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Post by BiteUrLip on Apr 30, 2020 17:31:56 GMT
Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Bernie Taupin
Piano, harpsichord and mellotron: Elton John
Bass: Dee Murray
Drums: Nigel Olsson
ARP synthesizer: Dave Hentschel
Tambourine, bells and congas: Ray Cooper
Electric guitar and acoustic guitar: Davey Johnstone
Backing vocals: Davey Johnstone, Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson
I used to know this old scarecrow
He was my song, my joy and sorrow
Cast alone between the furrows
Of a field no longer sown by anyone
I held a dandelion
That said the time had come
To leave upon the wind
Not to return
When summer burned the earth again
Cultivate the freshest flower
This garden ever grew
Beneath these branches
I once wrote such childish words for you
But that's okay
There's treasure children always seek to find
And just like us
You must have had
A once upon a time
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Post by BiteUrLip on Apr 30, 2020 17:32:59 GMT
My 2nd favorite song from the album. I was thinking which one should I give, 5 or 5+, it is very close to the latter after all.
5 stars.
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Post by dougs on May 1, 2020 5:52:58 GMT
"Curtains" from CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY:
Elton & Bernie's autobiographical CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY was partly written onboard the SS France in the early summer of 1974 and at Caribou Studios in July & August of 1974 and didn't see release until May of 1975 - almost a full year later. The album was written and recorded in sequence, the same order which appears on the album culminating with the epic "Curtains" as the closing song. "Curtains" cleverly includes references in the lyric to some of Elton & Bernie's earliest songs written together; references to "Scarecrow" and "A Dandelion Dies in the Wind" appear in the song. Elton sings "Curtains" so gently and beautifully..."I used to know this old Scarecrow, he was my song..." The music starts gently and quietly as well building dramatically and ends with Nigel incorporating every drum fill in his arsenal; Nigel commented that "every drum fill that I ever played is in that whole song." It was a performance that had to be done correctly all the way through the lengthy song or it was do it all over again to get the recording right. The song, being autobiographical, had Elton singing about his own experiences, it is no wonder a song like "Curtains" excels musically and emotionally. Davey found that harmonizing with Elton during "Curtains" was "probably one of the most explosive things ever to happen to me in my music career." Nigel stated years after recording "Curtains" and CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY that "when I listen to that record now, it kind of brings tears to my eyes." To add to the power of "Curtains" was absolutely superb production from Gus Dudgeon. Everything gelled for both the song and album, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY became the first album in history to go to #1 immediately upon release selling 1.4 million copies in its first 4 days! No wonder it became the #1 album of the year (1975) in Canada.
Elton played "Curtains" including a stunning up-tempo rocking outro at his well-known 1975 Wembley Stadium London concert shortly after the album's release. "Curtains" was played throughout the 1975 and portions of the 1976 tour plus at a select few shows in 1993. Elton then brought the song back for a few concerts at the start of the 1997 BIG PICTURE tour and then for the 40th anniversary concerts of the album in Atlanta, Boston, and New York in 2005. "Curtains" might be an ideal way to end Elton's FAREWELL concerts but since most fans seem only to know and/or remember his singles the song might not get the recognition is deserves. It is a classic Elton & Bernie song with a band that played so well together and had a producer at the top of his game, as well.
Rating: 5 1/2 stars
Doug
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Post by rocketman on May 2, 2020 15:54:54 GMT
4 stars...Everything DougS so informatively wrote about this song is true. I can only add that I rate the song as only 4 stars, because, while I certainly think it's good, I usually find myself mostly engaged by the rousing ending, thanks mainly to Nigel and the band's vocal harmonies. It's quite stirring. Unfortunately, the rest of the song usually tests my patience as I wait for the end - in some ways, the effect is similar with Someone Saved My Life Tonight, a song I'd rate more highly, but one that has almost the exact characteristic slow build culminating in a powerful vocal and drum send-off.
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Post by BiteUrLip on May 3, 2020 12:36:56 GMT
4 stars...Everything DougS so informatively wrote about this song is true. I can only add that I rate the song as only 4 stars, because, while I certainly think it's good, I usually find myself mostly engaged by the rousing ending, thanks mainly to Nigel and the band's vocal harmonies. It's quite stirring. Unfortunately, the rest of the song usually tests my patience as I wait for the end - in some ways, the effect is similar with Someone Saved My Life Tonight, a song I'd rate more highly, but one that has almost the exact characteristic slow build culminating in a powerful vocal and drum send-off. I've always wondered why SSMLT didn't use the same type of powerful drumming as "Curtains" did. Were they trying to keep it simple so that it would've been more radio friendly? I have many ideas to make the drum track better, IMO.
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Post by Commodore Orpington on May 3, 2020 17:04:06 GMT
It's quiet and inoffensive for awhile, since you can barely hear it, but then the "lum de lum day go"s start. I have to bail out on the onslaught of cuteness. It's more interesting on the live disc.
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Post by newloneranger on May 3, 2020 18:25:00 GMT
Nice ending song for the album.
5 stars
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