Non-Classical Music Listening Thread!

[Kalevala]

Hello K, oh yeah, I own a deluxe edition of Madman Across the Water as well and it has the extra material around this period released as part of it. Mick Ronson did a great job in that live version.

Yes, EJ's 70s albums are 'where it's at' for me most definitely. There's something timeless about the songwriting, arrangements and production in general that is quite special.

What is your favorite EJ album and why?

I don't have a favorite album; he has so many great ones.  He and Bernie Taupin (plus the musicians and arrangers and others that they've worked with over the years) were/are so talented.  Songs/tunes like "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" were so mind-blowing/different when they came out (and still brilliant today) for example.  The album Tumbleweed Connection also has a number of songs that I love....but there's so much more of his/their work that I love too. 

By the way, have you watched/listened to the Metallica version of FFAF/LLB?  I was really impressed by it; they made it their own and Elton and Bernie really seemed to enjoy it!

K

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

I don't have a favorite album; he has so many great ones.  He and Bernie Taupin (plus the musicians and arrangers and others that they've worked with over the years) were/are so talented.  Songs/tunes like "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" were so mind-blowing/different when they came out (and still brilliant today) for example.  The album Tumbleweed Connection also has a number of songs that I love....but there's so much more of his/their work that I love too. 

By the way, have you watched/listened to the Metallica version of FFAF/LLB?  I was really impressed by it; they made it their own and Elton and Bernie really seemed to enjoy it!

K

Yeah, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is such a great album. I suppose if I had to pick a favorite Elton John album, it would be Tumbleweed Connection and this is because I think it has some fantastic songs and really this album is unique in his 70s discography. The whole Western theme is quite cool.

I haven't heard that Metallica cover of Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, but, to be honest, I'm not too interested as Metallica are a band I cannot stand.

This cover from Dream Theater is quite good, though:

[Kalevala]

Yeah, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is such a great album. I suppose if I had to pick a favorite Elton John album, it would be Tumbleweed Connection and this is because I think it has some fantastic songs and really this album is unique in his 70s discography. The whole Western theme is quite cool.

I haven't heard that Metallica cover of Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, but, to be honest, I'm not too interested as Metallica are a band I cannot stand.

This cover from Dream Theater is quite good, though:

I'll give it a listen to at some point--thanks.

Metallica is a group that I've heard of over the years, but I don't think that I've heard any of their songs before now (not really a metal kind of girl).  The video (for the Gershwin Awards) came up on youtube as a rec for me.  From what I understand (and this may not be correct), Elton John either called in or was quoted by Howard Stern on his radio(?)/podcast (which was filmed) and it came out that EJ was a big fan of a song which I believe Hetfield wrote.  Perhaps this was how Metallica ended up performing that tune/song combo?

Ah!  I found it!  Here you go: 

There's also a great cover of Madman by Brandi Carlile here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVOstw9eKdE

K

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

I'll give it a listen to at some point--thanks.

Metallica is a group that I've heard of over the years, but I don't think that I've heard any of their songs before now (not really a metal kind of girl).  The video (for the Gershwin Awards) came up on youtube as a rec for me.  From what I understand (and this may not be correct), Elton John either called in or was quoted by Howard Stern on his radio(?)/podcast (which was filmed) and it came out that EJ was a big fan of a song which I believe Hetfield wrote.  Perhaps this was how Metallica ended up performing that tune/song combo?

Ah!  I found it!  Here you go: 

There's also a great cover of Madman by Brandi Carlile here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVOstw9eKdE

K

Ah yes, I've seen that video before! Elton's praise for this Metallica song brought James Hetfield to tears. It seemed like he just couldn't believe that someone like Elton (and probably a hero of Hetfield's) would give this song such a compliment. It's nice to know that such humility still exists in the popular music world.

You know something similar happened to me one time with John Mayer. I knew someone that knew him and this friend of mine sent him a copy of a piece that my dad and I wrote (a 20 minute instrumental with just two electric guitars) and word got back to me from this friend that Mayer absolutely loved it. He said that my dad and I were excellent guitarists. I won't lie --- I teared up by this gracious compliment. I'm not really a fan of Mayer's music, but to know that such an accomplished musician would even praise what I thought was an 'okay' piece is truly surprising. Anyway, that's my little claim to fame.

[T. D.]

I like live albums and tend to prefer earlier albums by performers/groups who become super popular.

So my favorite Elton John recording is



[Boomer nostalgia] Take me to the pilot and Burn down the mission got radio airplay in real time (immediately post release) and made big impressions.

[Kalevala]

@Der lächelnde Schatten  Oh, sweet!

I like live albums and tend to prefer earlier albums by performers/groups who become super popular.

So my favorite Elton John recording is



[Boomer nostalgia] Take me to the pilot and Burn down the mission got radio airplay in real time (immediately post release) and made big impressions.

I haven't heard that recording before.  Where was it recorded?

K

p.s.  I miss when DJs used to regularly announce the title of the song and artist. 

[T. D.]

Recording of a live WABC-FM (NYC) broadcast from Nov. 17, 1970 (duh).
Only 3 musicians and somewhat rougher sound than studio albums, which makes it kind of interesting IMO. EJ's piano is really in the forefront.

This track burns:

[Karl Henning]

I like live albums and tend to prefer earlier albums by performers/groups who become super popular.

So my favorite Elton John recording is



[Boomer nostalgia] Take me to the pilot and Burn down the mission got radio airplay in real time (immediately post release) and made big impressions.

Love this album. He's on fire!

[Kalevala]

Recording of a live WABC-FM (NYC) broadcast from Nov. 17, 1970 (duh).
Only 3 musicians and somewhat rougher sound than studio albums, which makes it kind of interesting IMO. EJ's piano is really in the forefront.

This track burns:

Yes, I knew/know how to read the date.     You were saying that this was a favorite album of yours of his, so I was leaving it up to you to tell me more about it...or maybe I'm misunderstanding your comments?

K

[T. D.]

Yes, I knew/know how to read the date.    You were saying that this was a favorite album of yours of his, so I was leaving it up to you to tell me more about it...or maybe I'm misunderstanding your comments?

K

Sorry, the "duh" was not aimed at you.
With such easy Internet access to recordings, I prefer not to add much description, since my writing is crap and interested parties can audition the music at will.

The album is a piano/bass/drum trio, really rough, though some remixes have added reverb, etc (which I don't think enhance much). Recorded shortly before he became a "star". The high energy will appeal to some, but others may be put off by cover tunes (Honky Tonk Woman looks out of place to the modern eye, though it's a fine version) and prefer later (more refined) versions of the originals.
The All Music Guide reviewer wrote a good concise summary (easy to Google, though AMG site has nasty popups). I for one enjoy the rocking side of the pre-millionaire Elton John. I didn't realize this was such an obscure record until I read the AMG review today.