'Fucking Brilliant'

Without beating about the bush...as it were...John Jorgenson's guitar work is fucking brilliant. And of course I agree with Elton on that. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting John twice and seeing him play live on his own and he's something else. Luckily I also got to see him play live with Elton, a treat a very few lucky punters got earlier this year when he filled in for Davey. The guy is class and quality, he's a firm favourite of this blog.

I want to highlight one of his best contributions on the Peachtree Road sessions, the b-side So Sad The Renegade. Peachtree is one of my all time favourite Elton albums, if you want to hear American music in all it's rawest forms on disc as interpreted by Elton and the band, then this a must have. And when I say get it, I mean get all the tracks. Out takes and everything. Because the entire 80 minutes it takes to play the entire batch of songs is a rich collection of rusticness and edginess mixed with some smooth cuts. Elton's vocals on the album is sometimes critiqued over the years, but it's my view that in fact the rusticness I just mentioned earlier is enhanced by his voice having that bit of wear and tear. Much like the landscape the lyrics on the songs portray. On this cut, it's pure rawness. One of the most stripped down songs that doesn't lose any effect or appeal by adding tasteful layers. The most important being JJ on pedal steel. The line he puts down isn't a cliched one, he strikes the perfect feel and tone. Right from the intro, it's interplay with Davey's acoustic guitars is stylish and classy. In some way's it's hard to describe, it's unqiue on an Elton album for sure. The big drums are panoramic and loud. Mirroring the American dream.  The undercurrent of electric and acoustic guitar again hammers that sentiment home. Guy Babylon's strings are equally unobtrusive, they hang in the background enhancing the chorus sublimely. Elton's harmony vocals are a great ploy, not quite gruff but that rustic vibe comes through. 

But the key is JJ's pedal steel. Throughout the song it's the focal point. You take that away and you lose the hook, the key into the song. By introducing it straight from the off, the song is hinged on it. It's exceptional playing, melancholic and uplifting almost simultaneously. Fucking great indeed...

Unfortunately the great mandarins on Youtube have failed to upload a clip if this song. I'm sure you all have it though...