Elton John - Tumbleweed Connection
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On this week's episode, we discuss Elton John's third, 1970's Tumbleweed Connection. Elton John's second LP was a lushly orchestrated affair that launched Elton John's career into the stratosphere, largely due to the single "Your Song", which was a top ten single all over the world. Not wanting to be pigeonholed, Elton John, chose to make an album that was more stripped down. There are elements of gospel, folk country, and even funk. Long time Elton John collaborator Paul Buckmaster's string arrangment are present, but they are more subdued and rawer. The sound of Tumbleweed Connection couldn't be more different than the album before it.
However, the thing that makes this album truly unique is the subject matter. The lyrics, by Elton John's songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, were influenced by both the westerns Taupin watched as a child, and the music of the Band. The songs center mostly on an idealized and romanticized version of post-Civil War America and the American West, one inhabited by cowboys, civil war vets, and gunslingers, but also one that focused on the simpler things in life. Tumbleweed Connection gives us a version of America filtered through the eyes of two young Englishmen that is at once charming, beautiful, and poignant.
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
Here is a 6 year old Reg Dwight (aka Elton John).
Bluesology in 1956 (Pictured L to R) Stewart Brown, Terry Pattison, Rex Bishop, Reg Dwight (at this time Elton Jon was still using his birth name), and Mick Inkpen.
Here’s an item from the Hillington Mirror newspaper in August of 1965 announcing the debut single by Bluseology “Come Back, Baby.” The notice specifically points out Reg Dwight (Elton John) as the composer.
Here is Bluesology’s first single “Come Back, Baby” with Elton John singin lead.
Elton John - circa 1968.
Pickwick Top of the Pops were records released in the mid-1960s to the early 1970s that contain cover versions of singles that were hits at the time. The recordings were intended to duplicate the sound of the original hits as closely as possible. Elton John sang and played piano on many of these recording (always uncredited) . Here is Elton John’s Pickwick recording of the Simon and Garfunkel classic “Brige Over Trouble Water.”
“Your Song” off of Elton John’s second LP Elton John was a massive. Here he is singing the song on Top of the Pops in 1971.
Rod Stewart covered “Country Comfort” off of Tumbleweed Connection fro his Gasoline Alley LP, which was actually released before Elton John’s album. Elton John dislike Stewart’s version because it strayed so much from the original commenting that Stewart might as well have sung “Camptown Races” instead. You can listen below to decide for yourself.
In 1970, the BBC broadcast the TV special, Elton John in Concert. He was accompanied by Dean Murray on bass and Nigel Olsson on drums. Watch his performance of “Burn Down the Mission” from that special below.
