fange
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Listening to long jazz tracks
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Post by fange on Jan 31, 2024 4:41:20 GMT
Sir Madam Elton's double-LP from '73 still seems to divide opinion, much like the man and his music in general. What do YOU think of it? What did you think when you first heard it or heard about it, and how about now? Where does it stand for you in terms of EJ's catalogue, and in the wider rock genre? What are your fave songs? Pick the ones you like in the poll and tell us why (if you feel like it). What do you think of the cover art?
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Post by Charlie O. on Jan 31, 2024 5:20:35 GMT
What did you think when you first heard it or heard about it, and how about now? I was eight. I thought it was pretty fantastic, and I still think it's his best album by a pretty wide mark. There was certainly an unmistakable drop in the quality of his LPs subsequently (though he could still do no wrong singles-wise for a while yet). It does everything a great double-LP ought to do - including saving the best side for last.
Where does it stand for you in terms of EJ's catalogue, and in the wider rock genre? Like I said, it's his best. And his brightest (in terms of the overall impression, not necessarily in terms of Bernie's lyrics). I never know how to answer the "wider rock genre" question and usually ignore it, but it's surely a stand-out of its era. (And it's hard for me to not think of that era when I hear it.)
What are your fave songs? Pick the ones you like in the poll and tell us why (if you feel like it). I picked most of 'em. And even the ones I didn't pick, I wouldn't want the album to be without 'em.
What do you think of the cover art? Aside from the fact that Elton appears to be stepping onto the yellow brick road rather than saying goodbye to it, I think it's spiffy.
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Post by DarknessFish on Jan 31, 2024 10:28:19 GMT
What did you think when you first heard it or heard about it, and how about now? I only got a copy album when my father-in-law died about 10 years ago, he didn't have a record player, but still had a stash of a couple of dozen LPs in his shed. I already knew most of the songs, I guess, and didn't like them. To be honest, it's a bit of a slog to get through, takes more effort to tolerate than I'm used to expending. The production is pretty horrible, it has that 70s mainstream thing going on where there tends to be too much going on, and it's in a high register a lot of the time, and it's wearying. I don't know what they did to record vocals on these big budget enterprises, but they always annoy me, echoing and tinny.
Where does it stand for you in terms of EJ's catalogue, and in the wider rock genre? No idea, it's the only Elton I own. In the wider rock genre, I guess it's something of a milestone/era defining album, but it defines something I largely don't like.
What are your fave songs? Pick the ones you like in the poll and tell us why (if you feel like it). I picked Candle in the Wind, and the title track. Despite the fact Candle in the Wind is somewhat ruined by its ubiquity and was mangled into a horrible wretched thing for Princess Di, I think there's a fundamental beauty to the track, and there is a touch of genius to some of the lyrics. Weird how it was dashed out mid-set when I saw him on his farewell tour, it was almost treated as an embarrassing wedding guest that they couldn't figure out a way not to invite. GYBR is a really lovely pastoral, lyrical song ruined by horrible production/arrangement/the 70s.
What do you think of the cover art? Fucking awful, like those early Genesis covers. A college student's rough draft.
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rayge
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Post by rayge on Jan 31, 2024 10:40:09 GMT
I've never listened to an album by Elton John, although I liked a few of his singles. Nobody I knew rated him enough to buy any of his albums except the first one. I was thoroughly bemused by his success in the USA.
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Post by oh oooh on Jan 31, 2024 11:03:02 GMT
About half of it is rubbish. The quality of the album as a whole isn't helped, I don't think, by the attempts at diversity. And like all of his output, the overall naffness of the lyrics and some of those good-timey melodies give it a flimsy kind of feel, and places it some way below the efforts of his contemporaries (I can't help thinking there are musical similarities to Hunky Dory in places - because it was written on a piano?). I don't hear significant differences between a lot of this and Billy Joel's stuff, for example.
Of course he wrote some great tunes, and 'Bennie and the Jets' is about as big and as daft and as wonderful as he ever got. That one stands head and shoulders above the rest to me - I love it to distraction. I also voted for the title track, and 'Harmony', which has the most gorgeous, soaring chorus.
I think it's possible that Tumbleweed Connection, Madman Across the Water and Honky Chateau are better. I don't know them that well, but I played MATW quite a bit 20 years ago, and...I don't know, it seemed a more interesting album.
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Post by Stacy Heydon on Jan 31, 2024 11:04:44 GMT
I've never listened to an album by Elton John, although I liked a few of his singles. Nobody I knew rated him enough to buy any of his albums except the first one. I was thoroughly bemused by his success in the USA. I too never heard any of his albums growing up, neither did I know anyone who did. I think one of the first things to really surprise me when I first started participating in internet music chat was realising how highly he was regarded by non Brits. I do like the title track tho'.
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Post by Half Machine Lipschitz on Jan 31, 2024 11:43:51 GMT
I was 5 when I first heard it and it definitely made an impression. One of my mother's memories of my childhood that she always liked to remind me about was of me sitting in my sandbox in the backyard of our new house in Ottawa, where we had just moved from Oakville, Ont., and singing the title track (or at least whatever the version was of it that I had in my head). I really don't listen to it these days, but kinda feel like familiarising myself with it again, so maybe I'll give it a spin at work today. If I was going to dig out one of his albums it would most certainly be "Madman...", so I guess I'd place that one just above it, but it definitely holds second spot in his catalogue, for me.
I've always liked the title track and Bennie & The Jets. The image of electric boots was just crazy to me as a kid, and I find it impossible to put aside that childhood wonder whenever I hear it.
I don't think I was as interested in the front cover art as much as all the little pictures on the inside gatefold. I remember being somewhat mystified by the facial expression on the girl beside the 'Dirty Little Girl' lyrics.
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Post by Stacy Heydon on Jan 31, 2024 13:12:10 GMT
I don't hear significant differences between a lot of this and Billy Joel's stuff, for example. I know what you mean. Mind you Joel's songs have an upbeat New Yawk jazziness that EJ never has really and i prefer them ( I'm thinking of things like 'Movin' Out' and 'This is my Life' ). No idea why EJ gets the respect while Joel is seen as a bit naff, for me it should be the other way round.
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Post by fearlessfreap on Jan 31, 2024 14:11:44 GMT
What did you think when you first heard it or heard about it, and how about now?
I first heard it at the height of Eltonmania. As a double album (and not a cheap one), I couldn't afford it, but I got it as a Christmas present when it was pretty new. Even then, I thought it was spotty. It certainly could have been a single, but it was required for all top selling artists to put out doubles in the early and mid 70's.
Now? Probably about the same - decent enough, but nothing I'd play unless someone asked me to.
Where does it stand for you in terms of EJ's catalogue, and in the wider rock genre?
As far as his catalogue, I like the earlier Leon Russell type albums better than the silly glasses period. It's better than anything he did afterwards that I've heard, but I have a soft spot for Rock Of the Westies which I think is undervalued and is his hardest rocking album
As far as the wider rock genre - It or any of his albums wouldn't be in any list of favorite rock albums of mine. I'd rank him about equal to ELO, and Genesis, slightly ahead of Tom Petty. Certainly ahead of Billy fucking Joel.
What are your fave songs? Pick the ones you like in the poll and tell us why (if you feel like it).
A woman I was involved with for several years before I met my wife was a high school gymnast. She used Funeral For a Friend/ Love Lies Bleeding as the music for her floor routine, so I sort of like that one. The title track and Bennie and the Jets are good, too.
What do you think of the cover art?
It's of its time.
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Post by DayoRemix on Jan 31, 2024 14:38:18 GMT
have never listened to an EJ album and this is no exception. Know a few of the tracks on this one. The title track is ok. Otherwise, know some of his singles, which were unavoidable. Never saw the point. The only interesting thing about EJ is that he used to shop for records on his own when living in LA, without bodyguards or having the store closed for him. The old Tower Records on Sunset was his haunt and there were a ton of pics and testimonials on the wall featuring him shopping.
The album cover kinda sucks. If he's going to go full flamboyant, go FULL ON. Seems a bit tame. Elton should be dressed as a glittery lion or a hot pink-clad wizard..
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loveless
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Bringing ballet to the masses. Sticking to the funk.
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Post by loveless on Jan 31, 2024 15:01:10 GMT
Sir Madam Elton's double-LP from '73 still seems to divide opinion, much like the man and his music in general. What do YOU think of it?
I mean, he was probably the first artist I remember being "into" as a little kid (he had a MILLION hits on the radio, we had loads of his 45s, and was certainly the first concert I deliberately saw - at 6). That first Greatest Hits (1974 - with the white suit, hat, glasses and cane in front of the piano) was absolutely one of my first records and I played it a lot when I was...5 and 6, I guess. Despite half of those hits (seemingly) appearing on this record, I don't own it, and when it has passed through my fingers, I've always regarded it as "dauntingly and off-puttingly dense".
So, I guess let's just go ahead and get my willful ignorance out of the way.
What did you think when you first heard it or heard about it, and how about now?
Funeral/Love Lies Bleeding made a huge impression. Alice was another one that jumped out at me as something special. Same for Harmony and Grey Seal.
Despite all of this (and the hits)...I don't think I've ever felt like this was something I wanted to throw on and just listen to.
A friend of mine who is sort of discovering cool old records and hi fi enthusiasm now was telling me he'd ordered the DJM (JESUS, those labels are plain and ugly!) original and how it was supposed to be the best sounding. I might listen next time I visit him. But, again, I can't quite get with the idea that this is the monster double album that I'm missing out on (I'm similarly bullish on not ever listening to Lamb, speaking of Genesis).
Where does it stand for you in terms of EJ's catalogue, and in the wider rock genre?
I think he's great, first and foremost. But...something about the way he's singing, writing, playing, arranging ca. Tumbleweed Connection and Madman is what I'm more inclined to want to hear these days. To a point that DF makes, there's a lot more space on those earlier records.
He's really got his own thing. But I like a lot of music from this era (I tend to think that Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, Rundgren, War, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Bowie, Sweet, Slade, Joni, Al Green, Led Zeppelin, Big Star, T. Rex, Wings, Roxy Music, and many I'm forgetting to mention were all doing major work), so...it's crowded and GYBR doesn't necessarily stand out for me as some era-defining classic.
For sure, the fact that the opening four tracks (like all of Side A and spilling over onto Side B) are sort of evergreen hits/standards is an impressive stat (and points to a TYPE of peak), but...even this might be an aspect that makes the whole thing feel like hard work for me.
What are your fave songs? Pick the ones you like in the poll and tell us why (if you feel like it).
I'm gonna go ahead and get it out of the way that I NEVER liked "Candle". Princess Di was alive and well when I first heard it and had my patented 'THIS is supposed to be one of his classics?!?!' reaction.
"Bennie..." is so fucking good! Just...such an unlikely behemoth of a record. Arty in its way...this goofy stomp of a track with sort of mad production. I love it to bits. Biz Markie/Beastie Boys do a FINE version!
"Harmony" is a lovely thing.
"Saturday" has a great energy.
What do you think of the cover art?
Iconic and naff! It makes a statement. He's going big. Full color widescreen fabulous. You'd hate to see it with a more austere or conventional cover.
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Post by davey on Jan 31, 2024 17:30:34 GMT
What did you think when you first heard it or heard about it, and how about now?
I was about 8 or 9 years old when it came out. My siblings and I had just jumped into dad’s car for a new routine: the divorced Dad weekend. Dad was different. He dressed a little sharper. New car. Bachelor pad. We were kind of rooting through all of the paraphernalia of his swinging new life with amazement, admiration and some amount of fear of being left behind.
I don’t remember if it was an 8-track tape or a cassette, but this album was there amongst about half a dozen new albums in his car. The others were dauntingly adult-looking. But this one had that cartoon-style album cover and a title that referenced The Wizard of Oz. It was pretty much the only thing in his new life that seemed like it might include us
We forced him to play it on repeat all that year. Somehow we ended up with our own LP copy at Mom’s house, which we pored over as it it was The Torah.
It had that thing great double albums of that era had - a feeling that you could never quite take it all in. There were parts I loved, parts I tolerated and a bunch that I just didn’t quite get. But it felt like a universe. It felt IMPORTANT.
Where does it stand for you in terms of EJ's catalogue, and in the wider rock genre?
It’s the dead center of Elton’s career. It’s the planet that all of the others circle. That doesn’t make it his best, or even my favorite (I like Tumbleweed and Madman more), but it has a kind of gravity. It feels like it was when Elton had finally achieved peak-Eltonia.
In terms of the wider rock story, it’s like one of those big MGM musicals is to film. You can’t really draw a line to them from most of today’s films, but you go back to them with fondness and some measure of what-were-we-thinking?
What are your fave songs? Pick the ones you like in the poll and tell us why (if you feel like it).
Bennie and the Jets was THE one in 1973. That was the track that hooked me. It was so cinematic. The crowd sounds. The whistling. The visual words that peppered the lyrics. I still love it.
Harmony, Danny Bailey, I’ve Seen That Movie Too, and This Song Has No Title were all early favorites. Then there was the title song. It felt mysterious and impenetrable to my young head. Listening to it now, it’s just a glorious bit of record-making. The best track of his entire career (save perhaps for the weird-masterpiece that is Someone Saved My Life Tonight).
I’ll add that Candle in the Wind didn’t always read as treacle. Hearing it with a child’s ears and not even knowing Marilyn Monroe’s story all that well, it felt like a really beautiful and deep thing to have this song that was seemingly so protective of her humanity. It was a shame how this song ultimately became less powerful over time. Finally - just wanted to add that I always hated Funeral for a Friend. Prog allergic from the get go.
What do you think of the cover art?
Absolutely perfect. All of the art in the package is wonderful and adds to the feeling that the record is just spilling over with wonder and creativity.
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Post by quaco on Jan 31, 2024 17:38:51 GMT
It does everything a great double-LP ought to do - including saving the best side for last. I tend to think side three is the best. Other than that, I agree with pretty much everything Charlie O. said. It's fabulous, easily his best (I prefer the Technicolor Elton of Don't Shoot Me through Blue Moves, not particularly into the early stuff), and, since my tastes were largely informed by it, not a note wrong on the whole thing.
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Sneelock
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you're gonna break another heart
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Post by Sneelock on Feb 5, 2024 18:14:45 GMT
What did you think when you first heard it or heard about it, and how about now?
I was a little snooty about it. Elton had reached a sort of cultural critical mass that I felt duty bound to rail against. I'm not as snooty these days. I like it but on the same level as maybe "songs in the key of life" for every song I like a lot there is one song I don't like a lot or one song I don't mind a lot. Where does it stand for you in terms of EJ's catalogue, and in the wider rock genre?
my radio was my pal so I had songs from "tumbleweed", "madman" and "Honky Château" coming out my ears. I really liked most of that stuff. around the time of "don't shoot me" is when I started to get snotty and "crocodile rock" is much of the reason. I can see why people like it now. at the time I thought it was the very height of stupidity.
me, I thought jumping on the glam band wagon was entirely a good thing Elton-Wise. I know people will rankle at this. His songs do remain very much his own thing. BUT, you must admit, he suddenly jumped into the deep end of the pool at least so far as his wardrobe and presentation go. presentation aside, Elton got REAL rocky for a while. I like it. I hadn't really noticed what a hot band he had until they really started stretching out on this one. What are your fave songs? Pick the ones you like in the poll and tell us why (if you feel like it) Funeral/Bleeding is far and away my favorite thing Elton ever did. ALL the rocky ones I have always liked and continue to like "Alice" & "Saturday" especially. "Bennie" got the snooty treatment at the time but it is probably my second favorite here. there is something SO of that time about it. it's newness wore off but something lingers about that one.
I can find Elton to like all the way through "Blue Moves" but I would concur that "GYBR" is his toppermost. the title track took a LONG time to win me over. win me over it has. I like others too but I would agree with the "Hunky Dory but not as good" verdict on the willful diversity on hand What do you think of the cover art?
oh, I think it's splendid. I aspired to being a commercial artist for a time. I thought this one and the "Ringo" album cover, like Floyd & Alice, attempted to give the record buyers a certain amount of bang for their buck. I tried to come up with album art concepts along those lines. I failed miserably.
there were dozens of posters with that cover art on construction sights along my walk to school. these helped fuel how obliged I felt to hate Elton now that he was SO popular Now I look back on them fondly. I mean, advertising rock albums on construction sights? those were the days!
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Sneelock
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you're gonna break another heart
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Post by Sneelock on Feb 5, 2024 18:54:32 GMT
oh, I forgot, the reason Billy Joel sounds like Elton John is because Billy Joel almost always sounds like somebody else. nothing personal, Billy. we'll always have Paris.
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