Leon Russell / A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

[bankorandotcom]

When Dylan heard Hendrix do 'All Along the Watchtower, he gave Jimmi the rights lock stock and barrel. Leon does the same justice to this tune. It remains a Dylan creation, but Leon does it justice.

[msjenjenp]

OMG - Leon Russell is in a category all by himself. God bless him.

[martadolls]

Hard Rain done fallen Leon.. Love this!!

[TheMeddy54]

Leon.........he's the man

[daylefreddie]

best cover of this song i ever heard

[MajorFanHere]

Nobody does it quite like Leon.

Dylan is the King and shares all his treasures.

[1958peter1958]

same sure is leon's song

[savicast]

this is country to the fullest

[MrBluesrules]

OCCUPY, like a Big Dog crappin' on the Corporate lawn!

[baustad1]

thumbs up for you Leon.

this is real rock'n roll..

[cooleemon321]

I was there and Leon was pissed because the piano wasn't in tune. He would slam the lid on the piano to the beat and basically beat the shit out of the piano. Clover was really good and so was Trux. Captain Beefheart was so loud that it hurt your ears.

[CoffeeBeatsTea]

Heard this on "remember the titans". The first 2 seconds of it playing I knew it was this song and I got boner

[mtsongs]

leon on top form

[cowderman]

great cover

[terrible714]

17 "dislikes"?????? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

[seltaebgirl]

Takes me right back to 11th grade. He's definitely one of the good ones!

[Quaaludedude714]

I,m gonna to shoot the Helicopters Down :) QC

[nakidsoul]

@Quaaludedude714 In the Emerald Triangle are ya?...keep it low bro...pick your battles wisely...it's going to be a long, long war....

[darrylavis]

It's Hard ! Rain Gonna Fall

[ranalisa100]

This is the stuff - it is HARD

[SireChilde]

Brilliantly groovy!

[BeatlesFanCharsh]

GROOVY <3 :D

[taffywindsor1]

Need to hear this every day.

[spacelizardlaw]

Sometimes harmonies from the darkness shamed the light show on the hill...

The orchestra's way out there & the conductor has gone further still...

While chasing beautiful souls we fight on for the thrill...

Of harming no-one & yet nailing the kill...

If only your love has the will...

[iontxs]

This may be a Dylan song, but I don't really consider this a cover, and I think Dylan would agree that this song belongs to Leon.

[VasilisBotoulas]

@iontxs you said it brother!

[bullysmom74]

@iontxs i agree with you, it has a funky beat that Dylan could never do. i just saw Leon last Sunday, he was great. This is my favorite song he does. love it.

[jaxdabomb1]

@iontxs Agree totally, huge fan of dylan but this is something else.

[caromhr]

@iontxs bryan ferry anyday

[Croutonza]

@caromhr what ever you are smoking, please share.

[caromhr]

Respond to this video...bryan ferry is better than this

[DoowahDiatribe]

@iontxs Yes! Inforkinzakly! Of course Leon would not have sung this song if Bob hadn't written it. But, would you call All Along The Watchtower a Dylan cover..or is that somebody else's song?

[iontxs]

@DoowahDiatribe Of course it's not a cover- Dylan himself said that All Along the Watchtower belonged to Jimi Hendrix

[daylefreddie]

@iontxs what a load of crap

[iontxs]

@daylefreddie Thank you for your thoughtful and elegant insights. I think you have a great future trolling the internet and offering inane responses to that which with you disagree.

[iontxs]

@iontxs What a load of crap.

[alwayswinit4real]

@iontxs I doubt it. This is a great cover, but it'll always be a cover.



[kippyedwards]

too good..

[ThePatchesone]

Ain't no one like Leon !!!! He's as great now as he was in l966 in Tulsa, OK. You rock man ... you always have and always will !!

[worldennds2012]

Leon at his best! What a great version!

[Individual1991]

Oh yeah remember the titans, many great songs in this movie.

[oxhart3]

Here we go AGAIN...it is hard......r a i n g o nn a f a l l

Good Morning Baltimore Hurricane Irene 8/2011

[trintdaddylandis]

how could anyone not like this??? this is badass!!!

[zorbazig]

Probably the best cover of this song !... Leon was here in 1971, at the Concert for Bengla Desh at the MSG... This version is a little similar to the Bengla Desh/MSG version

[bullysmom74]

@zorbazig hi, you are sooooo right, i got my bangladesh dvd yesterday, and, bob dylan sang it, it was sad compared to this one of Leon's. love Leon.

[kumetalsmith]

You are right , he does some GREAT covers. Hell, he just plain does great MUSIC.

[sirslice]

I saw him perform in June. Still great!

[xDhimAgainxD]

Remember the Titans

[Quaaludedude714]

The Shelter People are great with Leon :) QC

[mrmariosaurio]

where can i get his sunglasses!

[darkstarou]

Leon Russell! You can't help but love the "Tulsa" sound.

[austintxlivemusic]

My old South Austin housemates Austin Band Uncle Lucius just finished touring the USA not long ago with Leon. His first big song on the radio in the 70s was tightrope, At the time it fit my life to a T. A lot of people dont realize it but he has also been in some of the best documentary music films ever made. Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs & Englishmen, Concert for Bangladesh and many others including one in the works now with Elton John. .

[Fkpuz]

I really think Leon Russell is the master of covers. He doesn't just copy them and add a tiny little twist, he usually completely redoes them.

[CattailsandRoses]

@Fkpuz Jeff Buckley was a master of covers, too.  He and Leon are classified as "A Song's Best Friend".

[toespam71]

I think that if I live a good life, then maybe when I die I'll do the live review and see the light and all that. And then I'll be shown a street that looks like Bourbon Street on a rainy September day. And maybe I'll walk in and be given an ice cold 32 oz beer and sit down at the last available table and hear Leon sing this.

[frankdpainter]

And there are 12 people on this planet who dont like this?

How sad for them to not feel the tingle I first felt 40 years ago and still

(happily) feel all these years later

[CUALL8R]

@frankdpainter You are so RIGHT!

[heyjude530]

Listened back then and now! LOVE LEON!!!!

[rodeoer]

Had the pleasure of watching him perform in a funky bar in Denver in 1973. He still rocks.

[darkstarou]

@rodeoer Little Bear?

[KodeBloo]

I wonder how many people here can remember when he used to free concerts at Mohawk Park in Tulsa OK on random Saturday afternoons? Around '70-71. About the same time he bought the church for a recording studio. :D

[r1bikecam]

I photographed Leon 41 years ago in 1970 in San Diego. He was the headliner of the concert. Pink Floyd OPENED for him! Have a look by Googling "cacheagency" Once you link to the site, click on Photographers and Collections. Then click on Jeff Allen. Hope you enjoy exploring the over 350 rock photographs from 1968-72 I shot , I'd love your feedback! If you're in the L.A. area, stop by the Steinway Piano Gallery in W. Hollywood and see one of my prints from that concert inside the entrance.

[snicky58]

This sounds even better to me now than it did the first time I heard it on the radio when I was a kid -- and I loved it then. Russell began with an early Dylan masterpiece, changed the original, sort of rambling 3/4 to a hard-drivng, steady 4/4, added his uniquely soulful singing and piano, and ended up with *another* masterpiece. I love Leon! (Can you tell?)

[starrrkrazeee]

@snicky58 supper assessment of the song snicky!

[WeRockEntertainment]

Leon Russell playing at the Oshawa Regent Theatre July 11

[BrokenneckYgor]

is it true dylans first record was All Colons Look Alike to Me?

[gruvqueen]

All I want is world peace....and to play piano like Leon Russell.

[judecreek2]

@GoddHatesFags huh???

[MsLeonfan]

I think Leon always makes the covers better thän the originals.

[jwinnings7]

I like this version more than Bob Dylans

[Dmariabuck]

Mingo Creek tulsa 2 Grand 2 c Leon @ at his house TattooMACK,MC ,Yep Yeah

[revitalyzed]

Hats off... :) Love this tune way past forever. Thanks Leon !!!!!! Iam gonna turn up the wattach in the cottage :)

[revitalyzed]

Hats off... :) Love this tune way past forever. Thanks Leon !!!!!!

[Mlczdk1]

@revitalyzed Leon russell is so far ahead of his time most folks still havent caught up



[jbord90210]

when people asked the ancient greek philosopher, diogenes why he walked through athens at noon with a candle: he said: to find someone i can trust

[jd51452]

Jesse Ed Davis on guitar. Saw Leon and Eltom John at the Long Beach Arena in 71 I believe. Elton opened and it was a great show.

[thelegendofcarsley]

absolutely fantastic cover, just discovered Leon Russell, kicking myself I've missed out all these years!

[judecreek2]

@thelegendofcarsley Oh, you are in for a magical musical journey! There are videos of Leon from the '60's all the way to the present. Enjoy every note...

[sosome57]

Okay, who has Salty Candy from the Asylum Choir album? It's driving me crazy. Can't find it online anywhere.

[CarliaRay]

Saw HIM last night night in Sydney Aust. F.....g great and what a band Leon and 4 of the best. Support was Little Feat Still rocking. Just the best

[2011vostok]

@CarliaRay My mum thought he was probably the devil in 1973! Wasn't allowed to go to the concert then.

Going tomorrow night! at the Palais. At last!!

[GregoryWonderwheel]

wahooooo, wahooooo

[sunshinedreams913]

Leon Russell came to my area recently...I wish I would have been able to see him live! He's awesome!

[marcusdodge]

Leon's music was my security blanket 1970+ couldn't sleep!'Marcus

[jach429]

Leon was is and always will be the coolest. So good to see him play so hot o SNL and see the interweb interest in him churned up ~ he is way worthy ~ living American Legend `~ listen to that piano sing man!

[DaMusicful]

Saturday Night Live? When? We love some Leon here in OKLAHOMA!!!!! Where are you my blue eyed son?

[carbonspace]

Leon just rips this track right down to the bone - if I may be so bold to say. I'm glad I've got this on vinyl. ;)

[MsStumble]

"It's a hard"..to beleive this song is 40 years old but it still sounds great

[anker1955]

nice

[MrCaptbt]

THE MASTER OF TIME AND SPACE  !!!

[bullysmom74]

melanie did this song, but nobody can compare to leon, love you leon.He has the most beautiful green eyes, i have ever seen.

[Msvangogo]

hot!

[carollabreemayo]

Leon is the man! I've loved him since the 70's and some things don't change. Beautiful in voice and so easy on the eyes . ROCK ON MY MAN!

[72lights]

@carollabreemayo He's a rocker!! I like the song hurtsomebody,-off his first album, an home sweet oaklahoma.

He's gonna be on saturday night live this weekend,--So be watching for him.

[jarrettp321]

Leon, I almost forgot about you but hav heard the buz with you and elton lately! You were my man in the 70's. Still loved you in the 80's. named my blue eyed son - rands leon. He will be at the sturgis rally with me when you walk out on stage. thx for being there and the memories. You touch my heart and you are a true artist. d. phillips rapid city/

[clarkewi]

I love this version. Check out "Concert for Bangladesh". One of the best "live" rock music movies ever made. Produced by Phil Spector. Leon Russell, Bob Dylan and George Harrison backed by an amazing band.

[jedauvil]

Leon Russell has TIGER BLOOD... ... ... WINNING!!!

[heatherhaas]

@jedauvil 

[heatherhaas]

@jedauvil Ha! Yes Indeed!

[yachtabaco]

I'm sure Bob and Leon played it a few times, since Leon was a session musician for him and played on at least one of Bob's Albums..

[Thadmotor1044]

@yachtabaco they did bangladesh together ,

[bkftcoast]

Leon will be the MOST handsome man to be inducted into the R & R Hall Fame, although the venue has O credibility

[MaypoWable]

@bkftcoast why 0 credibility?

[mtouzi]

yeah

[martinlisa46]

good

[martinlisa46]

my new favorite singer

[shikantaza2]

yes great version but still the best interpretation is bobs "hard rain tv special" version

[jadedsaint1776]

yep yep..Ive done this all..you cant dig this jam!!

[Caniswalensis]

I hope that when the rain does fall, it washes his hair! :D

[bluesborn]

Listen to that band-tighter than a frog's ass stretched over a rain barrel.

[333joemc]

@bluesborn I would have said tighter than a camels ass in a sand storm, but yeah I hear you!

[mrnobodie1]

@bluesborn That is the single greatest compliment I have ever heard!!!

[toddholden]

@bluesborn well said...damn...yessir...he did bob proud...what a legacy Leon holds....

[fergie123able]

@bluesborn ive never thought about a frog's ass in my entire life, before this comment. Dont think im gonna thank you lol

[circleblueguy]

Francisco Blvd. was there several times! You could walk right into the speaker horns

[circleblueguy]

Francisco Blvd. was there several times!

[treedawg20]

good song



[sohooded]

Leon gave Bob the greatest compliment by being inspired to play his song better than him.

[CarliaRay]

Just the best .Dylan's version is great but LR's is just the best.Go get a copy of Elton John/Leon Russell/THE UNION. Blows my mind

[thegeniusofthecrowd]

:-) THIS makes my day

[democrazy1965]

Leon Russell...like I keep saying, "I grew up on 'Battle for a Soldier' and people love to listen to Joe Cocker Mad Dogs and Englishman...but Leon played on the keys, Rita Coolidge sang back-up (she alone wrote, sang famously also for/ with Linda Ronstadt). My parents saw that show in San Fransisco (see photos of the Filmore). I'm so please to see us appreciate Leon from his origins as a fantastic writer and musician. Why did it take us too long and Elton John to bring him back?

[cubensis4059]

I always loved "Up on a tight wire"  coz I was

Leon God Bless...you played well with Joe Cocker and the Mad Dogs Thanks Leon

For bein downtown

Nashvillle!!!!

[foreverlazarus]

What a moving cover of a moving mover, wow!!

[judecreek2]

@piercethevale yeah, I know...I love that song and the only version available on youtube is from Leon's live album in Japan. Type in the search bar Leon Russell roll away the stone and click on the first choice.

[JerrysTube]

Leon Russell Definitely Put The "Boogie" In The Piano...! Yup.

[tommotd]

This album is one of the best (see jacket cover at start of this). Leon plays and sings his ass off!

[miss09lauren]

i heard this in remember the titans love it!!

[PAULLONDEN]

@Brewchief2002 You might have a point there,time hasn't been that kind to Ferry's version,for some reason it did something to me,at the time I found those effects gave it some 'widescreen' drama.You had to be somewhat of an early Roxy Music ('72-'75) fan,to appreciate that version.Ferry's voice is an acquired taste though,and appealed more to European listeners.

[MrBluesrules]

@PAULLONDEN

Edie Brickells version is the best of all of 'em.

[cochisewolf]

@Brewchief2002

Yeah I suppose I should have qualified that, I meant any cover that I've heard. Dylan had a certain passion that I don't think could be completely duplicated. With Leon I just like the guy's voice, plus he's always fucked up which, ahem, I can relate to :-/

[noveds07]

A gem from the master of space and time. Thanks Leon.

[cochisewolf]

Yeah I have to say this is probably the best version of the classic I've heard ....

[maerka]

leon, the one of the best for me. wrote for so many singers and never got the real credit

[RSUEMICHIGANUSA]

i bet even Bob Dylan danced the first time he heard this funky masterpiece.

[CatholicSeymour]

@RSUEMICHIGANUSA Yes! He was dancin cause de money!!

[sohooded]

@RSUEMICHIGANUSA Ohhhh, so well put !!!!!! I agree. Love Leon Rusell - one of the true masters.

[eddiepism]

@RSUEMICHIGANUSA awesome comment!

[snicky58]

@RSUEMICHIGANUSA LOL, I bet he did too! Great song, great version.

[strawwoodclaw]

@RSUEMICHIGANUSA Leon Russell is going on tour with Bob Dylan this summer

[JustinBoerema]

Hello,

Please listen to my one man band vids, there is much more music to come very soon when im done recoding it. please stay tuned.

Thanks and peace,

Justin Boerema

[TheMarlbury]

Leon truly deserves to be in the hall of fame.

[thedeadbeats]

@TheMarlbury and he'll be inducted in march they just announced it! guess who's goin to cleveland next year!

[radarman818]

Lucyzhere--Yes, among those that went to High School together at Rogers were Leon, David Gates, Anita Bryant, Bill Boatman and in town also were Jimmy Karstein, Tommy Tripplehorn, Carl Radle, Jim Keltner, Elvin Bishop, Junior Markham, Chuck Blackwell, and dozens more.

[janbob29]

Brilliant !!!

[bvc1393]

OMG!!!! I have this LP.

[dstarj1]

No way! "about the beard" That's amazing.

I can't believe how white his hair is.

Thanks for catching me up. Sounds good.

[ashappy6]

Dylan should be proud of this.

[shanebesful]

@ashappy6 yes he should be, cause i think he's got a better voice an a better rythym

to it, he rocks, idoes he plan on doing a tour with elton, or not, an he should be doing

big concerts now that he made that album with elton.

[TheOdie1964]

sorry for the re post IE did not refresh

[giftsdirector]

@TheOdie1964 you can remove one of the doubles. Just sayin'

[TheOdie1964]

Oklahoman he may be but Nashville claims him now

[TheOdie1964]

okie he may be but we nashvillians claim him now

[TheOdie1964]

okie he may be but nashville claims him now

[giftsdirector]

My favourite artist - all my life - daughter of hippies

[alislandgirl]

I was honered to see him 2 weeks ago!!!! The magic will always be there!!!!!

[123Thisizit]

Yes it's gonna fall ! Right on Leon !

[KiLL2LiVELiVE2KiLL]

remember the titans!

[fdsestito]

thanks  Leon for being there andcommig back in my life!

[RadioReporter01]

3:06 is a poster for a hangout in San Rafael. The band Clover, who played locally later became Huey Lewis and the News.

I was there the night before he went to LA to play the Palomino Club, reassuring him he would knock them out.

You know the rest....

[kneapoe51]

Thanks Leon &( Bob ) of course, for helping me to remember...."Hard Rain" indeed. Thanks to" my blue-eyed son " for reminding me of alot of things......& for post, much appreciated.

[MrCarl714]

What can you say, it's Brother Leon!

[JRWTheMusic]

I do a piano cover of this song on my page!

[schnids1605]

This is such a bad ass cover

[anandanaga999]

On Acid...Leslie West MOUNTAIN came to Denver...Some guy LEon Russell 1970.

And OOOOOH As we danced I afterword became so Funny and thrilled with Joy, that this joy has carried I and others quite a way down the Road.! HEY!

[Thecodi55]

No, The Warehouse has been out of commission for a very long time. It's true that if you wanted to see anyone, they'd eventually perform there..And I'm too jealous that I never saw the Burrioto Bros.(Although my big 'brag' is that I saw the Beatles in Tokyo in ;67 LOL) Am a Gram Parsons fan..ya know he's buried in the Garden of Memories Cemetary off of Airline Hwy.Great to hear from another lover of leon!

[noveds07]

I love you Leon.

[mizofan]

Big thumbs up for Leon's work on The Union album, out soon

[CSteed909]

LEN rUSSELL IS THE EPITOME OF THE GREATEST MUSICAL TALENTS IN ROCK 'N ROLL. hE HAS COMPOSED, PRODUCED FOUND NEW TALENT (i.e. Joe Cocker) and remains a performong tour-de-force after 35 plus years. Thanks!

[CSteed909]

Leon is the epitome of the greatest all around composer, performer, session man and talent finder perhaps in rock 'n roll!

[judecreek2]

ceeceerider----Where did you find that fantastic photo of Leon? The one where he's playing the piano and does not have a beard? I can't remember seeing any other pictures of him without a beard.

[revitalyzed]

frk'in 5 million thumbs up !!!!!!!!

[golfogac]

What serious musician would cover the icons of their own time? Loved the Beatles and Dylan in their own and very gratefully appreciate how Leon showed us another view.

[ChaliQ1]

How come he isn't in the Hall of Fame already? Life sucks & then takes a dump on you.

[Suspiciousbaglady]

@ChaliQ1 Agreed! love, Love, LOVE LEON!!