Tumbleweed Connection
In the fall of 1970, we were all introduced to Elton John via top 40 radio and his hit “Your Song” (Three Dog Night recorded the song in March 1970 with Elton’s blessing). When the single hit the airwaves in October, Elton John became an instant star.
I’ll admit I didn’t pay much attention to the rest of his eponymous second album. That all changed in December 1971 when I spent Christmas with my family in southern California. My memory is sketchy but I believe after our traditional Christmas Eve family party at the McBeth’s in Ontario, some of the cousins left for Linda’s apartment (help me out guys, if I have this wrong). It was there that I heard both the second and third Elton John albums.
There was something about Tumbleweed Connection that grabbed me. I think at this point Elton and Bernie Taupin had solidified their songwriting and everything they touched was gold. The musicianship on the album is first rate, and of course Caleb Quaye on guitar is my favorite. The songs speak for themselves; “Burn Down the Mission”, “Amoreena”, “Where to now St. Peter”, and “Country Comfort” stood out to me then and still do now. Later with Terri, we would own literally every Elton John record of the ‘70’s. We saw him in ‘74 at the Oakland Coliseum during the “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” tour, packed like sardines on the floor maybe 20’ from the stage. Still one of my favorite concert experiences.
