As part of my research on an eighties music podcast I am doing I have been enjoying this time period in the career of Sir Reginald of Dwight.
It is an admittedly mixed bag with a few surprising gems mixed in. What is the consensus on this forgotten decade (by no less than the man himself – he barely does any numbers live from this time)?
There is a case to be made that this period is underrated in the same way his heyday seventies are a smidgen maybe overrated? Thoughts?
Here is a gem to start with (lyrics by no less than Tom Robinson)
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/elton-john-part-1-1980-1982/id1486104117?i=1000455833451
He certainly made some cracking singles in the 80s (I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues is my favourite of his songs) and a couple of the albums from early in the decade are quite good, but in the latter part of the decade his albums weren’t too clever. His most underrated period is from Songs From the West Coast in 2001 to date.
Just finished the audiobook of ‘Me’ (not bad at all, although the narration by Taryn Egerton is a bit annoying at times). Like Paul says above, some fantastic singles and albums in the 80s but as Reg recalls it, he definitely lost his way on occasion, ‘Leather Jackets’ in particular coming in for a merciless shoeing on more than one occasion.
I did an 80s Elton playlist a while back. I’m very fond of this period because it’s when I became aware of him. https://open.spotify.com/user/jasongrayson/playlist/3pphs0PEyfv2othTvFIeWg?si=7aK38c6ET1mozDYFL3xkaw
I got sick of Elt at school: the coffee bar all the big and trendy kids went to of an afternoon had Goodbye Yellow Brick Road on a loop for the entire summer of it’s release, making me sick sick sick of it, on those occasions when I tried to sneak in and blend in with the background. So, I was already off him by the early 70s. I still, sort of, respected him, buying Two Rooms, the covers tribute, one of the first of those sort of records, and keeping an eye out on TOTP in case the odd goody came out. Sorry Has To Be the Hardest Word, Sacrifice, IGTWTCIT Blues (as said above) and Don’t Let the Sun Go etc would be my tally, uncertain if any/many qualify as 80s. When he started re-releasing Your Song with every boy band on the block, and as for Candle Up Your Arse, that was it and I was off.
But have crept back with a renewed love of Madman and his book is a deffo on my Xmas list.
I’ve always liked ‘Sad Songs (Say So Much), although it might be better without the ultra-80s production.
When I saw him live a few years ago he played I’m Still Standing and I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues. Don’t think anyone would want anything else from that decade.
@dai
I’m generally of that opinion too, although this will be a thread I visit again, I suspect.
So you lot would deny The Passenger?
What a funny song. It was a hit, though.
Try this for starters – understated and gorgeous…
I love 70’s Elton and gave up a bit in the 80’s except for “Nikita”…..
Empty Garden IMHO one of Elt’s finest tunes.
There’s quite a lot of 80’s and most doesn’t stand the test of time, but some goodies