While Glen Campbell was usually the best musician in the room, he always spread the credit around & other musicians loved him for it. Campbell stops playing guitar at one point to be sure Leon Russell's brilliance is on full display. Campbell even sings Leon's name at one point! This is just a fantastic clip... talent like this doesn't exist anymore, it just doesn't.
I agree. I just sent this to my son who is a gifted guitarist who can pick up anything or simply create out of thin air. I love when he plays but I have to admit as a father I'm happy he chose to persue computer science
I’ve watched this at least 100 times. I am mesmerized how Leon pays such close attention to Glenn and just naturally follows his changes. It’s just magical!
I noticed the same thing. Leon is razor locked into Glen and his free flowing temple. Maybe this is why Leon's playing is so dang dead on. What professionals!
Man! We lost a great one when Glen passed. Not just a super-accomplished guitarist, but his vocals are spot on. He was just a great entertainer all around!
If you go back and listen to some of the Wrecking Crew interviews it was revealed that Glen could not read music at all, which was almost unheard of for a session player, they said the great thing about Glen was his ear was so incredible he only had to hear something one time and he had it down
This content is culturally significant. Posting it on RU-vid will ensure that future generations will have access to it and appreciate it. Thank you for sharing it.
@@markoman5267 highly recommend the movie the wrecking crew filmed by Danny Tiedesco as a sort of tribute to his dad - I’ve watched that film like 10 times - a non stop cast of stars talking bout the crew of which Glenn and leon were part of. Glen was a top recruited session musician who DIDNT READ MUSIC..
Back in the late 70's and early 80's CHCH tv in Hamilton Ontario sponsored a jam session in their studios with musicians that were performing in the Hamilton - Toronto area. The sessions were filmed and shown locally as "In Session" with .... if you do a RU-vid search for .... "In Session" CHCH .... you'll see a number of other artists.
Met Glen at the Houston intercontinental airport in the United club, he shook my hand and it was a great pleasure just to meet him, he acted like a regular guy.
Ahh, 1983. Such a great year. When life was simple, my youth was at its peak and my father, still alive. Come early-March of the following year, however, he would pass and my life would be changed, forever. I was still just 12 years old. I’m 51 now and always appreciate the memories and the music that influenced my view of the world, then and still. RIP to these great men of influence & inspiration.
Wow I remember these shows. CHCH TV used to pair musicians every week and just let them jam. Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan was another great show.
Leon lived right down the road from me and I never knew until he passed and I went to his estate sale. I spent every penny I had on gear from his home studio. It was totally worth it. I got some amazing atc soffit monitors and a bunch of power amps for a tiny fraction of their value.
Leon Russell. Born in my adopted hometown. Proof that sometimes even Oklahoma produces some noteworthy talent. Although Leon was overlooked and underappreciated in the public eye, he was greatly valued among his peers; a "musicians musician". A "go to" guy.....looked up to and admired by the ones who really matter; the people who were "in the know" are the ones that knew.
FYI Oklahoma has produced many talented musicians including, Elvin Bishop, David Gates,Vince Gill, Reba, Carrie Underwood , Garth Brooks, J.J. Cale, Toby Keith, Blake Shelton, Patti Page, Bob Wills, Lee Hazelwood, Joe Diddie, and Roy Clark to name a few.
@@okiepita50t-town28 Absolutely correct. The problem is Oklahoma and Okies in general get a bad rep. And overlooked. And underappreciated. Some more FYI: Blakes house is 3 minutes from where I live. Reba went to the college where I am. Same college as Dennis Rodman. Up the road a little north is Jerry Cantrell. My mother took care of Jerry's granny. My mom was also friends and piano competition to Gail Farrell. I went to school with Producer/Director/Actor Tracy Letts. Son of actor Dennis Letts and author Billie Letts. Just recently here 1 of the last of the original Crickets (Buddy Holly) Larry Welborn passed away. That's him on bass in _That'll be the Day._ His brother David still runs Welborns music store here. Joe Diffe and producer/director actor Ron Howard come from the same town (Duncan) just 30 minutes from where Leon Russell was born. When I lived in Lawton, I dated the granddaughter of the people who make Mo Betta western shirts (Apache Ok) Garth Brooks still wears Mo Betta to this day. Kristen Chenoweth is from a little ways east of me. They filmed _Two-Lane Blacktop_ just 10 minutes down the road. James Garner _(The Rockford Files)_ is from Norman. My Grandmother was good friends with Rue McLanahan from Healdton. Ben Johnson filmed part of _Dillinger_ where he has land over in Ardmore. I cooked for Ruth Buzzi at the steakhouse I worked at when she came down to her lake house. Yep, lotsa talent of all kinds besides music for sure. And I know I missed a bunch. A lot of Sooner Footballers too, Billy Sims, etc. Anyway, thanks for your reply, I'm out.
@@michaelmoore7975 I didn’t know Ruth Buzzi was an Okie. Lots of talented Okies in this world. Makes me proud even though I was at the OU/Texas game this year to finally mark it off my bucket list. What a year I picked. Boomer Sooner
@@okiepita50t-town28 Ooooh you got me. I guess maybe an honorary Okie title maybe? She stayed here every summer.. If she can take the Oklahoma summer heat she's alright in my book. But her accent.....just ain't right. I got to see an OU Texas game for free.....part of it anyway. We was at the Texas State Fair...gosh had to be late 70's, couldn't have been more that ten years old. Anyway, that was the old Cotton Bowl. It had some small sized trees around part of the perimeter. Me and a couple friends climbed up. The tree /sapling whatever could barely hold us, but we could see 90% of the field. I looked out across at the other trees and every one was occupied by at least 1 adult or maybe a couple kids, all about to collapse. I don't even know who won....Switzer was hit and miss...mostly hit, and pretty successful with the wishbone formation. After the game those were the sorriest, beat-up looking trees I ever saw. And yeah, whenever the Sooners are good, they're awesome. But when they're not they really suck.
I remember when this was on Kasey kasum's top 40 on WPGC, with rock songs, disco and country, we liked it all. And it was all on one station, every day.
I could listen to Leon and Glen all day. Leon Russell is one of my all time favorites. I had a massive crush on him in 1974 after The Concert for Bangladesh, Mad Dogs and i particularly loved Mascarade. Brilliant song writer and arrangements. I bought tickets to see him and right before the show, they announced he wouldnt be coming out. I was devastated. They had 3 other acts come out; not the same.
There's a video of Glen and Jerry Reed playing outside at a party or something and Glen gives Jerry credit for showing him the end part of the guitar "hook" to the song
People might forget that Glenn Campbell was a studio musician before he struck out and became a super star That was some serious guitar playing I loved the song the very first time that I heard it and I still love it after all this time That was a treat to see him playing with Leon Russell
The guy he's talking about writing the intro with the "Chinese scale" is the great Allen Toussaint who wrote and recorded this a few years before Campbell. It took Campbell's spin on the song to really make it a big hit though.
two guys who were both born with perfect pitch. that great guitar lick was taught to glen campbell by yet another guy born with perfect pitch, jerry reed.
If you put Okies Leon Russell and Hoyt Axton in 1 hat, and sprinkle a bit of J.J. Cale, then you've got enough talent to keep _Joy to the World_ on a _Tight Rope_ long _After Midnight._
Hoyt Axton once told Bobby Bare that there are only 3 things in life he has figured out. A cowboys hat will blow off in high wind, women rule the world, and things change. prompting Bobby to write his classic tune "Things Change"
These two guys were both born with perfect pitch and started playing at four (Leon) and five (Campbell) years old. They both had mastered their instruments totally. Campbell was a great singer but Leon was a great songwriter which is more rare.
Glen and Leon were both major session players in the Wrecking Crew. Leon was the "musical director" most of the time. These two knew each other's playing well!
Check into the background of this song. It will surprise and delight you on several levels. Allen Toussaint's original in particular and album cover art.
Now this is talent! I’d like to see Luke Colms or any of these other current wannabes attempt this. They can’t because they don’t have any talent. Billy Strings withstanding….
