Artist: Leon Russell
Album: Live in Japan
Country: US
Genre: Rock, Blues
Release: 2011
Quality: Mp3, CBR 320 kbps

Released roughly a year after Leon Russell performed an unlikely mainstream comeback with the assistance of Elton John, the 2011 disc Live in Japan contains a wealth of live performances from Russell at his peak. The first section of the record was indeed recorded at Budokan in Japan while Leon was on tour in 1973, running through hits like “Tight Rope,” folding “A Song for You” into a medley, and generally rocking like a madman. The second section is taken from a 1971 show from Houston, recordings that are rowdier and rougher, both in performance and audio. Even if this is a bit of a ragged, woolly comp, it has plenty to offer: despite the presence of 1973’s Leon Live, there aren’t many live records of Russell in full flight, so this taste of him rocking ferociously is indeed welcome.

Live in Japan is an live album by singer and songwriter Leon Russell. The album was recorded two live tour sessions. The first record section is a 1973 tour show at Budokan in Japan on November 8, 1973. The second recorded section is from a 1971 tour show in Sam Houston Coliseum. While the album had some of Leon's new hits, like "Tight Rope" and "A Song for You," the album did not chart in the top 200. His early live album Leon Live peaked at #9 on the U.S. charts.

The album was first released as a vinyl LP by Shelter Records. Live in Japan was re-released on CD by Omnivore Recordings in 2011 and again in 2013 with bonus tracks. The album was by produced by Leon Russell, Nobuya Itoh, Peter Nicholls and Denny Cordell. The new CD releases were after Leon recordings earned six gold records. He received two Grammy awards from seven nominations. In 2011, he was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. One of his biggest early fans, Elton John, said Russell was a "mentor" and an "inspiration". They recorded their album The Union in 2010, which earned them a Grammy nomination.

Tracks:
Live at Nippon Bufokan Hall, November 8 1973 Japan
01. Heaven  04:57
02. Over the Rainbow / God Put a Rainbow  05:39
03. Queen of the Roller Derby  01:49
04. Roll Away the Stone  04:04
05. Tight Rope  02:59
06. Sweet Emily  03:24
07. Alcatraz  04:05
08. You Don't Have to Go  02:35
09. A Song for You, Of Thee I Sing, Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms  07:10

Bonus Tracks:
Live at San Houston Colisseum April 22 1971
10. Alcatraz  04.49
11. Stranger in A Strange Land  04:51
12. Groupie (Superstar)  03.54
13. Roll Over Beethoven  03.52
14. Medley; Blues Poer, Shoot Out on The Plantation, As The Years Go Passing By, The Woman I Love  11.08
15. Jumpin' Jack Flash  04.54
16. Of Thee I Sing / Yes I Am  09.35