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‘Wedding Album’ was a gloriously upbeat slab of Southern soul where [Leon & Mary Russell’s] voices blended seamlessly…His own ‘Americana’ (1978) was partly co-written with Kim Fowley, swung with the aid of Chicago’s brass section; dismissed at the time, it’s aged nobly. At the very moment Mary’s self-produced, Leon-arranged ‘Heart of Fire’ undeservedly slipped by unnoticed, his ‘Life and Love’ (1979) added electronic drums and introspective songwriting…[Leon & New Grass Revival’s] accurately-titled, covers-heavy ‘The Live Album’ (1981) concluded Paradise with startling verve.  Four stars.

– MOJO, April 2026

A great collection of work from this key second chapter in the career of Leon Russell – all work done for his own Paradise records label – really stretching out from his earlier records in the first half of the 70s! The set begins with the records Wedding Album and Make Love To The Music – both of which are a really fantastic set of duets between Leon Russell and then-wife Mary Russell – a singer that most folks know better as the great soul vocalist Mary McCreary – and whose pairing with Leon made for some real magic in this chapter of his career…Mary Russell gets to step out solo on the following Heart Of Fire record – then Leon goes solo on the records Americana and Life & Love. But maybe one of the most compelling albums here is the Live Album, which has Leon working with New Grass Revival in a mix of country-tinged tracks and other surprises that really point the way towards his directions in the 80s.

– DustyGroove.com, March 2026

By 1976, Leon Russell was already an industry veteran.  The onetime Wrecking Crew pianist had already written and arranged hit singles for Gary Lewis and The Playboys, launched two record labels (Viva and Shelter), built his own recording studios, joined Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, served as the bandleader of Joe Cocker’s storied Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour, recorded his own hit albums, and written or co-written such instant American standards as “A Song for You,” “Superstar,” and “This Masquerade.”  Tension with co-founder Denny Cordell led Russell to depart Shelter Records in 1976, and he struck out on his own to start a new label under the Warner Bros. Records umbrella.  Paradise Records was born.  It would afford Leon the opportunity both to sign new artists as well as release his own music – both solo and with then-wife Mary McCreary, a.k.a. Mary Russell, an accomplished singer-songwriter in her own right.

Tomorrow, March 13, Cherry Red’s Lemon Recordings imprint teams with Second Disc Records to release the first-ever collection of Leon Russell’s recordings for the Warner-distributed Paradise Records label.  The Paradise Years 1976-1981 presents, on four CDs, six full albums:

• Wedding Album: Expanded Edition – Leon and Mary Russell (1976);
• Make Love To The Music: Expanded Edition – Leon and Mary Russell (1977);
• Americana: Expanded Edition – Leon Russell (1978);
• Heart Of Fire – Mary Russell (1979);
• Life And Love – Leon Russell (1979); and
• The Live Album: Expanded Edition – Leon Russell and New Grass Revival (1981).

Seven bonus tracks have been added, all of which are new to CD.  These encompass the non-LP B-side “Anita Bryant” plus original single versions.  These albums have previously been available on CD only in bare-bones editions from Wounded Bird Records and in long out-of-print Japanese editions; this marks the first time they have been expanded.

Blending rock, R&B, soul, Americana, gospel, pop, bluegrass, jazz, country, and even a dollop of dance and disco, The Paradise Years 1976-1981 includes some of the most richly varied music ever made by Leon Russell, Mary Russell, and their collaborators.  Though often overlooked, the music made by Leon at Paradise comprises a crucial part of his discography as he came to terms with a changing musical landscape by looking inward and then to the country and bluegrass music he loved.

Reflecting the breadth and variety of the Russells’ musical experimentation, guests on The Paradise Years include Bobby Womack, Nigel Olsson of The Elton John Band, Maxayn Lewis, Mickey Raphael, The Buckinghams’ Marty Grebb, Baja Marimba Band founder Julius Wechter, electronic music pioneer Roger Linn, and Lee Loughnane, Jimmy Pankow, and Walter Parazaider, a.k.a. the Chicago horn section.

Nick Robbins has newly remastered the audio for The Paradise Years. The deluxe, 28-page, full-color booklet features two new essays.  Music historian Charles Donovan chronicles the collaboration between Leon and Mary Russell, as well as Mary’s solo album Heart of Fire, including new reflections from musicians Gary Ogan, Richard Torrance, and Gene Meros.  TSD’s own Joe Marchese then explores Russell’s solo recordings at Paradise and his felicitous teaming with New Grass Revival.  Paul Bevoir has designed The Paradise Years, with cover artwork designed by John Sellards.

The Paradise Years 1976-1981 places Leon Russell’s Paradise Records albums into the full context of his extraordinary legacy as a singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and arranger.  It’s due tomorrow, March 13, from Cherry Red’s Lemon Recordings imprint.  It can be pre-ordered now from Cherry Red and Amazon.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Leon Russell with Mary Russell, The Paradise Years 1976-1981 (Cherry Red/Lemon/Second Disc Records QCDLEM4BX267, 2026) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1: Wedding Album (Expanded Edition) – Leon & Mary Russell (Paradise Records LP PA 2943, 1976)

1. Rainbow in Your Eyes
2. Like a Dream Come True
3. Love’s Supposed To Be That Way
4. Fantasy
5. Satisfy You
6. You Are On My Mind
7. Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)
8. Quiet Nights
9. Windsong
10. Daylight

Bonus Tracks

11. Rainbow In Your Eyes (Single Version) (Paradise Records single PDS 8208, 1976)
12. Satisfy You (Single Version) (Paradise Records single PDS 8274, 1976)

CD 2: Make Love To The Music (Expanded Edition)/Heart of Fire

Make Love To The Music (Expanded Edition) – Leon & Mary Russell (Paradise Records LP PAK 3066, 1977)

1. Easy Love
2. Joyful Noise
3. Now Now Boogie
4. Say You Will
5. Make Love To The Music
6. Love Crazy
7. Love Is In Your Eyes
8. Hold On To This Feeling
9. Island In The Sun

Bonus Tracks

10. Love Crazy (Single Version) (Paradise Records single 8369, 1977)
11. Easy Love (Edit) (Paradise Records single 8438, 1977)

Heart of Fire – Mary Russell (Paradise Records LP PAK 3292, 1979)

12. Right Or Wrong
13. Heart of Fire
14. King of Africa
15. Keep The Home Fires Burning
16. Body Music
17. Good Combination
18. Up Against The Wall
19. Eldorado Gypsy
20. You Know What I Need
21. Music Man

CD 3: Americana (Expanded Edition)/Life and Love

Americana (Expanded Edition) (Paradise Records LP PAK 3172, 1978)

1. Let’s Get Started
2. Elvis and Marilyn
3. From Maine To Mexico
4. When A Man Loves a Woman
5. It’s Only Me
6. Midnight Lover
7. Housewife
8. Ladies of the Night
9. Shadow and Me
10. Jesus on My Side

Bonus Track

11. Anita Bryant (Paradise Records single PDS 8667, 1978)

Life and Love (Paradise Records LP PAK 3341, 1979)

12. One More Love Song
13. You Girl
14. Struck By Lightning
15. Strange Love
16. Life and Love
17. On The First Day
18. High Horse
19. Sweet Mystery
20. On The Borderline

CD 4: The Live Album (Expanded Edition) – Leon Russell & New Grass Revival (Paradise Records LP PAK 3532, 1981)

1. Over The Rainbow
2. I’ve Just Seen A Face
3. One More Love Song
4. Pilgrim Land
5. Georgia Blues
6. I Believe To My Soul
7. Prince Of Peace
8. Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms
9. Stranger In A Strange Land
10. I Want To Be At The Meeting
11. Wild Horses
12. Jambalaya (On The Bayou)
13. Caribbean
14. Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Bonus Tracks

15. I’ve Just Seen A Face (Single Version) (Paradise Records single PDS49662, 1981)
16. Over The Rainbow (Single Version) (Paradise Records single PDS49662, 1981)​