Listening to Leon Redbone on Radio Paradise

Leon Redbone — So, Relax

Album: Sugar
Avg rating:

6.9

Your rating:

Total ratings: 109

Released: 1991
Length: 2:22
Plays (last 30 days): 0

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Anytime you choose
Take off your shoes
Rest your weary eyes
And catch up with the news
A favorite book will be the perfect company

Forget about your blues
Doin fine
Leave your cares and worries far behind
Loosen up your tie
Let the words creep by
Laugh
Life and all its troubles
Start to get get you down
Laugh and put your heels up
And turn yourself around
Anytime you choose
Take off your shoes
Rest your weary eyes
And catch up with the news
A favorite book will be the perfect company
So relax

Life and all its troubles
Start to get get you down
Laugh and put your heels up
And turn yourself around
Forget about the blues
Doin fine
Leave your cares and worries far behind
Loosen up your tie
Let the words creep by
Relax

Comments (23)add comment

apd wrote:

was this the song used in the British Rail ad from the early 90's?

Yes. Shot in soft-focus and with lots of furry-edged props visible (slippers, cardies, cushions, edges of lamps, etc) and the camera moving gently from scene to scene while the outside world races past. It came No. 76 in the Channel 4 program of 2000 "The 100 Greatest TV Adverts" which was hosted, 'in the best possible taste', by Graham Norton. Another of Kaye's ads -- this one for Dunlop -- came in at No. 69 and had Velvet Underground's Venus in Furs as the backing track. More than you wanted to know, eh? ;)

Posted 19 years ago by brianlj [ Reply ]

Ah, Leon. Hey, wot's the chance of making a request? To add Leon and Zooey Deschamel singing "Baby It's Cold Outside," from the Elf soundtrack?

Posted 19 years ago by forge [ Reply ]

diane wrote:

I dunno about tv ads, but LR has always created an air of relaxation for me. He could probably sing the phonebook and I'd take a few deep breaths and zone out.

I second that idea. Hearing anything by him makes me want to dance with an umbrella/broom/other long skinny item in the streets :)

Posted 19 years ago by bluesdragon [ Reply ]

zipper wrote:

Thanks, Bill and Rebecca. I do love this old fella.

He's great in concert. Always a fun time.

Posted 19 years ago by n4ku [ Reply ]

Ahhh -- sing it, Leon! :D

Posted 19 years ago by Kagin [ Reply ]

skhooly wrote:

Your definetly on the right track. Unfortunately our transport system has gone off the rails since the ad appeared on TV.

Soooo AMTRAK has been helping ya out, eh?

I dunno about tv ads, but LR has always created an air of relaxation for me. He could probably sing the phonebook and I'd take a few deep breaths and zone out.

Posted 19 years ago by diane [ Reply ]

I've always loved this guy...

Posted 19 years ago by radiomao [ Reply ]

Brad_Eleven wrote:

He had a four- or five-piece band, with a bass saxophone! It was surreal--that thing honked like a giant kazoo.

I often say that anything with a baritone sax in it is usually quite cool (not always). As for a bass sax, what can I say...

Posted 19 years ago by ce [ Reply ]

Pass me that Sarsaparilla, hon....I'm headed for the hammock. Seriously, I love the whole low-key tone of the song. It's almost like an incantation of mellowness.....

Posted 19 years ago by Dirktooth [ Reply ]

Damn Bill... what an awesome set: Leon Redbone - So, Relax Chris Webster - I'm Driving Diana Krall - Temptation AfroCelts - Ayub's Song - As You Were You just made my morning.

Posted 19 years ago by Heathen [ Reply ]

I'm tryin', Leon, I'm really tryin' you did make me smile a little today though. Thanks

Posted 20 years ago by jpfueler [ Reply ]

Art_Carnage wrote:

I loved his appearances on SNL back in the early days. That was back when they had really interesting musical guests, rather than whatever big act happened to have a new release coming out (or whoever was the "group of the moment - white stripes/vines/strokes/etc.).

That's where I first saw Leon myself. You are right about SNL and its early days. Good skits and interesting musical guests. The show has sucked since about 1980.

Posted 20 years ago by Leslie [ Reply ]

ok i never really ever liked this guy much, but now all i hear is a bad toilet paper commercial. damned by his own unique fad-ish sound, the sellout becomes the cutout. hey kids, cd's for 99 cents a pound.

Posted 20 years ago by fridgepoet [ Reply ]

apd wrote:

this is a question for Brits: was this the song used in the British Rail ad from the early 90's?

Your definetly on the right track. Unfortunately our transport system has gone off the rails since the ad appeared on TV.

Posted 20 years ago by skhooly [ Reply ]

Retrospectively interesting, I suppose, but not what I'm hoping from in a musical paradise.

Posted 20 years ago by Mot [ Reply ]

Cute. Fun. Inconsequential.

Posted 20 years ago by Daveinbawlmer [ Reply ]

this is a question for Brits: was this the song used in the British Rail ad from the early 90's? It was directed by Tony Kaye, was gorgeously photographed and featured an old fella playing chess with a kid. Does this ring a bell? By the way, Leon's Christmas record is wonderful too.

Posted 20 years ago by apd [ Reply ]

Does this guy have to do with the Indian band Redbone from the 70s? Wouldn't mind hearing 'wounded knee'!

Posted 20 years ago by lunar22 [ Reply ]

A bonafide original. If ever there was a perfect artist for RP!!!

Posted 20 years ago by redeyespy [ Reply ]

I remember seeing him on the Tonight Show in the late Seventies or early Eighties. He had a four- or five-piece band, with a bass saxophone! It was surreal--that thing honked like a giant kazoo. This is a great song; it seems to summarize the intent of the music he chose and the songs he has released. "Take it easy, but take it."