Elton John Music Discussion
 

Elton John fan anyone?

I've been a huge fan of his since I first saw him performed "Daniel" on Top Of The Pops and I haven't looked back since.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4VZV736p_4


His album run from 1970-1975 was brilliant, what do you all think of Elton?

I wouldn't call myself an Elton John fan, per se.

But there are a few albums I like from him, notably the self titled album, Honky Chateau, and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. He waned for me around 1974 when he went a little more over the top but even then ballads like Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me and Someone Saved My Life Tonight have something to offer.

Is it safe to say Elton is among your favorite artists, Sly?

If I were to do a top 10 favourite artists of all time list, Elton John would make it on the list, so yes he's one of my favourites...

I can see what you mean regarding 1974, Caribou was terrible lol...

I came in at the very beginning with Elton. Well, not technically... his first album, Empty Sky, was not released in this country until about the same time as Caribou. The self-titled album was the first one available here, and it's fair to say that hearing that album was a life-changing album for me. It's still my favourite Elton album, and one of my favourite albums of all time.

For several years I was a little obsessed with Elton, and picked up nearly all the albums. This period came to an end in about 1976, from which point his music started to get less interesting, with only the occasional exception. I do think he had a brief late creative resurgence with The One, but it's mostly his early stuff that I love.

Favourite albums:

1st tier:

Elton John
Caribou
Honky Chateau
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Capt Fantastic

2nd tier:

Empty Sky
Tumbleweed Connection
Don't Shoot Me...
Blue Moves

Two albums that I never warmed to in this period were Madman Across the Water, and Rock of the Westies.

He is also a really good showman, and always manages to ensure that you get something from a live concert that you don't get just from owning the CDs. I've seen him perform 4 or 5 times, the most memorable being the 1975 extravaganza at Wembley Stadium in UK, at which he topped a bill that included The Eagles, The Beach Boys, and Joe Walsh.

I think its safe to say that anyone would prefer his early 70s stuff, that was his peak after all, I think his late career resurgence project, Songs From The West Coast is a brilliant record (check it out if you haven't). You must be age or older since you saw him live. I saw him live in Earls Court in 76 with my dad (born in 63)

Elton John was probably the most popular artists in the United States during a pretty good chunk of my childhood.

Funny story. When I was in fourth grade (1972), our music teacher let us bring records in to play. I brought in Levon and everyone held their noses. A year later (Crocodile Rock sent him through the stratosphere here), everyone was worshipping the guy. Kids are so fickle :laughing:

EJ was fantastic through Yellow Brick Road. After that he went to generic pop tunes and became sort of meh.

Lying on a sunbed where they have piped music radio and there's some new collaboration of Sacrifice and Rocket Man done to a pop rhythm and I'm shocked and appalled and just think two words.

Why? And... NO!

Elton John related story. I went to the Caribou ranch auction a few years back where they were selling of items from the caribou ranch recording studio (now gone) that Elton recorded at for several albums including caribou. Before i went i bid online for a monitor Elton purchased so he could use it for playback in the studio. When i showed up at the auction i found the speaker and realized it was the size of a small car and woyld have taken up my entire basement. I was so relieved when i got outbid. Anyways, I love Elton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eyjBBcUO9k

Dude's a beast and isn't given enough due from the snobs.