Elton John - Elton John (Dlx) (Exp) (Dig)
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Free Music Notes for Elton John (Dlx) (Exp) (Dig)
Free Music Review: Essential Early Elton
Hit: 5 Stars
Though Elton John's eponymous album does not reach the creative heights achieved by the follow-up Tumbleweed Connection, it still makes the listener wonder how someone could achieve so much early on and survive shifting musical tastes to remain a superstar into his 60s. What brings this into five-star territory is the quality and value added by the inclusion of the bonus disc.
With this special edition, you get nearly two hours of music and an attractive, informative booklet containing pictures, album info, lyrics for the original ten songs, and commentary on the development of EJ's early career.
My favorite songs on the first disc are classics: Your Song, I Need You To Turn To, Sixty Years On, and The King Is Dead. I also like the idealistic Border Song and The Cage. On the bonus disc, my favorite rare cuts are both versions of Grey Seal. I also enjoyed demo versions of the same songs I most liked on the first disc. Like another reviewer, I noticed the tape wobble on The Greatest Discovery and wonder why it had not been noticed and fixed.
For some reason, I never bought this album in high school although I bought Empty Sky, Tumbleweed Connection, and Madman Across the Water. But as they say, better late than never. I am delighted to own this now and you will be too.
Free Music Review: Elton John's Breakthrough Gets The "Deluxe" Treatment
Hit: 5 Stars
"Elton John"(aka The Black Album)was the one that brought him to the big time,hitting #4 on the Billboard chart and gave him and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin their first major hit "Your Song",which remains one of Sir Elton's signature songs.It was first to be produced by Gus Dudgeon and to include Paul Buckmaster's string arrangements.It contains great classic songs ranging from the R&B and gospel-influenced "Take Me To The Pilot","The Cage" and "Border Song"(which was covered by Aretha Franklin),to the dramatic,heavily orchestrated "The King Must Die","The Greatest Discovery","I Need You To Turn To" and "Sixty Years On".This Deluxe Edition contains a stunning 2008 remastering of the original album(done by Giovanna Scatola and Tony Cousins at Metropolis Mastering)which surpasses all the previous masters,plus a second disc containing superb piano demos,singles and BBC sessions from the period including 3 previous unreleased songs "Thank You Mama","All The Way From El Paso" and "I'm Going Home".For EJ fans,this is truly essential stuff.Free Music Review: Another Notch Up For Elton
Hit: 5 Stars
When Elton John's catalogue was remixed previously, the sound quality improved and bonus tracks were added, making the purchase well worth it. The new Deluxe Edition version of the Elton John Album has the previously mentioned bonuses -- plus! Gems include three live tracks from BBC Radio appearances (Border Song, Your Song and Take Me To the Pilot) plus Elton's demo and/or piano only versions of the other tracks on the disc.
It's a must for Elton fans. . .and for those who want a look at the genesis of some of these classic songs.
Free Music Review: Amazing CD!
Hit: 5 Stars
Simply an amazing CD with so many extraordinary and beautiful songs. A must have for your ears and your soul.Free Music Review: Glaring Error Makes You Wonder
Hit: 3 Stars
First the good news.... the quantity and relative (sound) quality of the bonus tracks, especially since they include three never-before-heard titles, one of which I could imagine being finished off and fitting in on the original LP ("I'm Going Home"). It's great how Elton vocalizes the orchestral parts on the demo for "The Greatest Discovery"... (but with all the computer technology available today, couldn't they have done something about the tape glitch that shows up at 3:04?) And I love the laugh-fit that breaks out at the end of the "band demo" of "Rock and Roll Madonna".
Not-so-good-news.... there's no detailed info at all about the demo's, etc. (dates, locations... anything), with the exception of the three "BBC Sessions" tracks. Speaking of which (this is where the "glaring error" mentioned above comes in).... the supposed "BBC Session" of "Your Song" is actually the original hit version, just with the orchestra removed (unless you listen real close in spots). Which is fine by me.... I like hearing a stripped-down "band only" version of the same vocal recording I've heard hundreds of times over the years with all the strings, etc. If it had been a BBC version it would probably be the same performance that was shown on VH1 Classic awhile back. My question is, how many people listened to these tracks when this was being put together, and how could none of them have picked up on the mix-up? (I guess the same way none of the previous reviewers here seemed to notice?) Has to make you wonder about the accuracy of the liner notes as well, which has at least one problem confusing "Bad Side of the Moon" with "Rock and Roll Madonna" in the second paragraph.
Then there's the price.... definately too much for a re-release which has absolutely zero production costs to recoup, as far as the actual content (other than the mastering of the bonus disc). And the price is an especially thorny issue when you consider that many of those people purchasing this will be picking up every other release in the Elton "Classic Years - Deluxe" series. I was planning on getting the "Tumbleweed Connection" set along with this one, but I'll be holding off until I see it in the $15-$20 range somewhere. As far as the sound quality of the original album, I can't say I've noticed any improvement over the previous reissue. It's basically all about the bonus disc here.
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