Varèse Sarabande reissue Leon Russell's Live at Gilley’s on vinyl. The record includes live versions of 'One More Love Song' with a steel guitar giving the song a new twist, 'Cajun Love Song' and the show-stopping bluegrass tune, 'Uncle Pen'. The release also features the classics 'A Song for You' and 'Lady Blue'...

Live at Gilley’s was recorded on 17 September 1981, at the world-famous Gilley's nightclub in Pasadena, Texas, with Leon Russell and his New Grass Revival Band. The CD version was originally released in 2000, but it has been out of print since 2002. The release includes new artwork and liner notes by Russell associate Steve Todoroff.

Russell was an influential singer-songwriter whose work has been featured in hit movies such as Juno, Ghost Rider, and The Pursuit of Happyness. Elton John considered him a mentor and inspiration, later recording the duets album, Union, with Leon in 2010. Over a genre bending 50-year career, Leon worked, with George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Frank Sinatra and Ike & Tina Turner.

Folk rock fans who are also followers of Russell will need no encouragement to pick up this live album of some of his most notable hits. Even casual fans, or (shock horror) those who have never heard a Russell song before, will find it hard not to get swept up in these performances.

The recording is rather strange as on some tracks you can't really tell there's an audience, whilst others (most notably 'My Cricket') the audience are noisily talking throughout the entire song.

It's a good live album, with a good mix of songs. Well worth picking up if you don't already own it.

Track listing:

01. Mystery Train
02. One More Love Song
03. Truck Drivin' Man
04. Cajun Love Song
05. My Cricket
06. I'm Movin' On
07. Lady Blue
08. In The Pines
09. A Song For You
10. Uncle Pen
11. Prince Of Peace
12. Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms

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Nick Smithson