The song that saw @eltonjohn collaborate with @jacksonbrowne under a pseudonym.
One man John collaborated with during the early 1970s that fans often forget about due to it being lost under the pile of his other success and the fact he used a pseudonym was Jackson Browne.
It might seem a little strange at first that the sometime Eagles collaborator should work with the Middlesex-born musician.
Still, as they are both cultivators of rock ‘n’ roll in its purest essence, with a concentration on the pioneers of the 1950s and ’60s who inspired them, stylistically, it made sense.
The track the pair converged on is ‘Redneck Friend,’ the first single from his 1973 album “For Everyman.”
It’s a swaggering cut of rock that fused the sounds innovated by the likes of Chuck Berry and Little Richard with the heady essence of Browne’s hometown, Los Angeles.
The song and album were a resounding statement of intent from Browne, comprised of incisive lyrics, masterful music that put his own twist on the rock blueprint, and guest appearances from Eagles leader Glenn Frey and John. ‘Redneck Friend’ is also significant for being the first time David Lindley, a frequent collaborator of Browne’s, appeared on one of his singles.
Fittingly, the lead single, ‘Redneck Friend,’ encapsulated this point, with it featuring Lindley on slide guitar, Frey on vocal harmony, Doug Haywood on bass, and celebrated session drummer Jim Keltner.
Yet, this all-star lineup was only truly complete with Elton John’s presence on the piano, adding an extra dose of star power.
Strangely, though, John was not credited as his legal name. Like so many of his prominent peers, it is thought that this is because he was doing something a touch mischievous at the time.
He is credited on the track with the nostalgic moniker of ‘Rockaday Johnnie,’ a name that seems fitting for the man who wrote the rose-tinted cultural reflection of ‘Crocodile Rock’.
Yet, this was not because of his affinity for the past. Supposedly, it was because he was in the United States without a work permit at the time.
#kzaporg
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