Tumbleweed Connection
Tumbleweed Connection | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by Elton John | ||||
Released | 30 October 1970 January 1971 (US) | |||
Recorded | March 1970 | |||
Studio | Trident, London | |||
Genre |
| |||
Length | 46:56 | |||
Label |
| |||
Producer | Gus Dudgeon | |||
Elton John chronology | ||||
|
Tumbleweed Connection is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John. It was recorded at Trident Studios, London, in March 1970, and released in October 1970 in the UK and January 1971 in the US. It is a concept album based on country and western and Americana themes. All songs are written by John and Bernie Taupin, with the exception of "Love Song" by Lesley Duncan.
In 2012, Tumbleweed Connection was ranked number 458 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The album peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart and number five on the US Billboard 200 chart.[3][4][5] In the US, it was certified gold in March 1971 and platinum in August 1998 by the RIAA.
Background
Co-writer Bernie Taupin said of the album, "Everybody thinks that I was influenced by Americana and by seeing America first hand, but we wrote and recorded the album before we'd even been to the States. It was totally influenced by The Band's album Music From Big Pink and Robbie Robertson's songs. I've always loved Americana, and I loved American Westerns. I've always said that 'El Paso' was the song that made me want to write songs, it was the perfect meshing of melody and storyline, and I thought that here was something that married rhythms and the written word completely." John has remarked, "Lyrically and melodically, that's probably one of our most perfect albums. I don't think there's any song on there that doesn't melodically fit the lyric."[6]
Basic tracks for three of the album's titles, "Come Down in Time", "Country Comfort" and "Burn Down the Mission", were recorded at Trident during the sessions for the previous LP, Elton John, with overdubs completed for Tumbleweed Connection. An early version of "Madman Across the Water", featuring Mick Ronson on electric guitar, was also recorded during the sessions for the album. It was released on several albums and reissues of Tumbleweed Connection, though the track was ultimately re-recorded for the Madman Across the Water album.[7]
Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson appear for the first time together on this album as the rhythm section on "Amoreena". Olsson had played on one track on Empty Sky for John in 1969. It is Murray's first appearance on an Elton John album. In addition to several studio players who also performed on John's previous self-titled second album, several tracks feature backing musicians from the band Hookfoot, who were also his DJM Records label mates. Hookfoot guitarist Caleb Quaye and drummer Roger Pope had also appeared on John's Empty Sky album.
No singles were released from the album in the US by either DJM or John's US distributor, Universal Records, but "Country Comfort" (b/w "Love Song") was released as a single in Australia, New Zealand and Brazil.[8] It peaked at No. 15 in New Zealand,[9] and did not chart in the other two territories it was released in.
Artwork
The wraparound cover photo for the album was taken at Sheffield Park railway station in Sussex, approximately 30 miles (50 km) south of London on the Bluebell Railway. Photographer Ian Digby Ovens[10] captured John (seated to the right in the photo but appearing to the left on the front cover, shown above) and Taupin (standing to the left, on the back cover) in front of the late-nineteenth-century station, to represent the album's rural Americana concept despite the English location. Additional photos were taken from the interior of a train on the line for the album liner notes and libretto.
In August 2020, the Bluebell Railway announced that, to mark the 50th anniversary of the release of the album, it had restored the station to look as it did when the cover photo was taken, giving people an opportunity to re-create the scene in their own photos.[11]
Reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | B−[13] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | (mixed)[15] |
Rolling Stone (deluxe edition) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Village Voice | C+[19] |
Yahoo! Music | (favourable)[20] |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Elton_John_%26_Bernie_Taupin_-_Tumbleweed_Connection%3B_Original_Framed_Platinum_33_1-3_Record._.jpg/220px-Elton_John_%26_Bernie_Taupin_-_Tumbleweed_Connection%3B_Original_Framed_Platinum_33_1-3_Record._.jpg)
The album peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart and number five on the US Billboard 200 chart.[3][4] In the US, it was certified gold in March 1971 and platinum in August 1998 by the RIAA. The album sold very quickly in the US, debuting at number 28 on Billbord's Top LPs,[22] an unusually high debut for a new artist at the time, and reached its peak position in just four weeks.[23]
In 2012, Tumbleweed Connection was ranked number 458 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Critical reception
Reviewing later for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: "Half of the songs don't follow conventional pop song structures; instead, they flow between verses and vague choruses. These experiments are remarkably successful, primarily because Taupin's lyrics are evocative and John's melodic sense is at its best."
Robert Christgau wrote in his 1981 Record Guide: "good melodies and bad Westerns on it. Why do people believe that these latter qualify as songpoems?" (Note: There's an earlier Christgau review of the album, written in 1970 for The Village Voice). Reviewing for Rolling Stone, David Fricke wrote: "1971’s Tumbleweed Connection needs no improvement; it is one of the best country-rock albums ever written by London cowboys."
Robert Hillburn wrote for The Los Angeles Times: "Tumbleweed Connection is that near-perfect album that artists often spend a whole career trying to produce."[24] Dave DiMartino wrote for Yahoo! Music: "A step up from the slightly more overtly commercial Elton John... Tumbleweed is beautifully recorded and filled with very fine songs... Bordering on classic status."
"Burn Down the Mission"
"Burn Down the Mission," the tenth and final track on Tumbleweed Connection, is the most enduring and frequently played number from the album, the only one played by John on his Farewell Tour in 2022–23.[25] It was one of the very few non-singles in the Farewell Tour setlist, being played every night.[26]
Song information
"Burn Down the Mission" is musically driven by the story told by Bernie Taupin's lyrics, as is common in John/Taupin collaborations.
The lyrics themselves, while telling a simple story, are vague enough to be open to interpretation. Ostensibly the story is that of a poor community oppressed by a rich and powerful force, and the narrator, driven by some sort of revelation, has decided to take direct action to remedy the situation. However, his attempt fails and he is "taken away", presumably to meet his fate, and justifies his actions as an attempt to defend his family.
The music reflects this narrative structure by starting with a slow piano introduction and the telling of the hero's situation and his progress towards direct action; the middle section, which is faster, jazzier and brings in full instrumentation, can be read as an interpretation of the actual struggle in which the hero engages. Finally, the struggle has ended and the music returns to its initial understated form, reflecting the eventual defeat of the hero. The song ends with a restatement of the middle section while it fades out.
In the premiere episode of Elvis Costello's show Spectacle, John cited Laura Nyro as an influence on, among other things, the unusual structure and rhythm changes of this song in particular.[27]
This is one of the most musically complicated works of John's career. The key changes four times before returning to the original opening chord sequence at the half-way mark. It has always been quite a fan favorite, and John has frequently performed it live over the last 40 years: [28]
- John's first live album, the WABC radio broadcast 11-17-70, concludes with a version (running 18:10), interpolating Elvis Presley's "My Baby Left Me" and the Beatles' "Get Back"
- The song was a regular feature of the 1974 US and UK tours, with a version from the Royal Performance in London, included in the album Here and There
- Elton's longest and most complex standalone jam of "Burn Down the Mission" (lasting 10:17) was in the Christmas Eve 1974 performance broadcast live on the BBC from Hammersmith Odeon in London, much bootlegged as Ol' Pink Eyes Is Back and Just Like Strange Rain (listen here at timecode 9:43).
- A more conventional rendition was recorded in December 1986 and released on Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Cover versions
- In 1991, the song was covered by Phil Collins for the tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin.
- In 2002, the song was recorded by Toto for their album Through the Looking Glass.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Ballad of a Well-Known Gun" | 4:59 |
2. | "Come Down in Time" | 3:25 |
3. | "Country Comfort" | 5:06 |
4. | "Son of Your Father" | 3:48 |
5. | "My Father's Gun" | 6:20 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
6. | "Where to Now St. Peter?" | 4:11 |
7. | "Love Song" (Lesley Duncan) | 3:41 |
8. | "Amoreena" | 5:00 |
9. | "Talking Old Soldiers" | 4:06 |
10. | "Burn Down the Mission" | 6:21 |
Total length: | 46:56 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
11. | "Into the Old Man's Shoes" | 4:02 |
12. | "Madman Across the Water" (Original version, featuring Mick Ronson) | 8:50 |
Total length: | 59:48 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "There's Goes a Well Known Gun" (Previously unreleased band demo) | 3:27 |
2. | "Come Down in Time" (Piano demo) | 3:39 |
3. | "Country Comfort" (Piano demo) | 4:12 |
4. | "Son of Your Father" (Previously unreleased piano demo) | 4:12 |
5. | "Talking Old Soldiers" (Piano demo) | 4:13 |
6. | "Into the Old Man's Shoes" (Piano demo) | 3:40 |
7. | "Sister of the Cross" (Piano demo) | 4:38 |
8. | "Madman Across the Water" (Original version, featuring Mick Ronson) | 8:50 |
9. | "Into the Old Man's Shoes" | 4:02 |
10. | "My Father's Gun" (BBC session) | 3:43 |
11. | "Ballad of a Well-Known Gun" (BBC session) | 4:36 |
12. | "Burn Down the Mission" (BBC session) | 6:52 |
13. | "Amoreena" (BBC session) | 5:12 |
Total length: | 59:16 |
Personnel
Track numbers refer to CD and digital releases of the album.
- Elton John – lead vocals, acoustic piano (1, 3–6, 8–10), Hammond organ (8), backing vocals (10)
- Brian Dee – Hammond organ (10, 13)
- Caleb Quaye – lead guitar (1, 4, 6, 8), acoustic guitar (1, 3, 5, 6), electric guitar (5)
- Les Thatcher – acoustic guitar (2, 10), 12-string acoustic guitar (3)
- Gordon Huntley – steel guitar (3)
- Lesley Duncan – backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7), acoustic guitar (7)
- Mike Egan – acoustic guitar (10)
- Dave Glover – bass guitar (1, 4–6)
- Herbie Flowers – bass guitar (2, 3, 10)
- Chris Laurence – acoustic bass (2, 10)
- Dee Murray – backing vocals (3, 6), bass guitar (8)
- Roger Pope – drums (1, 4–6), percussion (1)
- Barry Morgan – drums (2, 3, 10)
- Nigel Olsson – backing vocals (3, 6), drums (8)
- Robin Jones – congas (10), tambourine (10)
- Karl Jenkins – oboe (2)
- Skaila Kanga – harp (2)
- Ian Duck – harmonica (3, 4)
- Johnny Van Derek – violin (3)
- Paul Buckmaster – orchestral arrangements and conductor
- Madeline Bell – backing vocals (1, 4, 5)
- Tony Burrows – backing vocals (1, 5)
- Kay Garner – backing vocals (1, 4, 5)
- Tony Hazzard – backing vocals (1, 5)
- Dusty Springfield – backing vocals (1, 5)
- Tammi Hunt – backing vocals (4)
- Heather Wheatman – backing vocals (4)
- Yvonne Wheatman – backing vocals (4)
Production
- Gus Dudgeon – producer
- Robin Geoffrey Cable – engineer
- Gus Skinas – editing
- Ricky Graham – digital transfers
- Greg Penny – surround mix
- Bernie Taupin – lyricist
- David Larkham – art direction, design, cover design, cover artwork, photography
- Barry Wentzell – photography
- Ian Digby-Ovens – photography
- John Tobler – liner notes
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[39] | Gold | 20,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] original release | Gold | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] release of 1993 | Silver | 60,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[42] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ Zimmerman, Kent (2004). Sing My Way Home: Voices of the New American Roots Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 124. ISBN 1617747912. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ^ a b c Glickman, Simon (1998). "Elton John". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 607–609.
- ^ a b "Elton John > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Elton John Billboard 200 chart history", Billboard, retrieved 12 October 2020
- ^ "Allmusic: Tumbleweed Connection : Charts & Awards : Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ John Tobler (1995). Tumbleweed Connection-Elton John. Rocket Records.
- ^ "Mick Ronson sessions". mickronson.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
- ^ "Country Comfort" single, Discogs, retrieved 12 October 2020
- ^ "flavour of new zealand – search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "Album liner notes". albumlinernotes.com.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Bluebell Railway Offers Elton John Fans Chance to Recreate Album Cover". Bluebell Railway. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Tumbleweed Connection". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: J". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 27 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ "Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 20 February 1996. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^ Landau, Jon (18 February 1971). "Tumbleweed Connection". Rolling Stone. New York. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ^ Fricke, David (4 September 2008). "Tumbleweed Connection Deluxe Edition". Rolling Stone. New York. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ^ "Elton John: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Portions of this album guide appeared in The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (Fireside, 2004). Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ^ "Music Reviews". Uncut.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1970). "Consumer Guide (16)". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ [1] Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
- ^ "Billboard". 23 January 1971.
- ^ "Billboard". 13 February 1971.
- ^ "'Tumbleweed Connection' – An Early Favourite Reissued on Vinyl". eltonjohn.com. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ See, for example, the setlist from his final concert July 8, 2023, in Sweden: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2023/tele2-arena-stockholm-sweden-13a7c57d.html
- ^ Peruse: https://www.setlist.fm/search?page=1&query=elton+john+farewell+tour
- ^ "Elvis Costello with Elton John, episode 1". Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ^ Song entry on allmusic.com
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5212". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ "Elton Johnrefname=Billboard 200 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1971" (ASP) (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Elton John Australian Award". 20 February 2023.
- ^ "great britain's million sellers, 1973-74" (PDF). Cash Box. 6 July 1974. p. 8, Part II. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ "British album certifications – Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "American album certifications – Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection". Recording Industry Association of America.
External links
- Tumbleweed Connection at Discogs (list of releases)
- v
- t
- e
- Empty Sky
- Elton John
- Tumbleweed Connection
- Madman Across the Water
- Honky Château
- Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Caribou
- Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
- Rock of the Westies
- Blue Moves
- A Single Man
- Victim of Love
- 21 at 33
- The Fox
- Jump Up!
- Too Low for Zero
- Breaking Hearts
- Ice on Fire
- Leather Jackets
- Reg Strikes Back
- Sleeping with the Past
- The One
- Duets
- Made in England
- The Big Picture
- Songs from the West Coast
- Peachtree Road
- The Captain & the Kid
- The Diving Board
- Wonderful Crazy Night
- Regimental Sgt. Zippo
- The Lockdown Sessions
- Friends
- The Lion King (1994)
- Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida
- The Muse
- The Road to El Dorado
- Gnomeo & Juliet
- Rocketman
- The Lion King (2019)
- Greatest Hits
- Greatest Hits Volume II
- The Thom Bell Sessions
- Lady Samantha
- Greatest Hits Vol. 3
- The Complete Thom Bell Sessions
- To Be Continued
- The Very Best of Elton John
- Rare Masters
- Greatest Hits 1976–1986
- Chartbusters Go Pop
- Classic Elton John
- Love Songs
- Prologue
- Greatest Hits 1970–2002
- Elton John's Christmas Party
- Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits
- Diamonds
- Elton: Jewel Box
- "I've Been Loving You"
- The Thom Bell Sessions
- Remixed
- Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin
- The Union
- Good Morning to the Night
- Revamp & Restoration
- 1970 World Tour
- Rock of the Westies Tour
- Louder Than Concorde Tour
- 1979 tour of the Soviet Union
- 1980 World Tour
- Jump Up Tour
- Too Low for Zero Tour
- European Express Tour
- Breaking Hearts Tour
- Ice on Fire Tour
- Tour De Force
- Sleeping with the Past Tour
- The One Tour
- Face to Face 1994
- Face to Face 1995
- Made in England Tour
- Face to Face 1998
- An Evening with Elton John
- Medusa Tour
- Stately Home Tour
- Face to Face 2001
- Songs from the West Coast Tour
- Face to Face 2002
- A Journey Through Time
- 2003 Tour
- Face to Face 2003
- 2004 Tour
- Peachtree Road Tour
- 2006 European Tour
- The Captain and the Kid Tour
- Rocket Man: Greatest Hits Live
- Face to Face 2009
- Face to Face 2010
- 2010 European Tour
- Greatest Hits Tour
- 40th Anniversary of the Rocket Man
- The Diving Board Tour
- Follow the Yellow Brick Road Tour
- All the Hits Tour
- The Final Curtain Tour
- Wonderful Crazy Night Tour
- Farewell Yellow Brick Road
performances
- The Lion King
- 1994 film
- 2019 film
- 1997 musical
- The Road to El Dorado
- Aida
- Billy Elliot the Musical
- Lestat
- The Devil Wears Prada
- Tammy Faye
- Bernie Taupin
- Elton John Band
- Gus Dudgeon
- Paul Buckmaster
- John Reid
- Ray Williams
- Dick James
- DJM Records
- David Furnish
- Kiki Dee
- Elton John AIDS Foundation
- Watford F.C.
- Bluesology
- Hookfoot
- Woodside, Old Windsor
- Rocket Pictures
- Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras
- Elton John: Me, Myself & I
- The Union
- Elton John: The Classic Years
- Rocketman (film)
- Me
- Elton John: Never Too Late
Category