Tumbleweed Connection (Dlx) [Original recording remastered]

Elton John | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 3, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B00108YG2Y
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,718 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

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

Disc: 2

1. There Goes a Well-Known Gun [#][*]

2. Come Down in Time [Piano Demo][#][*]

3. Country Comfort [Piano Demo][#][*]

4. Son of Your Father [#][*][Version]

5. Talking Old Soldiers [Piano Demo][#][*]

6. Into the Old Man's Shoes [Piano Demo][#][*]

7. Sisters of the Cross [Piano Demo][#][*]

8. Madman Across the Water [Original Version][*]

9. Into the Old Man's Shoes [*]

10. My Father's Gun [BBC Session][*]

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

2008 digitally remastered deluxe two CD edition of Elton's hit album featuring a bonus CD containing 13 additional tracks including previously unreleased cuts, demos and more. Originally released in 1971, Tumbleweed Connection featured EJ classics like 'Burn Down The Mission', 'Love Song' and 'Country Comfort'. This deluxe edition features piano demos of many of the album's tracks plus BBC sessions and more. 23 tracks total. Universal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Sir Elton's finest albums gets even better with demo tracks, June 4, 2008

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tumbleweed Connection (Dlx) (Audio CD)

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.

33 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What could have been......, June 8, 2008

By 

M. Perry - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tumbleweed Connection (Dlx) (Audio CD)

For starters, I have every single Elton John album ever made, (with the exception of Victim of Love). I have virtually every B side that I know exists and have mulitple sources of other unreleased material, studio and live. Depending on the day of the week you ask me, Tumbleweed Connection is probably my second favorite Elton release behind Captain Fantastic.

To be clear, my mediocre rating has absolutely nothing to do with the original record. If you have never heard Tumbleweed before, purchase this right away. It is Elton and Bernie at the top of their early game.

While there is much to cheer on this release, my mediocre review is solely predicated on what is not here. For some reason, a trend is developing on re-releases, where the original album is placed on one disc with no additional material, and the second disc is jammed with the extras. It's as if the belief of a few purists that the original release should not be tampered with has permeated the masses. I, for one, just don't understand it.

If I am repurchasing an album I already own, I want as much unreleased material on BOTH discs. If I only want to hear the original album, I'll either GO PLAY THE ORIGINAL ALBUM, or simply hit the stop button once Burn Down the Mission has ended. It's not that hard...

Now, if this was a case of what we have here being the total wealth of unreleased material, then obviously there wouldn't be a problem with formatting the CD this way. But I know there is A LOT more material, because I've already heard it.

I have heard perfectly clean demo versions of Amoreena, Burn Down the Mission, Where To Now St. Peter, and worst of all, a criminally unreleased version of a beautiful song titled Rolling Western Union that was recorded in this time period. Where are these tracks, among others?

O.K. Enough ranting. Let's get to what's great on here. The first song on the bonus disc is worth the price of admission all on its' own. It is an alternate take on Ballad of a Well Known Gun in a more countrified rock version. And it is absolutely gorgeous.

This track is followed by some clean and clear demo versions of about half the album tracks, including a very nice unreleased song I've never heard before, Sisters of the Cross.

Some alternate live BBC versions end the album. The first is a fantastic, piano only version of My Father's Gun, followed by an another great version of Ballad.

The last two songs are a treasure of immeasurable value. They are culled from the same session that ends the other re-released "Elton John" album, (a BBC Sounds of the Seventies session). Although the rather hapharzard and incomplete liner notes make no mention of it, we are listening to the Elton, Nigel and Dee trio on their mini-tour, months before their U.S. sessions that produced the 11-17-70 album. The arrangements and playing style are almost exactly the same and it is absolutely wonderful to hear the slightly different takes of these songs. I would give an eye tooth to have those full sessions released on disc. (Who know, maybe they can remedy that with a deluxe edition of 11-17-70).

Overall, there was and is no chance of any diehard Elton fan not purchasing this album and loving what they hear. There is a treasure trove of unreleased material on here that is absolutely wonderful. My only issue is this; if you are going to go to the effort of re-releasing an album, take time and get it right. I understand that there isn't enough room on two discs to give the fans every second of unreleased material. But when there is an easy opportunity to give them more, take it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elton's "Tumbleweed" Get Deluxe Treatment, June 8, 2008

By 

B. J O'Connor "noonions" (Holmdel,NJ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tumbleweed Connection (Dlx) (Audio CD)

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.