Levon (song)
{{short description|1971 song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Levon
| image = Levon by elton john US original 1971 single.png
| alt =
| caption = Side A of original 1971 US single
| type = single
| artist = Elton John
| album = Madman Across the Water
| B-side = Goodbye
| released = 29 November 1971{{sfn|Rosenthal|2001|p=45}}
| recorded = 27 February 1971; Trident Studios
(London, England)
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Symphonic rock
| length = 5:22 (album version)
4:59 (single version)
| writer =
| producer = Gus Dudgeon
| prev_title = Friends
| prev_year = 1971
| next_title = Tiny Dancer
| next_year = 1972
| misc =
{{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|SEgEmTgAEUk|"Levon" by Elton John}}}}
}}
"Levon" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was recorded on 27 February 1971, and was released on John's 1971 album, Madman Across the Water.Madman liner notes. Backing vocals are provided by Tony Burrows.{{Cite web|url=https://bestclassicbands.com/tony-burrows-hits-8-7-18/ |title=Tony Burrows: A Six-Time One-Hit Wonder|first=Vinnie|last=Longobardo|date=14 April 2023}} Paul Buckmaster wrote the orchestral arrangements and conducted the orchestra.
The song reached number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at number six on the Canadian RPM singles chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5315&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=ktadd06e1ptbaqvcck0ddc77m2|title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada|website=collectionscanada.gc.ca|access-date=25 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803213326/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5315&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=ktadd06e1ptbaqvcck0ddc77m2|archive-date=3 August 2017|url-status=dead}}
History
According to Gus Dudgeon, Taupin named the character in the song after the Band's co-founder, drummer and singer Levon Helm. The Band were apparently John and Taupin's favourite group at the time. In 2013, however, Taupin said that the song was unrelated to Helm.{{cite magazine|title=Bernie Taupin on Elton John's New LP: 'It's Kudos All Around'|first=Andy|last=Green|date=26 September 2013|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bernie-taupin-on-elton-johns-new-lp-its-kudos-all-around-20130926|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=17 December 2015}} According to fellow Band member Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm did not like the song, quoting him as saying "Englishmen shouldn't fuck with Americanisms".{{Cite book|last=Robertson|first=Robbie|title=Testimony|publisher=Windmill Books|year=2016|pages=383|language=English}}
The "Alvin Tostig" mentioned in the song (Levon's father) is, according to Taupin, fictional.{{cite web |url=https://www.straightdope.com/21342895/in-the-elton-john-song-levon-who-is-alvin-tostig |title=In the Elton John song 'Levon', who is Alvin Tostig? |date=24 March 2000 |website=The Straight Dope |access-date=10 August 2021}}
The song was omitted from John's 1974 compilation album Greatest Hits{{sfn|Rosenthal|2001|p=108}} but was included in the U.S. edition of Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume II (1977).{{sfn|Rosenthal|2001|pp=154–155}}
John performed the song for his spring 1972 concert. A portion of the live performance appeared in the bootleg recording releases Scope 72 and Apple Pie.{{sfn|Rosenthal|2001|p=58}}
The song's lyrics refer to the character Levon as being born on Christmas, and John's first son Zachary, who was born on December 25, 2010, has Levon as one of his middle names.{{cite web|title=Elton John and David Furnish are dads |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/28/elton.john.baby/index.html |website=CNN.com |access-date=2022-09-05 |date=28 December 2010}}
Reception
Author Elizabeth J. Rosenthal in 2001 labelled "Levon" one of Elton John's signature songs. She criticised the orchestra for almost "jeopardizing the simple grandeur of the melody and Elton's chord progressions."{{sfn|Rosenthal|2001|p=42}}
The song peaked at number 24 on Billboard Hot 100 on the week ending 5 February 1972, more than two months after its single release on 29 November 1971.{{sfn|Rosenthal|2001|p=45}}
Record World called it John's and Taupin's "'Eleanor Rigby,' sort of" with high hit potential.{{cite magazine|title=Hits of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=December 11, 1971|page=1|accessdate=2023-04-09|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/71/RW-1971-12-11.pdf}}
Charts
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1972)
! Peak |
|---|
| align="left"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|location=St Ives, NSW|publisher=Australian Chart Book|year=1993|pages=158–159|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}
| style="text-align:center;"|94 |
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|6|chartid=5315}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|24|artist=Elton John}} |
Certifications
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Levon|type=single|artist=Elton John|relyear=1971|certyear=2024|region=United States|award=Platinum|access-date=December 9, 2024}}
{{certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Personnel
- Elton John – piano, vocals
- Brian Dee – harmonium
- Caleb Quaye – electric guitar
- Brian Odgers – bass guitar
- Barry Morgan – drums
- Paul Buckmaster – orchestral arrangements and conductor
- David Katz – orchestra contractor
Notable covers and performances
"Levon" has been covered by several artists, including Myles Kennedy, Jon Bon Jovi (who covered the song on the tribute album Two Rooms, and says that "Levon" is his favourite song of all time, saying that he looks up to Elton John as his idol){{cite web|url=http://www.islandrecords.com/bonjovi/archives_atoz_j.las|title=Bon Jovi A to Z – John, Elton|date=30 June 2007|publisher=Island Records|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630072735/http://www.islandrecords.com/bonjovi/archives_atoz_j.las|archive-date=30 June 2007}} and Canadian rock singer-songwriter Billy Klippert. Mary McCreary recorded a version of "Levon" on her LP Jezebel, Shelter Records SR-2110 (1974). Phil Lesh and Friends started playing the song in April 2012, shortly after Levon Helm's death.
Since 1971, John regularly performed this song alongside "Tiny Dancer" on his concert tours in various decades.{{Cite web |title=Levon by Elton John Song Statistics {{!}} setlist.fm |url=https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?songid=3d6118b |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=www.setlist.fm}}
References
General
- {{cite book |first=Elizabeth J. |last=Rosenthal |year=2001 |title=His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John |publisher=Watson-Guptill |location=New York City |isbn=0-8230-8893-6 |lccn=2001025909 }}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhH7BOBcI3g Myles Kennedy SiriusXM Octane performance]
{{Elton John songs}}
{{Jon Bon Jovi}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs with music by Elton John
Category:Songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin