Remembering Forgotten Songs
Leon Russell - Spanish Harlem
Today's Lost Music post is all about a swinging instrumental track called Spanish Harlem which was recorded by Leon Russell and The Gap Band back in 1974 at Leon Russell's House Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Paradise Studios in Tia Juana, Oklahoma; Pete's Place in Nashville, Tennessee; and Shelter The Church Studio, in Tulsa.
I was familiar with Spanish Harlem having been familiar with the original recording by Ben E. King that was produced by Phil Spector. The song was written by the famous song writing team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. What impressed me about Levon's unique version is that he decided to cut the song as an instrumental with a calypso vibe. To me, the song took on a deeper resonance as an instrumental piece for sure. To this day, there isn't a week that goes by where I don't spin this tune and enjoy it every time as if it was the first time I heard it.
SLINKY
ACROSS THE RIVER TO ALGIERS
I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU
MOVE IT