Leon haywood

[Kamasu_Jr]

HE appears to be a singer who had several breakthroughs...first in the Sixties, then as a funkster in the Seventies and a producer. He hs a best of disc that's hard to find or expensive. But luckily he will be getting two reissues in March.

[juicefree20]

Leon was a pretty popular guy for awhile. He always seemed to operate just a little below the radar, but made some records that used to get a lot of play here in N.Y.C. One thing about Leon is that although recording extensively in L.A., he always retained the sound of his Southern roots, being born in Texas.

A few of my favorites by him are...

It's Got To Be Mellow
Keep It In The Family
I Wanta Do Something Freaky To You
The Streets Will Love You To Death
Strokin'
Super Sexy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB7ZHuUqre0&feature=related
Don't Push It, Don't Force It
I'm Out To Catch which featured Karen Roberts on vocals [[which kinda bugged me out because though she sings the entire song, with no prominent vocal by Leon, he's credited as the artist, giving her absolutely NO CREDIT on the 12'' label)

And he's also the writer of one of the biggest dance hits of the 80s, Bad Mama Jama, which was nothing more than a re-working of his 1978 song "She's Built, She's Stacked".

For comparison...

Leon's original:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQdLvMJbjUU

Carl Carlton's remake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voxL5UwUDKs&feature=related

A 'live' clip of him doing a remake of his 'Baby Reconsider', sometime in the late 80s or early 90s for Ian Levine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJnP5sTpMV4

This early cut, which is clearly a rip-off of "Baby Love' by The Supremes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iKg-knEPgg

[mark speck]

One of my faves by Leon...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91HrqCLMGUM

Best,

Mark

[jsmith]

Another goodie from Leon ..... his take on Betty Swan's classic ...
.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJk-MQLfasw

[CliveR]

Shout D71 is 2CD set of Leon's 20th Century albums Back To Stay/Keep It In the Family plus bonus tracks of both sides of four hit singles - www.shoutrecords.co.uk

[1wicked]

Leon Haywood lives and" works" about 10 minutes from me. Sampling fees have enabled him to. Acquire extensive. Commercial real estate property..so, though still active in music, he can live well off royalty and rent checks.