Too Low For Zero [Remastered] [Original recording remastered, Import]

In my opinion, this is the true apex of Elton's career, where he put everything together. His (and Bernie Taupin's) great songwriting had never been in question over the years; but he always seemed to be struggling with each album as to what he was really trying to accomplish - either artistic integrity, or trying to sell en masse. Too Low For Zero is his most relaxed and even album.

On the commercial side, the two first singles, "I'm Still Standing" and "Kiss The Bride", rank with my favorite commercial Elton songs. Both are undeniably catchy and rock as much as he did in the eighties...and having his old band together made it easy for him to let loose. The big surprise was the success of the terrific "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues", a sensational song that was more in place with Elton's early seventies material.

But on the less commercial side, jewels abound. "Cold as Christmas", the album's opener, is a terrific sad ballad that is a real treasure. "Crystal" is a stripped-down upbeat number that gets further into your head with each listen. And "Saint" might be my favorite Elton song of all time...a strange ballad that is almost indescribable, yet hypnotically beautiful and blossoms with perhaps the best Davey Johnstone guitar solo of all. It might also be Bernie Taupin's best work as a lyricist, which is saying something! And the title track is a moody piece, although mid-tempo, that lingers with you.

If you want to experience various stages of Elton's career, pick "Madman Across The Water" for his non-commercial times, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" for his peak of popularity or "Peachtree Road" for his return to his roots. But if you want the whole package in one CD - this is where it all arrived together.

After flirting with his fans for years, Elton John delivered his most consistent and solid collection of songs since 1975's Captain Fantastic.

At the insistence of long time lyricist, Bernie Taupin, Elton decided to go back to basics and work with Taupin full time since 1976's Blue Moves. And, just as important, Elton reunited with the core of his backing band of the early 70s: Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone. This dynamic trio never sounded so good and they easily capture the romance and aura of the sound that made so many of Elton's early albums classics. Bernie Taupin also wrote lyrics with meaning and depth. He and Elton have always been better together than writing with other artists.

From the opening chords of the first track, Cold As Christmas, listeners are in for a treat. Elton's haunting vocal, coupled with the incredible backing vocals of the band, take the listener on a story of an elderly couple whose romantic flame as burned out. Then, as if on cue, Elton cuts right to the next song, I'm Still Standing and you can almost hear him saying: "Liked the first song? I knew you would. I'm back so take notice!" The transition is a bit jarring, but hey, he was feeling frisky and that's a great thing.

From there, the album slowly builds. The synthesizers are heavy (it's 1983 afterall) but they never intrude. They supplement the melody and reinforce Elton staying with the times. The title track should have been a single as it went over big on the tour that followed. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues remains an instant Elton classic with it's overtly sentimental lyric about pining for a love one. Stevie Wonder's express and sweet harmonic solo only add to the songs' nice touches. Elton and the band deliver a rock solid effort on this one. And speaking of rock, the "rock" songs on the album are also worthy of mentioning. Kiss The Bride and Whipping Boy are fun, yet throwaways that, taken in the context of the album, fit in just fine. Crystal relies on a drum machine and is clearly an experimental effort that again, would have made a great choice for a single. Saint and One More Arrow round out the ballads and are equally satisfying primarily on the strength of Elton's vocals. The only song here that feels out of place is Religion. An obvious attempt to mimic a country-rock feel and would have been better suited on a b-side. Though Taupin's lyric is full of great imagery and sly humor.

Too Low For Zero had three hits in the USA: I'm Still Standing amazingly just missed the Top 10; I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues peaked at #4; and the third single, Kiss The Bride, made the Top 40. It's also no secret that the videos that accompanied the singles helped reshape Elton's image for the decade.

Longtime fans waited for this one. Elton and Bernie delivered and this one is remembered as a true return to form.

This album is almost always seen as the best of his 1980-1988 years. It is gushed over because the lyricist of all these songs is Bernie Taupin. I am slightly dis-appointed with the lyrics as they are mostly about relationships. I can't think of 'Kiss the bride', 'Whipping boy' and 'Saint' deep, meaningful or even worthwhile. Actually all three are fairly below average songs in my opinion. Yes those first two are rockers but they're not much fun. Kiss the bride is particularly repetitive. Actaully with all the belly-aching about the lyrics of albums like 'Leather Jackets' and about how they're so simplistic, do 'I wanna kiss the bride', 'Take it from me, my baby's a Saint', 'I wont be your whipping boy' fare much better. The only Praise to any of them is the wonderful guitar solo's on Whipping Boy and Saint and some wonderful synthesiser passages in Saint. But, of-course there is wonderful material on here. You all know 'I guess that's why they call it the blues' but I'm telling you, it really is a great song. And his classic years backing vocalists are behind him and they add it a homely feel. I'm still standing is a classic Elton rocker, and harkens back to his early days as it relies barely on electric guitar and on acoustic, drums and synth [I'm think 1970 when his rockers weren't electric guitar based songs]. Cold As Christmas is a very good ballad teamed with some decent imagery 'the warm wind in the palm trees hasn't helped to chaneg our mind'. Lyrically it wouldn't be out of place on 'The Big Picture'. Religion is a bit of a sneering country rocker. I liek the song and Davey, dee and Nigel sound liek the Cars on backing vocals. Plus I love Davey's guitar solo. It's a very good song and blends well with it's C&W ballad follow-up. But the way these people are getting Religion is rather untrue. For one example, a girl is behind a checkout and she doesn't get a thanks. She's feeling down 'but that's when she got Religion', I don't think that happens, well very rarely. People get Religious in less spontaneous circumstances but it's hard to understand what Taupin is really trying to say here. Anway the two stand-outs [for me anyway] are 'Crystal' and the title track. The synthsisers are used to great effect, with a definite surreal edge, and the melodies are beautiful. The songs are like up-tempo new-age music. Then there's the lovely 'One more arrow' a dramatic ballad which I think is a bout a deceased child. Elton sings the songs entirely in falsetto.
A great Elton John album from the 80's but it's not my favourite, that is Jump Up.