Tumbleweed Connection (1970)

Embodying the spirit of the American Wild West, Elton gives us not just one of his most cohesive albums thematically, he gives us one of the best albums of his career. Tumbleweed Connection is a masterclass that paints a vivid landscape of dusty trails, cowboys, and wooden towns. For the first time, Elton earns a No Skip Album award with Tumbleweed Connection.

The record opens with the emphatic Ballad of a Well-Known Gun, setting the stage for a record that blends folk, country, gospel, and rock without a seam showing. The song demands you sing along. This is one of two versions of it, with the second on the Deluxe Album. The alternate, There Goes a Well-Known Gun, really picks up the tempo. With a much faster pace and a little more twang, it takes on a rockabilly feel.

As the album moves into just its second track, Come Down in Time slows the tempo and lures you into a dreamlike state with its piano melodies and emotive vocals. This is one of the greatest songs Elton ever wrote, and it’s been covered countless times, most notably and favorably by Sting. There’s even a seven-minute-plus jazz version released a couple of years ago that’s stunning.

The opening atmosphere returns as Country Comfort wraps you in nostalgia and a twangy brilliance only Elton and Bernie Taupin could pull off. Again, with that seamless country, gospel, and rock blend, Country Comfort is the Western sing-along we all love. The energy doesn’t stop there. Son of Your Father is a real rocker that surprises with its bluesy undertones and shows off Elton’s versatility. The album’s range keeps widening with My Father’s Gun, all energetic guitars and spirited instrumentation building to an enthralling climax. Holding that gospel-and-rock blend, My Father’s Gun stacks gorgeous harmonies on top of it.

One standout, once again one of Elton’s greatest ever, is Where to Now St. Peter? A soul-stirring, upbeat ballad where Elton’s heartfelt delivery shines and captures the song’s spiritual reflection. Vocally, it’s one of his most challenging and impressive. That peak holds as we move toward the end of the album.

Amoreena, once again one of Elton’s best, has one of the most beautiful upbeat piano displays ever put to tape. A timeless song that could, without argument, land on anyone’s desert-island mix. The high Amoreena takes you to gets gently carried back down the mountain by the poignant Talking Old Soldiers. This ballad tells the story of an old, lonely soldier drinking at a bar alone, reminiscing about the war buddies who are now gone. It’s heart-wrenching, and Elton’s powerful vocals are turned up to 11.

Finally, the album ends with the epic Burn Down the Mission. A song that needs no introduction, but there’s a reason it’s a favorite of millions and gets played at nearly every Elton John show. Half the time it’s a ballad, and the other half it’s an anthemic rocker with the most mind-boggling piano playing you’ll ever hear. As the song that truly SOLD me on Elton John, Burn Down the Mission will forever be a paradigm-shifting song for me and for my personal development.

Tumbleweed Connection catches Elton John at the height of his powers, but it hasn’t been without critics. Some argue the heavy Wild West theme gets overbearing and occasionally overshadows the brilliance of the individual tracks. So either an album can be too loose with its themes and cohesiveness, or it can stick too close to them. There’s no winning. So let’s put that nonsense aside and declare this album for what it rightfully is. A masterpiece.

In essence, Elton John’s Tumbleweed Connection is a stunning tribute to the spirit of the Wild West, an exploration of human emotion, and a remarkable stretch of artistic excellence. From start to finish, it transports you to a bygone era while touching the deepest corners of your heart. So saddle up, Cowboys and Cowgirls, and play the hell out of this album.

———————————————————

Highlight Songs:

• Burn Down The Mission

• Amoreena

• Come Down In Time

• Where To Now St. Peter?

———————————————————

Own It, Stream it, Forget about it

Unless my many re-listens through all of Elton’s albums reveal a record I enjoy more than this one, this is his best. It ticks every box. It has a strong, cohesive theme, amazing musicianship, killer vocals, and a roller coaster of emotion. This album has no skips. A prime NSA. Don’t even think about not owning it.

———————————————————

Overall Rating:

5 Stars