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Post by BiteUrLip on Jul 10, 2020 14:27:33 GMT
Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Gary Osborne
I got feet sticking out of my shoes
I got heat more than I can use
I got love, I got all I need
I got soles that are wearing thin
I got holes where the rain gets in
I got you and that's enough for me
I don't care, I don't care
I don't care, I don't care
I don't care, I don't care
I don't care, long as I got your love
Clothes that are falling apart
I got a car that refuses to start
I got love, I do the best I can
I got bills piling up in the hall
I got paint peeling off the wall
I got you, I'm a happy man
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Post by BiteUrLip on Jul 10, 2020 14:28:40 GMT
One of the better tracks from ASM. It was so disappointing that Elton didn't manage to compose better melodies now when he was doing the music first. Bernie's lyrics inspired him to compose better melodies obviously.
4½ stars.
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Post by dougs on Jul 10, 2020 16:31:06 GMT
"I Don't Care" from A SINGLE MAN:
In 1978 Elton entered the studio to work on the Bernie lyric for the song "Ego." The song didn't chart well at all and wasn't included on what would become Elton's next studio album, A SINGLE MAN, which did not feature a single Bernie lyric. Elton tapped into Gary Osborne to write the lyrics. In fact, Elton, once in the studio started to write countless melodies before any lyrics emerged. Occasionally, Elton would provide the title and some lyrics first and Gary would then fill in the blanks. This was the opposite to how Elton & Bernie had worked since the beginning in most cases. Another major change was the departure of long-time producer Gus Dudgeon. The production duties fell to friend and soundman Clive Franks as well as to Elton. A new band, so to speak, was assembled for the album and song; Tim Renwick on guitars, Steve Holly on drums, and when other plans fell through, Clive Franks filled in on bass.
"I Don't Care" is a positive upbeat piano-driven song. Added to the song was an arrangement by long-time string arranger Paul Buckmaster. "I Don't Care" shows how Elton's piano playing and joyous vocals can carry a song. It may have benefitted from better production. A bit repetitive. Still, you just have to dig that piano! Paul was impressed by the strings on "I Don't Care" stating "All these rapid flurries of machine-gun sixteenth notes from the strings. Such precision. Wow, did I write that?" One habit of Elton & Clive's was having backing vocals which bordered on screechy. This would carry on through THE FOX in 1981.
Surprisingly, Elton never played this one live. It has the feel of being an effective and energetic live tune. It would have fit nicely on his 1978-79 tours. Based on the songwriting arrangement with Gary Osborne it is difficult to determine how many of the song's words are from Elton and how many are from Gary.
Rating: 4 stars
Doug
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Post by nix on Jul 10, 2020 17:24:29 GMT
4.5 fun, catchy, funny lyrics
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Post by newloneranger on Jul 11, 2020 18:39:39 GMT
One of my favorites from this album and one of the first songs from this album that caught my ear.
4 stars
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Post by rocketman on Jul 16, 2020 20:07:07 GMT
4 stars...though I would bump it up to 4.25. DougS made some good points about this album, filled with potential from an interesting period in Elton's career. Having dumped the band concept and ceasing touring, Elton came up with an group of songs that ranged somber (Song For Guy) to frantic (Madness, Lovesick, I Don't Care). When one includes the songs that didn't make the album, including the Taupin lyric and brilliantly quirky Ego, it's a strong set of songs, with I Don't Care probably somewhere in the mid to upper part of the spectrum in terms of quality. One of the strongest characteristics is the string arrangements by long time arranger Paul Buckmaster, whose work on this album is as good as it is on any Elton John offering. The arrangements punctuate the songs rather than simply lift and fill the background.
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