{"id":3186,"date":"2010-11-08T04:53:49","date_gmt":"2010-11-08T04:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/?p=3186"},"modified":"2010-11-09T14:36:44","modified_gmt":"2010-11-09T14:36:44","slug":"talking-old-musicians-leon-russell-and-elton-john","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/2010-11\/talking-old-musicians-leon-russell-and-elton-john\/","title":{"rendered":"Talking Old Musicians–Leon Russell and Elton John"},"content":{"rendered":"

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From 1970 to 1972 we spent a raft of time reconnoitering the recordings of Leon Russell and Elton John.\u00a0\u00a0 During that time, Russell (who prior thereto had mostly been a keyboard session man) dominated record charts with his album “Carney” and marauded the musical midway with hit singles such as Tight Rope <\/em>and Masquerade<\/em>.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Elton (a big fun of Russell’s) was nearing the apex of his career, releasing signature albums such as “Tumbleweed Connection,” “Honky Chateau,” and “Madman Across the Water” (which included the critically and commercially applauded Levon <\/em>and Tiny Dancer). <\/em><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, both musicians would shortly thereafter falter creatively.\u00a0 Russell would have a minor hit with the likable Lady Blue<\/em> in 1975, and Elton had a few more good creative years that would include the release of his masterpiece, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”\u00a0 Neither man would hit those high water marks again creatively, though Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin would continue to intermittently pen wondrous songs.<\/p>\n

But lo and behold, after all the intervening years between then and now, Elton has managed to get together with Leon and record a new record, entitled “The Union,” produced by T-Bone Burnett.\u00a0 We suspect this record will sell handsomely in this nostalgic, boomer-engorged era.\u00a0 We hope the sales will help Leon financially and reinvigorate him creatively, and result in the public seeking out both his and Elton’s earlier creative zeniths. After listening to “The Union,” however, (and recalling the admonitions of our parents: “if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all”) instead of reviewing their new joint venture, we give you below some of the earlier meisterworks of these musicians.\u00a0 And to be fair, way below is a cut off the new album and a video from John explaining how the new record came about.<\/p>\n

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Leon Russell–<\/strong>Tight Rope<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

In case you have managed to miss it, check out the the off-kilter miasma of the music and vocals in Tight Rope<\/em>, while Russell provides his\u00a0 life-lesson.<\/p>\n

Cautionary verse:<\/p>\n

“I’m up on the tightwire
\nflanked by life in the funeral pire
\nputting on a show
\nfor you to see.”<\/p>\n[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/01-Tight-Rope.mp3|titles=01 Tight Rope]\n

Leon Russell–<\/strong>Song for You<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This song was a megahit for The Carpenters, but we prefer Russell’s unvarnished and unique delivery.<\/p>\n[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/08-A-Song-For-You.mp3|titles=08 A Song For You]\n

Leon Russell–<\/strong>Shoot Out the Plantation<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

And just to give you a glimpse as to why Elton so highly regarded Russell as a musician, songwriter and vocalist, check out his rocker, Shoot Out at the Plantation<\/em><\/p>\n[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/02-Shootout-At-The-Plantation.mp3|titles=02 Shootout At The Plantation]\n

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Elton John–<\/strong>Amoreena<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

“Tumbleweed Connection” was Elton’s and lyricist, Bernie Taupin’s, fine homage to American music and country-fied life.\u00a0\u00a0 We also hear Elton’s early tip-of-the-hat to Russell’s piano playing in the intro and throughout this song.<\/p>\n

Taupin was on his game on Tumbleweed Connection, including in this song.<\/p>\n

“And she dreams of crystal streams
\nOf days gone by when we would lean
\nLaughing fit to burst upon each other”<\/p>\n[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/08-Amoreena.mp3|titles=08 Amoreena]\n

Elton John–Come Down in Time<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This ballad has a perfect closing couplet:<\/p>\n

“There are women and women and some hold you tight
\nWhile some leave you counting the stars in the night”<\/p>\n[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/02-Come-Down-In-Time.mp3|titles=02 Come Down In Time]\n

Elton John–Talking Old Soldiers<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Another affecting song by Elton, with a well-wrought stanza (or four) by Taupin:<\/p>\n

“I know what they’re saying son
\nThere goes old man Joe again
\nWell I may be mad at that I’ve seen enough
\nTo make a man go out his brains
\nWell do they know what it’s like
\nTo have a graveyard as a friend
\n`Cause that’s where they are boy, all of them
\nDon’t seem likely I’ll get friends like that again”<\/p>\n[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/09-Talking-Old-Soldiers.mp3|titles=09 Talking Old Soldiers]\n

Below is one of the better songs off the new album.\u00a0 Is that Dumbledore or Gandalf on the right?<\/p>\n