I am agnostic on Elton John.
I grew up through his imperial phase when LPs like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road were carpet-bombing the international charts and the John-Taupin axis occupied the singles Top 10. However, facile stuff like the maudlin Daniel just irritated me. And why Taupin is supposed to be such a great lyric writer defeats me. BUT….
Like Queen, EJ has had some stonking highlights. My nomination for his best is this. What’s yours?
Mousey says
Not sure if it’s the best, but I always loved this – from, as you describe so exquisitely, his “imperial period”.
Lost in amongst the better known songs from GYBR but a beautiful melody.
“Harmony”
Bartleby says
Agree entirely. Always loved that song. Wonderfully sparse chords, beautifully matches Bernie’s ‘muse’.
Paul Wad says
That’s always been one of my favourites too, along with It’s Me That You Need and I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues. Of his faster ones I’d choose I’m Still Standing and of his more recent ones, I Want Love. In fact, the album that came from, Songs From The West Coast, is probably my favourite of his albums. His albums of the past 15 years have been great and way underappreciated.
Ainsley says
Another up for Harmony from me. There are several overlooked classics on GYBR – I love Roy Rodgers as well
Goodbye from Madman is almost a throwaway ending to the album but its just brilliant
metal mickey says
I’m an “agnostic” too, but there’s much to admire about EJ, certainly the “early years”, when he was ridiculously prolific, averaging an album every 9 months (including two doubles) between Empty Sky in 1969 and Blue Moves in 1976. I also like that he plugged away as a working musician, doing publisher demos (I like his Nick Drake covers) and those Top Of The Pops album cover versions for years before “making it”…
Anyway, if you forced me to pick one track, it would be Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, though I have a personal soft spot for Daniel, one of my most Proustian-rush-inducing tracks which takes me instantly back to being an 8 year-old in 1972… and neither track is from my favourite album of his, Tumbleweed Connection.
(And isn’t there some ridiculous statistic like one in every 5 records sold in the world in 1975 was by Elton John?)
dai says
I think Danny Baker made that statistic up
minibreakfast says
I love High Flying Bird.
Bargepole says
Something earlier – Border Song
count jim moriarty says
I’ll go with that – a pearl amongst pearls.
Billybob Dylan says
That’s what I was going to say! When the choir comes in, it sends a shiver up my spine. Absolutely fabulous.
And ‘Philadelphia Freedom.’ I love that one, too.
Steve Walsh says
It’s another early song for me. Tiny Dancer.
He was a cracking but not particularly flamboyant performer then – as on this clip from OGWT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoskDZRLOCs
Carolina says
Yup, that’s my favourite too.
Carl says
Another vote for Tiny Dancer here.
But, BJB, I argue with your contention that Taupin is considered a great lyricist. I”d suggest that he has been mocked for many of his lyrics for as long as Elton has been famous.
I also like Ego which was a single that never hit the charts, but I think is one of his best.
Ainsley says
Taupin’s lyrics often (usually?) don’t stand up to any close inspection but the supreme quality of the melodies is enough to make so many of the songs perfect.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Tiny Dancer does it for me. And this scene chokes me up every time:
Harold Holt says
Put me down for this one too. Tough choice though.
Gary says
My vote goes to Someone Saved My Life Tonight.
Jackthebiscuit says
And so does mine Gary – wonderful song from a superb album.
duco01 says
I love the trio of songs that conclude “Captain Fantastic” as a wistful, melancholy diminuendo: ‘Writing’, ‘We All Fall in Love Sometimes,’ and ‘Curtains’.
ruff-diamond says
I was going to call that one – beautiful song.
Johnny Concheroo says
Best song by Elton?
It is now, and forever shall be, Your Song
count jim moriarty says
Too cheesy.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Too mossy.
Billybob Dylan says
Too green. Or is it blue?
Johnny Concheroo says
I’ve forgotten
nickduvet says
This one for me – Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
attackdog says
Yes – Honky Chateau is ‘the’ Elton John album and ‘Mellow’ is one of ‘the’ tracks – in fact there is not a duffer on it.
Yes – thats Jean-Luc Ponty playing. Almost prog!
Clive says
Wot ‘e said. Classic tune. Although Don’t Let The Sun etc is a decent second.
Twang says
I like a lot of his early stuff but probably “Daniel ” or Your song “, but I’m also thinking of “Love lies bleeding ” which kicks off GYBR after the proggy “Funeral for a friend “.
Martin S says
I’m a Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy man myself. (I like the way it builds up)
Neilo says
Take Me To The Pilot or Mona Lisa And Mad Hatters for me, Clive.
Bartleby says
Almost anything from Tumbleweed for me. I love the idea of Elton as a gun-toting border town renegade – somewhat unlikely perhaps. Anyway, Ballad of a Well Known Gun or this one, with the acrobatic prechorus vocals and the mental image of Elton hacking his way up the bayou to board the riverboat under cover of darkness, in order to enlist in the Civil War. I wonder if he remembered to pack his platforms.
duco01 says
Nice choice, Bartle.
I’ve always thought that it was Bernie Taupin who loved the idea of being a gun-toting border town renegade – and of course never more so than on ‘Tubleweed.’
Bartleby says
Quite right, of course Duc. But it’s Elton who’s bringing it to life isn’t it – Bernie’s putting these words into that (at the time) golden throat. It’s Elton who’s putting his all into bringing the image to life and so I always find the incongruity mildly amusing.
Moose the Mooche says
“Tubleweed”…. total lack of reaction to Mike Oldfield
Blue Boy says
Another vote for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. As it happens, for some reason Elton John came up in conversation they other day so I put on a greatest hits. After half an hour or so my 26 year old daughter commented on how many big songs he’d written – to both my and her surprise she knew every single one.
duco01 says
Sorry – I can’t pick just one. Here are ten enduring favourites, in alphabetical order – including a really early single from 1968, the only decent track on “Rock of the Westies,” and an under-recognised gem from ‘Blue Moves’.
Border Song
I Feel Like a Bullet (in the Gun of Robert Ford)
Lady Samantha
Love Lies Bleeding
My Father’s Gun
Skyline Pigeon
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
Sweet Painted Lady
Tell Me When the Whistle Blows
Tonight
Bartleby says
Despite intense competition, the guy’s track record and hit rate in those early years is just astounding. What a golden run.
dai says
All that 70s stuff is ok, but he peaked in the 80s with this one:
ruff-diamond says
Recorded, apparently, atop a giant mountain of coke…
BigJimBob says
I always like this one from his eighties hot streak better:
Moose the Mooche says
Not a fan – mainly I can’t get on with his voice, though as a human being he has added immeasurably to life’s rich pageant.
I love Song For Guy… for years I had no idea it was owd Reg, who only sings a couple of lines at the end.
When I was a nipper I adored Don’t Go Breaking My Heart. I was kind of in love with Kiki Dee, and the Rocket label on the single was an incidental pleasure.
Friar says
Is it Can You Feel The Love Tonight?
MC Escher says
It absolutely is.
Friar says
I’m not a fan but Rocket Man is awesome.
He was ruined for me by the awful mother of a kid I lift shared with at school singing along to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road in her Hyacinth Bucket voice. The horror.
retropath2 says
Thank you, Friar, was scrolling down to find who else knew this fact. It is a corker.
The one I sing most is Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word, but that was because of a mechanical toy dog that sang it when pressed on his button, bought one christmas. Hours of fun.
Not my film but proof it wasn’t the brown acid.
Milkybarnick says
You’re all going to hate me for posting this, but I reckon it’s bloody brilliant.
DogFacedBoy says
Hooray, someone picked this. When it turned up on TOTP the other week it was dubbed a tune and a half by all right thinking tweeters.
I’d like to throw in a mention for ‘Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters’ from his Imperial period.
bobness says
Agreed 101%.
Border Song is a good shout for me form the 70s pomp.
Neilo says
No argument from this quarter, ‘Blues’ is wonderful
Rufus T Firefly says
That’s the one I would have suggested. Its release also coincided with the end of a relationship. The song remains great but I can’t remember much about the relationship.
Moose the Mooche says
Spoken like a true Afterworder…
Rufus T Firefly says
Good point. I reckon another few glasses of wine followed by a swift transition to the Maker’s Mark and I could achieve total recall…
Bozzo The Brave says
Far too many to choose from the 70s and even 80s. Though Tell Me When The Whistle Blows is the probably the one I’d choose. In the noughties there’s still great stuff though rarer. The Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes and Home Again are terrific songs.
Dave Ross says
Too many to choose from but I’ll go with “First Episode at Hienton”
I wrote this a while ago………
colrow26 says
No mentions yet of Caribou , the follow up album to GYBR, some lovely stuff on this including Pinky and Dont Let The Sun….. also includes possibly my fave Elton track, Ticking..Elton solo tells the tale of a hostage situation that goes wrong….well worth a listen…
davidks says
Tiny Dancer or Rocket Man
Rigid Digit says
First thought would be Tiny Dancer
but …
two late period Elt are among his best (in my ears)
I Want Love
This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore
KDH says
“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” for me, with an honourable mention for “Empty Garden”.
Vincent says
So a heavy vote for Elt’s best work having been produced by 40 years ago, more or less. I don’t disagree. I am sure there is a brilliant CD of his work collating things since 1977. I like him as a person; he’s still a music fan, and enjoys his money. His gigs are supposedly OK (never taken the plunge) – his imperial period was as prolific as Bowie’s.
Tiggerlion says
I have an inexplicable fondness for Grey Seal, initially recorded as a B side, then redone for GYBR. Here’s a 1969 demo, just voice and piano. Still sounds marvellous.
Rec Room says
Beat me to it! Grey Seal for me too, although I was thinking of the heavily produced album version. Certainly gets the blood pumping. Like Philadelphia Freedom, but better.
Locust says
Well, I’m always cheered up by Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting. And I have a massive soft spot for Razor Face! (GYBR, TD etc goes without saying)
skylarkingmatt says
Three way tie:
My Father’s Gun
Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters
I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
moseleymoles says
As an agnostic leaning to unbeliever the standard greatest hits of EJ have never encouraged me to venture further, though own and like a copy of GYBR.
Have compiled a playlist of never heards from this very good thread and may even report back.
moseleymoles says
Well I’ve heard all these never heards now and sad to say nothing in them will shift my view of Reg from being a consummate musician, but so middle of the road you can see his cats eyes and double white lines down his shirt. A top greatest hits from the seventies, GYBR, and that’s enough for me. Thanks for encouraging me to venture though.
Declan says
Do appreciate his best songs ( Lady Samantha, Your Song, Rocket Man, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Tiny Dancer) but his conviction that one has to sing in an American accent has always bugged me.
Top of the pile: Rocket Man. Brilliant production by Dudgeon, gorgeous metallic sheen on the drums, doric columns of acoustic guitar, tuneful bassline, decent lyrics, #2 chart hit.
duco01 says
I remember one contributor on the old Word site quoting his least favourite Elton John line due to EJ’s heavily Americanized singing style. The line in question came from “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, namely:
“Hunting the horny back tooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaad”
And why would one wish to hunt a nasty old toad? It’s not like they’re good to eat or anything….
Bernie clearly hadn’t given the line enough thought.
SteveT says
Another vote for Tiny Dancer but I would add another couple. More than Taupin’s lyrics the impressive thing about Elton John songs is very often the melody and therefore I would nominate both Sacrifice and Can you feel the love tonight.
fishface says
crocodile rock………on the verse repeat is a VERY close harmony.
can anyone tell me who this is……on close listening I imagine its Elton multitracked, but its just slightly diferent.