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There’s nothing like finding a gem when you go crate digging, and that’s just what happened last weekend. Stuck in between albums from Conway Twitty and Barbara Streisand was the vinyl version of Elton John’s Tumbleweed Connection, my second favorite album from Elton.
It’s a concept album (and an ambitious album so early in a career) based on country and western and Americana themes written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John even before they set foot in America - Taupin stated that the album was heavily influenced by The Band’s album Music From Big Pink.
The album kicks off with “Ballad of a Well-Known Gun”, a twangy/funky lament on a gunslinger, that incorporates the best of Elton’s gospel piano and some smokin’ background vocals from Dusty Springfield.
Originally recorded for his previous album, “Come Down In Time” is a beautiful love song - a conversation between a man and his lover. It leans away from the western theme and even from John’s piano playing, opting instead for harp, strings and acoustic guitar.
“Country Comfort” is a campfire song, one where everyone joins in on the chorus. It highlights Taupin’s vivid imagery and storytelling combined with the unmistakable delivery of those lyrics by John.
“Son Of Your Father” is in the top five favorite songs of Elton John for me. It’s a boogie-woogie, funky cowboy song - if that makes sense. It’s a song about following your legacy, not just in actions, but in characteristics as well.
Further down is another standout, “Talking Old Soldiers”. It’s a haunting song about reflecting on the past and the current life of isolation and growing old. It’s Elton and his piano throughout that drive this song. Don’t overlook the old soldier in our hustling, bustling world.
One of the most epic songs of John’s catalog is “Burn Down the Mission” a track that builds for two minutes before John and the band kick into one of the most epic orchestral rock songs ever. Lyrically, you can hear the tale of an oppressed community being held at bay by the rich and powerful. In steps our narrator to save the day but is later “taken away”. It’s vivid, it’s poetic and it’s still topical.
Tumbleweed Connection is fantastic and should be listened to by anyone who likes music. It’s Elton and Bernie letting loose. And if you’ve got a turntable, I’ll lend you my copy.