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Post by bobbyford on Feb 15, 2018 20:07:06 GMT
Hey all, good to be back and talking about Elton!
My favourite album is The Diving Board. It always used to be a toss-up between Tumbleweed Connection and Captain Fantastic. But if I could only take one onto a desert island with me, it would be The Diving Board without question. Ideally with '5th Avenue' included as a bonus track. I just love the variety in it - the abstract stories, some of Bernie's best lyrics, the bare-bones framework with the other musicians, T-Bone's magic touch. I think it has some of Elton's best piano moments - especially during the verses where he'd usually just be playing straight chords. I'm so glad this got album got made during the period that I was a fan - I wasn't even close to being born when my other two favourites were made lol
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Post by BiteUrLip on Feb 15, 2018 21:24:33 GMT
Welcome on board, BobbyFord!
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Post by Commodore Orpington on Mar 10, 2018 6:58:43 GMT
Welcome bf!
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Post by dougs on Nov 10, 2019 8:57:13 GMT
Favourite EJ album?
I voted ages ago for CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY as my favourite EJ album but BLUE MOVES keeps sneaking up.
Interestingly enough, when I got CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY in 1976 (about 9 months after its release) it wasn't an album that became my favourite immediately. It took several years but since probably around 1980-82 it has remained my favourite Elton album. The main reason is that I find all 10 songs interesting and they hold together with a cohesiveness unlike any other Elton album - for me. The playing and singing are solid across all of the tracks as is the songwriting. I can spend a full listen through and focus in on only Dee's bass playing because it is such a joy to listen to. I can listen once more this time listening to Nigel's drumming only...and so on. Gene Page's arrangement on "Tell Me When The Whistle Blows" floors me every time. Gus Dudgeon's production is superb; all instruments can be heard. Elton & Bernie's story is interesting and the lyrics clearly inspired Elton. Everything about CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY worked for me. Added bonus was the incredible packaging which they faithfully re-created with the recent 180 gram vinyl re-release of the album.
In recent years BLUE MOVES has grown a little more and more on me. It has always been in my top 5 Elton records but may now be #2 or #3. Songs like "Chameleon" and "The Wide-Eyed and Laughing" are now favourites. Side 1 of BLUE MOVES (on vinyl) is maybe my favourite side of Elton music to go with side 1 of GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD. I love tracks like "Boogie Pilgrim" and "Crazy Water" on side 2 of that first disc as well. The only thing with BLUE MOVES is that its eclectic moody songs (sides 3 & 4) are all over the place tempo-wise and genre-wise; it makes the listening quite interesting but it is miles away from the cohesiveness of CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY. Love both albums.
Doug
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