Tumbleweed Connection

This article is about the album by Elton John. For the musical of the same name, see Tumbleweed Connection (musical).

Tumbleweed Connection
Studio album by Elton John
Released	30 October 1970
Recorded	March 1970 Trident Studios (London, England)
Genre	Soft rock, country rock, Americana, rock and roll
Length	46:56
Label	DJM (UK) Uni (US)
Producer	Gus Dudgeon
Elton John chronology
Elton John (1970) Tumbleweed Connection (1970) Friends (1971)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	(B-) [2]
The Daily Vault	(A) [3]
Q	[4]
Rolling Stone	1970 [5] (2003) [6] (2008) [7]
Uncut	[8]
Yahoo! Music	(favourable) [9]

Tumbleweed Connection is the third album by English international recording artist Elton John. It is a concept album based on the Country and Western/Americana themes. All songs are written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John with the exception of "Love Song" by Lesley Duncan. It was recorded at Trident Studios, London, England in March 1970 and released in October 1970. It peaked at # 2 on the UK Album chart and # 5 on the US Billboard Pop chart. It was certified Gold on 3/22/1971 and Platinum on 8/26/1998 by the R.I.A.A.

In 2003, the album was ranked #463 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. 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. This album marks Dee Murray's first appearance on an Elton John studio album.

In 1975, the movie Dog Day Afternoon featured "Amoreena" in the opening sequence. In 1998, a bootleg CD was released called Tumbleweed Collection. This was a collection of piano demos and live tracks.

No singles were released from the album, though one of the songs recorded during the sessions, "Into The Old Man's Shoes" was released as a b-side for at least one single issue of "Your Song." 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.

Track listing

All songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.

Side one

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

Side two

1. "Where to Now St. Peter?" – 4:11
2. "Love Song" (Lesley Duncan) – 3:41
3. "Amoreena" – 5:00
4. "Talking Old Soldiers" – 4:06
5. "Burn Down the Mission" – 6:22

Bonus tracks (1995 Mercury and 1996 Rocket reissue)

1. "Into the Old Man's Shoes" – 4:02
2. "Madman Across the Water" [Original version] – 8:51

Bonus tracks (2008 Deluxe Edition)

1. "There Goes a Well Known Gun" – 3:27
   • alternate take of "Ballad of a Well-Known Gun"
2. "Come Down in Time" [Piano demo] – 3:21
3. "Country Comfort" [Piano demo] – 4:12
4. "Son of Your Father" [Piano demo] – 4:13
5. "Talking Old Soldiers" [Piano demo] – 4:13
6. "Into the Old Man's Shoes" [Piano demo] – 3:40
7. "Sisters of the Cross" – 4:38
   • early 1970 demo not available elsewhere
8. "Madman Across the Water" [Original version, featuring Mick Ronson on lead guitar] – 8:52
9. "Into the Old Man's Shoes" – 4:06
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

Personnel

• Elton John – piano, organ, keyboards, vocals
• Madeline Bell – background vocals
• Paul Buckmaster – conductor
• Caleb Quaye – guitars
• Roger Pope – drums
• Dee Murray – bass, backing vocals
• Tammi Hunt - background vocals
• Nigel Olsson – drums, backing vocals
• Dave Glover – bass, backing vocals
• Barry Morgan – drums
• Tony Burrows – background vocals
• Brian Dee – organ
• Ian Duck – harmonica
• Lesley Duncan – acoustic guitar, vocals, background vocals
• Mike Egan – acoustic guitar
• Herbie Flowers – bass
• Kay Garner – background vocals
• Dusty Springfield - background vocals

Production

• Gus Dudgeon – producer
• Robin Geoffrey Cable – engineer
• Gus Skinas – editing
• Ricky Graham – digital transfers
• Greg Penny – surround mix
• Bernie Taupin – lyricist
• Paul Buckmaster – arranger
• David Larkham – art direction, design, cover design, artwork
• David Larkham, Barry Wentzell – photography
• John Tobler – liner notes

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1971	UK Albums Chart	2
1971	Billboard US Pop Albums	5

References

1. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r10454/review
2. ^ http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=elton+john
3. ^ http://www.dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=4260
4. ^ http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1231613/a/Tumbleweed+Connection.htm
5. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/eltonjohn/albums/album/231076/review/6068026/tumbleweed_connection
6. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6627021/463_tumbleweed_connection
7. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/231076/review/22665045/tumbleweed_connection
8. ^ http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/elton_john/reviews/11798
9. ^ http://ca.music.yahoo.com/read/review/12052968