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Smiley Smile Stuff => General On Topic Discussions => Topic started by: RONDEMON on January 27, 2013, 04:43:45 PM



Title: Brian in Elton John's "The Union" Film
Post by: RONDEMON on January 27, 2013, 04:43:45 PM
There's a GREAT long sequence of Brian recording harmonies for Elton John/Leon Russell's "The Union" record a few years back.
Brian looks pretty miserable and unhappy to be there but Russell talks about how he played on a bunch of the Beach Boys records.
Anyone see this? It's a great 10 min part in the film.



Title: Re: Brian in Elton John's
Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on January 27, 2013, 04:55:40 PM
Never seen it


Title: Re: Brian in Elton John's \
Post by: FatherOfTheMan Sr101 on January 27, 2013, 04:56:06 PM
can anyone find this? I just looked and couldn't...


Title: Re: Brian in Elton John's \
Post by: filledeplage on January 27, 2013, 05:04:50 PM
can anyone find this? I just looked and couldn't...
Fantastic film! On HBO on demand.


Title: Re: Brian in Elton John's \
Post by: Awesoman on January 27, 2013, 10:17:34 PM
Just finished watching it.  Pretty good.  The movie was directed by Cameron Crowe so obviously he wasn't going to let a chance to praise BW slip by.  Brian himself was being very much Brian during the footage.  Flies in, lays down a few tracks, and gets the hell out.  Epic exchange between him and Russell when Brian asks him how his throat is doing.   :-D


Title: Re: Brian in Elton John's \
Post by: Lowbacca on January 28, 2013, 12:21:33 AM
Must... see... this...

Is it maybe on some special edition (CD/DVD) of LR/EJ's LP?


Title: Re: Brian in Elton John's \
Post by: LostArt on January 28, 2013, 04:09:42 AM
Must... see... this...

Is it maybe on some special edition (CD/DVD) of LR/EJ's LP?

Yes.  Incredibly, a few of my local Best Buy stores still have the CD/DVD edition in stock at $18.99.  I might just have to go get me one.


Title: Re: Brian in Elton John's \
Post by: filledeplage on January 28, 2013, 05:17:10 AM
Must... see... this...

Is it maybe on some special edition (CD/DVD) of LR/EJ's LP?

Yes.  Incredibly, a few of my local Best Buy stores still have the CD/DVD edition in stock at $18.99.  I might just have to go get me one.

Amazon is cheaper. About $10. There are special editions and they had an LP as well. 

"Hey, Ahab!" and "In the Hands of Angels"are two of my favorites on that film.  It is a great story, integrating the photos, radio promos, and the whole evolution of their process of work, and how Leon learned to cede a little of his own way of doing things, to others in the business to put the project together, notwithstanding Leon's surgery during the project and the music bringing him back to better recovery.  This film should be required viewing in music courses.  It ties so much of the entire process together.  I think that David Marks worked with him (Leon Russell/Delaney and Bonnie) at some point, as well. 


Title: Re: Brian in Elton John's \
Post by: EgoHanger1966 on January 28, 2013, 09:30:54 AM
Caught this on HBO on Demand. Worth a watch. The Brian segment is about five minutes long - watch Brian briefly in the studio singing a part, saying about two words to Elton, promptly leaving (but not before eating a handful of something!), and seeing Leon Russell in the parking lot, and saying a few words to him, too. Then, a minute or so of Elton telling a Brian story, and a few remarks from Leon.


Title: Re: Brian in Elton John's \
Post by: Letsgoawayforawhile on January 29, 2013, 06:02:41 PM
watch Brian briefly in the studio singing a part, saying about two words to Elton, promptly leaving (but not before eating a handful of something!)

Not sure why, but this made me laugh out loud.
Brian just being Brian is hilarious.


Title: Re: Brian in Elton John's \
Post by: RONDEMON on January 29, 2013, 06:36:46 PM
It's a great bit but he seems a little down in it like he's having a rough day or something.

It's tough to see a guy who used to be so enthusiastic and passionate rushing to get out of the studio.
it's a must see segment.


Title: Re: Brian in Elton John's \
Post by: filledeplage on January 30, 2013, 06:47:30 AM
It's a great bit but he seems a little down in it like he's having a rough day or something.

It's tough to see a guy who used to be so enthusiastic and passionate rushing to get out of the studio.
it's a must see segment.
What I found remarkable is that Leon spoke about playing on the "T-bird song" and recalled how Brian taught the vocals by rote, and that it was sort of a full circle type of event whereby Brian seemed very happy to contribute to this joint project which sort of honors Leon's contributions to this vast corpus of music as well as just being happy to sing his vocals without any amount of fanfare, just one musician very humbly supporting another.  So cool.