A superstar cast of musicians has joined forces to honor the late great song master Leon Russell. A tribute album, titled A Song For Leon, will see genre-spanning artists like Orville Peck, the Pixies, Bootsy Collins, Margo Price, and many more paying homage to the icon through some of his most classic works.
On Tuesday (July 11), Price shared her enthralling rendition of Russell’s enduring hit “Stranger in a Strange Land,” giving just a taste of what to expect from the all-star collection.
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“This song is so prolific,” she shared of the track in a press release. “After my band and I cut it, we decided to perform it live at many shows. The monologue in the middle is my favorite. It still seems absolutely pertinent and its subject still matters today. He’s talking about the afterlife and equality and goes off about starting a new race where we all just learn to love each other. We can all learn a thing or two from Leon Russell.
“I’ve always loved Leon Russell’s vibe and approach to music and life in general,” Price added of the legend in her statement. “I completely fell in love with him after watching the documentary by Les Blank called ‘A Poem Is A Naked Person’.”
The “Radio” artist recalled, “I had the pleasure of briefly meeting him at a show many years ago in the hallway. I always remember what he said during the live interview that day, which was that ‘It was his job to misinform the press.’ He was an old man at the time, but I’ll never forget how mischievous he seemed.”
A Song For Leon will arrive on September 8. Until then, check out Price’s compelling take on the Russell classic “Stranger in a Strange Land” below.
A Song For Leon Track List:
1. Margo Price – “Strangers in a Strange Land”
2. Durand Jones & The Indications – “Out in the Woods”
3. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – “Tight Rope”
4. Orville Peck – “This Masquerade”
5. U.S. Girls with Bootsy Collins – “Superstar”
6. Pixies – “Crystal Closet Queen”
7. Monica Martin – “A Song for You”
8. Bret McKenzie with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band – “Back to the Island”
9. Tina Rose, Amy Nelson, Jason Hill – “Laying Right Here in Heaven”
10. Hiss Golden Messenger – “Prince of Peace”
(Photo by Alysse Gafkjen / Courtesy of TCB PR)