A Song For You - Leon Russell, Donny Hathaway, Amy Winehouse, & Karen Carpenter
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- The work of Leon Russell inspired many musicians. His 1971 'A Song For You' has been covered by over 200 artists including Donny Hathaway, Amy Winehouse, & Karen Carpenter. In a place where there's no space and time they might have come together and perhaps it would have sounded like this.
![Donny Hathaway - A Song for You [Live] (Atlantic Records 1972)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hDD5cAbf2BE/mqdefault.jpg)
![[Remastered] Amy Winehouse - All My Loving (The Beatles) Best Audio Quality](/img/n.gif)
Leon was an incredible producer, producing some of the greatest hits of the early 60s. He puts his own distinctive mark on every song he produces.
One of the most beautiful songs ever written. This is Leon's song....
I love singing this song... Especially that special line that many of you mentioned. To me this song describes a deep love and vulnerable intimacy. Loved it from the first time I heard Leon sing it. 🎵
Dennis EDWARD'S TEMPTATIONS VERSION IS A MASTER PIECE...SOULFUL,PASSION, HARMONY..RIP
Karen Carpenter The Best
Leon Russel was not underrated as some people would have us believe. His songs, like "Superstar" and "Song for You," very famous and covered by a lot of artists including himself.
Didn't know he wrote the George Benson hit, "This Masquerade." What a great songwriter.
He wasn't underrated so much as underappreciated imo. He was hugely popular among people with any musical knowledge and appreciation. I saw him in '72 or '73.
Johnboy33545 I agree wholeheartedly 🙏
Does anyone know if George Benson wrote any original material? @@danehlers9989
My favorite is Leon Russel's version of this song.
I'm an Amy fan. But the only people who do this song justice is Karen and Donny.
Leon said he didn't want to write 'pop' music. He wanted to write 'Standards', music that would endure the test of time. Leon succeeded! Love Karen Carpenter's cover and Donny Hathaway's cover is a GEM!
No argue!No one can beat an angel named Karen Anne Carpenter...Period
I like all the versions, but I agree. Karen Carpenter's voice is special 💖. Leon sings it pretty well too.
This is one of my favorite songs. Especially when it is sung by contralto voices like Karen Carpenter, Amy Winehouse and Diana Krall. That said, the tune and the words are by Leon Russell, nonetheless, and I am so happy Russell shared it with us. I do recall visiting UA-cam to listen to this tune one time and saw a very upsetting commenting by one who claimed that Russell was an egomaniac with the line: I've acted out my life in stages with ten thousand people watching. I am writing this to say, just read the lyrics again. Any popular musician like Russell will having many 10,000 people looking on his life. And that is the point of the song. Russell very much was and is still enjoyed for his public side, that public side that he shared with us. And this song proclaims his private side (I have mine, and hope everyone else does too) to that special one, to just "listen to the melody cause my love is in there hiding."
Joe in Midwest I also hate it when jerks that don"t know what they're talking about make false & ignorant comments. I know Leon was a very humble, kind, thoughtful & loving man & I hope you set that jerk straight.
You are correct and spoke this so beautifully. He was a unique and wonderful songwriter and singer
Leon's Music comes from the Heart and Soul no room for Ego a very Special Human Being 🥰
Whoever the douche that made that comment has no clue about sh*t! Leon was an introvert. His only extroversion was when he performed and even then he usually took a back seat to everyone else on stage with him. One of the true greats and few apostles in the pantheon of music
I have been to a lot of live performances. I seen Leon 4 times
The 4 best performances I have ever seen. All others were a distant 2nd. The best love song writer of all time. My favorite artist of all time . RIP Leon. You have left much art for us to enjoy.
Which other love songs has he written, which I might be surprised to know he did?
Moo Moo Puppy... his song THIS MASQUERADE, sung by George Benson, won Best Record Of The Year Grammy in 1976.
HUMMINGBIRD, covered by BB King.
DELTA LADY, by Joe Cocker
SUPERSTAR by The Carpenters
I believe it was my second concert ever (first being Stevie Wonder) was Leon & Mary Russell as the opener for Three Dog Night!
I agree with the song’s writer. Donny Hathaway’s version is by FAR the best.
It’s only that when I got older did I gain a appreciation for songs like this. I am 75 now and this is the first time I really listen to this masterpiece. I have listened to about 7 different singers sing it. Leon’s heart and soul is in this song and Ray Charles did it only as he can. I feel and a 75 year old guy can still get emotional and shed a tear. Thank you Leon Russell and Rest In Peace in the arms of the one that gave you to us.
I’m confused as to who wrote it / Leon or Hathaway? Most beautiful words ever.
Leon Russell wrote this song. Many have sang it. Well.
they all bring their own magic to this song but Donny will always blow me away.
Anidio
I like The Temptations version better
definately
I don't care for the oversinging version of Mr. Hathaway on this song. Putting notes where they just don't belong. Donnie sure can sing though. I prefer the original Leon Russell's version cuz it's more intimate and personal sounding, like a man who is playing it for a single person who he's loved and maybe lost. ❤
Is Donny Hathaway singing here? His death was so tragic. I understand he committed suicide.
Saw him in Marietta, GA a few weeks before he passed. What a great performance. Played his classics... We're all on the tightrope...
Leon's song has stood the test of time. Thanks for sharing
He wrote Superstar which Karen Carpenter nailed. Leon was brilliant.
@Dbo83 and rita Coolidge
@@agall1013 no. Not Rita..but Bonnie and Leon.
Delaney and Leon. Bonnie got credit for contractual reasons.
I didn't know that... No wonder I loved that song so much... So many things to keep learning here in old age
I think she owns Superstar along with Luther Vandross. Karen had a once in a lifetime voice though
I miss Leon so much
Great but they left out some of my favorite lines: "and if my words don't come together, listen to the melody. My love's in there, hiding"♡
those are the most important words in the song.... i cant comprehend why anyone would change or alter these words... its a song for you.... not a song to you.... so disrespectful.....
Brian Guilliaux There is a video of Leon from 1971 on UA-cam singing the song and he sings "to you." But all other recordings I've seen or heard he sings "for you."
My favorite is Willie Nelson’s version. Just a man and his guitar singing a love song to his audience
I love this song. I've loved it FOREVER. I heard it as a little girl listening to Donny Hathaway and the live album by Betty Wright. Both thanked Leon for such a beautiful song. Hearing Leon's original version about 20 plus years ago whew! Just a good song ... The best voices have recorded this masterpiece ... You feel the lyrics.
Leon Russell wrote this masterpiece from a personal experience. Fabulous! Karen Carpenter’s version takes you to a place where there’s no place or time. It’s not just her amazing vocals : it touches your soul! One of my favourite songs ever!
Donny Hathaway version will always be better than anyone elses
Well it certainly is the top 3, Karen and Leon may argue with you.
I'd have to say Leon was the best.When he sang it, it came straight from the heart.
Karen!
Nobody and I mean NOBODY sings it better then Karen Carpenter
@@zigman8550 Absolutely. Hathaway over sings it i think. And Winehouse well..
Leon will be always the greatest of all.
One of the most thoughtless insults in modern music history.
Lionel Ritchie on AI, credited Donnie Hathaway with this song when a contestant sang it!!!
He never corrected it or acknowledged Leon in any way!!!
I wonder how this thoughtless has-been “songwriter” Ritchie would’ve liked it if Paula Abdoul had said after a contestant sang “Lady” ... “that was a beautiful interpretation of the Kenny Rogers timeless classic”!
Lionel, you’re a hack!
Karen's reading and Richard's arrangements is the definitive one
Definately! They don't just sing a song, they own a song as if they wrote it, the feeling is so much their and richard and karen really bring that out.
Sublime!
Totally agree!
MY Favorite Musician 50 years ago. My favorite Musician Today. And still learning just how good Leon really Was!
Also hope to hear mashup of Lalah and Donny Hathaway someday.
I read somewhere that Mr. Russell was a classically trained pianist.
Leon said he thought the artist Mr Hathaway, did the best recording of his song. Song for You, written by Leon, was recorded by over 200 different people.
Leon Russell you are the best and in my ❤️🙏😎
The carpenters version was also great for that arrangement & Sax
the best ....
Carpenter's was the definitive version.
Karen❤️
Karen is the shit outside of Leon.
Donny sings it so sexy and full of heart! Amy's is nice! Of course Karen's is beautiful.
He wrote this song to Rita Coolidge.❤
Karen Carpenter sets the standard for this Leon cover. Absolutely sublime, nobody comes close.
Respectfully disagree Donny Hathaway owns this one to me anyway.
Also respectfully disagree. Donny's is the best. Karen's version is good tho
I am a Carpenter fan, so I would have to concur.
Give over, Ray Charles and Donny Hathaway.
@@rayward54 Hathaway over sings it, his voice does not have the depth of emotion to sing this particular song imo! Ray i have not heard. So no opinion on his version.
Nobody touches Karen Carpenter's version of this...
Nobody
Except Leon's.
Carpenters version is too overproduced, they should have stripped some of the crap out to let her voice shine!
totally agree, they are each great singers in their own genre and style, but This is Karen's Style. This IS Her Song, this is her kind of soul and genre as an artist, and no one is as raw as she is on these songs.
He'll no!
Love em all except Winehouse. Don't think she did the beauty of the song justice. Donny Hathaway's take is gorgeous. Leon nails it.
I saw Leon along with FreddIE King and B.B. in the early 70's about 100 times , Ray Charles version is amazing too. i do this song too, no one can do it without a ton of emotion.
somehow this mix up editing showed the best vocal and musical arrangement ...carpenters
Hathaway and Carpenter are great, but Winehouse really not great.
Absolute magic ...irreplaceable masters of music
Leon's is the best version
Love Donny Hathaway
I agree. Hits you right in the heart. And then stays in your soul. Thank you Leon.
Donny!!!!
Merry Clayton owns the song
Ray Charles also did a great cover of this song, both in the studio and live in concert.
Leon Russell..I remember this great 💎
I love this song so much and there have been so many great covers by artists like Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Christina Aguilera, but this is the first time that I have ever heard this mix Wow it just goes to show that a great song will always be around and appreciated. 🎶🎵
COME BACK LEON, PLEASE!
all it takes is a hard-working genius
Simply beautiful
it just brings a tear 2 my eye im a fan from way back an all that's sang it I remember
All wonderful covers of this great song, but i would have to say Richard Carpenters arrangement sung by the beautiful Karen Carpenter is the top of the tree for me.
Ray Charles el mejor con diferncia
Occurs to me I'd love to hear Nina Simone sing this one...
Kathi McDonald 1948- 2012
Gypsy Lights
The first time I saw Leon was at Cayo carnival in key west!
Will always love his music especially
A SONG FOR YOU!!
Did he write this song?
Wonderful
I love Russell11
Are we seriously not going to mention Claudia Linnear? One of the greatest backing singers of all time, she is also a beautiful and intelligent human being. You would have to be made of stone not to be smitten by her.
A gorgeous woman for sure. She was one of the Ikettes for awhile.
@@mizzury54 she sure was. Also the Stones, David Bowie, Joe Cocker and more.
Then becomes an educator who speaks 5 languages.
Thank you! She’s a legend!
THERE IS NO SPACE AND TIME FOR OUR LOVE
Heard this and thinking of my wire Judy...she passed July 14th.... you are out of pain now....luv ya
He sang it to a speechless, spellbound, audience. The room was totally still. The Troupedor in West Hollywood. I will always cherish the song and the experience.
Donny Hathaway's version is by far the best. It's not mentioned here but the Temptations version is good too. Dennis Edwards bodied this song.
The Carpenters is the best: the sax solo, accompanied by the piano... And Karen singing.
Beautiful just beautiful
The Ray Charles version is better than all of them, except Leon Russell (live). Just my opinion.
I couldn't agree more!
Yep. Many can sing it but Leon wrote it …its so poignant .So he’s top of the list.
Listen to Whitney Houston live. She hits a note that is out of this world.
But Leon wrote it
Wow! Thank you for info. I never knew that Leon wrote this. My bad. I should’ve known that. I just always considered it to be Donny’s song. I love Leon and Donny Hathaway. For me, Donny brings the most to the song. I agree Ray just kills with this song, but it’s Donny’s voice that breaks me every time. Again, thank you for the info. We’ve lost some of the greatest musical talent, haven’t we? Thank the Gods we still have their songs. Peace.
Orchestration behind Amy is awful. What the heck?
Are all the singers here passed away? Along with Ray Charles. Maybe it's the curse of the line, when my life is over ..
John, thank you for putting this together. What memories! But did you have to show their birth and death dates at the end? I was already crying just from the words of the song...
Damn this is nice!!!
Best Song Ever!
Phenomenal song writer. song for you by Donny Hathaway is absolutely sublime and one of my favourite songs.
Interesting mash-up, Mr. King.
Beautiful tribute to Leon and All .. and the Song .. oh what music we have known .. thank you for sharing this medely of voices and souls ..
They chose a bad version of Amys. there is a live recording in Paris where Amy sang the hell out of this, but the version here is slurred
It's a hard no for Amy! I don't like music I can't understand! It's a hard YES for Karen Carpenter!! Her emotion is unsurpassed!
Karen can sing, Amy sings, but not as good.
I believe it is now known that Amy was on drugs in the studio and her producer Salaam Remi knew it and made the decision to record her cover of this tack against his best judgment any way. She died of alcohol toxicity July 23, 2011 and this cover was released posthumously in December 2011 . I agree her version isn't the best. But she idolized Donny Hathaway, and felt his tragic death very personally. If she recorded this sober with her incredible voice I can only imagine how great her interpretation COULD have been. This recording of hers while on drugs is probably the most heartbreaking rendition ever recorded (and should not have been recoded while she was on drugs!). When I hear this version I hear the sadness in it and in he life. At least Karen's voice wasn't affected by her self destructive and tragically fatal affliction.
@@stephenswilderness687 absolutely, listen to Amy’s versions of “we’re still friends” and “I love you more than you’ll ever know” and you’ll see
Lara Price also sings a pretty descent cover of this masterpiece. . . :>/
A huge song by Leon Russel , Donny made it immortal, nevertheless, the true deep feelings of love in it I heard in the version of Steffen Morrison though.
This mash-up is a mess that doesn't serve the song well at all. Brutal.
Lovely! Thank you!
Whitney Houston Live version is the best
YEAH YOU FOLKS I MISS YOU DAD
Leon did it best…but I love them all❤
I like Leon's original best RIP , then Lalah Hathaway , and then the singer Kodi Lee from AGT
YEAH DAD I AM CRYING FOR YOU NOW
You were a good friend of ours...
Oh my, it does for me. Hope that this can be purchased
Beautiful!
I'm sorry you included the Amy Winehouse version. It was horrible, just horrible.
Never knew a Hill Billy wrote such a soulful song. I know Donny Hathaway’s version since I was a teen.
Much respect to Mr. Russell and Mr. Hathaway.
Leon was hardly a hill billy.
Well..he was from a Oklahoma...lol.
I know this is not going to be a popular opinion but I really like Amy winehouse vocals are obscured a bit so you get the feeling which transpires. I’ve spent many night crying to this song. The pain needs to get out for her to keep going. Just hearing the karen version song. Love the horns. I’ve always preferred sound/rnb But yeah this is what heartbreak does. Keep you up all night. One love y’all. Just a beautiful song. Thank you Leon Russell
UH-MAZING.
For me it is Donny Hathaway and Karen Carpenter! Thank you Leon for writing such a powerful and enduring song!
Miss you