A "Stevie" mention in the liner notes of Elton John's new album

[PenguinHead]

Elton John recently released a great new album with Leon Russell. In the extensive liner notes he writes about how Leon was a big influence and how he wanted to bring him out of obscurity. While recording in LA, "gradually people came into the studio and found out Leon was in town. Ringo, Sharon Stone, Stevie Nicks, Grace Jones and LeAnn Rimes came by."

I suppose that maybe Stevie was working on her album in a studio nearby, and just dropped by. I would have loved to have seen the interactions and heard the conversations she had with Elton!

[HejiraNYC]

I read about this in USA Today a few weeks ago. I think they were recording at the Village, which is probably where Stevie was also recording at the time. So why is it that they were both recording at the same time, yet Elton's album is already out? :mad:

[CADreaming]

Didn't LB have a brief gig with Leon Russell, touring? Post BN and pre FM?

Fritz opened for Leon Russell.

[Sahara]

I was really excited to read this in Elton's album as I listened to it :) So cool to know that two of my alltime favourite artists spent time together!

[louielouie2000]

Ahh, how I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when Stevie and Leon were in the studio together. I'm guessing a fair amount of Mary Jane was passed around as well! :p

CADreaming, thanks for including the note about Fritz opening for Leon... I never knew that!

[PenguinHead]

I read about this in USA Today a few weeks ago. I think they were recording at the Village, which is probably where Stevie was also recording at the time. So why is it that they were both recording at the same time, yet Elton's album is already out? :mad:

Because Elton is infinately more prolific than Stevie, and he works quickly. For every album Stevie has released, Elton has released ten!

[PenguinHead]

Fritz opened for Leon Russell.

WOW! I had no idea about that. Very interesting.

[CADreaming]

Ahh, how I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when Stevie and Leon were in the studio together. I'm guessing a fair amount of Mary Jane was passed around as well! :p

CADreaming, thanks for including the note about Fritz opening for Leon... I never knew that!

Sure thing! I'm all about the BN trivia. :)

Edit: Ha! I knew I read about her watching him play piano! Here's the interview:

Molly: OK, so there's this relationship with yourself and Lindsey as far as peformers are concerned. To go into and get a recording contract, how did you do that?

Stevie: We moved to Los Angeles at the beginning of 1972, in my Toyota which Lindsey named "The Pocket" for in the pocket, right in the… and we drove to LA and we lived with Keith Olsen, who was our producer, who basically kind of like saw us on the only little tour we ever did with Leon Russell which was four shows, with Leon Russell, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Los Angeles…

Molly: How did you get that gig?

Stevie: I don't know, but however we got it, I was going if I had to carry the piano, it didn't matter. So I got to stand on the side of the stage for four nights and watch Leon Russell play. That's an influence, he was very much an influence of mine...

******
From ABC Australia: The Meldrum Tapes

This interview with Ian "Molly" Meldrum was broadcast in Australia in 1986.

[wildheart048]

Elton John recently released a great new album with Leon Russell. In the extensive liner notes he writes about how Leon was a big influence and how he wanted to bring him out of obscurity. While recording in LA, "gradually people came into the studio and found out Leon was in town. Ringo, Sharon Stone, Stevie Nicks, Grace Jones and LeAnn Rimes came by."

I suppose that maybe Stevie was working on her album in a studio nearby, and just dropped by. I would have loved to have seen the interactions and heard the conversations she had with Elton!

Wow! That's awesome!! Thanks...I would love to have been there, too!

[michelej1]

[Excerpt from an October 18, 2010 article in the Citizen Times (Asheville)]

"It was therapeutic for him to feel the love of those great musicians in the studio," John says. "For those two hours, he played and sang and got stronger."

Admirers streamed through The Village studio almost daily, John says. Ringo Starr studied Russell and quipped, "I thought it was serious." Stevie Nicks, who long ago bought Russell's old piano, stopped by, as did Paul McCartney, Jeff Bridges and LeAnn Rimes.

[David]

I suppose that maybe Stevie was working on her album in a studio nearby, and just dropped by. I would have loved to have seen the interactions and heard the conversations she had with Elton!I saw Elton John play at the Hollywood Bowl once, & Stevie Nicks was in the audience.

[SapphireSister]

I saw Elton John play at the Hollywood Bowl once, & Stevie Nicks was in the audience.
2 weeks ago Elton John was sitting 2 tables down from me as I was having brunch at The Beverly Hills Hotel! He looks really great, not too nipped and tucked.

[ragrsrocalot]

I saw Elton John play at the Hollywood Bowl once, & Stevie Nicks was in the audience.

You should remind Stevie. She told Jim Ladd in 2005(?), that she had never seen Elton in concert before. Well, before 2005 anyway. :laugh:

[Sahara]

2 weeks ago Elton John was sitting 2 tables down from me as I was having brunch at The Beverly Hills Hotel! He looks really great, not too nipped and tucked.

That's incredibly cool :) I saw him and Ray Cooper in concert in Dublin last week and he looked great. That concert rocked so hard, I'm still a bit giddy from it! I got very close to getting a handshake -- maybe next time!

[chiliD]

Elton John recently released a great new album with Leon Russell.

Or, was it that Leon Russell recently released a great new album with Elton John?? :shrug: Guess it depends on who you prefer.

[chiliD]

Fritz opened for Leon Russell.

Yeah, but who HASN'T opened for Leon Russell? (that would be the shorter list).

[PenguinHead]

Or, was it that Leon Russell recently released a great new album with Elton John?? :shrug: Guess it depends on who you prefer.

It was Elton who brought Leon out of near-obscurity: he sought him out because of his appreciation for Leon's overlooked talents. It was all Elton's idea, and because of his clout Leon has re-emerged from the shadows. It has nothing to do with preference. It's Elton's album with Leon.