Track Listing

1. Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun
2. Come Down In Time
3. Country Comfort
4. Son Of Your Father
5. My Father's Gun
6. Where To Now St. Peter?
7. Love Song
8. Amoreena
9. Talking Old Soldiers
10. Burn Down The Mission
11. Into The Old Man's Shoes
12. Madman Across The Water - Elton John, Gus Dudgeon, Mick Ronson
13. Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun
14. Come Down In Time
15. Country Comfort
16. Son Of Your Father
17. My Father's Gun
18. Where To Now St. Peter?
19. Love Song
20. Amoreena
21. Talking Old Soldiers
22. Burn Down The Mission
23. Into The Old Man's Shoes
24. Madman Across The Water - Elton John, Gus Dudgeon, Mick Ronson
25. Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun
26. Come Down In Time
27. Country Comfort
28. Son Of Your Father
29. My Father's Gun
30. Where To Now St. Peter?
31. Love Song
32. Amoreena
33. Talking Old Soldiers
34. Burn Down The Mission
35. Into The Old Man's Shoes
36. Madman Across The Water - Elton John, Gus Dudgeon, Mick Ronson

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30869 in Music
• Released on: 2004-12-06
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Hybrid SACD, SACD
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 179 minutes

CD Description
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 songsthat pick up and expand on each other's moods and settings.Notice, for example, the progression of characters from theyoung 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 "ComeDown 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.

Customer Reviews

A solid early Elton John album with nary a hit on it
"Tumbleweed Connection" has the dubious distinction of being the only Elton John album from the Seventies that did not offer up a certified "hit" (neither did "Madman Across the Water" if you want to get picky, but "Levon" was always a highly requested song on FM radio). However, the lack of acknowledge hits just speaks in favor of this album, because anybody who listens to Elton John's albums knows full well that his best songs are rarely (if ever) the Top 40 hits.

Half the songs on "Tumbleweed Connection" are 4:59 or longer in life, which means the odds were long that they would ever be played on the radio. Yet theses songs, such as "Country Comfort" and "Burn Down the Mission," stand out as some of the best work by John and lyricist Bernie Taupin during this period. There is something of a "country/western" flair to the album, at least as interpreted by two Englishmen, represented by not only those two songs but "Ballad of a Well Known Gun," "My Father's Gun," and "Talking Old Soldiers."

I think those who were listening to Elton John before he became a star (operationally defined as anything before "Honkey Chateau," always had a preference for these early albums, especially those where Paul Buckmaster was doing the arranging and conducting. Ironically, on many of these songs, such as "Come Down in Time," it is John's voice and not his piano playing that stands out. Of course, this is before the dazzling costumes and bizarre collection of eyeglasses, which made Elton John the Liberace of pop rock. This is way back almost to the beginning, when it was all about the music. By the time "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" came out, those days were clearly over.

The Classic 1970 Album!
Although this album had no hit single, it represents one of Elton John and Bernie Taupin's strongest albums. Filled with imagery and a strong feeling for the old west, the songs bounce and rides along like an old western movie. Impeccably recorded, this SACD version (DSD) sounds crisp and clear with a strong bass and drum. Oft-covered songs like "Country Comfort" and "Burn Down The Mission" have been long favored FM songs. This is another Buckmaster/Dudgeon production and veterans Nigel Olsson and Dee Murray also play here. Dusty Springfield and Kate Taylor (James Taylor's sister) make cameo backing vocals as well. The inclusion of the original version of "Madman Across The Water" is a great addition. Nothing beats Elton John in Surround Sound!

Elton's best
I always prefered Elton's earlier LP's. Part of my formative years I suppose and they have always held fond memories for me. It is an album with a country feel.

Reading the notes which came with the disc I noticed that Elton himself thought that this was one of his best with every song working well. I agree. There isn't a bad track on it. No singles were released from it and yet it has still sold over a million copies world-wide.

The bonus track, mad-man across the water, fits in well with the stlye of the rest of the songs.

I really like this album even after nearly 40 years. It still sounds fresh and the songs have not aged.

Highly recommended.