Leon Russell Live In Japan
- Classic Rock |
- Live |
- Reissue
Release Date: August 9, 2011
Label: Omnivore
This will mark the historic album's first release outside of Japan and its first time on CD anywhere. The original album was recorded live on November 8, 1973, at the historic Nippon Budokan Hall and sees its nine tracks complemented by a bonus set of an additional seven previously unissued live performances recorded at the Sam Houston Coliseum on April 22, 1971. Liner notes for this package were penned by Leon Russell historian Steve Todoroff - author of the upcoming book Longhair Music: The Songs And Sessions Of Leon Russell - and by Rev. Patrick Henderson - a member of the touring band for the 1973 Japan tour.
'I am excited to hear the Live In Japan album myself, having not heard these tapes in so many years,' said Russell. 'The band on the show was very inspiring to me, and I think this is the kind of Leon Russell show that fans remember best. Japan is one of my favorite places on Earth.'
These bonus tracks are extraordinary in many respects. They show a raw, gritty singer and his band just as they are taking off, making great, original music, while loving every minute of it. They also show why Russell was considered one of the greatest live acts in the annals of rock music. The bonus tracks are a great addition to an already great album, and the fact that they are of such a high quality for the era is nothing short of remarkable. The combination of Live In Japan and the Live in Houston '71 tracks make this is a must-have for any Leon Russell fan.