Elton John - Tumbleweed Connection (Dlx)
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Free Music Notes for Tumbleweed Connection (Dlx)
Free Music Review: Tumbleweed Deluxe!
Hit: 5 Stars
Another remaster,another addition to Universal's very successful "Deluxe Edition" series.Some of which have been excellent value.We have already seen "Captain Fantastic" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" given very lavish deluxe treatment.According to the extensive essay by John Tobler contained within the booklet of this double cd reissue of one of Sir Elton's career defining early 70's albums for DJM records,it has been released(along with his self titled second album)to commemerate 40 years of recording.And what a wealth of material it contains.It's not so much how good the album sounds,it's all the extra material contained on the second disc,most of which is previously unreleased,that make these new deluxe editions a must have for any fan of Mr.John!
It's not the first remaster of course.Almost all his classic 70's back catalogue was first given a clean up in 1995 by the late Gus Dudgeon,Elton's longtime producer and collaborator.The remainder of the 70's albums and most of the 80's and 90's were finished by 2003.
And for those us who were quick enough to snap them up,six of his classic 70's albums were reissued in Hybrid SACD 5.1 by Universal America's excellent "Chronicles" series a few years back.If you have an SACD player,they are pretty nice sounding surround remixes though the Stereo layer,I believe,is the 1995 remaster(track down the deluxe edition of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and you'll understand what I'm talking about).
So onto the 2008 clean up.The albums themselves sound like they were recorded yesterday,very nice indeed.Universal,along with Sony use single bit technology(DSD or direct steam digital)that they created for archiving all their aging analogue back catalogue,so any remasters they have released since 2001 sound as close to the original master as possible.
The bonus tracks that were on the 1995 remasters are included on the second disc along with almost all of the album in demo form or alternate versions and some previously unreleased live radio performances.Worth the price of admission for the second disc alone.
I hope that all his classic albums get the same treatment as each one passes the big 40 anniversary.
Free Music Review: One of the Best Records of the 20th Century
Hit: 5 Stars
I can't imagine anyone who enjoys the music of Elton John on any level not already owning Tumbleweed Connection in some form. Not only is this the best record EJ ever made, it is one of the finest records of the 20th century! So the only thing that could possibly be keeping any fan from getting this Deluxe Edition is not knowing whether the "improved" sound of the remaster and the bonus disc are worth the twenty dollars or so that will have to be shelled out. After listening to both discs many times, my opinion is that it will be one of the best twenty-dollar purchases you've ever made.
Since most fans know Tumbleweed Connection very well, I don't need to spend a lot of time commenting on the original album except to note that it is one of those rare albums on which there is not a single weak song. My introduction to the album came back in 1971 through radio play of Come Down In Time and Love Song, both of which I still favor. But I can listen repeatedly and tirelessly to the entire album and remain amazed every time I hear it how ground-breaking it sounded when first issued and how great it still sounds today.
It is the quality of the bonus disc which should tip the balance in favor of purchase for any fan still wavering. As with the original, I like it all. But I do have my favorites. Those are: An excellent countrified rendition of Ballad of a Well-Known Gun (called There Goes A Well-Known Gun on the demo version); a stripped-down take on Come Down In Time; a hard-charging rendition of Son of Your Father; and the magnificent original "long" version of Madman Across the Water. Please note that many of the cuts on the bonus disc have an "unplugged" feeling to them due to their status as piano demos, but that gives you all the more reason to buy this.
Tumbleweed Connection Deluxe Edition is handsomely packaged in double gate-fold style and comes with an informative booklet that features the lyrics of all songs on the original release, commentary about the album, pictures, and all pertinent song information. If you were allowed to purchase only one Elton John album, Tumbleweed Connection is about as close to perfect as you'll find.
Free Music Review: One of Sir Elton's finest albums gets even better with demo tracks
Hit: 5 Stars
OK, if you liked the sound of the previous remaster, you'll probably like the first disc of this set. If not, you should keep your current CD version if you decide to buy this because the last remaster sounds very similar to this one. The duo's third album (and one which allowed Bernie Taupin to explore his obsession with the American old west in detail)features a strong set of music and lyrics. Interestingly, many people thought that Bernie and Elton had been to America before this album and that his was the result when, in fact, Bernie had been inspired to create this after listening to The Band's "Music from Big Pink" and numerous C&W songs such as Marty Robbins' classic tune about "El Paso" (Robbins' signature song and which is clearly echoed on one of the tracks not used for the first album)one of the earliest tunes that Taupin remembers hearing and liking.
The real reason you're probably going to get this is the second disc and if you're a fan of Sir Elton, you'll probably like it. Alot. We get a deluxe booklet (basically the lyrics plus some new info in the essay), the packaging is like the other deluxe editions--a fold out digipak with a plastic cover that slides over it.
The second disc includes six demos for the album all of which sound pretty good one of which was NOT recorded for the final album ("Sisters of the Cross"). We also get four BBC sessions all previously unreleased which include "My Father's Gun", "Ballad of a Well Known Gun", "Burn Down the Mission" and "Amoreena" none of which appear in demo form here.
Elton and Bernie Taupin have suggested that this is one of their finest albums. They're right. This deluxe edition allows you to listen in as Elton and Bernie created "Tumbleweed Connection". Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: Elton's "Tumbleweed" Get Deluxe Treatment
Hit: 5 Stars
Inspired by The Band's Music from Big Pink and feturing lyricist Bernie Taupin's Great Western imagery,Elton John's "Tumbleweed Connection" is widely regarded as one of his finest albums and for good reason.Though it did not have a big hit single,it contains many classic songs including "Country Comfort"(later covered by Rod Stewart and Juice Newton,of all people),"Burn Down The Mission","Come Down In Time","Amoreena" and others as well.This Deluxe Edition contains a sepia-toned 28-booklet feturing elegant photos and song lyrics,a stunning 2008 remaster of the original album done by Giovanni Scatola and Tony Cousins at Metropolis Mastering,London which surpasses all the previous masters,and a second disc of 9 previously unreleased demos and live sessions of the "Tumbleweed" tracks plus the original version of "Madman Across The Water",the B-side "Into The Old Man's Shoes" (with its piano demo also included)and the never-before-released "Sisters Of The Cross".All which make this an essential purchase for Elton John fans.Free Music Review: Sublime, artful, tasty, masterful.
Hit: 5 Stars
I have the SACD version of this disc - and it sounds fantastic. If you have a surround sound stereo and the ability to play SACD discs, I highly recommend getting the SACD version of this album.
In terms of the music itself, I enjoy this album more every time I listen to it. The fact that it didn't have a "commercial hit" song makes it even better, because the songs were never beaten to death on the radio. The songs are sublime, artful, tasty, and masterfully played and recorded. A perfect example of music created as art, rather than music created for commercial purposes.
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