Paying Tribute to What, I'm Not Exactly Sure
I'm trying to determine whether this is a record review, a rant or a sad nod to a failing memory-
I've had a love/hate relationship with Elton John since the early seventies. I wish I could remember which of his fantastic hits was the first I'd heard, or where/when, exactly, I heard it. Sadly, my brain has failed me over the years, and these are among the memories that have slipped into a void, never to be retrieved.
I used to be the proud owner of a gargantuan vinyl collection, a good portion of which was the majority of Elton's catalog. One of the very first albums I bought was "11-17-70", his first live album, broadcast by WABC in New York. "Sixty Years On", one of my all-time favorites, is a fantastic tune which takes the studio version 10 steps further in my opinion, though both versions have their own qualities.
My opening sentence is only partially true. I've actually loved Elton's music since day one, with the exception of parts of the eighties where I just couldn't get into what he was putting out. Otherwise, I've admired his talent and music since forever. The whole point of this post was actually to share my thoughts on "Sixty Years On". On first hearing this tune I remember thinking to myself, "man, that's old!"
Well, here it is, all those decades later and I'm almost (there's still a few months to go) sixty years on myself. God, how I occasionally wish I could go back to that time, when I was an extremely awkward greasy idiot teen, and maybe, just maybe do a few things a little differently. Or not.
I do like Benny and the Jets
ReplyDeleteAnother great one for sure, Christine. I also learned to enjoy many of his B side tunes, especially throughout the 70's.
DeleteI absolutely love Elton John's music! I do have a Pandora station I listen to while working that is Elton John so I hear him as well as other great artists of the genre. I used to think he wrote the lyrics but learned recently from a film about his life that he worked with a partner who wrote the lyrics to his fantastic piano playing. A fantastic team they were!
ReplyDeleteI read 40 or so years ago about Elton and Bernie's writing process and am impressed to this day, especially with how they did so much long-distance. I wasn't a huge fan of the recent movie.
DeleteHi, PFT!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming over to Shady's Place, my friend! Like you, I was once an avid collector of records which included LPs, EPs, 7-inch singles and 12-inch dance singles. (I was a freelance DJ and played the 12-inch discs at parties.) However my collection was modest compared to those of most vinyl enthusiasts. It was certainly not gargantuan as was yours. Around 1990 I foolishly sold my entire collection while in the process of converting to CDs. The guy I sold them to owned a used record store. To my dismay he stacked my albums on his counter and used a ruler to measure the height of the stacks, then paid me by the inch - not even bothering to check the titles or condition of my precious musical treasures. Therefore I was paid only a fraction of their worth! I have always regretted that dumb move, but have since assembled a meager collection of rare 45s, some pressed on colored wax, which I keep in a dust-proof, light-proof box.
I like Elton John and had some of his recordings, but was not as big a fan as you obviously are. I enjoy watching the clip of Elton sitting in on piano for T Rex on a December 1971 episode of the British music show Top Of The Pops. I did not own Elton John's 1970 album that contains "Sixty Years On." Just now I listened to the song for the first time. It's beautiful. I hear you when you state that age 60 once seemed like an old man's age. I was the same way. However, as I look in my rear view mirror at age 60 from my present age of 71, it seems young.
My favorite Elton John songs are "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Candle in the Wind," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," "Philadelphia Freedom" and "Nikita." In the 80s and 90s I worked as production manager of an MTV-style station. We played the official video for "Nikita" in heavy rotation and I took a liking to song on that basis alone.
Have a great week, new friend PFT!
Those are all awesome tunes, and a lot of the lesser-known/B-side songs are fantastic as well. I pretty much gave away my vinyl collection at a tag sale years ago. I'd amassed a nice chunk of old 78's including some well known artists {Bing Crosby Cowboy Tunes, for example), but was told by a record store that they were barely worth what they were pressed on. Thanks for coming by again, and have a great week.
DeleteThe first Elton John song I ever heard and immediately fell in love with was "Daniel." I was an adolescent and the same-sex longing in the lyrics really hit me, I guess! I still have my 45 of that song and play it occasionally.
ReplyDeleteFor MY birthday song this year, I'll have to play another famous British pop song -- "When I'm Sixty Four." Where did the years go?
Where did the years go, indeed! Daniel is one of my all-time favorites. It's right up there with Your Song, Rocket Man, Crocodile Rock, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and countless other tunes that remain timeless in my head.
DeleteI love Elton John, always have. My grandma had a huge record collection but I never did. I'm 51 so I can understand wanting to look back and have a do over.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Mary, on the do over thing. Unfortunately, however, some things would change drastically if I did that (kids, for example), so I guess I shouldn't complain.
DeleteI love Elton John's music. Even though my mind fails me at times, I actually DO remember the first song of his that I listened to that made me a fan. It was "Benny and the Jets" But my two faves are "Your Song" and "I'm Still Standing" oh wait, who can forget, the Bitch is Back!? lol
ReplyDeleteOh Yvonne, there are too many to mention! I remember the first time I heard The Bitch is Back thinking "oooh my god, how daring these lyrics!". If you've never heard it check out "Ticking", also on his Caribou album. Crazy sad song, but a fave. Funny, on the mind fail thing- I remember bringing the 7 or so EJ albums I had at the time to a class party in junior high a thousand years ago, but I have a hard time remembering something my wife told me just yesterday.
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteDone!
DeleteTiny Dancer and Rocket Man are the Elton John songs that have stuck with me:)
ReplyDeleteFun post.
Thanks Sandra, and yes, both of these are among his best. As I mentioned to Shady above, I'm grateful to have had the patience and desire to listen to his B-sides and lesser-known tunes. There's a gold mine buried there. My wife and I have discussed this over the years and disagree with one another. She's more interested in a favorite artist's top hits only and couldn't care less about the ones not heard on the airwaves. Her loss!
DeleteElton John has awesome voice!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, he does. In my opinion one of the most recognizable in the world of music.
DeleteNearing that number myself but definitely don't want to go back. Would like that younger body back though.
ReplyDeleteElton is very talented and I'd say I preferred his seventies stuff over the eighties a well. It had a bit more innocence to it.
Oh, I hear you on the younger body thing, Alex. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteGrow old along with me! The best is yet to be, Robert Browning
ReplyDeleteLove it!
DeleteI just heard an Elton John song in the grocery store the other day. Such a timely post! It sounds like I'm a little bit younger than you, but I grew up with his music as well. Yes... thinking back about those teenage years (I just write a non-fiction story about that as well, recently) brings back good memories and mixed emotions! :-)
ReplyDeleteIndeed, so many of his old tunes bring back a lot of memories, which I'm trying desperately to hold onto. Thanks.
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