Leon Russell and the Shelter People

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Christgau's Record Guide	B[3]

In a review for Allmusic, the critic Mike DeGagne called "The Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen" the highlight of the album and wrote, "On the whole, Leon Russell and the Shelter People is an entertaining and more importantly, revealing exposition of Russell's music when he was in his prime. ... Carney is an introspective piece which holds up a little better from a songwriting standpoint, but this album does a better job at bearing his proficiency as a well-rounded musician."[2]

All tracks composed by Leon Russell except where indicated

Side One

1. "Stranger in a Strange Land" (Russell, Don Preston) – 3:58
2. "Of Thee I Sing" (Russell, Don Preston) – 4:21
3. "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" (Bob Dylan) – 5:10
4. "Crystal Closet Queen" – 2:57
5. "Home Sweet Oklahoma" – 3:25
6. "Alcatraz" – 3:50

Side Two

1. "The Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen" – 3:55
2. "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" (Dylan) – 3:47
3. "She Smiles Like a River" – 2:56
4. "Sweet Emily" – 3:19
5. "Beware of Darkness" (George Harrison) – 4:34

The CD reissue contains the following 3 bonus tracks:

1. "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" (Dylan) – 3:38
2. "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" (Dylan) – 3:19
3. "She Belongs to Me" (Dylan) – 3:26

• Home Sweet Oklahoma, Alcatraz, Beware Of Darkness - Recorded at Island Studios, London, August 23–26, 1970.
• It's A Hard Rain Gonna Fall, It's All Over Now, Baby Blue, Love Minus Zero/No Limit, She Belongs To Me, Sweet Emily, Crystal Closet Queen - Recorded at Muscle Shoals Studios, Sheffield, Alabama, September 1970.
• The Ballad Of Mad Dogs And Englishmen - Recorded at A&M Studios, Hollywood, December 23, 1970.
• Stranger In A Strange Land, Of Thee I Sing, It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry, She Smiles Like A River - Recorded at Skyhill/Shelter Studios, Hollywood, January, 1971
• Final mixes by John Fry made at Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee, April 1971

• Leon Russell – lead vocals, piano, organ (1, 2, 4, 8, 10), guitar (1, 2, 4-6, 8, 10-11)
• Don Preston – guitar (1-4, 8, 10, 12-14), backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 8, 10)
• Joey Cooper – guitar (1, 2, 4, 8, 10), backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 8, 10)
• Eric Clapton – guitar (5, 6, 11)
• Jesse Ed Davis – guitar (3, 12-14)
• Jimmy Johnson – guitar (9)
• John Gallie – organ (1, 2, 4, 8, 10)
• Chris Stainton – organ (5, 6, 11)
• Barry Beckett – organ (9)
• Carl Radle – bass guitar (1-7, 10-14)
• David Hood – bass guitar (9)
• Chuck Blackwell – drums (1, 2, 4, 8, 10)
• Jim Gordon – drums (5, 6, 11)
• Jim Keltner – drums (3, 12-14)
• Roger Hawkins – drums (9)
• Claudia Lennear – backing vocals (1, 2, 4 ,8, 10)
• Kathi McDonald – backing vocals (1, 2, 4 ,8, 10)

Production

• Leon Russell – producer
• Denny Cordell – producer
• Peter Nicholls – engineer (1, 2, 8, 9)
• Marlin Greene – engineer (3, 4, 10, 12-14)
• Andy Johns – engineer (5, 6, 11)
• Glyn Johns – engineer (7)
• John Fry - mixing
• Nick DeCaro – string arrangements (7)

• "Alcatraz" – was covered by Jesse Ed Davis on his 1972 album Ululu
• "Alcatraz" – was covered by Nazareth on their 1973 album Razamanaz