Again, I'm in awe of Leonid & Friends. The drums, the bass, the horns, the vocals, and the endless attention to detail. Sublime.

The Chicago version is itself a cover of the 1967 original by The Spencer Davis Group featuring Steve Winwood on vocals.

@AFmedic

2 ай бұрын

And The Spencer Davis Group's version is itself a cover of the original by Bo Diddley in 1955.

@pablojose4890

2 ай бұрын

@@AFmedic I think they have the same name but Steve Winwood's song is different. The Yardbirds did a version of Diddley's.

Flawless... as usual! Igor is a MONSTER.

@Leftatalbuquerque

2 ай бұрын

That's "Eye-gor"...

The guitarist is fantastic

They do this in concert. It's Igor's moment in the spotlight. He jams.

IL say it again the guitarist is as good as it gets

You said it, Jeff...in your face!

Finally!!!! Amazing!!! Right? We all knew you'd love this one!

Sergey is magical on he guitar lead

Love this song but man, Igor killed this one live. Can't wait to see them again this fall.

@janicemartin2016

2 ай бұрын

Igor slays everything he does

Love this cover of a cover!! There’s no way to sit still, igor is smoking here.

Seeing the band in philly in June.. got front row seats!! so pumped to finally see this band cook in person

@patrickray8777

Ай бұрын

My dad saw them in Orlando in April and said they were so good it was ridiculous. I have tickets to see them here in St. Louis in Oct. Cant wait!

@FunkinItUpaBit

Ай бұрын

You definitely won't be disappointed! They're fantastic live. Makes me jealous...I'd love to see them again.

@kevgret

Ай бұрын

@@FunkinItUpaBit they were absolutely amazing!!! But they cut six songs from the show at the casinos request.. real bummner

The trombone player on the block & sax guy on the cowbell with the drums always pins me to the back of my chair.

Amazing levels of talent. Words can not describe it. This band covers that most difficult tunes in rock and they never skip a beat. They must spend so many hours rehersing.

Going to see them live in concert next week in Jacksonville, Florida. When I saw them last year they did this song and it was amazing with Igor killing those drums. He was beating those skins like they owed him money! I'm hoping for a repeat this year. Of course, I'm 70 years old and I remember when the song first came out by The Spencer Davis Group, with Steve Winwood doing the vocals. Spencer Davis Group, Chicago and Leonid and Friends all three have their own play on the song and I love all three. But if I had to choose to just listen to one version for the rest of my life...Well, Leonid and Friends would be that choice. Great job, Jeff!

@mgalego4729

2 ай бұрын

"He was beating those skins like they owed him money!" Laughing a lot here! I totally understand the reference!

When L&F first posted this song, I listened to it 4-5 times in a row just to bathe in its perfection. Thank you for this one, Jeff!

At the live show I went to, when they played this song, Igor performed, and I'm not kidding here, a 15 minute drum break. At one point the man was on his knees playing his sticks on the stage itself. I started to question whether they were going to continue playing the song or not. It's funny this song is "I'm a Man," because I'm not sure Igor is. He must be some kind of space alien or something. He's not human.

Igor & Danny in a class & style of there own👍Next LEVEL

You should see them do this live! They have made it into a 10-minute plus drum solo! Incredible!

I was wondering how long before you gave your take on this one; knowing how much you love the “funky” bass. And of course, Igor. Always awesome to hear .

Wow!! To pull that off like that.. never ceases to amaze me these cats. Just incredible! Also, I don’t have to say; I need more cowbell(or wood piece for that matter lol) those percussionists killed it. Magnificent groove all around. And ofc Igor is just fabulous in everything he does! Brilliant performance! Can’t wait for more

What is even more amazing is that Serge Tiagniryadno from Ukraine was performing from Kyiv while the rest were in Moscow for this recording. So sad this Sergey Kashirin, such a natural lead guitarist is no longer with the band. Thanks for reviewing in such depth such a powerhouse of a number which has always held the attention of serious rock enthusiasts!

Thanks SOO MUCH Debbie!!! I saw them Live in the States! Suggest everyone see them. Igor did a 10-minute drum solo. They did not bring their String Section to the States, I missed the Strings. Jeff Your The Man!!

Met them all at several concerts at meet and greets. The nicest,warm hearted and humble group you'll ever meet. I always sit front row being disabled and they would always pull me out of the long line of people waiting after the show to get autographs. I woiuld get a little embarressed but they always insisted and signed pic's and the drummer gave me a little russian doll key chain.

Saw them LIve in Iowa!! Met the Band and talked to Igor!! He is Fantastic!! The Buddy Rich Of Russia!! Fantastic show!!

More cow bell the best SNL skit

Igor is not only an excellent drummer he is also a good song writer. The other day I came across a song called Mama, sang by Vasily Akimov from Land F with Irina Kozlova, The song is written by Igor Javad-Zade lyrics and music. It's in russian but very good.

@brentgindelberger8851

2 ай бұрын

Irina Kozlova is Igor's wife

I was 15 when I heard Chicago' I'm a man cover in 1969. L&F COVER is as good as Chicago' s one. Too top. Thanks again Jeff.

Love this tune! I was searching for this song on KZread one night… it’s how I personally discovered L&F. So glad I did!!! (Vlad on cowbell killed it!) Great reaction Jeff! 👍🏼

So good! This was off the first album back before they shortened their name from Chicago Transit Authority to just Chicago

Great Reaction !! ..this is in my top 5 Leonid & Friends video.. They are smooth, talented and seemingly enjoying this as much as WE are!! Great stuff🎸🎶

Love this band! I'd love to hang out with these awesome musicians for 1 day. BTW Jeff I love the Gary Numan shirt. His 1979 hit Cars is still one of my favs! Cheers!

Was hoping you would get to this one !!!

They play this near the end of their live concerts. In the middle the musicians leave the stage while Igor does an 8 minute solo. Just incredible!

@StrateleStudios

2 ай бұрын

Wow! 👏👏👏

Killer track!! superbly done!! 🔥Thank you so much for sharing!!

Got my motor running! It is pure joy to watch and listen to Leonid and Friends - not a single person who - by his genius and brilliance - he has drawn to him is not absolutely, positively, indubitably first class. Whether we are talking in the realm of music, writing, law - you name it - he and his band of merry men and women - stand as an example of the levels to which we all, may not have been born with the God given abilities to achieve - but - to which -we all were put here on earth - by our Father in Heaven - to aspire. After all, given I believe in reincarnation and that we build up our good (talents) karma and bad karma during our lifetimes that then manifest in subsequent ones? We all - I believe - do have hope of "arriving" at such an august and enviable level! Think how many dive bars Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra must have had to sing in over the ages!

Thanks, Jeff. A great cover of a great cover. Love it!

At many Chicago concerts, I always loved watching James Pankow (trombone), play the cowbell during the percussion section of this song. He would move very seductively with his moves being as sexy as possible by wearing no shirt and leather pants. Oh man! So when that joke came round about "We need more cowbell", I always think of this song and James Pankow. It's just hysterical.

When we saw them live Igor did about a 12 min drum solo that was unbelievable

@vansmack4972

2 ай бұрын

Yes Igor is a great drummer. But those 12 minute drum solos are a little too lengthy.

Got the old school rocker vocal this man is off the charts

DAMN!!! Way to go Igor!!!

Hooray! What a great surprise. I’ve been waiting for this one. Thanks Debbie! Got the good ear phones out. 👍

this song can be so tedious if not played at this level, and Igor drives it home every time. live, its like a runaway train. have you gotten your tix for the 2024 tour yet?

I miss Sergey on guitar. Konstatin isa capable guitarists but Sergey has better chops and brings a lot of charisma to his craft. He's also a damn good singer. His vocals on Beginnings is spot on and sounds very much like Robert. And lastly, he speaks English pretty well.. Too bad his other commitments interfered with touring . For a real treat take a look at their performance of the US natl anthem on the last night of their 2021 tour. Tissue alert! *sniff* 😢

It’s great to see Andy Warhol on the cowbell. 🙂

@StrateleStudios

Ай бұрын

😄

That poor cowbell!😆

Lot going on here!!!!

Those horn-players playing percussion - block and cowbell - are awesome too. It's not easy to maintain the same percussion sequence during (almost) the entire song. I know; I tried.

Igor is Clark Kent! Walking down the street, he looks like just some random guy. Then he walks through the studio door!

@StrateleStudios

2 ай бұрын

Hahaha yes!

@delightschwartz2155

2 ай бұрын

And utterly destroys the kit lol. All without tweaking an eyebrow.

Please find Rare Earth by this group if available . Thank you!!

Love them so much can you react to there Version of your the inspiration

Igor is a pocket beast, he is always banging!

Amazing!

Something that is Not mentioned is that for every cover, Igor has his kit tuned perfectly to match the sound of the original. A person can play a song flawlessly but if the kit isn't tuned right it just won't sound right.

This was the first song where the horns didn't quite hit my ear right. Can't really pinpoint why. The drums were the star of this show.

@dotlund1096

2 ай бұрын

Now that you mention it...I didn’t really hear the horns either. Guess I’ll listen again.

@brentgindelberger8851

2 ай бұрын

I don't believe the horns have a role prior to the drum solo. If I recall from their live shows, the horn section does the cowbell, etc.

@michaelbradley7529

2 ай бұрын

@@brentgindelberger8851 The horns came in near the end of the song, I think it was the harmony that was chosen that my ears didn't like.

@TheoSmith249

2 ай бұрын

Originally written by Steve Winwood with out horns. Chicagos version introduced discordant horns in the second half of the song. So the horns are second fiddle in this song.

@leokamphuis

2 ай бұрын

@@michaelbradley7529 yes it’s definitely the vocal harmonies that are slightly off in one section

I love the guitarist doing his Terry Kath thing but the drummer rules. Really good.

@AFmedic

2 ай бұрын

Who are we kidding? That guitarist IS Terry Kath reincarnated.

I use Igor's tracks to calibrate my metronome. ;)

Needs more cowbell.

👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻 good morning Jeffy 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻. I knew you would like this. 😂😂😂

@StrateleStudios

2 ай бұрын

🫶🫶🫶

🤍💛🧡💗💚💙💜🤎🖤✌