Life Journey is an album by singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Leon Russell produced by Tommy LiPuma (with Elton John credited as executive producer) released on April 1, 2014. It was recorded in 2013 and 2014. In this album, Russell renewed his songwriting after his 2010 collaboration album with John, The Union. Leon has two original songs on the album, "Big Lips" and "Down in Dixieland".
Leon Russell took this ‘Life Journey’ on tour in 2014 and 2015. Touring with him was multi-instrumentalist Beau Charron, longtime bassist Jackie Wessel and drummer Brandon Holder.Leon Russell Tours ‘Life Journey’ in Hawaii, Ppcorn.comSeattle Times, Fabled side man Leon Russell takes center stage, by Gene Stout, Seattletimes.com, April 17, 2015
Life Journey was the last album by Russell to be released before his death in November 2016. On a Distant Shore, recorded in 2016 and released on September 22, 2017, was Leon's last album. Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra played on "Georgia On My Mind", "I Got It Bad & That Ain’t Good", and "New York State Of Mind."
Reception The album received general positive reviews. Rock critic Nick DeRiso wrote: "Nothing quite matches Russell interpreting Russell, as heard on Big Lips — which also features Chris Simmons on slide, Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums and Willie Weeks on bass." AllMusic reviewer, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, wrote about the album: "This small list suggests how Life Journey touches upon much of the music Russell has sung over the years -- it's heavy on R&B, blues, jazz, and swing, but strangely lacking in much country." AllMusic rated the Life Journey album as one of the Best of 2014.
Track listing All songs performed by Leon Russell Title – Composer – run time "Come On in My Kitchen" – Robert Johnson 2:20 "Big Lips" – Leon Russell 3:12 "Georgia on My Mind" – Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell 4:52 "That Lucky Old Sun" – Haven Gillespie and Beasley Smith 4:09 "Fever" – Eddie Cooley and John Davenport 4:19 "Think of Me" – Mike Reid 3:28 "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" – Duke Ellington and Paul Francis Webster 4:29 "The Masquerade Is Over" – Herb Magidson and Allie Wrubel 5:44 "I Really Miss You" – Paul Anka 4:12 "New York State of Mind" – Billy Joel 5:27 "Fool's Paradise" – Johnny Fuller, Bob Geddins and Dr. David Rosenbaum 2:54 "Down in Dixieland" – Leon Russell - 3:07
Personnel
Leon Russell - Composer, Liner Notes, Piano, Primary Artist, Vocals, Vocals (Background) Elton John - Executive Producer Tommy LiPuma - Producer Shari Sutcliffe - Music Contractor, Production Coordination Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra - Featured Artist George Bohanon - Trombone Lee Callet - Sax (Tenor) William Cantos - Vocals (Background) Gilbert Castellanos - Trumpet Alvin Chea - Vocals (Background) Jeff Clayton - Clarinet, Sax (Alto) John Clayton - Arranger, Bass, Conductor Sal Cracchiolo - Trumpet Graham Dechter - Guitar (Acoustic) Dixieland Band - Featured Artist Keith Fiddmont - Sax (Alto) James Ford - Trumpet Robben Ford - Guitar Larry Goldings - Hammond B3 James Gordon - Clarinet Jeff Hamilton - Drums Clay Jenkins - Trumpet Abe Laboriel Jr. - Drums Greg Leisz - Pedal Steel, Pedal Steel Guitar Darrell Leonard - Flugelhorn, Trumpet Christoph Luty - Bass Hugh McCracken - Guitar, Soloist Perry Morgan - Vocals (Background) Ira Nepus - Trombone Charles Owens - Sax (Tenor) Ryan Porter - Trombone Louis Price - Vocals (Background) Chris Simmons - Slide Guitar Maurice Spears - Trombone (Bass) Bijon Watson - Trumpet Willie Weeks - Bass Anthony Wilson - Guitar Rickey Woodard - Sax (Tenor) Elena Barere - Concert Master Alan Broadbent - String Arrangements Jill Dell'Abate - String Contractor Chandler Harrod - Engineer, Pro-Tools Mark Lambert - Piano Engineer, Vocal Engineer Ryan Roth - Design, Photography Doug Saks - Mastering Elliot Scheiner - String Engineer Al Schmitt - Engineer, Mixing Mike Diehl - Design
References
External links Leon Russell - "Big Lips" lyric video on YouTube