Elton John (Dlx Ed) (Rm) [Deluxe Edition, Original recording remastered, Extra tracks]

First a couple of things up front--if you liked the previous remaster of this album you'll LOVE this one simply because it sounds very similar but with an extra disc of material. If you prefer the earliest edition on CD (The DJM or MCA editions), you'll probably want to keep those discs. It all comes down to preferences in sound.

Elton John's self titled second album is where the magic happened. Everything came together. That's not to slight "Empty Sky" (his first album)--Elton needed a better producer and Steve Brown knew that so brought in the late Gus Dudgeon. The meat here is the original album which sounds extremely good in this remastered edition. It can't top the original DJM CD (or probably the vinyl for that matter)but the real reason you're probably buying this AGAIN is the second disc. Is it worth it? Yep.

We get Elton performing the entire album solo minus two songs ("First Episode at Hienton" and "Border Song" are missing. There are also two songs that have never been formally recorded or released in any form offically. Most of these performances have never been released and vary a bit in sound but on the whole sound extremely good given the age of the tapes, the recording environment and the fact that they were never meant to be released. . It's like sitting at a solo performance of Elton when this album was first released. We also get b-sides from the singles that were on the first remaster. Additionally, we get those piano demos as well.

One technical note to be aware of--during one song from the demo selections the original mastertape for the demos was damaged causing what sounds like a drop out and tape drag causing some distortion.

Elton does the melody for the strings vocally for the songs included on this including "The Greatest Discovery". This is essential for fans of Elton John. The BBC performances feature Elton backed by DJM labelmates Hookfoot (Caleb Quayle the guitarist in that band performed on the original album as well).

The packaging is in the digipak format used for all the Deluxe Edition CD releases. Highly recommended.

They missed a golden opportunity. There is so much EJ material from this era that has never been released, and they should have thrown in all the stuff that nobody's ever heard. At least we get 3 never-before-heard songs on this compilation, along with 10 alternate versions of the 10 songs on the album. So 13 tracks on the second CD, and the first CD is just the original 10. That leaves nearly half of the 2 CDs silent. Thanks for the 3 extra songs, but you've still got some work to do.

I purchased this LP on the same day I picked up: "Tumbleweed Connection", Elton's 3rd record. These two recordings by the exact same artist, are MILES apart from each other.

The Original Album:
I had heard 3 of these tracks already before I dropped this LP on the turntable. "Your Song" was a BIG Hit Single. FM Radio was playing "Take Me To The Pilot" & "Border Song", that said, I knew a little bit going in. Nobody could be prepared from this record, it was very different in 1971 from everything else from that time period, and today the gap is even bigger between this and the current Pop Music of 2008.

Like: "Pet Sounds" or Love's masterpiece: "Forever Changes", This Elton John record, stands alone on it's own merits. Go out there, and FIND a Record that sounds like this, of this production quality and/or these arrangements. If you do find another recording as unique and great as this, run don't walk and buy a lottery ticket, for your ship has indeed come in!

From the lilting harpsichord of: "I Need You To Turn To" in all it's baroque glory, to the Rock of: "Take Me To The Pilot" onto the country music of: "No Shoestrings On Louise" into the darkness of: "First Episode At Hienton". The arrangements and production are big and small as needed for each song. The lyrics? With the exception of: "Your Song" & "The Greatest Discovery", the two most straight forward things here, I have no idea what Bernie Taupin, is about, use your imagination and the journey becomes more enjoyable.

There are ten reasons to buy this CD, and those ten songs on: "Elton John" are the answers. Each of these songs are little mini-symphonies, and they are all unique in their form and shape. Many moods and colors are presented herein...This is a vast soundscape!

The Bonus Disc:
A lot has been said and written about the big arrangements and production used on this record. Now listen to these songs as just performed with Elton's voice and piano {14 Demos}. It's rough to take a song 38 years on and bring forth a totally new version {to us, Elton played these before the LP editions}. But for me to hear: "Sixty Years On" without the dark and gloomy strings is a bit of a relevation. Elton, knew what he was going to do from the start, he knew how special this material was and he knew where he was going with it.

"Grey Seal" has been issued before, but I never get tired of hearing this one, as a demo or finished up in the studio, it is one of Bernie and Eltons greatest compositions. "Bad Side Of The Moon" is fantastic as well, and this one was a showstopper when Elton played it live in 1970."Rock And Roll Madonna" is transformed from a piano demo into a full-out rocker in three versions heard here. The BBC sessions at the end of Disc Two confirm what Elton had in store for these songs as live pieces of music, big things were gonna happen.

It would take Elton a few years to become the biggest Rock Star of the 1970's. The albums: "Don't Shoot Me" & "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" would sell many times over what this record achieved in sales. Lot's of folks start their Elton John Collection in the 1973-1975 period, not here with this 1970 Record. There is no such thing as a: "Perfect Record". Opinions are as much opposed, as they are for ANY piece of art. But, if there was something that indeed flies close to the sun, this one would shine very bright!
FIVE STARS !!!

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