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Greatest Hits 1970-2002 by Elton John (C...

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Greatest Hits 1970-2002 by Elton John (CD - 11/12/2002)

"Greatest Hits 1970-2002" (11/12/2002) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Island Records (USA)Initial pressings of this first edition contain a bonus disc. Recorded between 1970 & 2002. Includes liner notes by Paul Gambaccini. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Here you go, Elton fans--a definitive two-disc collection of some of the bespectacled one's most beloved tunes. The full gamut of Elton John's stellar career is covered here. The archetypal singer-songwriter introspection of "Your Song" kicks things off, giving way in short order to the more glam pop moments of "Honky Cat" and "Saturday Night's All Right For Fighting." The Roy Orbison-like ballad "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" and the moving, mournful "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" represent the sadder side of the usually sunny popster. The second disc digs into Elton's later work, coming up with such gems as the surprisingly rocking "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" and the Beatleseque "I Want Love," the latter proving that the 21st century found Elton still standing, in artistic terms.

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Elton John [SACD Hybrid] [Remaster]

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Elton John [SACD Hybrid] [Remaster]

"Elton John [Remaster]" (11/09/2004) Oldies John, Elton, Universal DistributionThis is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, harpsichord); Clive Hicks (guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar); Colin Green (guitar, Spanish guitar); Alan Parker , Roland Harker, Caleb Quaye (guitar); Frank Clark (acoustic guitar, acoustic bass guitar); Skaila Kanga (harp); Paul Buckmaster (cello); Brian Dee (organ); Diana Lewis (Moog synthesizer); Dave Richmond, Alan Weighall, Les Hurdle (bass guitar); Terry Cox, Barry Morgan (drums); Dennis Lopez, Tex Navarra (percussion); Lesley Duncan, Madeline Bell, Roger Cook, Tony Burrows, Tony Hazzard, Barbara Moore, Kay Garner (background vocals). Liner Note Authors: John Tobler; Gus Dudgeon. Elton John's second album was his first to be released in the U.S., and the difference between it and its predecessor, EMPTY SKY, is palpable and immediate. ELTON JOHN opens with "Your Song," a halting ballad that is one of the most moving love songs in the modern pop canon. The album also marks John's fruitful association with Gus Dudgeon and arranger Paul Buckmaster (who'd previously collaborated on David Bowie's "Space Oddity"). The team came up with a spare orchestral sound that surrounds the singer and his piano with dashes of both classical and rock guitar, synthesizers, carefully arranged drums, and searing strings. This wasn't all-out pop yet, but rather a striking and singular brand of folk-rock. "Take Me To The Pilot" shows flashes of John's rocking future ("Bennie And The Jets" descended from it), "No Shoe Strings On Louise" is Rolling Stonesy country-rock, and "Sixty Years On" is haunting and memorable. More typical for this session is "I Need You To Turn To," another love song that finds lyricist Bernie Taupin in an unusually direct mode, and features a beautiful harpsichord melody from John. ELTON JOHN cast the mold for the singer's future superstardom.

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Peachtree Road [11/9] *

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Peachtree Road [11/9] *

"Peachtree Road" (11/09/2004) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Universal DistributionThis is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Davey Johnstone (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dobro); John Jorgenson (pedal steel guitar); Walter Parazaider (tenor saxophone); Larry Klimas (baritone saxophone); Lee Loughnane (trumpet); Jimmy Pankow (trombone); Guy Babylon (Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond b-3 organ, programming); Bob Birch (bass guitar, background vocals); Nigel Olsson (drums); John Mahon (percussion, programming, background vocals); Mark Ford , Adam McKnight, Charles Bullock, Terrence Davis, L'Tanya Sheilds, Alecia Terry, M. Denise Sims, Rosalind McKinght, Todd Honeycutt (background vocals). In 2001, Elton John reconvened with longtime lyrical collaborator Bernie Taupin and recorded SONGS FROM THE WEST COAST, a collection that hearkened back to the duo's golden age in the 1970s and immediately drew comparisons to classic albums MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER and HONKY CHATEAU. Three years later, the duo went back into the studio and emerged with PEACHTREE ROAD, a record packed with the kind of rustic-sounding pop that brings to mind TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION (and whose title was inspired by John's adopted home in Georgia). Keeping it in the musical family, longtime band members Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson are aboard, with the former adding musical-director duties to his usual guitar-playing responsibilities. Showcasing a voice that's gotten deeper and richer with age, John wisely sticks to a set that is predominantly made up of ballads, ranging from the lush, "countrypolitan" stylings of "Turn the Lights Out When You Leave" to the more gospel-flavored "Answer in the Sky." John also includes "My Elusive Drug," an uplifting homage to his companion David Furnish. He takes it up a notch with "They Call Her the Cat," a sassy horn-and-harmony-driven stylistic sequel to "Honky Cat."

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Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt.....

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Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt... [9/13]

"Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy: Deluxe Edition" (09/13/2005) Oldies John, Elton, Island Records (USA)This Deluxe Edition of CAPTAIN FANTASTIC & THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY includes a bonus disc of a previously unreleased concert from 1975, featuring the only performance of the entire CAPTAIN FANTASTIC album. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, electric piano, harpsichord, Clavinet, Mellotron, ARP synthesizer); John Lennon (guitar); Davey Johnstone (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, piano, background vocals); David Hentschel (ARP synthesizer); Dee Murray (bass guitar, background vocals); Nigel Olsson (drums, background vocals); Ray Cooper (congas, bongos, cymbals, Jew's harp, tambourine, triangle, bells, hand bells, gong). Audio Remasterer: Tony Cousins. Liner Note Author: John Tobler. One of Elton John's many 1970s pop gems, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC & THE DIRT BROWN COWBOY is a classic album filled with well-written, catchy tunes. The most famous song from this record is the radio hit, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight." A bitter tune about a badly entangled relationship, John's lyric rejoices in an 11th-hour triumph of freedom. CAPTAIN FANTASTIC also features John's well-known version of the Lennon/McCartney favorite "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." John maintains the eccentric sonic elements of this tune, but makes it more dramatic and operatic, particularly as the song's refrain loops on and on towards the ending. "Writing" is another highlight on this disc; Latin-influenced, upbeat, and bubbly, this number contains some quirky bongo playing and a light, care-free lyric centered on the actual process of composing songs. Without a doubt, John and partner Bernie Taupin were one of the best songwriting duos in rock history, and many of their finer collaborations are captured on this 1975 release.

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Songs from the West Coast by Elton John ...

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Songs from the West Coast by Elton John (CD - 10/02/2001)

"Songs from the West Coast" (10/02/2001) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Universal DistributionPersonnel includes: Elton John (vocals, piano); Rufus Wainwright (vocals); Bruce Gaitsch, David Channing (acoustic guitar); Davey Johnstone (guitar, background vocals); Rusty Anderson (guitar); Stevie Wonder (harmonica, Clavinet); Billy Preston, Patrick Leonard (Hammond B-3 organ); Paul Bushnell (bass, background vocals); Matt Chamberlain, Nigel Olsson (drums, background vocals); Jay Bellerose (percussion); Tata Vega, Kudisan Kai (background vocals). Engineers include: Joe Chiccarelli, Brian Scheuble, David Channing. SONGS FROM THE WEST COAST was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. "I Want Love" was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. "Original Sin" was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, harmonium); Davey Johnstone (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, background vocals); Rusty Anderson (guitar, electric guitar); David Channing (acoustic guitar, dobro); Bruce Gaitsch (acoustic guitar); Stevie Wonder (harmonica, Clavinet); Patrick Leonard (organ, Mellotron, keyboards); Billy Preston (organ); Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion); Nigel Olsson (drums, background vocals); Jay Bellerose (percussion); Gary Barlow, Paul Bushnell, Tata Vega (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Alan Sanderson; Joe Chiccarelli; Bill Bottrell. Recording information: Cello Studios (09/18/2000-04/30/2001); Johnny Yuma Recording (09/18/2000-04/30/2001); Ocean Way Studios (09/18/2000-04/30/2001); Sony Studios (09/18/2000-04/30/2001); The Townhouse, London, England (09/18/2000-04/30/2001); Wonderland (09/18/2000-04/30/2001). SONGS FROM THE WEST COAST is the album for all those who idolize HONKY CHATEAU and CAPTAIN FANTASTIC but feared that Elton John had become Disneyfied beyond repair in the '90s. Whether the inspiration was aesthetic hunger or mid-life crisis, Elton decided to team up with lyricist Bernie Taupin--the man who helped pen all those '70s classics--to produce a more direct, stripped-down album than he's seemed capable of since his glory days. There's no overblown orchestration here, just simple arrangements based quite rightly around Elton's piano and voice. Playing to his strengths, the piano man concentrates largely on ballads, from the somewhat Beatlesque "I Want Love" to the stately, elegiac "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore." Still, Elton didn't become the master pop craftsman that he is by constructing monochromatic records; "The Wasteland" is a churning bluesy number, and "Dark Diamond" employs a modified reggae rhythm. After years of wandering around in a star-studded artistic netherworld, Elton serves notice with SONGS FROM THE WEST COAST that he's putting them together and belting them out again like he did in his heyday.

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Big Picture by Elton John (CD - 09/23/19...

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Big Picture by Elton John (CD - 09/23/1997)

"Big Picture" (09/23/1997) Rock & Pop John, Elton, MercuryPersonnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, organ); Davey Johnstone, John Jorgenson (guitar); Paul Carrack (organ); Matthew Vaughan (keyboards, percussion); Guy Babylon (keyboards); Bob Birch (bass); Charlie Morgan (drums, percussion); Paul Clarvis (tablas); Carol Kenyon, Jackie Rawe (background vocals); East London Gospel Choir, Angel Voices Choir. Recorded at Townhouse Studios, London, England. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, organ, keyboards); East London Gospel Choir, Angel Voices Choir (vocals); Davey Johnstone, John Jorgenson (guitar); Paul Carrack (organ); Matthew Vaughan (keyboards, percussion); Guy Babylon (keyboards); Charlie Morgan (drums, percussion); Paul Clarvis (tabla); Jackie Rawe, Carol Kenyon (background vocals). Recording information: Air Lyndhurst Hall; Townhouse Studios, London, England. Photographers: Mario Testino; Julian Schnabel. As true as the Rolling Stones have remained to their blues beat, Elton John, who's been around nearly as long, has stayed true to his pop muse; and perhaps more than the Stones, he's retained his pop craft. THE BIG PICTURE is a simple album at heart, a collection of melancholy love songs beefed up with million-dollar pop arrangements and rocked up every now and then with Davey Johnstone's electric guitar. The sentiments are basic enough: in "The End Will Come," he's ready to swear there ain't no mountain high enough to stop his love, while in "Love's Got A Lot To Answer For," he's ready to admit that no matter how he climbs there's just going to be another mountain around the bend. Lyricist Bernie Taupin provides these basics, and John adds the incredible melodic weight that the best of these songs have. "Long Way From Happiness" is haunting blue-eyed soul; "The End Will Come" is a true anthem that showcases a Stevie Wonder-like conviction in the power of music to overcome reality. "If The River Can Bend" serves as teasing proof that the rock flame behind such early John showstoppers as "Burn Down the Mission" is far from out.

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Tumbleweed Connection [Remaster]

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Tumbleweed Connection [Remaster]

"Tumbleweed Connection [Bonus Tracks] [Remaster]" (02/20/1996) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Rocket Group Pty LTDLyricist: Bernie Taupin. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, organ, keyboards, background vocals); Elton John; Mick Ronson (guitar); Les Thatcher (acoustic guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar, 6-string guitar, 12-string guitar); Johnny VanDerrick (violin); Chris Laurence (acoustic bass, acoustic bass guitar); Sunny, Sue & Sunny, Sunny Leslie, Sue Glover (background vocals); Lesley Duncan (vocals, acoustic guitar, background vocals); Nigel Olsson (vocals, drums, background vocals); Caleb Quaye (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Mike Egan (acoustic guitar); Gordon Huntley (steel guitar); Skaila Kanga (harp); Johnny Van Derek (violin); Ian Duck (harmonica); Karl Jenkins (oboe); Brian Dee (organ); Dee Murray (bass guitar, background vocals); Dave Glover , Herbie Flowers (bass guitar); Roger Pope (drums, percussion); Barry Morgan (drums); Robin Jones (congas, tambourine); Dusty Springfield, Madeline Bell, Tony Burrows, Tony Hazzard, Kay Garner, Tammy Hunt (background vocals). Liner Note Authors: Gus Dudgeon; John Tobler. Recording information: Trident Studios, London, England. Editor: Gus Skinas. Photographers: Barrie Wentzell; Barry Wentzell; David Larkham. Arranger: Paul Buckmaster. Recorded in the charmed period between the initial success of ELTON JOHN and superstar extravaganzas like GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD, TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION, a loose concept album about the American West, was a strange, sideways move for Elton John and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. A album in the traditional sense, it is best heard as a piece, with songs that pick up and expand on each other's moods and settings. Notice, for example, the progression of characters from the young fighter waving "My Father's Gun," to the retired and forgotten "Talking Old Soldiers," to the protagonist of "Where To Now St. Peter?," shot down by "a sweet young foreign gun" and ready to be judged by his maker. The mood holds from the sepia-toned LP cover art to John's songwriting, influenced by folk and country music and by The Band's MUSIC FROM BIG PINK. Among the songs it introduced were "Country Comfort," which Rod Stewart covered on GASOLINE ALLEY, and "Come Down In Time," later done by both Judy Collins and Sting. Though the rollicking piano epic "Burn Down The Mission" and "Amoreena" became FM-radio and concert staples, TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION remains the only John studio album without a hit single, a fact that doesn't affect the impact of this excellent country-rock outing. Instead of repeating the formula that made Elton John a success, John and Bernie Taupin attempted their most ambitious record to date for the follow-up to their breakthrough. A loose concept album about the American West, Tumbleweed Connection emphasized the pretensions that always lay beneath their songcraft. Half of the songs don't follow conventional pop song structures; instead, they flow between verses and vague choruses. These experiments are remarkably successful, primarily because Taupin's lyrics are evocative and John's melodic sense is at its best. As should be expected for a concept album about the Wild West, the music draws from country and blues in equal measures, ranging from the bluesy choruses of "Ballad of a Well-Known Gun" and the modified country of "Country Comfort" to the gospel-inflected "Burn Down the Mission" and the rolling, soulful "Amoreena." Paul Buckmaster manages to write dramatic but appropriate string arrangements that accentuate the cinematic feel of the album. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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Empty Sky [Remaster] by Elton John (CD -...

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Empty Sky [Remaster] by Elton John (CD - 02/20/1996)

"Empty Sky [Remaster]" (02/20/1996) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Rocket Group Pty LTDThe 1996 reissue of EMPTY SKY includes four songs that were issued as two singles prior to the album's release: "Lady Samantha"/"All Across The Havens" and "It's Me That You Need"/"Just Like Strange Rain." The album has been digitally remastered by Gus Dudgeon, using original master tapes and digital processing equipment at 20-bit resolution. According to Dudgeon (ICE newsletter, January 1996), the results are "100% better" than the two previous American CD issues. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, organ, electric piano, harpsichord); Caleb Quaye (electric & acoustic guitars, congas); Graham Vickery (harmonica); Don Fay (tenor saxophone, flute); Tony Murray (bass); Roger Pope (drums, percussion); Nigel Olsson (drums). Recorded at Dick James Studios and Olympic Studios, London, England. Includes liner notes by John Tobler and Gus Dudgeon. This is part of Rocket's Elton John: The Classic Years series. Not released in the U.S. until 1975, after he'd achieved superstardom, Elton John's first album is as much a part of late-'60s blues-rock and the burgeoning singer-songwriter movement as it is part of the grandiose pop catalog that would soon follow. The eight-minute-plus title song includes a long flute-harmonica-piano jam that wouldn't have been out of place on a Traffic album; the closing "Gulliver/It's Hay Chewed/Reprise" connects a waltz-time requiem with an acoustic-jazz instrumental and (rather audiciously for an unknown singer's debut) a reprise of bits from every song on the album. Elsewhere, one can find a Lennonesque melody on "Western Ford Gateway," a breezy Summer-Of-Love feel on "Hymn 2000," and recurring imagery of a caged bird dreaming of flying away--most notably in the title song and the harsichord-and-organ tune "Skyline Pigeon." It all bursts with pop-rock melodicism, even when John was adding music to some of collaborator Bernie Taupin's most opaque, image-heavy lyrics. John would later call EMPTY SKY a "naive" record, but it contains the seeds of almost everything he would eventually do.

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Honky Chateau [Remaster]

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Honky Chateau [Remaster]

"Honky Chateau [Bonus Track] [Remaster]" (05/14/1996) Oldies John, Elton, Rocket Group Pty LTDComposer: Elton John. Lyricist: Bernie Taupin. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, electric piano, organ, keyboards, background vocals); Elton John; Gus Dudgeon (vocals, whistling, whistle, background vocals); Chris Gavin (saxophone); David Hentschel (keyboards, synthesizer, ARP synthesizer); Dee Murray (bass guitar, background vocals); Legs Larry Smith (taps); Larry Steel (background vocals); Davey Johnstone (vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin, synthesizer, background vocals); Larry Steele, Liza Strike, Madeline Bell, Tony Hazzard (vocals, background vocals); Jean-Luc Ponty (violin, electric violin); Jean Louis Chautemps, Alain Hatot (saxophone); Ivan Julian (trumpet); Jacques Bolognesi (trombone); Nigel Olsson (drums, congas, tambourine, background vocals); Ray Cooper (congas, percussion). Audio Remasterer: Tony Cousins. Liner Note Author: John Tobler. Recording information: Strawberry Studios, France. Editor: Gus Skinas. Unknown Contributor Role: Legs Larry Smith . By the time Elton John went to France to cut HONKY CHATEAU in 1972, he had already become the first act since the Beatles to land four albums in the American Top 10 simultaneously. Up to that point, John had performed in a trio rounded out by bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson. The addition of guitarist Davey Johnstone on HONKY CHATEAU added another dimension to the overall sound. The results were successful, as the nonsensical "Honky Cat" and the Bowie-inspired "Rocket Man" became John's first Top 10 hits since the release of "Your Song" two years prior. John and co. reined in the lengthy, moody excesses of MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER, turning in a highly focused collection of beautifully crafted pop. The rollicking "I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself," the sassy "Susie (Dramas)," and the stirring "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters" are all standouts. The John/Bernie Taupin partnership also yielded a number of songs with vivid imagery, including the Civil War-era American South of "Slave" and a front-row pew before a gospel choir in the inspirational "Salvation." Pound for pound, HONKY CHATEAU may be one the strongest, most consistent, and most pleasurable records in the mammoth John discography. Considerably lighter than Madman Across the Water, Honky Chateau is a rollicking collection of ballads, rockers, blues, country-rock, and soul songs. On paper, it reads like an eclectic mess, but it plays as the most focused and accomplished set of songs Elton John and Bernie Taupin ever wrote. The skittering boogie of "Honky Cat" and the light psychedelic pop of "Rocket Man" helped send Honky Chateau to the top of the charts, but what is truly impressive about the album is the depth of its material. From the surprisingly cynical and nasty "I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself" to the moving ballad "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters," John is at the top of his form, crafting immaculate pop songs with memorable melodies and powerful hooks. While Taupin's lyrics aren't much more comprehensible than before, John delivers them with skill and passion, making them feel more substantial than they are. But what makes Honky Chateau a classic is the songcraft, and the way John ties disparate strands of roots music into distinctive and idiosyncratic pop -- it's one of the finest collections of mainstream singer/songwriter pop of the early '70s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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Madman Across The Water [Remaster]

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Madman Across The Water [Remaster]

"Madman Across the Water [Remaster]" (05/14/1996) Oldies John, Elton, Rocket Group Pty LTDPersonnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, keyboards); Elton John; Sunny Leslie, Sue Glover (vocals, background vocals); Alan Parker (guitar); David Katz (violin); Diana Lewis (synthesizer, ARP synthesizer); Diane Lewis-Steinberg (synthesizer); Chris Laurence (acoustic bass, acoustic bass guitar); Herbie Flowers (electric bass, bass guitar); Dee Murray (bass guitar, background vocals); Dave Glover , Brian Odgers (bass guitar); Sunny, Sue & Sunny, Sue (background vocals); Davey Johnstone (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, sitar, synthesizer); Lesley Duncan, Liza Strike, Roger Cook, Terry Steele, Tony Burrows, Barry St. John (vocals, background vocals); Caleb Quaye (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Les Thatcher (guitar, acoustic guitar); Chris Spedding (guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar); B.J. Cole (steel guitar); Jack Emblow (accordion); Brian Dee (harmonium); Rick Wakeman (organ, keyboards); Nigel Olsson (drums, background vocals); Roger Pope, Terry Cox, Barry Morgan (drums); Ray Cooper (tambourine, percussion); Cantores in Ecclesia. Audio Remasterer: Tony Cousins. Audio Remixer: Ken Scott. Liner Note Authors: Gus Dudgeon; John Tobler. Recording information: Trident Studio, London, England (02/27/1971-08/14/1971). Director: Robert Kirby. Editor: Gus Skinas. Illustrator: David Larkham. Photographers: Bob Gruen; David Larkham. Unknown Contributor Roles: Steve Brown; Bernie Taupin. Arranger: Paul Buckmaster. MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER produced only a couple of minor hits, which may have something to do with the fact that its best songs are all five or six minutes long. But they're among the strongest songs in the entire Elton John catalog--especially the lovely opening track, "Tiny Dancer," which builds from a light, delicately melodic verse to a sweeping, dramatic chorus. Another highlight is the inscrutably biographic "Levon," whose title character was born "on a Christmas day when the New York Times said God is dead." John's luxurious piano melodies, Bernie Taupin's poetic lyrics, and Paul Buckmaster's lush string arrangements all stretch out on MADMAN, giving the record a grandiose, sweeping feel when it is not riding dark, surging currents, as on the memorably edgy title track. There is a painstaking, interior quality here that goes missing from John's early pop-song oriented albums and from the later excesses of GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD. For this reason, MADMAN ON THE WATER is a crucial, unique addition to the John catalogue.

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Reg Strikes Back [Bonus Track] [Remaster...

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Reg Strikes Back [Bonus Track] [Remaster] by Elton John (CD - 05/15/2001)

"Reg Strikes Back [Bonus Track] [Remaster]" (05/15/2001) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Island Records (USA)Personnel: Elton John (vocals, keyboards); Pete Townshend, Davey Johnstone (guitar); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet, flugelhorn); Fred Mandel (synthesizer); David Paton (bass); Charlie Morgan (drums); Ray Cooper (percussion); Adrian Baker, Bruce Johnston, Carl Wilson (background vocals). Recorded at Air Studios, London, England. Digitally remastered by Gus Dudgeon. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, harmonium, keyboards, background vocals). Recording information: Air Studios, London, England. Shortly after his 41st birthday, Elton John (a.k.a. Reg Dwight), released REG STRIKES BACK. At this particular juncture in life, the decision was made to auction off all costumes and props collected and worn at shows over the years. Using the layout of these items as an album cover, the contents within proved to be EJ's most successful album of the late '80s. Driven by the elegantly wrought "A Word In Spanish" and the pounding piano of "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That," REG found Elton John sounding no worse for wear, surrounded by an assortment of guests. Along with old stalwarts Davey Johnstone, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson, guests included Pete Townshend on "Town Of Plenty," jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard on "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (Part Two)" and Beach Boys Bruce Johnston and Carl Wilson, providing harmonies for "Since God Invented Girls." After a brief health scare resulting in surgery to remove nodules from his vocal chords, REG STRIKES BACK marked Elton John's robust return to good health and great music-making. As Elton John's first album for MCA Records, Reg Strikes Back received a considerable amount of hype upon its release, but the results were considerably less inspired than his early-'80s records for Geffen. It's always a bad sign when an artist re-records or reinterprets one of his classics, as John does here with "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters, Pt. 2," but what really sinks Reg Strikes Back are the colorless tunes. Apart from the clenched dance-pop of "I Don't Wanna Go on With You Like That," and the simpy "A Word in Spanish," none of the melodies on the record are memorable, and even those aren't particularly strong. Instead of recharging his career, Reg Strikes Back began a dry spell that ran for nearly five years. [The German edition features a bonus track.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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Live in Australia [Remastered] [Remaster...

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Live in Australia [Remastered] [Remaster] by Elton John (CD - 03/20/2001)

"Live in Australia [Remastered] [Remaster]" (03/20/2001) Rock & Pop John, Elton, MCA Records (USA)Personnel: Elton John (vocals, keyboards); Davey Johnstone (guitar); Raul D'Olivera, Paul Spong, David Bitelli, Rick Taylor (horns); Fred Mandel (keyboards, synthesizer); David Paton (bass); Charlie Morgan (drums); Jody Linscott (percussion); Shirley Lewis, Alan Carvel, Gordon Neville (background vocals). Recorded live in Sydney, Australia on December 14, 1986. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano); Davey Johnstone (guitar); Raul d'Oliveira, David Bitelli, Rick Taylor, Paul Spong (horns); Fred Mandel (keyboards, synthesizer); Charlie Morgan (drums); Ray Cooper , Jody Linscott (percussion); Alan Carvell, Gordon Neville, Shirley Lewis (background vocals). Recording information: The Sydney Entertainment Centre (12/14/1986). Elton John spent much of the '80s in a whirlwind of personal upheaval and his musical unevenness included working with lyricists besides Bernie Taupin (an unthinkable notion during their run at the top of the charts during the '70s). EJ went for a fresh start by auctioning off all the costumes and props that he'd become renowned for during his over-the-top live shows. Right before doing this, the flamboyant entertainer revisited the past one more time by recreating his greatest hits live using orchestral accompaniment. The resulting LIVE IN AUSTRALIA found the John donning a powdered wig and 17th century garb to lead this ensemble, along with members of his regular touring band. Older material such as "Burn Down The Mission," "Madman Across The Water" and "Take Me To The Pilot" is particularly breathtaking as presented in all its symphonic splendor while more obscure numbers such as "Have Mercy On The Criminal" and "The Greatest Discovery" remain odd yet interesting choices. The oddest result of this album's release was that "Candle In The Wind" unexpectedly became a hit 14 years after its original release. A slightly rewritten version dedicated to the late Princess Diana repeated this trick a decade later. -IMPORT In England, this has so far only been released as a limited, numbered (5,000) edition, in a 12 X 12 box with deluxe booklet and other goodies. Since this 1987 release is the album that brought "Candle in the Wind" to the charts for the first time -- the song first released on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and the song that John later reworked as a tribute to Princess Diana -- it's easy to think of this as a fairly standard live album, even if it finds John and his band backed by an 88-piece orchestra. After all, that hit became so ubiquitous, and associated with this record, that it seems that it's just a hits record, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Yes, there are some perennials here -- "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," "Tiny Dancer," "Your Song," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" -- but this is a record that's tailored to the fanatic, leaning heavily on his sublime material from the early '70s. And since those records prominently featured Paul Buckmaster's lush string charts, these orchestral-graced versions never feel overly bombastic (although the horns may occupy more space than they should). That doesn't make Live in Australia necessary, of course, but it's far more interesting, even vital, than you might think, and far more vital than comparable live albums by his peers. In fact, hardcore fans who prefer 11-17-70 may be surprised how much they enjoy this record. [The 1998 reissue -- which didn't appear in the U.S. until 2001 -- contains no bonus tracks, but has full artwork, extensive liner notes, and remastered sound.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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The One [Germany Bonus Track] [Remaster]...

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The One [Germany Bonus Track] [Remaster] by Elton John (CD - 05/15/2001)

"The One [Germany Bonus Track] [Remaster]" (05/15/2001) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Island Records (USA)Personnel: Elton John (vocals, keyboards); Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Davey Johnstone, David Gilmour, Adam Seymour (guitar); Mark Taylor, Guy Babylon (keyboards); Pino Palladino (bass); Olle Romo (drums, percussion, programming); Jonice Jamison, Carole Fredericks, Beckie Bell, Kiki Dee, Nigel Olsson (background vocals). Recorded at Studio Guillaume Tell, Paris and Townhouse Studios, London. Digitally remastered by Gus Dudgeon. All songs written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin. Composer: Elton John. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, keyboards); Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Davey Johnstone (guitar, background vocals); David Gilmour, Adam Seymour (guitar); Guy Babylon (keyboards, programming); Mark Taylor (keyboards); Olle Romo (drums, percussion, programming); Beckie Bell, Janice Jamison, Kiki Dee, Nigel Olsson, Carole Fredericks (background vocals). Liner Note Author: Peter Manning Robinson. Recording information: Air Studios, London, England; Studio Guillaume Tell, Paris, France; Townhouse Studios, London, England. Photographer: Patrick Demarchelier. This is something of a reunion album; after working apart for some time, Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, the wordsmith behind John's biggest '70s hits, come together again. Also on board after a long hiatus are original Elton John Band members Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson. Even "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" duet partner Kiki Dee shows up, singing backing vocals on "When a Woman Doesn't Want You" and "Understanding Women" (seems to be a theme there). Highlights include the hit title song and the anti-Thatcher anti-'80s nostalgia piece "Sweat It Out," which includes the memorable line "She-devils were ruling Britain" and gives Elton the opportunity to stretch out with one of his best (and longest) piano solos ever. Elton John once claimed that he could remember The One among his latter-day albums because it was the first he recorded without drugs or alcohol. If true -- and there's no reason to doubt him -- that could be the reason why this has more character than most of his albums since the early '80s, holding together well in its deliberately measured, mature songcraft by Elton and Bernie Taupin. There's less gloss than on many of his late-'80s records, and John gives a fairly convincing performance throughout this set of pretty good songs. If there's any real problem, it's that the album just doesn't have many memorable songs. Though they're all reasonably melodic and well-crafted, none of the them have memorable musical or lyrical hooks and, if anything, Chris Thomas' production is too evenhanded. Still, even if it isn't memorable, it does represent a meaningful move forward, just because it does sound warmer and more considered than the records that immediately preceded it. [The 2001 German reissue contains two bonus tracks, "Suit of Wolves" and "Fat Boys and Ugly Girls."] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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Elton John [Remaster]

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Elton John [Remaster]

"Elton John [Remaster]" (02/20/1996) Oldies John, Elton, Rocket Group Pty LTDPersonnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, harpsichord); Colin Green, Alan Parker , Roland Harker, Alan Weighall, Caleb Quaye (guitar); Frank Clark (acoustic guitar, acoustic bass guitar); Clive Hicks (12-string guitar); Skaila Kanga (harp); Paul Buckmaster (cello); Brian Dee (organ); Diana Lewis (Moog synthesizer); Dave Richmond, Les Hurdie (bass instrument); Terry Cox, Barry Morgan (drums); Dennis Lopez, Tex Navarra (percussion). Liner Note Author: Gus Dudgeon. Elton John's second album was his first to be released in the U.S., and the difference between it and its predecessor, EMPTY SKY, is palpable and immediate. ELTON JOHN opens with "Your Song," a halting ballad that is one of the most moving love songs in the modern pop canon. The album also marks John's fruitful association with Gus Dudgeon and arranger Paul Buckmaster (who'd previously collaborated on David Bowie's "Space Oddity"). The team came up with a spare orchestral sound that surrounds the singer and his piano with dashes of both classical and rock guitar, synthesizers, carefully arranged drums, and searing strings. This wasn't all-out pop yet, but rather a striking and singular brand of folk-rock. "Take Me To The Pilot" shows flashes of John's rocking future ("Bennie And The Jets" descended from it), "No Shoe Strings On Louise" is Rolling Stonesy country-rock, and "Sixty Years On" is haunting and memorable. More typical for this session is "I Need You To Turn To," another love song that finds lyricist Bernie Taupin in an unusually direct mode, and features a beautiful harpsichord melody from John. ELTON JOHN cast the mold for the singer's future superstardom.

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Caribou [Bonus Tracks] [Remaster] by Elt...

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Caribou [Bonus Tracks] [Remaster] by Elton John (CD - 02/20/1996)

"Caribou [Bonus Tracks] [Remaster]" (02/20/1996) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Rocket Group Pty LTDThe 1996 reissue of CARIBOU includes four extra tracks. "Sick City" and "Cold Highway" were the B-sides of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" and "The Bitch Is Back." John's cover of the Who's "Pinball Wizard" was recorded for the movie "Tommy." "Step Into Christmas" was a British single. The album has been digitally remastered by the original producer, Gus Dudgeon, using original master tapes and digital processing equipment at 20-bit resolution. According to Dudgeon (ICE newsletter, January 1996), the results are "100% better" than the two previous American CD issues. Personnel includes: Elton John (vocals, piano); Davey Johnstone (acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin, background vocals); Ray Cooper (whistle, vibraphone, snare drum, congas, tambourine, bells, castanets, watergong); Chester Thompson (organ); Dave Hentschel (Mellotron, ARP synthesizer); Dee Murray (bass, background vocals); Nigel Olsson (drums, background vocals); Gus Dudgeon (tambourine); Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, Jessie Mae Smith, Dusty Springfield, Carl Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Toni Tenille, Billy Hinsche (background vocals). Tower Of Power Horn Section: Lenny Pickett (soprano & tenor saxophones, clarinet); Emilio Castillo (tenor saxophone); Stephen Kupka (baritone saxophone); Mic Gillette (trumpet, trombone); Greg Adams (trumpet). Principally recorded at Caribou Ranch, Colorado. Originally released on MCA. Includes liner notes by John Tobler and Gus Dudgeon. This is part of Rocket's Elton John: The Classic Years series. Composers: Elton John; Bernie Taupin. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, keyboards); Davey Johnstone (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, synthesizer, background vocals); Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, Dusty Springfield, Toni Tennille, Carl Wilson, Jessica Smith, Bruce Johnston, Billy Hinsche (vocals, background vocals); Ray Cooper (whistling, vibraphone, drums, snare drum, congas, castanets, tambourine, percussion, bells, gong, water gong, background vocals); Lenny Pickett (clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, wind); Emilio Castillo (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Stephen "Doc" Kupka (saxophone, baritone saxophone); Stephen Kupka (baritone saxophone); Mic Gillette (trumpet, trombone, horns); Greg Adams (trumpet, horns); Tower of Power (brass, horns); Chester Thompson (organ, keyboards); Chester Thompson (organ); David Hentschel (Mellotron, keyboards, synthesizer); Dee Murray (bass guitar, background vocals); Nigel Olsson (drums, background vocals); Gus Dudgeon (tambourine); Jessie Mae Smith (background vocals). Liner Note Author: John Tobler. Recording information: Caribou Ranch, CO. Unknown Contributor Role: Ray Cooper . Arrangers: Daryl Dragon; Davey Johnstone; Del Newman. To follow up an album that pretty much couldn't be followed--the flashy and brilliant GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD--Elton John hid away in the Caribou Ranch studio outside Denver, Colorado and recorded a certified pop mish-mash. CARIBOU contains bits of arena-rock corn ("Stinker") alongside period-pop pieces that could have passed for showtunes ("Dixie Lily"), complete goofs ("Solar Prestige A Gammon") and the usual magical ballads. It's easy to overlook CARIBOU when reviewing John's '70s catalog, but to do so is to miss a couple of his greatest singles. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," which features a chorus of two Beach Boys and Toni Tenille, is a gospelly ballad completely worthy of those contributions, and the strutting "The Bitch Is Back" is rock arrogance of the highest order--it became Tina Turner's signature concert opener. CARIBOU also contains some compelling filler. Among the lesser-known tracks are the lovely ballad "Pinky," which seems to be about some sort of secret liaison, "I've Seen The Saucers," an odd little number about UFOs that happens to feature one of John's most committed vocal performances, and "Ticking," an epic ballad about a mass-murderer. Glitzy showmanship fuels Caribou and the shiny surface of the album is alluring, although only a few tracks on the record rank among John's best work. "The Bitc

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Peachtree Road: Special Collector's Edit...

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Peachtree Road: Special Collector's Edition by Elton John (CD - 11/22/2005)

"Peachtree Road: Special Collector's Edition" (11/22/2005) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Universal DistributionPersonnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Davey Johnstone (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dobro); John Jorgenson (pedal steel guitar); Walter Parazaider (tenor saxophone); Larry Klimas (baritone saxophone); Lee Loughnane (trumpet); Jimmy Pankow (trombone); Guy Babylon (Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond b-3 organ, programming); Bob Birch (bass guitar, background vocals); Nigel Olsson (drums); John Mahon (percussion, programming, background vocals); Mark Ford , Adam McKnight, Charles Bullock, Terrence Davis, L'Tanya Sheilds, Alecia Terry, M. Denise Sims, Rosalind McKinght, Todd Honeycutt (background vocals). In 2001, Elton John reconvened with longtime lyrical collaborator Bernie Taupin and recorded SONGS FROM THE WEST COAST, a collection that hearkened back to the duo's golden age in the 1970s and immediately drew comparisons to classic albums MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER and HONKY CHATEAU. Three years later, the duo went back into the studio and emerged with PEACHTREE ROAD, a record packed with the kind of rustic-sounding pop that brings to mind TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION (and whose title was inspired by John's adopted home in Georgia). Keeping it in the musical family, longtime band members Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson are aboard, with the former adding musical-director duties to his usual guitar-playing responsibilities. Showcasing a voice that's gotten deeper and richer with age, John wisely sticks to a set that is predominantly made up of ballads, ranging from the lush, "countrypolitan" stylings of "Turn the Lights Out When You Leave" to the more gospel-flavored "Answer in the Sky." John also includes "My Elusive Drug," an uplifting homage to his companion David Furnish. He takes it up a notch with "They Call Her the Cat," a sassy horn-and-harmony-driven stylistic sequel to "Honky Cat."

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Goodbye Yellow Brick... [SACD Hybrid] [C...

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Goodbye Yellow Brick... [SACD Hybrid] [CD & DVD]

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (11/25/2003) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Island Records (USA)This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, Farfisa, Mellotron); Prince Rhino (spoken vocals); Davey Johnstone (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals); Leroy Gomez (saxophone); David Hentschel (ARP synthesizer); Dee Murray (bass instrument, background vocals); Nigel Olsson (drums, congas, tambourine, background vocals); Ray Cooper (tambourine); Kiki Dee (background vocals). Liner Note Author: John Tobler. Generally regarded as Elton John's masterpiece, GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is a double-album (on one CD) that includes several of his signature songs alongside a sprawling array of lesser-known (but by no means lesser) tunes. The hits included "Bennie And The Jets," a funky, falsetto stomper; the Rolling Stonesy rocker "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting"; and the gorgeous title ballad. "Candle In The Wind," an elegy for Marilyn Monroe, which didn't become a certified hit until 14 years later, when John re-recorded it with the Melbourne Symphony. The fact that it wasn't released as a single at the time is testimony to the wealth of pop pleasures available here. The swelling, synth-fueled overture of "Funeral For A Friend" gives way to one of John's toughest guitar-rockers in an 11-minute medley. "Grey Seal" is a piano showcase with a perfect verse-chorus-verse construction. The rocking "All The Girls Love Alice" is one of the era's most overt references to lesbianism, and "Harmony," the soft ballad that closes the album, may be John's grandest melody. Willfully eclectic and packed with great music, GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD bursts with the bold energy and undeniable talent that made John a superstar.

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Tumbleweed Connection [Remaster] by Elto...

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Tumbleweed Connection [Remaster] by Elton John (CD - 10/26/2004)

"Tumbleweed Connection [Remaster]" (10/26/2004) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Universal DistributionThis is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, organ, keyboards); Mick Ronson (guitar); Caleb Quaye (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Lesley Duncan (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Mike Egan (acoustic guitar); Les Thatcher (6-string guitar, 12-string guitar); Gordon Huntley (steel guitar); Skaila Kanga (harp); Johnny Van Derek (violin); Ian Duck (harmonica); Karl Jenkins (oboe); Brian Dee (organ); Chris Laurence (acoustic bass guitar); Dee Murray (bass guitar, background vocals); Dave Glover , Herbie Flowers (bass guitar); Roger Pope (drums, percussion); Nigel Olsson (drums, background vocals); Barry Morgan (drums); Robin Jones (congas, tambourine); Dusty Springfield, Madeline Bell, Sunny Leslie, Tony Burrows, Tony Hazzard, Kay Garner, Sue Glover, Tammy Hunt (background vocals). Liner Note Authors: Gus Dudgeon; John Tobler. Recorded in the charmed period between the initial success of ELTON JOHN and superstar extravaganzas like GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD, TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION, a loose concept album about the American West, was a strange, sideways move for Elton John and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. A album in the traditional sense, it is best heard as a piece, with songs that pick up and expand on each other's moods and settings. Notice, for example, the progression of characters from the young fighter waving "My Father's Gun," to the retired and forgotten "Talking Old Soldiers," to the protagonist of "Where To Now St. Peter?," shot down by "a sweet young foreign gun" and ready to be judged by his maker. The mood holds from the sepia-toned LP cover art to John's songwriting, influenced by folk and country music and by The Band's MUSIC FROM BIG PINK. Among the songs it introduced were "Country Comfort," which Rod Stewart covered on GASOLINE ALLEY, and "Come Down In Time," later done by both Judy Collins and Sting. Though the rollicking piano epic "Burn Down The Mission" and "Amoreena" became FM-radio and concert staples, TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION remains the only John studio album without a hit single, a fact that doesn't affect the impact of this excellent country-rock outing.

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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John ...

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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John (CD - 11/25/2003)

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (11/25/2003) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Island Records (USA)This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players. Generally regarded as Elton John's masterpiece, GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is a double-album (on one CD) that includes several of his signature songs alongside a sprawling array of lesser-known (but by no means lesser) tunes. The hits included "Bennie And The Jets," a funky, falsetto stomper; the Rolling Stonesy rocker "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting"; and the gorgeous title ballad. "Candle In The Wind," an elegy for Marilyn Monroe, which didn't become a certified hit until 14 years later, when John re-recorded it with the Melbourne Symphony. The fact that it wasn't released as a single at the time is testimony to the wealth of pop pleasures available here. The swelling, synth-fueled overture of "Funeral For A Friend" gives way to one of John's toughest guitar-rockers in an 11-minute medley. "Grey Seal" is a piano showcase with a perfect verse-chorus-verse construction. The rocking "All The Girls Love Alice" is one of the era's most overt references to lesbianism, and "Harmony," the soft ballad that closes the album, may be John's grandest melody. Willfully eclectic and packed with great music, GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD bursts with the bold energy and undeniable talent that made John a superstar.

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Fox (remastered)

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Fox (remastered)

"Fox [Remaster]" (05/05/2003) Rock & Pop John, Elton, Universal DistributionPersonnel: Elton John (vocals, piano); Ritchie Zito, Tim Renwick, Steve Lukather (guitar); Micky Raphael (harmonica); Jim Horn (alto saxophone); James Newton Howard (organ, Rhodes, vocoder, synthesizer, programming); David Paich (synthesizer); Dee Murray (bass, background vocals); Reggie McBride (bass); Nigel Olsson, Alvin Taylor (drums); Stephanie Spruill (tambourine, background vocals); Jeff Porcaro (percussion, drum programming); Roger Linn (drum programming); Vanette Gloud, Tamara Matoesian, Bill Champlin, Gary Osbourne, Max Gronenthal, James Gilstrap, John Lehman, Carl Carwell, Roy Galloway, Oren Waters, Ronald Baker, Chuck Cissel, Clarence Ford, Colette Bertrand, Rev. James Cleveland, Cornerstone Baptist Church Choir (background vocals). Recorded at Superbear Studios, Nice, France and Sunset Lounge, Los Angeles, California between August 1979 & March 1980. Edition contains remastered tracks, enhanced packaging and sleevenotes by John Tobler. Like David Bowie, Elton John made himself over in the 1980s from his over-the-top glam-rocker image to one that was less theatrical, more refined, even slick. The music was affected as well, as the '80s saw Elton flirting with disco, new wave, and several lyricists. He also flirted with danger, dropping some of the more obvious trappings of the Me Decade (the big glasses, for example) but remaining perilously close to its hedonistic excesses. His principal songwriting partners on THE FOX were the sometimes-estranged Bernie Taupin, and Gary Osborne. Production duties fell to Chris Thomas, who produced successful records for cutting-edge bands of the moment like the Pretenders. There's a bit more piano on this record than on some previous releases, such as on the opener, "Breaking Down the Barriers," which barrels forward on the strength of Elton's propulsive keyboard, and "Heart in the Right Place," which has the bite of some of Elton's early angry songs. The disco-tinged "Nobody Wins" did moderately well as a single, but "Chloe" is the stand-out track, a classic Elton ballad which should have been a big hit.

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Elton John, Borders.com in Rock & Pop Music

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