Patrick Leonard - It All Comes Down To Mood

Hi-Fi News Album Choice for April 2025!

Patrick Leonard — It All Comes Down To Mood

Double LP

Mastered for vinyl by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering

Lacquers cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering

Pressed at RTI

Vinyl shepherded by Michael Fremer (TrackingAngle.com, The Absolute Sound)

Cover art by Storm (Dark Side of the Moon)

"This stunner features immaculate pressings with lacquers cut at Bernie Grundman's by Chris Bellman, while the mastering was one of the last tasks to be undertaken by the legendary Bob Ludwig before retiring in 2023. The sound quality? Casino Royale level. But the music... Songwriter Leonard's stylistic smorgasbord will remind you he's composed for Madonna, collaborated with Leonard Cohen and worked with so many A-listers that the group of musicians on this labour-of-love include Wendy Melvoin (of Prince and Wendy & Lisa fame). Martin Barre (late of Jethro Tull) and more. I was reminded of Billy Joel, Joni, Elton... yes, captivating, melodic songs of that calibre. Just buy this — now." — Sound Quality: 95% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, April 2025

"Vivid imagery that jobs the imagination, world-class players, and rock-solid production conspire to create an engaging and great-sounding album. Three-time Grammy-nominated composer, music producer, singer and keyboardist Patrick Leonard, 68, has collaborated with such acts as Madonna, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, and Michael Jackson. This enigmatic two-LP set harbors a concept built around 'iconic rock legends' and two projects that Leonard felt 'weren't right' for him. These rock, pop, and power ballads have a Floydish prog rock edge, often delivered in a talking-singing style a la Roger Waters, with whom Leonard co-produced 1992's Amused to Death. The stellar cast includes Ian Anderson and Martin Barre of Jethro Tull; Wendy Melvoin of Prince; bassist and Chapman Stick player Tony Levin of King Crimson and jazz bassist John Patitucci; steel-guitar phenom Paul Franklin; ace session guitarists Tim Pierce, James Harrah, and Gerry Leonard; drummer Aaron Sterling; and the captivating Icelandic singer Anna Mjoll. Veteran engineer Bob Ludwig mastered the LP, Grammy winner Kevin Killen (U2, Bowie) handled mixing duties, Chris Bellman cut the lacquers, Michael Fremer, editor-at-large at The Absolute Sound, served as a consultant." Music = 4 Stars, Sonics = 5 Stars — Greg Cahill, The Absolute Sound, November 2024

"If you are tired of formulaic music like myself, this album by Patrick Leonard will make you sit up and take notice. Surprising melodies, incredible music played perfectly by all concerned. For me it is manna from heaven listening to the unexpected twists and turns. A brave album and one that is a complete triumph. Having had the pleasure of working with Pat this made me feel grateful. And made me feel ALIVE." — Elton John

Patrick Leonard's new double LP — It All Comes Down To Mood — will be released on July 26, 2024.

Just to be sure you know him: Leonard produced Amused to Death for Roger Waters, produced two of the three final Leonard Cohen albums, and co-wrote many songs with Cohen for the final three records, he produced Songs From the West Coast for Elton John and also co-wrote and produced all of Madonna's early records for Warner Brothers. And there's more.

He founded the critically acclaimed early 90's alt-rock group Toy Matinee. But for the first time in two decades, Patrick Leonard is releasing music that is all his own: It All Comes Down To Mood, a sprawling, 16-track double album that brilliantly conveys his artistic genius.

So what does It All Comes Down To Mood sound like? The best genre descriptor might be "art-pop." The songwriting is adventurous, both musically and lyrically. Elemental influences of all Patrick Leonard's famous clients emerge in an organic way — but not overtly.

"My vocabulary is pure 60's and 70's rock 'n' roll and prog rock, but when I'm working, if something that I'm doing reminds me of someone else's music, I stop," says Leonard."I have no interest in being an emulator."

The common denominator between the classic albums which influenced Leonard and his own album is that they reward attentive listening. Each of the album's 16 tracks are like masterpiece paintings, which reveal more the deeper you listen. The production is pristine, the playing is endlessly tasteful and the lyrics thought provoking. But what brings it together is an emotional component that is rarified in modern music.

Supported by a dream cast of supporting musicians: Tony Levin, Tim Pierce, Wendy Melvoin, John Patitucci, Aaron Stirling, Martin Barre, James Harrah, Ian Anderson, Anna Mjoll, Gerry Leonard and Paul Franklin — and working without the typical budgetary or creative restraints usually imposed by major labels, It All Comes Down To Mood is a record that probably couldn't be made by anyone else today.

"At one point I realized this record had a lot to do with the '70s, so I decided to impose some rules on it. I wouldn't use any keyboards that didn't exist in the seventies and none that came to be after that; basically no modern synthesizers and certainly no PC-based synths. While writing the music I found myself using odd bar lengths and time signatures, something I hadn't done or thought about in years. I think I'd discovered the subjects/ POV that the narrator was going to take on and re-discovered the 15-year-old boy inside me who loves progressive rock music as well as vinyl records."

Leonard has taken great pains to ensure that the vinyl package of It All Comes Down To Mood is something that 15-year-old boy would be impressed by. Firstly, Leonard commissioned the legendary StormStudios, founded by the late designer Storm Thorgerson, to design the album artwork. Analog revivalist Michael Fremer consulted with Leonard on the vinyl package — lacquers were cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, and mastered by legendary engineer Bob Ludwig as his last project on his last day at Gateway Mastering prior to his retirement. The double album was lovingly sequenced by sides, both for thematic continuity and sonic benefits. Fremer brought test pressings of the record to various audio shows over the past few months and reviewed it for vinyl enthusiasts who were "blown away" by the music and the sound — in several cases, the demo received a standing ovation when the record was done playing.

Patrick Leonard's goals for It All Comes Down To Mood are a bit ambivalent. "There's some liberation in this new record. I think music and its content have suffered from what technology brought to the party. I won't go into this too deeply because I'll just sound like a grouchy old snob (which maybe I am), "says Leonard. "I'll admit that I liked it better when musical aspirations were more about being better as a musician, and less about chasing digital celebrity. If all the stars in the sky were digital projections except one, how would you ever find that one?" he ponders.

With It All Comes Down To Mood, Patrick Leonard has put a new star in the sky, made from heart, soul, and will. It shines brightly.

 

 

 

1. Hat and Coat

2. When It Comes To Giants

3. Maniac Hill

4. Jimmy Upside

5. Sad Ass World

6. Anderson and Council

7. Mary Saw Angels

8. At The End Of The Day

9. Bishops of Fright

10. In Came The Fool

11. For Her

12. Devil's In The Rain

13. Up In The Sky

14. Looking For A Heart

15. When It Comes To Giants Part 2

16. A Walk In The Woods

Customer Reviews (5.00 Stars) 1 person(s) rated this product.

Masterpiece! posted on 08/29/2024 5 Stars Reviewer: Scott Adams This album by Patrick Leonard is a Masterpiece in my opinion, and I don’t use that expression lightly. It’s a great Musical Tapestry that runs down a great hall from beginning to end telling stories. Only an artist’s palette like Patrick’s who for 40+ years created music, songs and lyrics right along with the greatest of our time could have created such an amazing piece of work. From Pink Floyd to Leonard Cohen. The recording is superb, Patrick’s arrangements, lyrics and choice of musicians, are perfect pieces of thread though out his Tapestry. “It’s All Comes Down to Mood” and the mood in pure JOY.

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