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Rating:
Often dismissed as a sentimental queen with a hair and glasses obsession, Elton John is actually one of the greatest artists to appear in the charts over the last 35 years.
Especially during his golden period, the first half of the ’70s, when he was producing an average of two albums a year and sending them both to the top of the charts worldwide, Sir Reginald Wright was one of the happiest realities of modern mainstream. The talent of this quirky genuinely British man lies in being, above all, a great interpreter, adaptable to any type of material. In fact, his main flaw is precisely being a pop passkey which, as such, has resulted in a rather impersonal vocal style, although it is hard to mistake: his famous vocalizations and youthful falsettos, for example, have become proverbial for their expressiveness and sensitivity to the lyrics.
The inseparable piano is another typical element of our drag queen's songs: carefree, sometimes played with gentleness, sometimes with the ferocity of an old-time rock'n'roller, terribly profound on evergreen ballads, evocative on simpler tracks but incredibly moving.
Accompanying Elton in his continuous recording adventures is almost always his trusted lyricist, his adolescent companion Bernie Taupin, a misogynistic and straightforward Sancho Panza yet full of imagination, who has always carried out his role as the local Mogol with great dignity.
After a dull and immature debut ("Empty Skies", 1969), the two will give a first remarkable taste of their qualities in “Elton John” (1970), the forerunner of an uninterrupted series of blockbusters (at least until the devastating flop of the double album “Blue Moves”, 1976). In just a few years, Elton John, with an excellent fixed band behind him (Dee Murray on bass, Davey Johnstone on guitars, Nigel Osson on drums) will set the world charts on fire with indefatigable prolificacy, releasing increasingly diverse albums, burdened with the ongoing challenge of improvement and astonishing an ever more enthusiastic audience. From the bitter "Madman Across The Water" (1971) to the journeys through American history in "Tumbleweed Connection" (1971), from the joys and pains of young Elton in "Honky Chateau" (1972) to the quirky '50s pastiche of "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player" (1973).
Amidst this real King Midas period, Reginald decided to outdo himself with the first double album of his career, the kaleidoscopic "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".
Conceived as an open diary on the world of John & Taupin, a collection of feelings and memories, the concept increasingly becomes the sound collage of a musical story, the curriculum vitae of who these two rascals were, what they did, what they tried
. From the opening progressive suite in two parts of "Love Lies Bleeding/Funeral For A Friend" we are seated in the auditorium of an imposing show, where the aim is to try and please everyone. Thus, an effective primer is realized which, for another artist, would already be a ready-packaged greatest hits. From the touching tribute to Marilyn Monroe in "Candle In The Wind", to the wonderful "Bennie And The Jets", a perfectly on-point live story of a group of glam-rockers captivating local kids, from the autobiographical title track about the start of adulthood to the pure initiatory poetry of "This Song Has No Title" (legendary title), with Elton just piano and voice there to enchant us. As I was saying, there’s something for everyone, from the celebrations of prostitutes ("Dirty Little Girl") and living for the day (the parodic "Social Disease"), to the sapphic loves with a psychedelic vibe ("All The Girls Love Alice") followed by the infectious hard-rock of "Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting".
If I chose to talk about this particular album, it is because it is surely representative of what Elton John is and, above all, was. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is the perfect introduction to the genius and mediocrity of dear Sir, symbolizing (in a complementary way perhaps to Marc Bolan and a few others) what it was like to live in those years of novel-like excesses and uncontrolled creativity, where one could improvise as an experience-free rasta-man without shame ("Jamaica Jerk-Off"), just because one had been on an "inspiring" vacation in Kingston ("well, the Rolling Stones had already been there"
, he explained) or invent mutant r'n'r dances complete with circus-like tunes ("Your Sister Can’t Twist But She Can Rock'n'Roll“).
If you manage to appreciate the work, obviously scaling it down to a pleasant melodic toy, you might also reassess the legacy left by this funny and clumsy fallen prince of pop. And perhaps, skirting a sea of silly and inexplicable songs that litter an overly ample discography (like the master himself), you might stumble upon real jewels (practically almost the entire production '70-'75) to listen to and listen to again with esteem, few prejudices and a great deal of enjoyable passion.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Candle in the Wind (03:51)
Goodbye Norma Jeane
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name
CHORUS:
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind.
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in.
I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid.
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did.
Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
All the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
was that Marilyn was found in the nude
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind.
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in.
I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid.
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did.
Goodbye Norma Jeane
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
Goodbye Norma Jeane
From the young man in the 22nd row
Who sees you as something more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind.
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in.
I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid.
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did.
Your candle burned out long before
your legend ever did.
03 Bennie and the Jets (05:24)
Hey kids, shake it loose together
The spotlight's hitting something
That's been known to change the weather
We'll kill the fatted calf tonight
So stick around
You're gonna hear electric music
Solid walls of sound
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet
Ooh, but they're so spaced out
Bennie and the Jets
Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh, Bennie she's really keen
She's got electric boots
A mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, oh
Bennie and the Jets
Hey kids, plug into the faithless
Maybe they're blinded
But Bennie makes them ageless
We shall survive
Let us take ourselves along
Where we fight our parents out in the streets
To find who's right and who's wrong
Oh, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet
Oh, but they're so spaced out
Bennie and the Jets
Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh Bennie, she's really keen
She's got electric boots
A mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, oh
Bennie and the Jets
Oh, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet
Oh, but they're so spaced out
Bennie and the Jets
Oh, but they're weird and they're wonderful
Oh Bennie, she's really keen
She's got electric boots
A mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine, oh
Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets, Jets, Jets
Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
04 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (03:15)
When are you gonna come down?
When are you going to land?
I should have stayed on the farm,
I should have listened to my old man.
You know you can't hold me forever,
I didn't sign up with you.
I'm not a present for your friends to open,
This boy's too young to be singing the blues.
So goodbye yellow brick road,
Where the dogs of society howl.
You can't plant me in your penthouse,
I'm going back to my plough.
Back to the howling old owl in the woods,
Hunting the horny back toad.
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road
What do you think you'll do then?
I bet that'll shoot down your plane.
It'll take you a couple of vodka and tonics
To set you on your feet again
Maybe you'll get a replacement,
There's plenty like me to be found.
Mongrels, who ain't got a penny,
Sniffing for tit-bits like you on the ground
So goodbye yellow brick road,
Where the dogs of society howl.
You can't plant me in your penthouse,
I'm going back to my plough.
Back to the howling old owl in the woods,
Hunting the horny back toad.
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road
06 Grey Seal (04:02)
Why's it never light on my lawn
Why does it rain and never say good day to the new dawn
On the big screen they showed us a sun
But not as bright in life as the real one
It's never quite the same as the real one
And tell me grey seal how does it feel to be so wise
To see through eyes that only see what's real
Tell me grey seal
I never learned why meteors were formed
I only farmed in schools that were so worn and torn
If anyone can cry then so can I
I read books and draw life from the eye
All my life is drawings from the eye
And tell me grey seal how does it feel to be so wise
To see through eyes that only see what's real
Tell me grey seal
Your mission bells were wrought by ancient men
The roots were formed by twisted roots
Your roots were twisted then
I was reborn before all life could die
The Phoenix bird will leave this world to fly
If the Phoenix bird can fly then so can I
And tell me grey seal how does it feel to be so wise
To see through eyes that only see what's real
Tell me grey seal
Tell me grey seal how does it feel
Tell me grey seal how does it feel
Tell me grey seal how does it feel
14 Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting (04:57)
It's getting late have you seen my mates
Ma tell me when the boys get here
It's seven o'clock and I want to rock
Want to get a belly full of beer
My old man's drunker than a barrel full of monkeys
And my old lady she don't care
My sister looks cute in her braces and boots
A handful of grease in her hair
Don't give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline
Saturday night's alright for fighting
Get a little action in
Get about as oiled as a diesel train
Gonna set this dance alight
`Cause Saturday night's the night I like
Saturday night's alright alright alright
Well they're packed pretty tight in here tonight
I'm looking for a dolly who'll see me right
I may use a little muscle to get what I need
I may sink a little drink and shout out "She's with me!"
A couple of the sound that I really like
Are the sounds of a switchblade and a motorbike
I'm a juvenile product of the working class
Whose best friend floats in the bottom of a glass
Don't give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline
Saturday night's alright for fighting
Get a little action in
Get about as oiled as a diesel train
Gonna set this dance alight
`Cause Saturday night's the night I like
Saturday night's alright alright alright
Saturday (X9) Nights alright (X4)
15 Roy Rogers (04:09)
Sometimes you dream
sometimes it seems
theres nothing there at all
you just seem older than yesterday
and your waiting for tomorrow to call
You draw to the curtains
and one thigs for certain
your cozy in your little room
The carpets all paid for god bless the tv
lets go shoot a hole in the moon
(bridge)
And Roy Rogers is riding to-nite
returning to our silver screen
Comic book characters never grow old
evergreen heroes whos stories are told
of a great sequined cowboy
who sings of the plains
of round-ups and rustlers and home on the range
Turn on the tv
shut out the lights
Roy Rogers is riding tonite
9o'clock mornings 5 o'clock evenings
Id liven the pace if I could
oh I'd rather have ham in my sandwhich than cheese
but complain' wouldnt do any good
Lay back in my armchair
close eyes and think clear
I can hear hoofbeats ahead
Roy and Trigger have just hit the hilltop
while the wife and the kids are in bed
(bridge)
16 Social Disease (03:44)
My bulldog is barking in the backyard
Enough to raise a dead man from his grave
And I can't concentrate on what I'm doing
Disturbance going to crucify my days
And the days they get longer and longer
And the nighttime is a time of little use
For I just get ugly and older
I get juiced on Mateus and just hang loose
And I get bombed for breakfast in the morning
I get bombed for dinner time and tea
I dress in rags, smell a lot, and have a real good time
I'm a genuine example of a social disease
My landlady lives in a caravan
Well that is when she isn't in my arms
And it seems I pay the rent in human kindness
But my liquor also helps to grease her palms
And the ladies are all getting wrinkles
And they're falling apart at the seams
Well I just get high on tequila
And see visions of vineyards in my dreams
17 Harmony (02:46)
Hello, baby, hello!
Haven't seen your face for a while
Have you quit doing time for me-- or are you still
the same spoiled child?
Hello, I said hello!
Is the only place you thought to go?
Am I the only man you ever had or am I just the last surviving
friend that you know?
Harmony and me, we're pretty good company
Looking for an island in our boat upon the sea
Harmony, gee I really love you and I want to love you forever
and dream of never never never leavin' Harmony.
Hello, Baby, Hello!
Open up your heart and let you feelings flow
You're not lucky knowing me.
Keeping the speed real slow.
In any case I'm settin my own pace by stealing the show.
Say hello hello
Whoa
Harmony and me, we're pretty good company
Looking for an island in our boat upon the sea
Harmony, gee, I really love you and I want to love you forever
and dream of never never never leavin' Harmony.
Never leaving Harmony
Harmony, Harmony, Harmony, Harmony
Harmony, Harmony, Harmony
AAAHHH!
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Other reviews
By Starblazer
"Good Elton also gives us some duds of the caliber of 'All The Girls Love Alice'... lowering my rating by a full two stars."
"Making quality pop music is one of the most difficult things in the world, perhaps even more challenging than writing songs like 'A Change Of Seasons'..."
