On a Distant Shore is an album by singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Leon Russell. Produced by Mark Lambert and Leon Russell, the album was released on September 22, 2017, Leon's 38th album on Palmetto Records. On a Distant Shore is Leon's last album, as he died in November 2016, aged 74. The album was recorded at ThirtySeventeen studio in Nashville, Tennessee in 2016. Leon Russell's daughter, Coco Bridges, performs backing vocals on the album and also did the album cover painting. Leon Russell's daughter, Sugaree Noel Bridges, performs backing vocals on the album. Russell reinterpreted "This Masquerade", "Hummingbird" and "A Song for You", three of his best-known songs, and also added an orchestral arrangement by Larry Hall.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
| On a Distant Shore | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 22, 2017 | |||
| Recorded | 2016 | |||
| Studio | ThirtySeventeen studio in Nashville, Tennessee | |||
| Length | 45:41 | |||
| Label | Palmetto | |||
| Producer | Mark Lambert and Leon Russell | |||
| Leon Russell chronology | ||||
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In 2010, Sugaree Noel Bridges released her first album The American Dream on Leon Russell Records.[9][10] Sugaree and CoCo are children from Leon's marriage to Janet Lee Constantine, whom he married on February 6, 1983. They had three daughters together, Sugaree Noel (born October 9, 1982), Honey (born January 19, 1986), and Coco (born April 29, 1990).[11]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| American Songwriter |  [12] |
Hal Horowitz with American Songwriter reviewed the album: "Russell wrote 13 new songs, clearly in the style of those sung by Sinatra, Mel Torme and the crooners of the '30s-'50s. Co-producer Mark Lambert then worked with arranger Larry Hall to add full orchestral backing to the songs, including harps, swelling strings, bold horns and even angelic background vocalists. This is the album he wanted to leave as his legacy. As such, it's a significant, often impressive work from one of rock and roll's true icons who has chosen a unique and, to many, surprisingly starry-eyed way to say goodbye."[12]
Track listing
editAll songs performed and written by Leon Russell (with Matt Harris joining Leon on track 3)
- "On a Distant Shore" – 3:16
- "Love This Way" – 3:50
- "Here Without You" – 3:51
- "This Masquerade" – 4:41
- "Black and Blue" – 3:16
- "Just Leaves and Grass" – 5:02
- "On the Waterfront" – 3:31
- "Easy to Love" – 4:07
- "Hummingbird" – 3:10
- "The One I Love Is Wrong" – 3:27
- "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:35
- "A Song for You" – 3:35
Personnel
edit- Leon Russell – bass, composer, keyboards, primary artist, producer, vocals
- Coco Bridges – cover painting, vocals
- Sugaree Noel Bridges – vocals
- Mike Brignardello – bass
- Ray Goren – featured artist
- Larry Hall – guitar, horn, keyboards, orchestral arrangements, strings
- Tony Harrell – keyboards
- Drew Lambert – bass
- Mark Lambert – engineer, Guitar, liner notes, mixing, producer, vocals
- Chris Leuzinger – guitar
- Greg Morrow – drums
- Russ Pahl – guitar (steel)
- Andre Reiss – guitar
- Eddie Kramer – engineer, mixing
- Shawn Davies – graphic design
References
edit- ^ allmusic.com, On a Distant Shore, by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
- ^ billboard.com, Leon Russell
- ^ billboard.com, Leon Russell Passed Away in His Sleep at Home, Wife Says, by Ashley Iasimon, 11/13/2016
- ^ artofthesong.org, Leon Russell Interview Transcript, 2014
- ^ ThirtySeventeen studio in Nashville
- ^ AP News, Review: Leon Russell created career highlight on final album, By Pablo Gorondi, September 18, 2017
- ^ allmusic Larry Hall
- ^ nodepression.com, Leon Russell’s Glorious Farewell, Album: On a Distant Shore, Grant Britt Posted On October 4, 2017
- ^ discogs.com The American Dream
- ^ AllMusic, Sugaree, The American Dream
- ^ Laing, Dave (November 14, 2016). "Leon Russell obituary". Theguardian.com.
- ^ a b americansongwriter.com, Leon Russell: On a Distant Shore, Written By Hal Horowitz, September 20, 2017