Songs from the West Coast

Songs from the West Coast
Studio album by Elton John
Released	October 1 2001
Recorded	2000 - 2001
Genre	Soft rock
Length	54:06
Label	Universal
Producer	Patrick Leonard
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Elton John chronology
Elton John's One Night Only - The Greatest Hits (2000) Songs From The West Coast (2001) Peachtree Road (2004)

Songs from the West Coast is the twenty-seventh studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, 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 drummer 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. Elton has claimed that the inspiration for the songs on this album came from when he listened to "Heartbreaker" by Ryan Adams. The album was dedicated to Matthew Shepard and Oliver Johnstone, Davey Johnstone's late son.

Track listing

All songs by John/Taupin.

1. "The Emperor's New Clothes" – 4:28
2. "Dark Diamond" – 4:26
3. "Look Ma, No Hands" – 4:22
4. "American Triangle" – 4:49
5. "Original Sin" – 4:49
6. "Birds" – 3:51
7. "I Want Love" – 4:35
8. "The Wasteland" – 4:21
9. "Ballad of the Boy in the Red Shoes" – 4:52
10. "Love Her Like Me" – 3:58
11. "Mansfield" – 4:56
12. "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.