20 Country Albums Every Rock Fan Should Listen To

20. Tumbleweed Connection - Elton John

Elton John seems like the polar opposite of country music on first glance. After all, who really wants to hear the sounds of old Nashville guitars coming from the same guy who dresses in sequin suits and talks about going down the golden yellow brick road? Well, just underneath those mega-sized glasses, there's a music fan who's taste goes a lot deeper.

Each a descendent of the old time Western music, both John and lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote a virtual pastiche to the American South on Tumbleweed Connection. Across songs like Ballad of a Well Known Gun and Country Comfort, you can tell that these guys have taken in the stories of the Old West and are trying to capture their fans just like the old music captured them. Make no mistake, this is not really a lifestyle that these English boys could relate to, but rather the reality that they wanted to lead when they eventually grew up.

It's also no surprise that this record became a hit in America first, with some of the songs becoming staples when John played his highly acclaimed shows at the Troubadour before he became a star. Even though it seems strange to have a down home country album from two British gentlemen, this is a glimpse into the classic Elton John right before he hit his creative peak.