rediscovering genius: Elton John

[nostatic]

Say what you will about his clothes, lifestyle, whatever. "Madman Across the Water" came across the Sat radio this am, and I was inspired to find the tune on iTunes. Of course that album (1971) also has Tiny Dancer and Levon, so might as well buy the album. Then I'm reminded of Funeral for a Friend/Loves Lies Bleeding. So that's on Goodbye Yellowbrick Road (1973). You can't buy that song (11+ minutes of it), and its $16 for the double album. But holy crap, what an album: Candle in the Wind, Saturday Nights Alright for Fighting, Bennie and the Jets, the title track, Gray Seal, etc.

Most artists would kill for one of two songs that great. But here's album after album of stuff that is truly original. Wish I would have seen him in his prime playing live...

[sammyg2]

I paid $150 for a pair of tickets to see elton in concert at the arrowhead pond a couple of years ago, it was related to the NAMM show.

Turns out, it was the worlds most expensive kareoke show.
Singer after singer was paraded out on stage one at a time to sing their favorite elton john song with elton's back up band. After two hours of that crap I was more than a little dissapointed. Then, elton john actually came out on stage, sang three songs and then left. No encore, nothing.
Needless to say that ***** will never get another penny from me.
I can't hear one of his songs without getting pissed all over again. Too bad, because I used to really like his (actually bernie's) music.

[jhelgesen]

If you want a really good listen, try the "EJ, Live in Australia" album. Fantastic versions of some of his early stuff. Inspired me to get more of the early albums.

[arcsine]

I appreciate EJ but after watching an interview recently with him, I was struck by how much Bernie Taupin played a huge role in his success and received little of the praise. EJ's music is very good but many of the songs are made great by Bernies words.

[nostatic]

No argument on Taupin's huge role in things. Most of the great songwriters have been duos that you can't really separate one from the other: Rogers and Hammerstein, Lennon and McCartney, Jagger and Richards, John and Taupin.

[Superman]

I have to agree. He has been one of the absolute most effective musical performing artists of all time. He can't possibly play all of his hits in one concert. Hit after hit after hit. I'm a big respecter of that guy.

Hey, Todd. A friend once inspired my imagination, before I had ever gotten the chance to see EJ myself, with the way he started a SLC concert years ago. He came out on stage and allowed the audience to applaud for a bit. When they'd had enough, he sat at the piano and, without give the audience any opportunity to applaud again, he played, in rapid succession: Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Candle in the Wind, Your Song and Rocket Man. BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG, and then stopped. Almost any other artist would love to call just one of this songs his own, and EJ is capable of blowing them on a set of opening numbers because he still had LOTS of bullets left in his bag.

[creaturecat]

apparently "tiny dancer" is the name of Elton's little unit.

[svandamme]

great album indeed

[Jim Richards]

I saw him in '72 (San Diego) and '73 (Baltimore) and loved the shows he put on back then.

[azasadny]

"Hold me closer, Tony Danza..."

[Jim Richards]

Originally posted by nostatic
...Jagger and Richards...

Jagger? Naahhh, he never did *****.

[svandamme]

Originally posted by nostatic
Lennon and McCartney

not to start any riot , but i think Lennon could have held his own

at least better then what McCartney is and has been doing

the Lennon only songs , are definately better then the ****load of crap that macka has made so far now he's on his own, with the exclusion of a could of small blips on the radar, that although nice, don't even get close to any Lennon Solo songs

the Imagine album beeing the proof of the pudding if you ask me

damn Yoko Ono though ... no help that one

[nostatic]

Originally posted by Superman
I
Hey, Todd. A friend once inspired my imagination, before I had ever gotten the chance to see EJ myself, with the way he started a SLC concert years ago. He came out on stage and allowed the audience to applaud for a bit. When they'd had enough, he sat at the piano and, without give the audience any opportunity to applaud again, he played, in rapid succession: Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Candle in the Wind, Your Song and Rocket Man. BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG, and then stopped. Almost any other artist would love to call just one of this songs his own, and EJ is capable of blowing them on a set of opening numbers because he still had LOTS of bullets left in his bag.

Same experience at the Earth, Wind & Fire show. They opening with 3 huge hits, played a couple of newer tunes that I didn't know (but many there did), then reeled off a dozen massive hits that everyone knew and danced to/sang along with. They didn't even take a breath between songs for most of them. Most bands will have a handful of songs and the rest is filler. A select few can fill a 2 hour show with amazing tunes and still have you saying, "damn, I wish they'd played ..."

[nostatic]

Originally posted by svandamme
not to start any riot , but i think Lennon could have held his own

at least better then what McCartney is and has been doing

the few Lennon only songs , are definately better then the ****load of crap that macka has made so far now he's on his own, with the exclusion of a could of small blips on the radar, that although nice, don't even get close to any Lennon Solo songs

Lennon released plenty of crap on his own too (hello Yoko!)...but I'll agree that it at least was "edgier". And "Instant Karma" is one of the great songs of all time. Wings had some great stuff though.

I would still maintain that together they were greater than the sum of their parts. What's interesting is that you can hear one of them predominate in a particular song, but the other's influence is what raises it to a much higher level.

[svandamme]

just added my damn yoko line when you posted yours..

but i don't see that as Lennon solo , i see that as Lennon-Ono
which was definately nowhere near Lennon-McCartney

the Lennon dominant Beatles songs in my book are by far theh best of the bunch ....

[stomachmonkey]

Caught him a couple of years ago when he was doing the tour with Billy Joel.

What I found really interesting about it was when they did each others tunes. As great a voice as Elton has compared to Billy it just sounded very wrong, same goes for Billy doing Elton.

It is really amazing how much ones abilities drive what they ultimately create.

One of my personal favorite Elton albums is Capt Fantastic.

Always hoped he'd do a duet on Country Comfort with Ray Charles.

Scott

[Dan in Pasadena]

Man, back in '71- '73 I was a junior in high school to a freshman in college. I LOVED all those songs. Madman Across the Water, Funeral for a Friend, Have Mercy on the Criminal, so, so many more. Thanks for reminding me. I have them on my iPod and never tire of hearing his old stuff...well, except "The ***** is Back" and "Benny and the Jets" I always hated those songs, don't know why. Back in the day they played "Daniel" SO DAMNED MUCH they burned out my mental hard drive!

[stomachmonkey]

Originally posted by nostatic


I would still maintain that together they were greater than the sum of their parts. What's interesting is that you can hear one of them predominate in a particular song, but the other's influence is what raises it to a much higher level.

Agree 1000%. The differences in their personal views and atitudes is what made it work.

"It's getting better all the time" Paul
"It can't get no worse" John

Brilliant colaboration.

[hardflex]

IMHO Elton's first album is his best.

[}{arlequin]

that's how i got into stevie wonder. growing up all i can remember is "i just called..." but then i heard his early stuff and it was awesome. also hinted where jamiroquai gets inspiration for his sound.