Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy

One of my all time favorites. Whatcha listening to this Saturday Night?

Tumbleweed Connection
	Artist: Elton John

Elton John. 1970. Burn Down the Mission. The talent in the team of Bernie Taupin and Elton John is rare indeed. Not many have written and played so many memorable songs. I'm partial to their earlier work myself. So, which singer/song writer teams do you find easy on the ears?

This is very high on the "whaaaaa?" list:

It’s an unlikely pairing, but it’s legit: Elton John sings on “Black Gives Way to Blue,” the title track on Alice in Chains‘ September 29th album. The song is a tribute to the band’s late frontman Layne Staley, who died in 2002 from a lethal speedball, and the collaboration was born when singer-guitarist Jerry Cantrell thought the track could use a little piano.

When a pal suggested Cantrell ring up Sir Elton John, “I remember laughing and saying, ‘Yeah, I’ll get right on that,’ ” Cantrell says in a statement. “But I decided it was worth trying and wrote Elton an e-mail explaining what that song means to us — that it’s a real, raw openhearted song for Layne.” The band sent John the track and were “blown away” when he quickly responded saying he was in. “Elton John is a huge influence on me as a songwriter and having him on that song is an amazing honor for us,” Cantrell adds.

John reveals that he’s been a “an admirer of Jerry Cantrell” for quite some time, and “couldn’t resist” the offer. “It was a great recording session with Alice In Chains for a beautiful song,” John says in a statement.

What's next, Aretha Franklin on the next Stone Temple Pilots disc? Actually, that's not such a bad idea...

Border Song

Happy Birthday Elton John!

Elton John
	Artist: Elton John

Here's a real nice double shot. What you got tonight?

R.I.P. Neil Armstrong.

I've always thought that this song was an underrated gem off of the great Madman Across The Water record.

A few days ago, one of my oldest friends, Denise, did a gut-wrenching story on blues singer Bettye LaVette and her new album The Scene of the Crime. Denise's story is in the latest Crawdaddy and if the heartfelt blues is what rings your bell I want to urge you to listen to Bettye's version of this Elton John-Bernie Taupin song from the 70's and then go read Denise's story.

This one goes out to Donnie Davies.

Elton John, Tiny Dancer