This year, Every Sunday Evening, Album Rock WXYG, The GOAT will feature a full album at 8:00 PM from the halcyon musical days of 1975. 1975 was one of the top Years in Album Rock history. Another year of tough choices every week. So many great ones to choose from.
We hope you’ll tune in the evening of June 29th for “Will O' The Wisp”, the sixth studio album by Leon Russell.
The album was released in 1975 on Shelter Records.
With his multi-instrumentalist chops, inimitably raspy vocals, and a decade-plus of top session and production work behind him, Leon Russell had, by the mid-1970s, established himself as one of the leading purveyors of roots-rock, Americana music. 1975’s “Will O’ The Wisp” would enhance that legacy.
In its wide variety of musical styles (certainly a hallmark of Russell’s recording output), including country, gospel, rhythm and blues, rock, and even calypso (on the wonderful “Back To The Island”), “Wisp” is also a bit more up-tempo and rocking than some of its predecessors. What sets it apart from earlier albums is the relatively heavy use of synthesizers, which contributes to the overall funkiness of the material (particularly on “Stay Away From Sad Songs”), as well as the production itself. “Will O’ The Wisp” was one of the few albums recorded on a recently available 40-track analog machine, which creates a uniquely warm listening experience.
Chock full of catchy, toe-tapping tunes, including the single “Lady Blue”, it was certified gold the following year, “Will O’ The Wisp” is another excellent representation of Leon Russell’s seventies’ masterworks.
Tune In and Turn On the evening of June 29th, and every Sunday evening at 8:00 PM for The GOAT'S "The Long Play with Al Neff”.
