Elton John - Elton John (Dlx) (Exp) (Dig)
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Free Music Notes for Elton John (Dlx) (Exp) (Dig)
Free Music Review: One of it's Kind
Hit: 5 Stars
I purchased this LP on the same day I picked up: "Tumbleweed Connection", Elton's 3rd record. These two recordings by the exact same artist, are MILES apart from each other.
The Original Album:
I had heard 3 of these tracks already before I dropped this LP on the turntable. "Your Song" was a BIG Hit Single. FM Radio was playing "Take Me To The Pilot" & "Border Song", that said, I knew a little bit going in. Nobody could be prepared from this record, it was very different in 1971 from everything else from that time period, and today the gap is even bigger between this and the current Pop Music of 2008.
Like: "Pet Sounds" or Love's masterpiece: "Forever Changes", This Elton John record, stands alone on it's own merits. Go out there, and FIND a Record that sounds like this, of this production quality and/or these arrangements. If you do find another recording as unique and great as this, run don't walk and buy a lottery ticket, for your ship has indeed come in!
From the lilting harpsichord of: "I Need You To Turn To" in all it's baroque glory, to the Rock of: "Take Me To The Pilot" onto the country music of: "No Shoestrings On Louise" into the darkness of: "First Episode At Hienton". The arrangements and production are big and small as needed for each song. The lyrics? With the exception of: "Your Song" & "The Greatest Discovery", the two most straight forward things here, I have no idea what Bernie Taupin, is about, use your imagination and the journey becomes more enjoyable.
There are ten reasons to buy this CD, and those ten songs on: "Elton John" are the answers. Each of these songs are little mini-symphonies, and they are all unique in their form and shape. Many moods and colors are presented herein...This is a vast soundscape!
The Bonus Disc:
A lot has been said and written about the big arrangements and production used on this record. Now listen to these songs as just performed with Elton's voice and piano {14 Demos}. It's rough to take a song 38 years on and bring forth a totally new version {to us, Elton played these before the LP editions}. But for me to hear: "Sixty Years On" without the dark and gloomy strings is a bit of a relevation. Elton, knew what he was going to do from the start, he knew how special this material was and he knew where he was going with it.
"Grey Seal" has been issued before, but I never get tired of hearing this one, as a demo or finished up in the studio, it is one of Bernie and Eltons greatest compositions. "Bad Side Of The Moon" is fantastic as well, and this one was a showstopper when Elton played it live in 1970."Rock And Roll Madonna" is transformed from a piano demo into a full-out rocker in three versions heard here. The BBC sessions at the end of Disc Two confirm what Elton had in store for these songs as live pieces of music, big things were gonna happen.
It would take Elton a few years to become the biggest Rock Star of the 1970's. The albums: "Don't Shoot Me" & "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" would sell many times over what this record achieved in sales. Lot's of folks start their Elton John Collection in the 1973-1975 period, not here with this 1970 Record. There is no such thing as a: "Perfect Record". Opinions are as much opposed, as they are for ANY piece of art. But, if there was something that indeed flies close to the sun, this one would shine very bright!
FIVE STARS !!!
Free Music Review: Elton John Deluxe!
Hit: 5 Stars
Another remaster,another addition to Universal's very successful "Deluxe Edition" series.Some of which have been excellent value.We have already seen "Captain Fantastic" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" given very lavish deluxe treatment.According to the extensive essay by John Tobler contained within the booklet of this double cd reissue of one of Sir Elton's career defining early 70's albums for DJM records,it has been released(along with "Tumbleweed Connection")to commemerate 40 years of recording.And what a wealth of material it contains.It's not so much how good the album sounds,it's all the extra material contained on the second disc,most of which is previously unreleased,that make these new deluxe editions a must have for any fan of Mr.John!
It's not the first remaster of course.Almost all his classic 70's back catalogue was first given a clean up in 1995 by the late Gus Dudgeon,Elton's longtime producer and collaborator.The remainder of the 70's albums and most of the 80's and 90's were finished by 2003.
And for those us who were quick enough to snap them up,six of his classic 70's albums were reissued in Hybrid SACD 5.1 by Universal America's excellent "Chronicles" series a few years back.If you have an SACD player,they are pretty nice sounding surround remixes though the Stereo layer,I believe,was the 1995 remaster(track down the deluxe edition of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and you'll understand what I'm talking about).Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (w/ Bonus DVD).
So onto the 2008 clean up.The albums themselves sound like they were recorded yesterday,very nice indeed.Universal,along with Sony use single bit technology(DSD or direct steam digital)that they created for archiving all their aging analogue back catalogue,so any remasters they have released since 2001 sound as close to the original master as possible.
The bonus tracks that were on the 1995 remasters are included on the second disc along with almost all of the album in demo form or alternate versions and some previously unreleased live radio performances.Worth the price of admission for the second disc alone.
I hope that all his classic albums get the same treatment as each one passes the big 40 anniversary.
Free Music Review: Classic first album earns a fifth star for the second disc of unreleased demos and BBC performances makes this worth getting aga
Hit: 5 Stars
First a couple of things up front--if you liked the previous remaster of this album you'll LOVE this one simply because it sounds very similar but with an extra disc of material. If you prefer the earliest edition on CD (The DJM or MCA editions), you'll probably want to keep those discs. It all comes down to preferences in sound.
Elton John's self titled second album is where the magic happened. Everything came together. That's not to slight "Empty Sky"--Elton needed a better producer and Steve Brown knew that so brought in the late Gus Dudgeon. The meat here is the original album which sounds extremely good in this remastered edition. It can't top the original DJM CD (or probably the vinyl for that matter)but the real reason you're probably buying this AGAIN is the second disc. Is it worth it? Yep.
We get Elton performing the entire album solo minus two songs ("First Episode at Hienton" and "Border Song" are missing. There are also two songs that have never been formally recorded or released in any form offically. Most of these performances have never been released and vary a bit in sound but on the whole sound extremely good given the age of the tapes, the recording environment and the fact that they were never meant to be released. . It's like sitting at a solo performance of Elton when this album was first released. We also get b-sides from the singles that were on the first remaster. Additionally, we get those piano demos as well.
One technical note to be aware of--during one song from the demo selections the original mastertape for the demos was damaged causing what sounds like a drop out and tape drag causing some distortion.
Elton does the melody for the strings vocally for the songs included on this including "The Greatest Discovery". This is essential for fans of Elton John. The BBC performances feature Elton backed by DJM labelmates Hookfoot (Caleb Quayle the guitarist in that band performed on the original album as well).
The packaging is in the digipak format used for all the Deluxe Edition CD releases. Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: Elton's First Album Finally Gets The Treatment It Deserves.
Hit: 5 Stars
When Elton John burst onto the American music scene in 1970 with his self titled debut album, it was unlike anything on the scene, and it proved to be what was sorely needed after the breakup of The Beatles earlier in the year. Elton's album combined pure rock with folklore influenced lyrics, gospel stylings, and heavy orchestral arrangements to create an ambitious debut (at least for America - "Empty Sky" had been released in the U.K. the previous year) whose creativity still holds up today.
To commemorate this wonderful album, which surely ranks among the best Elton ever recorded, a wonderfully remastered and repackaged double disc cd has been issued, with an extra bonus disc of demos and rare cuts. The result is nothing short of excellent, as the album sounds better than ever, and the packaging is extremely attractive.
Beginning with the timeless opening chords of "Your Song," a song that has been with Elton every step of his career, it's clear that the sound on this album is lightyears ahead of the 1995 remaster. Each song bursts out of the speakers with a depth of range and volume lacking on previous issues. Paul Buckmaster's lush, haunting string arrangements on songs like "Sixty Years On," "The Greatest Discovery," and "The King Must Die" have never sounded more powerful or enveloping, while Elton's voice and piano resonate so profoundly in the mix it's like he's singing right there with you.
The bonus disc, a collection of demos and outtakes from 1969-1970, give amazing insight into Elton's already blossoming prowess as an artist. These piano / voice demos aren't mere demos. Elton sounds assured, confident and aware of his talents. He even sings the string arrangements, stressing his already vast musical experience. There are three songs - "Thank You, Mama," "All The Way Down To El Paso," and "I'm Going Home" - that are welcome additions. We also get alternate tracks from BBC sessions.
This is an excellent rerelease of a classic album.
Free Music Review: Very, very interesting...
Hit: 5 Stars
Disc 1 -
The album itself is one of his finest. I always enjoyed it more than the more popular Tumbleweed Connection and Captain Fantastic. I feel the melodies are among his strongest and the production with the orchestra was awesome. It's too bad "First Episode at Hienton" never got proper attention. It's really a gorgeous ballad and the lyrics are powerful. I don't even think EJ ever played it live. I think it's one of the gems of the album. Obviously "Sixty Years On", "The Greatest Discovery" and "The King Must Die" are standouts. As played out as "Your Song" is it's still great especially within the context of this album. A few lackluster tracks like "The Cage" and "No Shoestrings on Louise" don't take away from the 8 excellent ones. His voice is very pure here....EJ was still developing as a singer. This remaster is only slightly better than the '95 remaster. But as others have noted, this deluxe release is memorable for disc 2.
Disc 2 -
This is the draw. If you buy this edition, chances are you have the '95 remaster. But for 20 demos and unreleased tracks it's absolutely worth it. It's so cool to hear these tracks in a solo format. Just Elton and the piano...it doesn't get much better. What makes it even more interesting is that the phrasing and delivery of the vocals are quite different from the performances on the album. So the demos are overall excellent. Some of the unreleased material doesn't measure up, but they are as a whole, enjoyable. The few live tracks are very good. So to sum up, it is all very, very interesting. For the huge Elton fans I would certainly recommend it wholeheartedly. For casual fans, the '95 remaster is all you need, and at a very fair price.
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