- Tumbleweed Connection
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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.
Contents
Track listing
All songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.
Side one
- "Ballad of a Well-Known Gun" – 4:59
- "Come Down in Time" – 3:25
- "Country Comfort" – 5:06
- "Son of Your Father" – 3:48
- "My Father's Gun" – 6:20
Side two
- "Where to Now St. Peter?" – 4:11
- "Love Song" (Lesley Duncan) – 3:41
- "Amoreena" – 5:00
- "Talking Old Soldiers" – 4:06
- "Burn Down the Mission" – 6:22
Bonus tracks (1995 Mercury and 1996 Rocket reissue)
- "Into the Old Man's Shoes" – 4:02
- "Madman Across the Water" [Original version] – 8:51
Bonus tracks (2008 Deluxe Edition)
- "There Goes a Well Known Gun" – 3:27
- alternate take of "Ballad of a Well-Known Gun"
- "Come Down in Time" [Piano demo] – 3:21
- "Country Comfort" [Piano demo] – 4:12
- "Son of Your Father" [Piano demo] – 4:13
- "Talking Old Soldiers" [Piano demo] – 4:13
- "Into the Old Man's Shoes" [Piano demo] – 3:40
- "Sisters of the Cross" – 4:38
- early 1970 demo not available elsewhere
- "Madman Across the Water" [Original version, featuring Mick Ronson on lead guitar] – 8:52
- "Into the Old Man's Shoes" – 4:06
- "My Father's Gun" [BBC session] – 3:43
- "Ballad of a Well-Known Gun" [BBC session] – 4:36
- "Burn Down the Mission" [BBC session] – 6:52
- "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
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r10454/review
- ^ http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=elton+john
- ^ http://www.dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=4260
- ^ http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1231613/a/Tumbleweed+Connection.htm
- ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/eltonjohn/albums/album/231076/review/6068026/tumbleweed_connection
- ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6627021/463_tumbleweed_connection
- ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/231076/review/22665045/tumbleweed_connection
- ^ http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/elton_john/reviews/11798
- ^ http://ca.music.yahoo.com/read/review/12052968
Elton John · Bob Birch · Davey Johnstone · John Mahon · Kim Bullard · Nigel Olsson
Dee Murray · Ray Cooper · James Newton Howard · Caleb Quaye · Charlie Morgan · Guy BabylonStudio albums 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 UnionLive albums 17-11-70 · Here and There · Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra · Elton John One Night Only - The Greatest Hits · Elton 60 - Live at Madison Square GardenSoundtracks Friends · The Lion King · The Muse · Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida · The Road to El Dorado · Gnomeo & JulietCompilations 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 HitsTours 1970 World Tour · Jump Up Tour · Too Low for Zero Tour · European Express Tour · Breaking Hearts Tour · Ice on Fire Tour · Tour De Force · Reg Strikes Back Tour · Sleeping With The Past Tour · The One Tour · Elton John & Ray Cooper 1993/1994 World Tour · Face to Face 1994 · Elton John & Ray Cooper 1995 Tour · Face to Face 1995 · Made in England Tour · Big Picture 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 · 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 · Elton John/Ray Cooper 2009-2011 Tour · Face to Face 2010 · 2010 European Tour · Greatest Hits LiveResidency shows Video releases Videography · The Breaking Hearts Tour · The Night Time Concert · Night and Day Concert · Live in Australia · The Very Best of Elton John · Live in Barcelona · Love Songs · One Night Only: The Greatest Hits Live at Madison Square Garden · Dream Ticket · Elton 60 - Live at Madison Square GardenTribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie TaupinMusicals Related articles Discography · Band · The Union Tour · Awards · Bernie Taupin · Gus Dudgeon · Paul Buckmaster · John Reid · Dick James · Renate Blauel · David Furnish · Kiki Dee · Elton John AIDS Foundation · Watford FC · BluesologyBook ·
Category
Categories:- Elton John albums
- 1971 albums
- Albums produced by Gus Dudgeon
- Universal Deluxe Editions
- Albums conducted by Paul Buckmaster
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