When Songs from the West Coast appeared in 2001, Elton John made it clear he was finished releasing records just to release records. Though many of his albums from Blue Moves in 1976 to The Big Picture in 1997 generated a hit single or two, what they seemed to lack was consistency – particularly the consistency of his early ‘70s records like Tumbleweed Connection and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
Once he regained his grounding with Songs from the West Coast, Elton followed with the country-tinged Peachtree Road and The Captain and the Kid, his strongest albums in decades. Though they lacked hit singles, they were a gift to music fans eager to hear superstar approach the level of brilliance he achieved in the early ‘70s.
What made Elton so successful in the early ‘70s was not only his high level of quality but also his ability to assimilate a multitude of different styles to create his own form of pop music. Whether he was channeling the Beach Boys in “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” or Gamble and Huff in “Philadelphia Freedom,” Elton was able to take seemingly disparate influences and mold them into his own style.
Though his flamboyance seemed to stand out more than anything in ‘70s, ironically his primary musical influences were earthy American acts like the Band and Leon Russell. His ability to channel those influences into the glam rock of the times was nothing short of extraordinary.
Though many of his rockers like “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” and “The Bitch is Back” fit the glam rock aesthetic, songs like “Honky Cat,” “Boarder Song,” and “Burn Down the Mission” sound like they came straight from the American Heartland. And, in a sense, they did.
Developing his chops playing nightclubs in Tulsa, Oklahoma, pianist Leon Russell moved to Los Angeles to become part of the burgeoning music industry in the 1960s. Finding work as session musician for Phil Spector, Russell eventually found success as songwriter. After composing the 1969 hit “Delta Lady” for Joe Cocker, Russell assembled and directed the band for Cocker’s wildly successful “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” tour in 1970. Filled with soul, gospel, and country influences, Russell’s piano playing caught the attention of a very young Elton John at the time.
Following the “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” tour, Russell went on to release several solo albums and wrote several classics including the perennial “A Song For You” which was later recorded by Ray Charles and most recently Michael Buble.
As the ‘70s faded Russell’s career faded as well. Elton John lamented the artist’s slide in popularity a couple of years ago on Spectacle, a musical program on the Sundance Channel produced by Elton and hosted by Elvis Costello. As he would later explain , Elton was driven to tears listening to a Leon Russell retrospective not long after the broadcast and decided to contact Russell in hopes of collaborating with the forgotten legend.
What resulted was The Union, a continuation of Elton’s new-found focus and a rebirth for Russell.
Calling on T-Bone Burnett to produce the album, Elton and Leon were joined by lyricist Bernie Taupin to write new songs for the album.
The first song they wrote together, “A Dream Come True,” exhibits a bigger gospel influence than anything Elton John has recorded since “Boarder Song (Holy Moses).” The song proved to be a particularly rousing number when the two performed it at homecoming show for Leon in Tulsa last month.
“Gone to Shiloh,” a powerful Civil War ballad, features an amazing vocal cameo by Neil Young. Taupin’s fascination with American history is on full display with references to Sherman and the battlefields in Tennessee.
Other highlights include the great country tune “Jimmie Rodgers Dream” and Leon’s own “If It Wasn’t for Bad.”
The most touching number, however, comes at the very end. After most of the album had been recorded, Elton explained Leon came to him with a new song he had written. “In the Hands of Angels” is a straightforward song of praise and gratitude from Russell to John:
“Well I could have been sick / I could have died / I could have given up and not tried … But there was a brand new start / Suddenly I was taken / To new and faraway places”
After introducing the song in Tulsa, Elton left the stage while Russell performed it alone. When the song concluded Elton emerged onstage again and embraced the long-bearded, cowboy-hat-wearing Russell in one of the most surreal moments of the evening.
After Russell’s departure from stage, Elton made sure the audience understood where the influence behind “Burn Down the Mission” and “Take Me To the Pilot” came from by embellishing the songs with more gospel fire than ever before.
As the evening concluded Elton said to the crowd, “This has been an amazing night for me. Thank you for showing Leon so much love.”
Thank you, Elton, for reminding us forgetful Americans where most of the inspiration comes from.
