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THE REVIEW
It is a sad and undeserved fate that the music market has reserved for "Empty Sky", the debut album of the young Reg Dwight, known as Elton John: it went completely unnoticed and was literally buried by the monumental success of its successors without even receiving a "posthumous" reevaluation, and it is a shame because this is a remarkable album: certainly, perhaps still a bit raw but overall of excellent quality and imbued with a dreamy pop with folk and psychedelic contours, well represented by the light blue shades and tones of the cover, making it unique in the entire EJ discography.
The eight and a half minute title track that opens the album shows us an Elton John decidedly atypical compared to how we are used to knowing him: it is an awkward psychedelic rock enriched by tribal conga rhythms and a driving piano line: it's a somewhat pretentious song, maybe even too much, interesting but never truly engaging, just like the fusion between psychedelic sounds and rhythm & blues in "Sails", fairly clumsy and repetitive, but the flaws stop here: the rest of "Empty Sky" stands at excellent levels, from the relaxed and dreamy "The Scaffold", enriched by Bernie Taupin's evocative lyrics of unknown landscapes to the brilliant pop rock with a vaguely reggae rhythm of "Western Ford Gateways", introduced by a beautiful guitar riff, passing through the sweetness and simplicity of the ballad "Lady What's Tomorrow", reaching the highest points in the poignant lyricism of "Skyline Pigeon" and the soothing dreaminess of "Val-Hala", stunning folk-infused sound watercolors enriched by the enchanting sound of the harpsichord and the masterful vocal performances of an evocative and highly inspired EJ, not to forget a gem like "Hymn 2000", formidable with its driving and hypnotic flute-infused pop-folk that flows into a catchy chorus yet anything but trivial and obvious.
These last three songs alone, in my opinion among the best ever in Elton John's repertoire, would be enough to reevaluate this highly underrated album, which proves to be an excellent debut, where the combination of EJ's music and Bernie Taupin's lyrics immediately reveals its potential, with the only "flaw" of not featuring in the tracklist the likes of "Your Song" or "Crocodile Rock" that would have guaranteed "Empty Sky" the success and recognition it deserves.
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Summary by Bot
Elton John's debut album 'Empty Sky' remains an overlooked gem in his discography, blending psychedelic rock, folk, and pop elements distinct from his later works. Despite early flaws, it features standout tracks like 'Skyline Pigeon' and 'Hymn 2000' that showcase Elton and Bernie Taupin's early songwriting synergy. The album’s unique sound and thoughtful lyrics deserve greater recognition beyond its initial obscurity. The review highlights how 'Empty Sky' offers a dreamy and evocative listening experience that contrasts with his later mainstream successes.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Elton John
Reginald Kenneth Dwight, known as Elton John, is an English singer, pianist and composer who rose to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin provided lyrics for much of his work. He is best known for piano-driven pop/rock songs and landmark 1970s albums; he was knighted and has had a prolific recording and performing career.54 Reviews
