Elton John - Rare Masters

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Free Music Notes for Rare Masters

Free Music Review: Amazing
Hit: 5 Stars

The first disc features Elton's first two singles released in 1968, "I've Been Loving You" and "Here's To The Next Time". Neither song is in vein of Elton's later material, and Elton's lyrics on both songs are proof he needed Bernie Taupin. Both songs are, however, proof that Elton could write a good melody.
Other early songs, namely "Lady Samantha" and "It's Me That You Need", are more in line with Elton's later work, and they're evidence that Elton had a bright future ahead of him. "Bad Side Of The Moon" and "Grey Seal" are two of Elton's best early songs, both featuring revolutionary and very powerful arrangments by Paul Buckmaster, who crafts some of his best orchestral work on these songs. Most of the songs on the "Friends" soundtrack are pure filler, the only good ones being the ones with Elton singing. The title track is one of my favorite Elton songs, with a simple melody by Elton and an uplifting and powerful lyric by Taupin. "Can I Put You On" has some tasty guitar parts, and would have fit well on the "Tumbleweed Connection" album. "Michelle's Song" is a somber and gentle tune with a delicate melody by Elton and simple yet powerful lyrics by Taupin. "Seasons" is one of Elton's best ballads and deserves the recognition it should have got back in 1971. And "Honey Roll" is a funky rocker wth a thumping piano intro and gospel-flavored harmonies. The instrumentals, though, are just well-written garbage.

The second disc has an abundance of great tunes. An alternate, more daring and haunting take of "Madman Across The Water" that deserved to be put on the original 1971 album of the same name. On this disc, Elton plays with lots of energy. He's more experimental here, too, performing songs that are quietly powerful ( "Planes" ), hauntingly beautiful ( "Skyline Pigeon "), and pure rock/gospel rave-up ( "Rock Me When He's Gone" ). It's a nice treat to here his overlooked holiday masterpiece "Step Into Christmas" again. It's a great tune that's yet to be heard, and I was delighted to here it being played on WPLJ the other day. He also does a hauntingly beautiful cover of John Lennon's aching "One Day At A Time", and he and Lennon join forces for a scorching live performance of "I Saw Her Standing There" recorded at Madison Square Garden. Elton's beautiful version of the Kiki Dee-penned ballad "Sugar On The Floor" is performed the way it should be, with just Elton's piano and his aching vocal. These are masterpieces that have yet to be discovered by more than just hardcore Elton fans such as myself.

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