Q: This is Jody. And it is a great pleasure this afternoon to welcome to our studios members of the Farm Dogs. In fact, this is the first live performance in the new KGSR studios. The Farm Dogs' new album will be out February 3rd. It's going to be called Immigrant Sons. And with us, Robin LeMesurier on guitar, Jim Cregan on guitar and vocals and Bernie Taupin on vocals. And we're going to have plenty of time to talk, but right now we're going to hear a song live from the forthcoming album by the Farmdogs on 107.1, KGSR.

(SONG: Daria)

Q:Thank you, gentlemen. 107.1, KGSR, live in studio, Farm Dogs. And that was "Daria." The album Immigrant Sons is going to be out on February 3rd. And in the Farm Dogs, we have Jim Cregan and Robin LeMesurier, who played with Rod Stewart for many years. And on lead vocals and lyrics, Mr. Bernie Taupin. Now, Bernie, you and Jim, you guys go way, way, way back, right?

A: BERNIE: Way, way, way, way, back.

JIM: Just before the flood.

BERNIE: Yeah, no, we go back to like the early '70. Jim used to be in a band called Family, which were a big, you know, band in England back then. And they supported Elton on one of the original, sort of, American tours. And Jim always used to manage to find me backstage, because he knew I was the only one that had the bottle. So --

JIM: Oh, used to have to wrestle you to the floor to get it off you.

BERNIE: So we found a kindred spirit in each other.

JIM: Jack (Daniels).

BERNIE: Using -- spirit being the operative word. And being that Robin was of the same --

ROBIN: Ilk.

BERNIE: Ilk. Ilk is a good word. Yeah, you know, Robin was playing with Rod. And so through the combination of everybody -- you know, it's -- rock and roll is a fairly incestuous family type kind of thing. So we all sort of just got to know each other over those years. And although we never sort of worked together -- although Jim and I did do some work together at one point and realized we didn't really like each other so we didn't do anymore for a while.

JIM: You liked me, that's how it was. I remember.

BERNIE: But eventually, it all came around and we all ended up working together. And it's a great pleasure.

Q: And the new album is actually the second Farm Dogs record?

A: BERNIE: Yeah, first album came out about two years ago. It's called I Stand in Open Country. And this is a natural progression from that record. That record was much -- a little bit more acoustic driven than this record is. Not as fleshed out as this one is. But like I say, you know, it's like any band that starts out, you know, you discover yourself. You figure out what you're all about. You share your roots together and create your kind of music. And then when you get to make another record, you experiment a little bit more. It's the same old game that everybody plays.

Q: But you didn't play this game for so many years. You were behind the scenes writing all the lyrics for Elton John. And what was your motivation, then, to come out and want it, because you're the front man of the band, you're the singer, and you're the lyricist?

A: JIM: Your mother wouldn't let you out, would she? You stay home here, I don't want you being in one of those rotten groups.

BERNIE: Yeah, I did get sidetracked for a while. I guess about 30 years. But I don't know. I've made solo records before, but I guess I've never done them with the intensity that I've put into doing this particular project. And this really isn't a project to me now. It's become a way of life. And it's really first and foremost the thing that I love the most. And it's really -- it's an opportunity to make the kind of music that I love.

You know, I like what I do with Elton and I will probably continue to do it for years to come. And I still enjoy doing it. But this – Farm Dogs music is the kind of music that I grew up listening to. I mean, the influences of this -- that have gone into this kind of music. You know, the roots thing, the blues, the folk influences. I mean, a lot of the music that's very sort of -- it's very Texas based, a lot of it. Texas Blues. People like Lightning Hopkins. And that's still alive down here. And I think we feel pretty much at home in Austin because it has that -- it has that rootsy kind of background to it. So, yeah, it was an opportunity to make the kind of music that I've always wanted to make. And we really invented this band. We invented the music. The music invented itself. But it all came -- sorry, Jim, I just knocked you in the face, didn't I?

JIM: No, you missed me.

BERNIE: What a shame.

JIM: Have another go in the car on the way home.

BERNIE: I will. Anyway, before I was annoyingly interrupted.

JIM: You interrupted yourself, silly.

Q: It's amazing to me that you say that this is the main focus for you now because you are part of one of the all-time songwriting teams ever. And you've made such a mark, not only on popular culture, but on all of our consciences that now this is your main thrust. It's an amazing statement for you to make.

A: BERNIE: I think as an artist -- all artists should be allowed to experiment in any area they want to. And I think it's sort of a bit single-minded to -- you know, because I get asked a lot by people. They say, "Well, why would you want to do this? You can just sit at home and sort of watch the accountants count your money."

JIM: Shake your money.

BERNIE: Yeah, shake your money.

JIM: I could stay home and count your money for you.

Q: But you are motivated to be out here and do this.

A: BERNIE: Well, yeah, but the thing is, it's -- as I say, it's all about stretching yourself. And it's also -- I mean, the thing is, this is about playing, too. I've never had that opportunity to do that. And it's a lot of fun. And we have a blast going out and playing. And hopefully, we're going to be doing a lot more of it.

Q: Well, I do want to make it clear, because we've had some phone calls. The Farm Dogs are not playing in town tonight. They're out visiting radio stations. And hopefully, they'll be back later this year. And we're going to let Bernie stretch and the band play. The album is going to be called Immigrant Sons. It's due out February 3rd. On 107.1, KGSR, Farm Dogs.

SONG: Whiskey In The Bathtub

Q: Farm Dogs, live on 107.1, KGSR. That song, "Whiskey in the Bathtub", will turn up in its studio incarnation on the forthcoming album Immigrant Sons. And we're spending time this afternoon with Robin LeMesurier, Jim Cregan and Bernie Taupin of Farm Dogs.

Now, I listened to the whole album a few times this week. And I thought, there's a definite Tumbleweed Connection at work here. There's a definite link to other lyrics that you've done, Bernie, like "Texan Love Song" and "Roy Rogers." Why are English -- the English, or you guys, obsessed with the American west, it seems?

A: ROBIN: They wanted to be a cowboy.

JIM: Yeah, if you'd grown up in cold, wet London, you'd want to be a cowboy, too.

BERNIE: No, the thing is, I mean, it goes back -- it's kind of in two parts because the thing is, like we said before, we grew up listening to American music. You know, everybody that was in a band, when we were younger -- I mean, you look at it, you know, the Stones, the Beatles, you know, they were all influenced by American music. It was either Chuck Berry or Muddy Waters. But it was always American-influenced. And, you know, for myself, I was always, you know, a huge fan of America. I mean, I was obsessed with anything American and Americana and the American west and the whole ideology of the whole place. So it basically evolved into becoming a dream come true. And then when I moved here in the early ‘70s, you know, I sort of embraced the country and was very proud to be here.

JIM: You became a citizen, didn't you?

BERNIE: Well, I became a citizen a long time ago. Yeah, I carry an American passport. But you know, obviously, the things that influence you the most are the things that end up in your songs. And, yeah, this album -- I mean, this -- hence the title Immigrant Sons, although our father's weren't actually immigrants, it's kind of how we feel about it, you know, because we've been here so long. So it has that kind of Ellis Island feeling that we have. And the album is an American album. I mean, its roots are -- all the songs are about America or saying good-bye to Europe. And this is where we want to be. And this is where we're making the kind of music we dig.

Q: Now, I did point out a common thread between some lyrics you'd done in the past and those of the Farm Dogs. But I think I heard you say recently that you write differently for Elton now than you did then because he's a different person now. And you have to write differently for the Farm Dogs as well, don't you?

A: BERNIE: Well, I think the thing is you have to realize about Elton is the fact that Elton is the personality. And he's the focal point out there. He's the artist. So you have to go along with his changes. You know, it's very important to realize that his image is changing over the years. And back then, it made a lot of sense. I was driving to make that kind of record. But you know, you can't expect him to keep making that kind of record after 30 years. So he went on to -- you know, he wants to do different things. And so this, obviously, is my way of being able to do those things again. But, yeah, I mean, these songs are in no way the kind of songs he would be doing now. I mean, I couldn't take these lyrics and give them to Elton because he wouldn't -- it wouldn't seem right coming from him.

Q: Right. You used to go out with him on most of the tour dates?

A: BERNIE: In the early days, yeah. But as you grow older -- I mean, it was a good learning experience. It's like going to school. You know, you learn about the world by going -- I'm sure it's the same with both the guys here. You know, they toured so extensively with Rod. And you get an education. You totally get an education. And it's very exciting. But obviously, as you grow older, you know, you have a lot more to do and you have more responsibilities and you want to stretch yourself and do other things. So you can't go sort of gallivanting around the world.