Leather Jackets [Import]

This is Elton funking down and rocking it!
Everything that makes Elton and everything he is known for is on this album!

It doesn't drag one inch. The ballads are strong, melodically and the power chords that we are familiar with Elton are ever-present in one of the best produced albums of his career and this all digital album shows it all off!!!

Yes, there are synths, so what? Are you saying down with synths?
Pink Floyd, Vangelis, Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer used synths pre-dominantely before Elton and wow, what amazing company!

Taupin's simpler but well-versed lyrics like in many classic rock songs and in blues fit Elton's energetic creative melodic creations. There is even a song co-written by Cher which really rocks, the rest is all Elton and Taupin with one more exception from Osborne who became a familiar presence in Elton's career in the eighties.

If you want to rock and move your body and soul with the best of them, buy this fantastic album!

I know of what I speak...I own all of Elton John's albums! This one is up there and if it takes numerous listenings to get the charm of it...so be it.

It only took me one listen...
In the first two songs I was hooked and wasn't let down by the end!

Older Elton John fans would take a weaker opinion to this work, as the production, instrumentation and vocals work to different concepts to his early seventies material. Yes this album is big on production, but being a teenager of the early 80's, that's what I love.

Many critics have taken a hard chord to Elton's Geffen Years, (1979-1986). This for me was Elton at his Peak. Much of his seventies material had a degree of a somewhat dated production sound. Albums like "21 at 33", "The Fox", "Jump up", "Too low For Zero", "Breaking hearts" and "Ice on Fire" demonstrated John's talent at full potential. "Leather Jackets" is no exception.

The album's lead in track "Leather Jackets" jumps with lively upbeat tempos, follow by the smooth chilling sound of "hoop of fire". The uptown-rocking "don't trust that woman" continues the varying sound palette of this album. Other selections that make this recording a real star include "heartaches over the world", "Do it again", the beautifully crafted "Gypsy heart", "Slow rivers" performed with Cliff Richard, "Angeline", "Memory of love", and the emotionally wrenching "I fall apart". This disc was recorded close to John's throat surgery of 1987, but is not evident at all on this album. This would have to be one of Elton's all-time top three albums. "Don't trust that woman" was written by 60's songstress Cher, and other contributions came from long time partners Bernie Taupin, and Gary Osbourne.

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I really like this record. No-one else does? Oh well.
My favourite track is Memory of love. A close listens reveals it to have a definite C&W edge, and it's also slightly R&B. Checkout the songs fade-out. A four-strong choir singing the chorus and Elton going all over the place with his voice, that is so R&B. But it's not a song that is overtly C&W or overtly R&B, it is subtle, not looking for praise, unlike 'Take me back' or 'Club at the end of the street'. It's also not a catchy song, so it's not one that'll stick in your head easily. It's something subtle that passes over with a casual listen. I like the guitar sound used on the fadeout, high pitched and twangy, quite unusual. The song has a dream-like quality which compliments the lyric about things being a "memory" rather than "reality" but the lyrics don't really make sense, perhaps adding to the songs uncommercial feel. The song is in 3/4 time, unlike most typical pop-ballads, which are in 4/4 time. Elton's vocal is moving, and perhaps the deepest of all his lower register efforts. It's quite an unusual vocal too. Other standout's are I fall apart and Paris, they wouldn't be out of place on Big Picture. Paris is slightly European and perhaps at home on 'The Fox' as well. All three are very deep, thoughtful and moving songs, even if they aren't popular! Gypsy Heart is an interesting slice of Gospel. I like the 'arms as warm as mine' and 'back against the wall!' bits. I don't like Hoop of fire, I think it's the worst song but it's listenable. Elton isn't singing with much flare and the drummer seems to be doing his own thing towards the end of the song. It's a definite throwback to early 60's pre-Beatles pop. Slow Rivers bores me a bit but it's nice. Some good strings and singing. The other songs are slight, fun rockers. They're not really special but Angeline is possibly my favourite, it is pretty silly but covers all the characteristic riffs of late 50's po[o]p. But then I also love Go it alone, which takes the old twelve bar blues and gives it a dark twist. It also features some pretty heavy guitar jams. So does Don't trust that woman which has a really cool guitar effect and Davey's solo is great. Plus it has this hypnotic chorus and a slight Jamaican feel. Okay the song is a bit repetitive and goes for five minutes but I actually really like it. And the title track is highly energetic. The lyrics by the way are mocking people who are 'stuck in the past', they are not about the past. 'Is the Golden age dead and gone are the hands stuck on the clock?' Heartache all over the world is typical 80's generic pop but it's not something totally unlistenable or banal, they lyrics are actually quite amusing at times, it's just not a stand-out in his career. I love the songs guitar solo.

I didn't like the album when I first listened but I listened a month later and it sounded pretty good. Make what you want of that!