Post by BiteUrLip on Jan 16, 2018 4:44:14 GMT
With the second studio album Elton was in a tough point: Empty Sky was a flop but the record company gave him another chance to make a breakthrough. This time a proper studio was rented, with producer Gus Dudgeon who would produce many albums in the future, and Paul Buckmaster to do string arrangements. And, the outcome was a success, and gave Elton's career a chance to start big, especially when he was going to perform at Troubadour nightclub in Los Angeles, US. The rest is history.
So, how good is it really? I think it deserves it's popularity. It's also one of the best albums by Elton.
Going to the individual track reviews: "Your Song", probably the most famous Elton John song, is the starter of the album. It has brilliant lyrics, which are one reason why it's so great, but musically it's wonderful too. I prefer more ambitious songs like SSMLT and "The One", but YS doesn't leave too far behind of them though. "I Need You To Turn To", the song that appeared in Live In Australia, has brilliant verses but I don't like the choruses that much. Too shy for me. "Take Me To The Pilot" is one of the bests here. Although the lyrics are nonsense, the track really has lots of energy. "No Shoe Strings On Louise" was recorded like it could have been a song by The Rolling Stones. I like it a lot as well. "First Episode At Hienton" is an outtake from Empty Sky, it's beautiful but the melody doesn't sound ambitious. It has an unique emotion though. "Sixty Years On" I like a lot because of the brilliant string arrangement by Buckmaster. "Border Song", the original first single, is more like a full band track than many others on this album. I love Elton's lyrical input in it. "The Greatest Discovery" has another brilliant lyric set by Taupin. "The Cage" is rocking, and it tries to be fun too despite of the tough lyrical subject. However I think it's the weakest track here, because some things in it irritate, although only very slightly. And then we get the final track "The King Must Die". The final words always make me smile ("long live the king"). It's dark and ambitious.
And next to the bonus tracks: "Bad Side Of The Moon" doesn't awake much emotions although I really like it a lot. "Grey Seal" original version is not as good as the one in GYBR. The GYBR is much more polished and Elton's vocals for instance are much better in that one. "Rock And Roll Madonna" would have been a filler in the album but I don't say it's crap, it's actually quite good and fun. Then the three piano demos - "Thank You Mama" is nice, but doesn't sound ambitious. "All The Way Down To El Paso" is the weakest of the piano demos, the melody doesn't sound enough good. "I'm Going Home" is the third one and I like it, although like the two other piano demos it's not anything special.
Your Song *****+
I Need You To Turn To *****
Take Me To The Pilot *****+
No Shoe Strings On Louise *****
First Episode At Hienton *****
Sixty Years On *****
Border Song *****
The Greatest Discovery *****
The Cage ****½
The King Must Die *****+
Bonus tracks:
Bad Side Of The Moon *****
Grey Seal (Original Version) ****½
Rock And Roll Madonna ****
Deluxe edition piano demos:
Thank You Mama ****
All The Way Down To El Paso ***½
I'm Going Home ****
So, how good is it really? I think it deserves it's popularity. It's also one of the best albums by Elton.
Going to the individual track reviews: "Your Song", probably the most famous Elton John song, is the starter of the album. It has brilliant lyrics, which are one reason why it's so great, but musically it's wonderful too. I prefer more ambitious songs like SSMLT and "The One", but YS doesn't leave too far behind of them though. "I Need You To Turn To", the song that appeared in Live In Australia, has brilliant verses but I don't like the choruses that much. Too shy for me. "Take Me To The Pilot" is one of the bests here. Although the lyrics are nonsense, the track really has lots of energy. "No Shoe Strings On Louise" was recorded like it could have been a song by The Rolling Stones. I like it a lot as well. "First Episode At Hienton" is an outtake from Empty Sky, it's beautiful but the melody doesn't sound ambitious. It has an unique emotion though. "Sixty Years On" I like a lot because of the brilliant string arrangement by Buckmaster. "Border Song", the original first single, is more like a full band track than many others on this album. I love Elton's lyrical input in it. "The Greatest Discovery" has another brilliant lyric set by Taupin. "The Cage" is rocking, and it tries to be fun too despite of the tough lyrical subject. However I think it's the weakest track here, because some things in it irritate, although only very slightly. And then we get the final track "The King Must Die". The final words always make me smile ("long live the king"). It's dark and ambitious.
And next to the bonus tracks: "Bad Side Of The Moon" doesn't awake much emotions although I really like it a lot. "Grey Seal" original version is not as good as the one in GYBR. The GYBR is much more polished and Elton's vocals for instance are much better in that one. "Rock And Roll Madonna" would have been a filler in the album but I don't say it's crap, it's actually quite good and fun. Then the three piano demos - "Thank You Mama" is nice, but doesn't sound ambitious. "All The Way Down To El Paso" is the weakest of the piano demos, the melody doesn't sound enough good. "I'm Going Home" is the third one and I like it, although like the two other piano demos it's not anything special.
Your Song *****+
I Need You To Turn To *****
Take Me To The Pilot *****+
No Shoe Strings On Louise *****
First Episode At Hienton *****
Sixty Years On *****
Border Song *****
The Greatest Discovery *****
The Cage ****½
The King Must Die *****+
Bonus tracks:
Bad Side Of The Moon *****
Grey Seal (Original Version) ****½
Rock And Roll Madonna ****
Deluxe edition piano demos:
Thank You Mama ****
All The Way Down To El Paso ***½
I'm Going Home ****