Σάββατο 19 Απριλίου 2008

Leon Redbone - Live 1981 (Recorded live at the Lone Star Cafe in New York City in 1981


Recorded live at the Lone Star Cafe in New York City in 1981, this captures Redbone in top-notch form. The set list is peppered with Redbone staples like an extended version of Blind Blake's "Diddy Wah Diddy" (here incorrectly credited to Willie Dixon), "Shine on Harvest Moon," "Champagne Charlie," and "If We Never Meet Again This Side of Heaven." A great little document of exactly what Redbone does best: holding an audience spellbound with just his guitar, his enigmatic personality, and songs as old as the hills. Great set of notes from Dave Thompson, but unfortunately, several songs have the wrong writer's credits and two songs are listed in the wrong order on the tray card. Still, with all its packaging flaws, the performance is so first-rate it still comes highly recommended. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

While his gravelly baritone and omnipresent fedora, dark glasses and Groucho Marx moustache made him one of the more distinct and recognizable characters in popular music, little is known about the neo-vaudeville crooner Leon Redbone. Throughout his career, he steadfastly refused to divulge any information about his background or personal life; according to legend, Redbone's desire to protect his privacy was so intense that when he was approached by the famed producer John Hammond, the contact number he gave was not his own phone, but that of a Dial-A-Joke service.
Because Redbone first emerged as a performer in Toronto during the 1970s, he was believed to be Canadian; his work, a revival of pre-World War II ragtime, jazz and blues sounds, recalled the work of performers ranging from Jelly Roll Morton and Bing Crosby to blackface star Emmett Miller. He made his recording debut in 1976 with On the Track, which featured legendary jazz violinist Joe Venuti as well as singer/songwriter Don McLean; his 1977 follow-up Double Time even reached the U.S. Top 40 charts, largely on the strength of his frequent appearances on television's "Saturday Night Live."
After 1978's Champagne Charlie, Redbone began recording only sporadically; following 1981's Branch to Branch, he waited four years before re-entering the studio to cut Red to Blue. Invariably, his albums featured guest appearances from a eclectic cast of luminaries: while 1987's Christmas Island included a cameo by Dr. John, 1994's Whistling in the Wind included duets with Ringo Starr and Merle Haggard. Despite his low profile, Redbone also earned a certain measure of fame as a fixture in various television advertising campaigns. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide



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2 σχόλια:

Ανώνυμος είπε...

Thanks BLACKCATBONE :) Leon is a treasure.

FreePony

Standin'AtTheCrossroads είπε...

Hiyaaa!! Southern Lady!
yes indeed!