Leon Russell and the Shelter People

Leon Russell and The Shelter People
Studio album by Leon Russell
Released	May 3, 1971
Recorded	Aug 23-26, Sep, Dec 23, 1970 & Jan 1971
Genre	Pop, rock
Label	Shelter
Producer	Leon Russell, Denny Cordell
Leon Russell chronology
Leon Russell (1970) Leon Russell and The Shelter People (1971) Asylum Choir II (1971)

Leon Russell and the Shelter People is the second solo album by singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Leon Russell, released in 1971. It peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 200.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	B[2]

In his Allmusic review, critic Mike DeGagne called "The Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen" the highlight of the album and wrote "On the whole, Leon Russell and the Shelter People is an entertaining and more importantly, revealing exposition of Russell's music when he was in his prime. ... Carney is an introspective piece which holds up a little better from a songwriting standpoint, but this album does a better job at bearing his proficiency as a well-rounded musician."^[1]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Leon Russell; except where indicated

1. "Stranger in a Strange Land" (Russell, Don Preston) – 4:01
2. "Of Thee I Sing" (Russell, Don Preston) – 4:22
3. "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" (Bob Dylan) – 5:08
4. "Crystal Closet Queen" – 2:59
5. "Home Sweet Oklahoma" – 3:26
6. "Alcatraz" – 3:51
7. "The Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen" – 3:51
8. "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" (Dylan) – 4:00
9. "She Smiles Like a River" – 2:58
10. "Sweet Emily" – 3:20
11. "Beware of Darkness" (George Harrison) – 4:40

    The CD re-issue contains the following bonus tracks:

12. "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" (Dylan) - 3:38
13. "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" (Dylan) - 3:19
14. "She Belongs to Me" (Dylan) - 3:26

Personnel

• Leon Russell – vocals, guitar, piano, organ
• Jesse Ed Davis – guitar
• Claudia Lennear – vocals
• Jim Price – organ
• Jim Keltner – drums
• Jim Gordon – drums
• Barry Beckett – organ
• Chuck Blackwell – drums
• Joey Cooper – guitar, vocals
• John Gallie – organ
• Roger Hawkins – drums
• David Hood – bass
• Jimmy Johnson – guitar
• Kathi McDonald – vocals
• Don Preston – guitar, vocals
• Carl Radle – bass
• Chris Stainton – guitar

Production notes:

• Leon Russell – producer
• Denny Cordell – producer
• Terry Manning – moog programmer, engineer
• Glyn Johns – engineer
• Andy Johns – engineer
• Nick DeCaro – string arrangements

Covers

• "Alcatraz" - was covered by Nazareth on their 1973 album Razamanaz

Chart positions

References