American Eagle’s 1971 Recording of “Ballad of a Well Known Gun”

American Eagle’s 1971 Recording of “Ballad of a Well Known Gun”

AMERICAN EAGLE-Decca 32833
BALLAD 0F A WELL KNOWN GUN (Dick James. BMI)
ON THE RACK (MCA/Exploding Parakeet, ASCAP)
Group impressed with first album.
They're back now with a rocker from the Elton John-Bernie Taupin catalog.Sure to garner play.

Source: https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/71/RW-1971-05-29.pdf

American Eagle recorded a cover version of “Ballad of a Well Known Gun,” the opening track from Elton John’s 1970 album “Tumbleweed Connection,” written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin and published by Dick James Music (BMI). The group’s single was issued by Decca Records under the catalog number Decca 32833. The release paired two tracks: “Ballad of a Well Known Gun” and “On the Rack” (published by MCA / Exploding Parakeet, ASCAP). Industry notes from the period described the song as a strong, uptempo rocker taken from the Elton John–Bernie Taupin songbook, suggesting Decca viewed the track as radio-friendly and suitable for broader exposure.

The original Elton John recording was made in March 1970 in London and released in October 1970 as part of the album Tumbleweed Connection. During this period, Dick James Music actively licensed Elton John and Bernie Taupin compositions to various artists for reinterpretation, and American Eagle became one of the acts selected to re-record material from the Tumbleweed Connection catalog.

A Brief Overview of the Band American Eagle

American Eagle was an American rock group active in the early 1970s and associated with Decca Records. The band released their self-titled album “American Eagle” in 1970, which blended rock, country-rock, and pop influences common in the post-Woodstock era. Though not widely documented, the group received favorable critical attention for their musicianship and vocal harmonies.

Their single Decca 32833, featuring the cover of Elton John’s “Ballad of a Well Known Gun,” appeared after the release of their debut album and served as a follow-up intended to keep the band visible in the competitive AM-radio market of the time. Contemporary industry reviews emphasized the band’s energetic style and their ability to reinterpret well-known compositions with a harder, more driving sound.

American Eagle’s tenure was brief, and the group did not achieve major commercial success, but their recordings—particularly their cover of “Ballad of a Well Known Gun”—remain of interest to collectors and to researchers tracing early cover versions of Elton John and Bernie Taupin compositions.