Elton John
A Single Man

THE REVIEW

The post-"Blue Moves" retirement from the stage for Elton John only lasts two years, but "A Single Man" from 1978 marks a total shift from the previous publications of the pianist from Pinner: new musicians, new lyricist, new record label and a sharp cut from the recent past: while "Blue Moves" was overblown, pretentious, and confusing, despite some flashes of genius, "A Single Man" is simple, direct, and smooth; an album that certainly deviates less from pop standards than its predecessor; yet it is neither mediocre nor predictable; quite the opposite, "A Single Man" finds its strength precisely in being catchy and versatile without overdoing it; just with that touch of Elton John-like genius and sophistication that makes it, even 32 years after its release, a still modern album, at times even pioneering in its sound.

"A Single Man" is an organized chaos of different sounds converging into a single harmonic melting pot: in all this, EJ places some pop songs that come close to perfection; primarily the graceful "Return To Paradise", infused with Caribbean atmospheres, and the single "Part-Time Love", an irresistible and sticky pop-rock with a vaguely disco feel, but also the alluring and whimsical ragtime of "Big Dipper" and the compelling gospel ballad "Georgia", accompanied in the choruses by the entire Watford FC, among whose ranks at the time also played the former AC Milan player Luther Blissett; and while the romantic ballad "Shine On Through", the simple pop rock of "I Don't Care", and the crooneresque number "Shooting Star" are somewhat routine pieces, though absolutely pleasant, EJ reasserts his genius with a heavy, tormented blues, "It Ain't Gonna Be Easy", which sinuously drags on for more than eight minutes contrasting with the sunny and light atmosphere of the rest of the album, and especially with the epic piano-rock of "Madness", which with its catchy yet complex and refined melody and its frenetic pace is certainly the most avant-garde track of "A Single Man", along with "Song For Guy", a touching instrumental closing, which stands perfectly even without vocals, to the point of being released as a single and even entering the hit-parades around the world, something absolutely unthinkable nowadays.

Note the inclusion among the bonus tracks of the single "Ego", an electrifying and sharp critique of the entertainment world, as well as one of Elton's most unique, compelling, and melodically genius songs, too advanced to be a top hit in 1978, along with a couple of excellent outtakes from "Blue Moves", "I Cry At Night" and "Lovesick", which further enrich "A Single Man", which is not a perfect album; Gary Osborne's songwriting is not even comparable to Bernie Taupin's, the cover with EJ bizarrely decked out as an English lord is not the best, and the final outcome certainly does not reach the depth of albums like "Madman Across The Water" or "Captain Fantastic..."; but in its own way, "A Single Man" is still a great album: fresh, inspired, and fundamentally superior to almost all of Elton John's 80s production.