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Elton John - Elton John by Elton John Audio CD

A fair review of the Elton John "Elton John by Elton John" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Elton John reviews here, or go back to the Elton John tabs.

Elton John Band: Elton John
Title: Elton John by Elton John
Rating:
Release Date: 1996-02-20
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Your Song 2: I Need You to Turn To 3: Take Me to the Pilot 4: No Shoe Strings on Louise 5: First Episode at Hienton 6: Sixty Years On 7: Border Song 8: Greatest Discovery 9: Cage 10: King Must Die 11: Bad Side of the Moon [*] 12: Grey Seal [*] 13: Rock N Roll Madonna [*]

Favorite Early Album by Sir Elton, It's Just Fantastic!
There just are no weak tracks on it in my opinion. Elton John - Elton John I (1970) (*****) 13 tracks (50:53)

Elton John's first official US release is one of the only Elton John albums that I can honestly say I really like every single song on it. This is the album that really got me interested in exploring more of Elton's early work. After hearing this album enough to really get into it, I realized that there must be much more unknown music of his besides what I had previously only heard on the radio or off his greatest hits album.

This version was also the first of the Island records re-masters that I bought. The old original MCA version that I had was known to have excessive tape hiss on it, so I wanted to compare the two. Honestly, it's like night and day, literally. The background of the re-master is completely quiet, a much needed improvement! Now, as the bonus material goes, it is kind of hit and miss. It really doesn't add much to the original album. Bad Side of the Moon is a good song, but the two other tracks, an alternate version of Grey Seal and Rock and Roll Madonna are kind of mediocre. Still, over-all, this is a 5-star album.
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Elton's breakthrough album
The tracks for this album are dated January 1970, but only ten of them appeared on the original album. Elton's recordings prior to this, especially the Empty sky album, are interesting, but this is the album that catapulted him into the big time, where he has remained ever since. Other tracks were released as singles. This re-mastered edition includes four bonus tracks taken from the original sessions.

The first single, Border song, made the American charts but became a bigger hit for Aretha Franklin, who thus became the first singer as far as I know to have a hit with a cover of an Elton John song. Elton's own follow-up to Border song was a UK-only single coupling two tracks (Rock and roll Madonna, Grey seal) that were omitted from the original album, but which are included here. Elton later re-recorded Grey seal for his classic album Goodbye yellow brick road, but the version here is his rarer first recording of the song.

The next single was Your song, released in America following impressive live performances there. The B-side of that single, Take me to the pilot, features lyrics that even their writer Bernie Taupin admits are meaningless. He sometimes does that sort of thing but points out that the words sound good together and that's what matters. Yet Bernie was also capable of writing meaningful lyrics of a high quality, and his best songs all share that chat eristic. While the best example here is Your song, others include The greatest discovery (about the birth of a baby), Sixty years on (reflecting on what the future might offer; about forty of those sixty have so far elapsed) and First episode at Hienton (inspired by a time in Bernie's youth).

This was a great album, but even greater albums were to follow in the ensuing years.


A Classic
Also, the remastering is perfect, removing the entire, horrible tape hiss. Simply stated, this is EJ's classic debut and not a dud track. If not Sir Elton, then someone had the original master tapes to do the job right. Audiophiles will not be disappointed.


Glorious re-discovery in fabulous remastered version
Recently, I purchased the remastered version and what a glorious re-discovery. Like many, I discovered Elton John through the wonderful lyrics and singing of Your Song on a 45 and rather dismissed the album. The new version brings out the lusciousness of the sound, with its use of an orchestra and a choir that enhances many fine pieces, such as the lovely the Greatest Discovery. While lyrics on Take Me to the Pilot seem absurdly dated, such songs as the Border Song remain very much present with its still much needed cry for tolerance and I Need You to Turn To and of course Your Song remain two of Elton John's greatest love songs. And this is where Elton John really became known and his collaboration with Bernie Taupin started to flourish so three thumbs up. Go buy this remastered version, throw away the old vinyl or cassette, and hear it as it sounded crisp and beautifully melodic and so fresh. .


My Greatest Discovery
Not to be missed! If you are a huge fan you might want to buy the 2-disc special edition. This is it! Perfect from start to finish, from the heard-it-zillions-of-times-and-still-moves-me Your Song to The King Must Die! As a kid I used to wonder how could someone (Bernie Taupin) write such powerful lyrics and hearing the Greatest Discovery again brings me back those teenage memories. Enjoy it 60 years on! .


You can see a complete list of all Elton John discography, or go back to the Elton John tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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