Songs from the West Coast
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
Songs from the West Coast is an album recorded by Elton John and released in 2001. Many critics have said that this album brought John back to his piano-based musical roots. He once again collaborated with long-time lyricist Bernie Taupin. John also brought back former band members including Nigel Olsson. This album marks the first time Elton John and collaborator Bernie Taupin wrote together in person, with the results showing maturity and depth. From the album, "I Want Love" was a single and a Grammy nominated song, and "Original Sin" and "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" also became hits.
Rufus Wainwright sings backing vocals on the track "American Triangle," which is about Matthew Shepard, a college student who was murdered because he was gay.
The restaurant shown on the album's cover is Rae's Restaurant, which is frequently used as a location for many Los Angeles-based film shoots, including 1993's True Romance and 2005's Lords of Dogtown. John's partner David Furnish and his Director of Operations Bob Halley appear on the album cover: Furnish as a cowboy at the bar and Halley as the man getting handcuffed.
The album was dedicated to Matthew Shepard and Oliver Johnstone.
Track listing
- "The Emperor's New Clothes" – 4:28
- "Dark Diamond" – 4:26
- "Look Ma, No Hands" – 4:22
- "American Triangle" – 4:49
- "Original Sin" – 4:49
- "Birds" – 3:51
- "I Want Love" – 4:35
- "The Wasteland" – 4:21
- "Ballad of the Boy in the Red Shoes" – 4:52
- "Love Her Like Me" – 3:58
- "Mansfield" – 4:56
- "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" – 4:39
Music videos
The music video for the song "I Want Love" featured and only had Robert Downey Jr. in it lip-synching.
The music video for the song "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" featured Justin Timberlake portraying a young Elton.
The music video for the song "Original Sin" featured Elizabeth Taylor and Mandy Moore. It also featured John playing the father of Moore's character and the husband of Taylor's character. Moore was the center of the video, who plays a huge Elton John fan from the 1970s who is transported by a dream (a la Cinderella) to one of his concerts. Then at the end she wakes up and Elton's character asks, "Who is this Elton John, anyway?" It also has more of an upbeat dance mix to the music.