Cher | Enchanted Seashells | Princess Rosebud

“Yeah, I know with the help of the good God, and an artificially induced religious experience, I think it’s gonna be all right.”

The Master of Space and Time’s churchy, rolling piano and drawling vocals, his zealous evangelical outpouring of energy from the stage made his concerts, as Russell put it, “an artificially induced religious experience.”

Leon was offered an off-camera role in the film, “When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder”, as Reverend Duane Hindley, a radio preacher broadcasting from Del Rio, Texas.

He’s heard in the scene with Peter Firth as Stephen “Red” Ryder and Audra Lindley (remember Three’s Company?) as Ceil Ryder, Red’s mother.

Leon later revealed he read that religious rant, (he wrote it), in the style of Asa A. (A.A.) Allen, a 1960s American Pentacostal evangelist known for his “Voice of Healing.”

Listen closely to hear Leon say, “Feel the power,” “count your blessings,” and “encounters with the Devil.”

I thought this was a pretty cool discovery about Leon Russell. He could have had another career as a fire and brimstone preacher.

I’d definitely attend the Church of Leon. I believe!

Not a lot, except we’ve always celebrated BOTH holidays with highly decorated trees and menorahs and it’s going to be an extra festive week since the first night of Hanukkah starts at sundown on Christmas Day.

The reason why Hanukkah is so late this year is because it follows the Hebrew calendar which is based on the lunar cycle, different from the solar-based Gregorian calendar.

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

These two holidays converge an average of five times a century, Since 1900, the first night of Hanukkah has fallen on December 25 five times: 1910, 1921, 1959, 2005, and now 2024.

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!

Now it’s a perfect time for some Leon Russell trivia…

Record producer Phil Spector spent several sessions recording a collection of songs with his Wrecking Crew for a Christmas album. One of the greatest moments during those sessions was when “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” was recorded by Darlene Love.

Leon Russell was one of three piano players and Darlene said that Leon got into the song so much “he played a like a man possessed; it was almost like a concerto. He played himself right off the bench and onto the floor and kept playing.” Leon was about twenty years old at the time.

At the same recording session, Cher did some background vocals and Sonny Bono was on percussion!

Enjoy these holiday songs from the one and only Master of Space and Time, Leon Russell…
Not your usual Christmas music, but SO VERY Leon. For you Grateful Dead fans (not me), this was recorded with Jerry Garcia at the Armadillo World Headquarters November 1972.