “A Song for You”: heartbreaking and emotional version of the Leon Russell classic made famous by Donny Hathaway. Hathaway was Amy’s all-time favourite artist and the song was recorded in one take, just Amy and her guitar, at her home in London during the spring of 2009 as she battled her demons. Produced by Salaam Remi.
“A Song for You” is one of my all-time favorite Uncle Leon songs. Check out this YouTube video of Russell performing it back in 1971.
To read more about “Lioness: Hidden Treasures” click here.
-BAM
Amy Winehouse’s posthumous 3rd album “Lioness: Hidden Treasures” to close with cover of Leon Russell’s “A Song for You”
Following neo-soul chanteuse Amy Winehouse’s death in July, it was only a matter of time before the posthumous recordings began making their way to the marketplace.
After all, the Grammy-winning Brit released just two albums, “Frank” and “Back to Black,” in her short 27 years, but those two albums have been incredibly influential.
This week, Winehouse’s team announced that her posthumous third album, “Lioness: Hidden Treasures,” will be released Dec. 5 in the United Kingdom, and a day later in America.
For Oklahoma music fans, the album will include a special treat: A cover of Tulsa Sound pioneer and Lawton native Leon Russell’s wrenching signature ballad, “A Song for You.” Winehouse’s version of “A Song for You” will close “Lioness: Hidden Treasures.”
On Wednesday, producer Salaam Remi hosted a press listening this week for the forthcoming album, which consists of 12 tracks including covers and stripped-down versions of previously released Winehouse songs, with some completed in one take.
Remi said the soul singer had written all the songs she was planning to put on her third album, but she was not rushing to release that new material, instead planning to drop a jazz album first with a “supergroup” including ?uestlove of the Roots, reports the Associated Press.
Only two of the tracks Winehouse wrote were recorded and appear on “Lioness: Hidden Treasures,” according to the AP.
“She was taking her time with it, and at the end of the day all of her songs are somewhat autobiographical, so she had to live through something, then get out of it and then look back at it to be able to write about it,” Remi said.
“Who knows what will happen in the future with that,” he said of the songs she wrote.
Winehouse died from accidental alcohol poisoning at age 27. Her body was found at her London home July 23.
Here’s the album announcement, from AmyWinehouse.com:
Following her tragic passing in July, some of the producers and musicians who worked closely with Amy Winehouse, among them Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, spent time listening over the many recordings that Amy had made, before, during, and after the release of “Frank” and “Back To Black.” It was said by all who worked with Amy that she never sang or played a song the same way twice. It quickly became apparent to Salaam and Mark that they had a collection of songs that deserved to be heard, a collection of songs that were a fitting testament to Amy the artist and, as importantly, Amy their friend.
The 12-track collection features previously unreleased tracks, alternate versions of existing classics as well as a couple of brand-new Amy compositions, and has been compiled by longtime musical partners Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson in close association with Amy’s family, management and record label Island Records. “Lioness : Hidden Treasures” proves a fitting tribute to the artist, the talent and the woman and serves as a reminder of Amy’s extraordinary powers as a songwriter, a singer and an interpreter of classics.
See the album tracklist, with descriptions, after the break.
Video: Denver Duncan launches LookatOKC’s “Got It Covered” series with Roger Miller’s “King of the Road”
My excellent colleagues George Lang and Kyle Roberts have launched a new video series for LOOKatOKC called “Got It Covered.”
“Got It Covered” will feature 12 local musicians covering classic songs by Oklahoma artists. The series will last for 12 weeks and will shoot at 7 p.m. each Thursday at Saints, 715 NW 16 in the Plaza District. The pub is sponsoring the series.
Audiences are encouraged to show up 30 minutes before taping to enjoy each performance. Each video will debut the following Monday.
The singers, bands and musicians participating in the series select one of 12 songs to perform — first come, first served. The last musician to schedule a performance has to play the last song on the list, which includes signature songs from The Flaming Lips, Reba McEntire, Hanson, the GAP Band, Leon Russell, Wanda Jackson, Color Me Badd and other famed Oklahoma music stars. To see the full list, go to http://lookatokc.newsok.com/got-it-covered.
The next “Got It Covered” performance will be at 7 p.m. this Thursday at Saints, with Chase Kerby performing J.J. Cale’s “Cocaine.”
-BAM
Video: Leon Russell comes “Home Sweet Oklahoma” tonight to play Oklahoma State Fair
Singer/songwriter/pianist Leon Russell has “Home Sweet Oklahoma” on his mind and his tour schedule.
But he isn’t headed for Tulsa this time; rather, he is bound for Oklahoma City and the 2011 Oklahoma State Fair.
After spending much of August touring with fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bob Dylan, Russell, 69, is playing what is believed to be the Oklahoma music icon’s first showcase at the state fair, said fair spokesman Scott Munz.
When the Tulsa Sound pioneer plays for free tonight on the Chesapeake Energy Stage, it will mark a rare opportunity for fair-goers. After making a stunning comeback last year with the help of his superstar friend Elton John, Russell is experiencing a level of success and popularity he hasn’t seen since his heyday in the 1960s and ‘70s, when he collaborated with an array of musical icons, from Dylan and Phil Spector to the Beach Boys and Rolling Stones.
While Russell will undoubtedly will be sporting his trademark long hair, prodigious beard and sunglasses, believe it or not, he was not born with that particular look. Check out the above YouTube gem of Russell performing the Chuck Berry hit “Roll Over Beethoven” in 1964 on the ABC TV series “Shindig.” You will do a double take at his short-haired, clean-shaven appearance, but the distinctive nasal twang and fleet-fingered piano prowess is classic Leon Russell.
For even more fun, check out the quirky animated spoken-word version of “Home Sweet Oklahoma” that some creative soul posted on YouTube.
And to read the rest of my recent story about Russell’s state fair show, click here.
Welcome back to “Home Sweet Oklahoma,” Uncle Leon!
IN CONCERT
Leon Russell
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Where: Chesapeake Energy Stage.
Admission: Free with fair admission.
Information: 948-6700 or www.okstatefair.com.
-BAM
Leon Russell coming “Home Sweet Oklahoma” to play state fair show
From the 2011 Oklahoma State Fair special section, published today in The Oklahoman. The 2011 Oklahoma State Fair is Thursday-Sept. 25.
Leon Russell coming “Home Sweet Oklahoma”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s Friday performance on the Chesapeake Energy Stage is believed to be his first showcase at the Oklahoma State Fair.
Singer/songwriter/pianist Leon Russell has “Home Sweet Oklahoma” on his mind and his tour schedule.
But he isn’t headed for Tulsa this time; rather, he is bound for Oklahoma City and the 2011 Oklahoma State Fair.
After spending much of August touring with fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bob Dylan, Russell, 69, is playing what is believed to be the Oklahoma music icon’s first showcase at the state fair, said fair spokesman Scott Munz.
When the Tulsa Sound pioneer plays for free Friday on the Chesapeake Energy Stage, it will mark a rare opportunity for fair-goers. After making a stunning comeback last year with the help of his superstar friend Elton John, Russell is experiencing a level of success and popularity he hasn’t seen since his heyday in the 1960s and ‘70s, when he collaborated with an array of musical icons, from Dylan and Phil Spector to the Beach Boys and Rolling Stones.
While inducting Russell into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, John listed even more of the veritable constellation of stars on whose albums Uncle Leon played: Bing Crosby. Doris Day. Frank Sinatra. Dean Martin. The Ventures. Bobby Darin. Jerry Lee Lewis. J.J. Cale.
“In the late ‘60s, I heard a record by Delaney & Bonnie, and I thought, ‘Wow, this guy who plays on this record, he’s got everything I like, he’s got soul and gospel and kind of bluegrass. He’s got everything going,” John said as he ushered Russell into the rock hall. “He was my idol. To meet him, I was shaking. For me, he sang, he wrote and he played just how I wanted to do it.”
A Lawton native, Russell started playing Tulsa nightclubs at age 14 and kept at it until graduating from Will Rogers High School in 1959. An originator of the Tulsa Sound, he moved to L.A. and became a popular session musician in the 1960s. He contributed to many of the decade’s top singles, including the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” the Byrds’ “Mr. Tambourine Man” and Gary Lewis & the Playboys’ “This Diamond Ring.”
After Joe Cocker scored a 1969 hit with Russell’s “Delta Lady,” the Oklahoma native became ringmaster of Cocker’s legendary “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” tour. Russell also started his own label, Shelter Records, with offices in L.A. and Tulsa, releasing his self-titled solo debut and launching the career of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Russell was already a vital part of the rock ‘n’ roll scene when he and John first met at John’s first U.S. show at the famous Troubadour in Los Angeles in 1970.
In 1971, “Leon Russell & the Shelter People” became his first gold album. The following year, “Carney” held No. 2 on Billboard’s album chart for a month and produced his highest-charting single, “Tightrope,” which peaked at No. 11. He played with George Harrison and Friends at the Concert for Bangladesh, the pioneering 1971 benefit chronicled with an album and concert film, and he won a Grammy for his performance.
He also covered Hank Williams, recorded with Willie Nelson and introduced the world to fellow Tulsans the GAP Band.
Although pianist Bruce Hornsby produced a 1992 comeback album, “Anything Can Happen,” Russell had slipped into relative obscurity by 2009, when John decided to reconnect with his idol. John invited Russell to record a duet album they called “The Union,” with Grammy and Oscar winner T Bone Burnett producing.
Last October, “The Union” debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, Fuse televised live the opening date of John and Russell’s 11-city tour (which included a Tulsa date), and they earned a Grammy nomination for album opener “If It Wasn’t for Bad.”
The folks at the rock hall soon came calling, and they weren’t the only ones.
In January, Russell performed at Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin’s inauguration. In April, he and John played “Saturday Night Live,” and director Cameron Crowe’s (“Almost Famous”) documentary chronicling the making of “The Union” opened New York’s Tribeca Film Festival. In June, Russell and country music megastar Garth Brooks became the fourth and fifth Oklahomans to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, after Woody Guthrie (1970), Ralph Blane (1983) and Jimmy Webb (1986).
Another mark of his triumphant comeback: Two albums hearkening back to Russell’s ‘70s success — the flashback compilation “The Best of Leon Russell” and previously unreleased concert chronicle “Live in Japan” — have already been released this year.
“The Master of Space and Time,” as Russell is known, has a busy touring schedule, including an “Austin City Limits” performance with B.B. King, through the end of November. But his Oklahoma State Fair concert looks to be Russell’s last home state show of his big year.
IN CONCERT
Leon Russell
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Where: Chesapeake Energy Stage.
Admission: Free with fair admission.
Information: 948-6700 or www.okstatefair.com.
-BAM
New releases for Aug. 9, 2011: Leon Russell “Live in Japan,” “Mars Needs Moms,” “Paul”
Leon Russell
The comeback continues for Oklahoma music icon and recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Leon Russell. Since the success last year of Russell’s collaborative album “The Union” with Sir Elton John, labels have been mining the Tulsa Sound pioneer’s deep back catalog for rare and previously unreleased material.
The latest of these flashback releases is “Live in Japan,” out today on Omnivore Recordings. The first nine tracks were recorded at Tokyo’s Budokan Hall in November 1973. These were previously released on a Japanese-only LP and have never before been released on CD. The other seven tracks were recorded at a concert in Houston in April 1971 and have never been released before in any form.
Russell will play Friday, Sept. 16 at the Oklahoma State Fair. For more information, go to www.okstatefair.com.
Country up-and-comer Luke Bryan is releasing his new album “Tailgates & Tanlines” today. Look for my review in the coming days.
Also, contemporary metal band Trivium releases its fifth studio album today. The band is part of the lineup at the Mayhem Festival, featuring Disturbed, Godsmack and Megadeath, today at the Zoo Amphitheatre. For more information, click here.
Aliens are big today on DVD. Disney releases today the family film “Mars Needs Moms,” based on the children’s book by “Bloom County” cartoonist Berkley Breathed. To read my review of “Mars Needs Moms” on Blu-ray+DVD, click here. And a much less family-friendly alien appears in “Paul,” the latest comedy from writer-actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.
Here is a list of new CDs, DVDs and books, from Amazon.com and VideoETA.com:
CDs
Leon Russell, “Live In Japan.”
Luke Bryan, “Tailgates & Tanlines.”
Jay-Z and Kanye West, “Watch the Throne.” – Friday
Steve Cropper, “Dedicated.”
“Glee Cast”, “Glee The 3D Concert Movie” (soundtrack).
Barenaked Ladies, “Snacktime.”
Steven Curtis Chapman, “Re:Creation.”
Neil Young, “Live On Air/The Lost Tapes.”
Trivium, “In Waves.”
DVDs
Camp Hell
Choose
The Fox and the Hound/The Fox and the Hound II
Jumping the Broom
The Last Godfather
M.A.S.K.: The Complete Series
Mars Needs Moms
Paul
Secret Diary of a Call Girl: The Final Season
Super
Tactical Force
Your Highness
Books
The Magician King: A Novel by Lev Grossman
Prime Time: Love, health, sex, fitness, friendship, spirit–making the most of all of your life by Jane Fonda
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created by Charles C. Mann
Victory and Honor (Honor Bound) by W.E.B. Griffin, William E. Butterworth IV
House of Holes: A Book of Raunch by Nicholson Baker
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Ascension by Christie Golden
After America: Get Ready for Armageddon by Mark Steyn
-BAM
