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Recorded in the charmed period between the initial success of ELTON JOHN and superstar extravaganzas like GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD, TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION, a loose concept album about the American West, was a strange, sideways move for Elton John and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. A album in the traditional sense, it is best heard as a piece, with songs that pick up and expand on each other's moods and settings. Notice, for example, the progression of characters from the young fighter waving "My Father's Gun," to the retired and forgotten "Talking Old Soldiers," to the protagonist of "Where To Now St. Peter?," shot down by "a sweet young foreign gun" and ready to be judged by his maker.
The mood holds from the sepia-toned LP cover art to John's songwriting, influenced by folk and country music and by The Band's MUSIC FROM BIG PINK. Among the songs it introduced were "Country Comfort," which Rod Stewart covered on GASOLINE ALLEY, and "Come Down In Time," later done by both Judy Collins and Sting. Though the rollicking piano epic "Burn Down The Mission" and "Amoreena" became FM-radio and concert staples, TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION remains the only John studio album without a hit single, a fact that doesn't affect the impact of this excellent country-rock outing.
Lyricist: Bernie Taupin.
Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, organ, keyboards, background vocals); Elton John; Mick Ronson (guitar); Les Thatcher (acoustic guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar, 6-string guitar, 12-string guitar); Johnny VanDerrick (violin); Chris Laurence (acoustic bass, acoustic bass guitar); Sunny, Sue & Sunny, Sunny Leslie, Sue Glover (background vocals); Lesley Duncan (vocals, acoustic guitar, background vocals); Nigel Olsson (vocals, drums, background vocals); Caleb Quaye (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Mike Egan (acoustic guitar); Gordon Huntley (steel guitar); Skaila Kanga (harp); Johnny Van Derek (violin); Ian Duck (harmonica); Karl Jenkins (oboe); Brian Dee (organ); Dee Murray (bass guitar, background vocals); Dave Glover , Herbie Flowers (bass guitar); Roger Pope (drums, percussion); Barry Morgan (drums); Robin Jones (congas, tambourine); Dusty Springfield, Madeline Bell, Tony Burrows, Tony Hazzard, Kay Garner, Tammy Hunt (background vocals).
Photographers: Barrie Wentzell; Barry Wentzell; David Larkham.
Arranger: Paul Buckmaster.Rolling Stone (p.72) - 4.5 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t is one of the best country-rock albums ever written by London cowboys." Rolling Stone (2/18/71, p.49) - "...TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION is simpler than John's last album and next time around I hope he goes all the way and gets down to nothing but the basics. He is one of the few who is good enough not to need anything else..." Q (8/95, pp.143-145) - 3 Stars - Good - "...a slightly eccentric excursion into the imagery of American hicksville..."
Wow. Whoda thunk that Elton could've made a concept album? Yes, this was a left turn in terms of Elton's career at the time, but if you listen to this record and listen to the records after it, you will see that this album colors each and every single album that came during Elton's prime time in the seventies. The unique lyrics; the melodic pop; the big rockers; even the supposed "hickster" sense; it's all here. One could surmise that Elton John simply took the musical formula for "Tumbleweed Connection" and merely applied new concepts and new thoughts to it. But once you listen to this one album of Elton's, you won't want to listen to any other of his albums. It is that good. I wholeheartedly recommend it. Submitted by Galen (Anchorage, AK, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 3 of 3 found this helpful.
The Real Rock Of The West(ies) A neglected classic that seems to have slipped through history's cracked floorboards...despite its multi-platinum status..."Tumbleweed Connection" provides an excellent introduction to Elton John's early music. From the sepia-colored album packaging to the lyrics of nearly all the tracks contained therein, it displays EJ's and Bernie Taupin's fascination with the old west, an era that neither have experienced but have looked back upon with fascination and perhaps a touch of nostalgia. Sometimes writing about an era that one will never feel first hand provides a snapshot of what it would have been like to have observed the late 1800s/early 1900s firsthand; a taste of the path that never could have been traveled. "Tumbleweed" is John's concept piece and definitely stands up to repeated listenings today. One of my personal favorites. Submitted by Will-T (Lawrenceburg IN) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Elton John Fantastic Album. If you like this, try White Mansions, a compilation featuring Waylon Jennings. Submitted by jabe (Dublin, Ireland) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
This One Snuck Up On me Tumbleweed for years was never one of my favorite EJ albums. When I re birthed on Elton a couple of years ago this cd hit me in the face. How could I have overlooked it! Burn Down The Mission, My Fathers Gun, Country Comfort, Amoreena. Down home easy rock with a country flair. My favorite song on the album is the haunting Where To Now St. Peter, one of Elton's best songs. Outstanding album. Submitted by Mark (Concord ca.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Brilliant! I heard this album firstly in 70's. I never forgot these songs. Now, the CD universe gave a chance to buy it. I have no doubt, it,s brilliant ! Submitted by a reviewer (Anchieta, ES, Brazil) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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