Levon (song)

"Levon"
"Levon"
Single by Elton John
from the album Madman Across the Water
B-side	"Goodbye"
Released	29 November 1971
Recorded	27 February 1971; Trident Studios; (London, England)
Genre	Symphonic rock
Length	5:22 (album version)
Label	Uni (US); DJM (UK)
Songwriter(s)	Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Producer(s)	Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
Audio sample
	Menu 0:00 "Levon" file; help;

"Levon" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin and recorded by Elton John. He recorded it on 27 February 1971, and released it on his fourth album, Madman Across the Water.^[1] Backing vocals are provided by Tony Burrows.^[2] Paul Buckmaster wrote the orchestral arrangements and directed the orchestra.

The song reached number 24 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at number six on the Canadian RPM singles chart.^[3]

History[]

According to Gus Dudgeon, Taupin was inspired by The Band's co-founder, drummer and singer Levon Helm to name the song after him. The Band was apparently John and Taupin's favourite group at the time. In 2013, however, Taupin said that the song is unrelated to Helm.^[4]

The "Alvin Tostig" mentioned in the song (Levon's father) is, according to Taupin, merely fictional.^[5]

Certifications[]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[6]	Gold	500,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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 claims that "Levon" is his favorite song of all time, saying that he looks up to Elton John as his idol)^[7] and Canadian rock singer-songwriter Billy Klippert. Mary McCreary recorded a version of "Levon" on her highly regarded LP Jezebel, Shelter Records SR-2110 (1974). Phil Lesh and Friends started playing the song in April 2012, shortly after Levon Helm's death.

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

References[]

^ Madman liner notes
^ Tony Burrows: A Six-Time One-Hit Wonder
^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
^ Green, Andy (26 September 2013). "Bernie Taupin on Elton John's New LP: 'It's Kudos All Around'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
^ "In the Elton John song 'Levon', who is Alvin Tostig?". The Straight Dope. 24 March 2000. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
^ "American single certifications – Elton John – Levon". Recording Industry Association of America.
^ "Bon Jovi A to Z - John, Elton". Island Records. 30 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007.

External links[]

[1] Madman liner notes

[2] Tony Burrows: A Six-Time One-Hit Wonder

[3] "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2014.

[4] Green, Andy (26 September 2013). "Bernie Taupin on Elton John's New LP: 'It's Kudos All Around'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 December 2015.

[5] "In the Elton John song 'Levon', who is Alvin Tostig?". The Straight Dope. 24 March 2000. Retrieved 10 August 2021.

[United_StatesElton_JohnLevonsingleCertRef-6] "American single certifications – Elton John – Levon". Recording Industry Association of America.

[7] "Bon Jovi A to Z - John, Elton". Island Records. 30 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007.

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show v t Elton John songs
1960s	"Skyline Pigeon" (1968) "I've Been Loving You" (1968) "Lady Samantha" (1969) "It's Me That You Need" (1969)
1970s	"Border Song" (1970) "Rock and Roll Madonna" (1970) "From Denver to L.A." (1970) "Take Me to the Pilot" (1970) "Your Song" (1970) "Friends" (1971) "Levon" (1971) "Indian Sunset" (1971) "Tiny Dancer" (1972) "Rocket Man" (1972) "Honky Cat" (1972) "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself" (1972) "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" (1972) "Crocodile Rock" (1972) "Elderberry Wine" (1972) "Daniel" (1972) "Have Mercy on the Criminal" (1972) "Teacher I Need You" (1973) "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" (1973) "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (1973) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973) "Step into Christmas" (1973) "Candle in the Wind" (1974) "Bennie and the Jets" (1974) "Harmony" (1974) "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1974) "The Bitch Is Back" (1974) "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1974) "Philadelphia Freedom" (1975) "I Saw Her Standing There" (1975) "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (1975) "Island Girl" (1975) "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (1976) "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" (1976) "Pinball Wizard" (1976) "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (1976) "Cage the Songbird" (1976) "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (1976) "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" (1977) "Crazy Water" (1977) "The Goaldiggers Song" (1977) "Ego" (1978) "Part-Time Love" (1978) "Song for Guy" (1978) "Are You Ready for Love" (1979) "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (1979) "Johnny B. Goode" (1979)
1980s	"Little Jeannie" (1980) "Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)" (1980) "Dear God" (1980) "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" (1981) "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (1981) "Blue Eyes" (1982) "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" (1982) "Ball and Chain" (1982) "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1982) "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (1983) "I'm Still Standing" (1983) "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (1984) "Passengers" (1984) "Nikita" (1985) "That's What Friends Are For" (1985) "Wrap Her Up" (1985) "Take Me to the Pilot" (1988) "I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That" (1988) "Town of Plenty" (1988) "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)" (1988) "Healing Hands" (1989) "Sacrifice" (1989)
1990s	"Club at the End of the Street" (1990) "You Gotta Love Someone" (1990) "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991) "The One" (1992) "Runaway Train" (1992) "The Last Song" (1992) "Simple Life" (1993) "True Love" (1993) "Shakey Ground" (1994) "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1994) "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (1994) "Circle of Life" (1994) "Believe" (1995) "Made in England" (1995) "When the Money's Gone" (1995) "You Can Make History (Young Again)" (1996) "The Madness of King Scar" (1997) "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997) "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997) "Written in the Stars" (1999)
2000s	"I Want Love" (2001) "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" (2002) "Original Sin" (2002) "Are You Ready for Love" (2003) "Ghetto Gospel" (2005) "Electricity" (2005) "The Bridge" (2006) "Joseph, Better You than Me" (2008) "Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)" (2009)
2010s	"Good Morning to the Night" (2012) "Sad" (2012) "Looking Up" (2015) "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (2019)
2020s	"Ordinary Man" (2020) "Sine from Above" (2020) "Learn to Fly" (2020) "The Pink Phantom" (2020) "It's a Sin" (2021) "Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" (2021)
Related	Albums discography Videography
Category:Elton John

show v t Jon Bon Jovi
Discography Awards and nominations
Studio albums	Blaze of Glory Destination Anywhere
Compilations	The Power Station Years: The Unreleased Recordings
Singles	"Blaze of Glory" "Miracle" "Never Say Die" "Levon" "Please Come Home for Christmas" "Midnight in Chelsea" "Queen of New Orleans" "Janie, Don't Take Your Love to Town" "Ugly"
Featured singles	"Bang a Drum"
Related articles	Bon Jovi Bon Jovi discography The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation