Though erstwhile Eagle/Flying Burrito Brother Bernie Leadon has worked with scores of artists, it’s been over a quarter-century since his name topped the marquee, on 1977’s Natural Progressions by the Bernie Leadon/Michael Georgiades Band. Intriguingly, the self-released Mirror feels out-of-time, touching on styles drawn from the entirety of Leadon’s career.
There’s bluegrass-flavored folkrock (“What Do I Own”), dreamy atmospheric pop (“God Ain’t Done With Me Yet”, one of two duets with Emmylou Harris), shuffling rockabilly (“Everybody Want”), and even soulful, twangy country-rock (the standout track “Volcano”). On hand are a host of ace sessioneers, among them Dylan’s old drummer David Kemper and producer-player Ethan Johns (son of Glyn, who produced — aha! — the first two Eagles records).
But it’s still Leadon’s show. Armed with a sweet, ringing tenor voice and projecting an easygoing vibe, he makes this one of the warmest, friendliest-sounding projects in recent memory. It’s funny at times, too: “Vile And Profane Man” is a self-indictment worthy of Randy Newman, and “Center Of The Universe” finds Leadon copping to the pampered, indulgent lifestyle he led when the Eagles hit.
It’s worth noting that Eagles grand poobahs Don Henley and Glenn Frey attempted to write founding member Leadon out the band’s history when compiling last year’s 33-song The Very Best Of. Included were only two numbers bearing Leadon co-writing credits, and he rated but a miserly two mentions in the booklet as well.
Yet during his 1972-76 tenure, Leadon was a significant composer (key tracks include “Witchy Woman” and the Gram Parsons tribute “My Man”), and, with his country and bluegrass background, he was also the group’s instrumental go-to guy. The ten rootsy gems on Mirror suggest that when Leadon split from the Eagles, he took a huge chunk of the band’s soul with him.
