Solar Prestige A Gammon

[BiteUrLip]

Music: Elton John

Lyrics: Bernie Taupin

Piano: Elton John

Bass: Dee Murray

Drums: Nigel Olsson

Acoustic guitars: Davey Johnstone

Vibes: Ray Cooper

Clarinets and soprano sax: Lenny Pickett

ARP Synthesizer: Dave Hentschel

Oh ma cameo molesting

Kee pa a poorer for tea

Solar prestige a gammon

Lantern or turbert paw kwee


Solar prestige a gammon

Kool kar kyrie kay salmon

Hair ring molassis abounding

Common lap kitch sardin a poor floundin


Cod ee say oo pay a loto

My zeta prestige toupay a floored

Ray indee pako a gammon

Solar prestige a pako can nord

[BiteUrLip]

I guess this was a half joke from EJ/BT. It is somewhat funny, but it also annoys slightly.

3 stars.

[dougs]

"Solar Prestige A Gammon" from CARIBOU:

Elton knew that this song was going to be met by criticism and he was, mostly, correct.  Elton said "This is one of my bright ideas that Bernie is going to get crucified for."  Elton went on to say that "Solar Prestige A Gammon" was inspired by the Beatles song "Sun King."  Elton wanted to throw a song like this at the critics who, he felt, spent too much time dissecting the meanings behind Bernie's lyrics.  He wanted a song with primarily English words but no meaning.  He got it!  The song has no meaning but, interestingly, has several types of fish (eg. cod, salmon, etc.) within the lyric!  Musically it has an Italian vibe with some operatic vocals from EJ.  It is a nice jaunty little song but coming after the epic GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD album, critics and fans alike may have been looking for something more substantial.  Still, there is a sense of humour to "Solar Prestige A Gammon" and solid enough musicianship. Maybe it would have been better served as a B-side.  Some fans prefer session outtakes such as "Cold Highway" and "Sick City" as candidates for CARIBOU rather than "Solar Prestige A Gammon."

Elton did dig this one up in 1977 to play at The Rainbow in London.  There is some indication that he also played it at Earl's Court London in 1976.  Apparently, EJ has not played it since.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars (music deserves a bit more, lyrics a bit less!)

Doug

[nix]

3
fun song... trying so hard to suck, but don't succeed much

[Commodore Orpington]

I love it. I think I can rattle off the lyrics from memory. Like everything on side 1 of Caribou, this is euphoric, effortless pop music writing. It just flowed from him at this point.

I don't get people who are irritated at nonsense lyrics, no matter how good the wordplay, and prefer anything else, even generic cookie cutter "I love you baby" lyrics.

[newloneranger]

I prefer this to Sick City and Cold Highway. Kind of a fun song.

4 stars

[rocketman]

4 stars...Quirky, engaging, and certainly fun. It's actually aged quite well, and like much of this album, it looks better in the rear view mirror when we look at what the Caribou album was and was not at the time. No, it wasn't GBYBR, and it wasn't Captain Fantastic either. Instead, it sits between those two epic albums as an almost one-off change of pace, much like Rock Of The Westies, which sits between Captain Fantastic and the double album Blue Moves. Elton's career is dotted with such albums, refreshing changes of scenery in the Elton John album landscape.