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Post by BiteUrLip on May 19, 2021 17:43:27 GMT
Live At Royal Festival Hall, 1974.
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Post by BiteUrLip on May 19, 2021 17:43:55 GMT
A good one, though I think the studio version is slightly better.
4½ stars.
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Post by dougs on May 20, 2021 2:13:24 GMT
"Border Song" - Live at Royal Festival Hall in 1974 from HERE AND THERE:
Elton performed a benefit concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London on May 18, 1974 in the presence of Princess Margaret. The show took a chronological approach with "Border Song" appearing early with only Dee on bass and Nigel on drums and Elton on piano, of course. Davey would be introduced a bit later as would Ray Cooper. This was the line-up (Dee & Nigel) which played the song live in the earliest days. This version of "Border Song" in 1974 starts out gently with just EJ on piano. Dee comes in during the 2nd verse and Nigel comes in during the chorus and the song is delivered with some muscle. Nice version. This live in 1974 version made its appearance on record in 1976 when Elton released his live HERE AND THERE album which was essentially released to honour his contract obligations to the record company - Dick James. The A-side (HERE) of the album was the London concert where "Border Song" appears and the B-side (THERE) was his New York Thanksgiving Day concert. HERE AND THERE was re-released with in 1995-96 with 25 songs (John Lennon included) compared to the 1976 10-song release.
"Border Song" was played in concert fairly frequently by Elton in 1970 and 1971 with Dee & Nigel, a few more times in 1972, 1974, and 1975. It was almost never played between 1976 and 1998 but EJ brought it back especially for his solo tours from 1999 onwards and then surprisingly, for the FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD tour where he introduces the song by saying that the black & white video accompanying the song features people who inspired him during his life & career with a special story and nod to Aretha Franklin. Elton plays it solo.
"Border Song" which was from Elton's 1970 self-titled album was released as a single. It didn't chart in his home country (the UK), only hit #92 in the US but scored some success in Canada (#34) and the Netherlands (#25). Aretha Franklin's version hit #37 in the US which was great exposure for EJ & BT but not exactly a monster hit for the Queen of Soul. Aretha's version did hit #5 on the US R&B charts, however.
This live in London version of "Border Song" from 1974 is a faithful and solid version of the song.
Rating: 4 1/2 to 5 stars
Doug
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Post by newloneranger on May 30, 2021 6:21:56 GMT
Nice version of this song.
4 1/2 stars
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Post by rocketman on May 31, 2021 16:22:24 GMT
4 stars....good, though not up to the studio version, because this song lends itself well to a choral treatment as it's rendered in the studio.
Border Song also makes for interesting trivia, since few people realize that it was the first single from the album Elton John. Most people would guess Your Song was the initial offering. The fact that Border Song barely charted, as DougS points out, certainly is the over-riding factor in its relative obscurity, at least in relation to Your Song. The fact that it's included on Elton John's Greatest Hits was puzzling to me when I had first bought the album in 1974, since I had never heard the song.
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