Tumbleweed Connection

This album is an absolute classic and certainly one of Elton's best recordings. Every song is greatness and showcases Elton's musical and song writing talents capped with Bernie's poetic lyrics. This one is hands down my all time favorite with Yellow Brick Road being a very close second. What I like about this record is that two British minds capture the heart and soul of "Americana" culture and vibe. This was an era of music that we will never ever see the likes of again. Analog recording was so warm, smooth and buttery and the true essence of everything that epitomized this era is beautifully displayed here on this chunk of vinyl. Elton John is a pure artist and his greatness had stood the test of time. Tumbleweed Connection has such a warm and cozy vibe mixed with rock, gospel, country, folk and that absolute genius that we have come to know in Elton's music. "Come Down in Time" and "Where to Now St. Peter" are two of my personal favorites but every selection on this album is worth playing until the grooves wear right through the record. One last thing to mention here is that this recording is a perfect example of a song cycle that takes the listener down a musical journey that has a definite beginning and ending. All of these songs fit nicely into that cycle that truly creates a "Tumbleweed Connection".

Concept album...really my favorite.

On time and no damage to CD

1971 was an odd time for Elton to jump in the saddle, genre-wise. He had just established himself as an international pop star with his U.S. debut, "Elton John," the year before. He was identified with the folky-rock singer-songwriter movement (James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson etc.) that was the Next Big Thing after the Beatles.So what does he do? He records an album defined in its cover and in most of its key songs with the American west of a century before, not country music so much as Western outlaw mythmaking.All this might be just thought peculiar if the result wasn't one of his greatest albums, maybe his greatest. Not best-selling, but best-loved, at least by those who have taken the time and expense to look deeper into his catalog than just the hits.If you enjoy Elton's hits, particularly from his classic years (1970-1976) and want to buy an album which reflects them, don't buy this. Better to buy an album like "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player" or "Honky Chateau," which have some of those hits mixed with other good tracks and a couple of duffers. "Tumbleweed" is different in that every song is good, bar none, but none are ones you will recognize readily with the possible exception of "Burn Down The Mission." Frankly, that makes "Tumbleweed" more enjoyable to listen to: "Amoreena," a rousing blues shuffle, doesn't suffer from the same radio overplay problem that "Bennie And The Jets" (from "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road") has, but it's every bit as passionate and enjoyable when you listen to it. The secret is to listen to "Tumbleweed" more than once. Like all good pop music, this album benefits from repeat listens. It will grow on you, and in a good non-"Macarena" way.The cowboy theme doesn't come off as forced or phony, either. Elton's lyricist Bernie Taupin was every bit as British as his buddy, but he had a real attachment to the time and the feel of the Wild West, particularly as it came across in movies he watched when he was a kid. He filters this into a number of the songs, like the opener "Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun" and "Country Comfort," a sly charmer. "Talking Old Soldiers" and "My Father's Gun" seem to take on the legacy of the American Civil War from two different viewpoints, and the first of these songs is particularly compelling in the lyrical department, though Taupin's lyrics in "Tumbleweed" are sharp across the board.Even the non-Western songs take on a Western feeling by way of association. "Come Down In Time," about loneliness and unrequited love, could be set in any period, but lines like "There are women/Some hold you tight/And some leave you counting/The stars in the night" makes me think of cowboys lying by a campfire. "Love Song" is the one obvious misfit, since it's not even remotely identifiable in that way; that's a very early '70s-sounding song with music and lyrics by Lesley Duncan, Elvis's singing partner for just this song. But "Love Song" is a solid charmer with intriguing production not as simple as it seems. It's affecting seeing Elton share his spotlight with an obscure singer who makes the most of her opportunity.While they are no real rockers on "Tumbleweed," only "Love Song" and "Talking Old Soldiers" are slow ballads, with the rest moving at least a little, some a lot. "Burn Down The Mission" winds the album down in an exciting, swirling way that is most characteristic of Elton as he would become known commercially. Two bonus tracks are included with the CD, one being "Into The Old Man's Shoes," very much in tune with "Tumbleweed's" themes and on par with the rest quality-wise; the other being an alternate treatment of "Madman Across The Water," title track from Elton's next studio album, with some nifty guitar work from the late Mick Ronson. I don't know why they didn't add this track to the "Madman" reissue (which has no bonus tracks), but just by virtue of being different genre-wise, it helps demonstrate just how unique and gemlike the rest of "Tumbleweed" is to Elton's canon.

New songs to me, sort of a country edge.

I like the album. I like to listen to music

Many people consider this Elton's best record. But why? It doesn't have hit singles, & the most famous song "Country Comfort" sounds like a lame Eagles or John Denver-type tune. First off, early albums by major artists are fascinating because they owe so much to outside influences. The music & lyrics of The Band are the primary influence. For the most part that is good, though occasionally, Bernie Taupin strains to throw in as many references to the Civil War and guns as possible. The gospel soul of Ray Charles & Leon Russell are another big influence on the singing and the piano-playing.I find the first 4 songs good, but way too derivative to the above-mentioned. "My Father's Gun" starts to get interesting. Still indebted to Robbie Robertson, but somehow different. Then "Where to now St. Peter?" is one of the album's best songs. It starts quiet, throws in weird electric guitar, changes tempo & takes you on a wild ride. "Love Song" is the closest Elton will ever come to sounding like Crosby, Stills & Nash. There's a vaguely "Gunnevere" haunting feeling to it & nice harmonies. Next we get the stone-cold classic "Amoreena". Funky piano, beautiful chord changes. This deserves to be among Elton's ten best tunes ever (along w/ "Levon", "Grey Seal"). Skip the good but nondescript "Talking Old Soldiers" & we're back to the top ten of John/Taupin songwriting: "Burn Down the Mission". This song is so good it has a pre-chorus hook & a chorus hook. The lyrics owe completely to "King Harvest" & "Unfaithful Servant" by The Band, but it works--totally.The added bonus track version of "Madman Across the Water" w/ Mick Ronson is a revelation. Imagine if Elton John had continued in this vein? The guitar is loud & Jeff Beck-like, & the song has a swirling Traffic vibe to it.I think I prefer this to the original(which is pretty damn good itself). It's almost trippy, which is a word I'd never connect to EJ.Lastly, try singing along with this album. For the most part it's impossible--unless you're Paul McCartney or Freddie Mercury, or maybe John Lennon. That's how wide Elton's vocal range was. That's how powerful & fully in command of his voice he was at this stage. He goes from guttural growls to a raspy tenor, to high screams, then an even higher falsetto. And sometimes all in the space of a single line. If there was a time machine, I'd love to go back to the Troubadour in Los Angeles in 1970. During the course of a week, Elton went from a "Who is he?" nobody, to "Holy sh--!" shooting star. No glitter, no giant glasses or feathers. Just a man w/ a piano & an amazing voice.Like Rod Stewart, if you stick to EJ's output from before 1975, you'll find quite a few gems. Tumbleweed Connection is the one that really fits in w/ the rootsy Americana of the time, as espoused by Dylan, Neil Young, Van Morrison, and of course, The Band.

the delivery, as per usual, was professional and timelythe album is high quality and great

I recently delved into the back catalog of Elton John; specifically '70-73: Tumbleweed Connection, Madman Across the Water and Honky Chateau. I love that period of music, and Elton Johns music and writing was fantastic. If you're like me, a little slow coming to Elton John, and love Tumbleweed Connection try the other 2 albums as well. I can listen to this album (and the others) from beginning to end with a smile.

Die bestellte CD wurde pünktlich und ohne Beschädigung geliefert. Elton John ist einer meiner Lieblingskünstler und die CD ist super! Ich bin vollkommen zufrieden😁👍

¿Qué puede ofrecer un álbum de Elton John de la década de los 70's que no colocó sencillos en las listas de popularidad? El álbum como un todo. Una especie de álbum conceptual con canciones evocativas del oeste norteamericano durante su etapa de conquista, nos ofrece uno de los mejores álbumes de Elton John en su carrera.

Se trata del tercer álbum de 1970.Tiene temas muy similares del disco predecesor pero en general lo encuentro bastante flojo.Prefiero claramente el segundo disco homónimo; pero tiene temas buenos que sospecho que quedarían fuera de la edición del segundo.

É um excelente álbum, porém é mais um caso de disco que compro na Amazon e recebo empenado.