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List Price: $29.98 | | Label: Island / Mercury
Salesrank: 56829
Released: June 3, 2008 |
| Our Price: $15.14 |
| Used Price: $13.99 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Editorial Review:
2008 digitally remastered deluxe two CD edition of Elton's self titled album featuring an additional eight bonus tracks on the first disc plus a second CD containing 12 additional bonus tracks. Originally released in 1970, Elton John was his second album which spawned the classics 'Your Song', 'Take Me To The Pilot' and 'Border Song' and launched his musical career into the stratosphere. This deluxe edition features piano demos of eight of the album's tracks plus piano demos for five tracks that never made the album. Also included are non-album cuts, BBC sessions and more. Universal.
Elton John Reviews:
Elton's First Album Finally Gets The Treatment It Deserves. 
2009-02-14 - When Elton John burst onto the American music scene in 1970 with his self titled debut album, it was unlike anything on the scene, and it proved to be what was sorely needed after the breakup of The Beatles earlier in the year. Elton's album combined pure rock with folklore influenced lyrics, gospel stylings, and heavy orchestral arrangements to create an ambitious debut (at least for America - "Empty Sky" had been released in the U.K. the previous year) whose creativity still holds up today.
To commemorate this wonderful album, which surely ranks among the best Elton ever recorded, a wonderfully remastered and repackaged double disc cd has been issued, with an extra bonus disc of demos and rare cuts. The result is nothing short of excellent, as the album sounds better than ever, and the packaging is extremely attractive.
Beginning with the timeless opening chords of "Your Song," a song that has been with Elton every step of his career, it's clear that the sound on this album is lightyears ahead of the 1995 remaster. Each song bursts out of the speakers with a depth of range and volume lacking on previous issues. Paul Buckmaster's lush, haunting string arrangements on songs like "Sixty Years On," "The Greatest Discovery," and "The King Must Die" have never sounded more powerful or enveloping, while Elton's voice and piano resonate so profoundly in the mix it's like he's singing right there with you.
The bonus disc, a collection of demos and outtakes from 1969-1970, give amazing insight into Elton's already blossoming prowess as an artist. These piano / voice demos aren't mere demos. Elton sounds assured, confident and aware of his talents. He even sings the string arrangements, stressing his already vast musical experience. There are three songs - "Thank You, Mama," "All The Way Down To El Paso," and "I'm Going Home" - that are welcome additions. We also get alternate tracks from BBC sessions.
This is an excellent rerelease of a classic album.
Amazing CD!
2008-10-31 - Simply an amazing CD with so many extraordinary and beautiful songs. A must have for your ears and your soul.
Essential Early Elton
2008-10-16 - Though Elton John's eponymous album does not reach the creative heights achieved by the follow-up Tumbleweed Connection, it still makes the listener wonder how someone could achieve so much early on and survive shifting musical tastes to remain a superstar into his 60s. What brings this into five-star territory is the quality and value added by the inclusion of the bonus disc.
With this special edition, you get nearly two hours of music and an attractive, informative booklet containing pictures, album info, lyrics for the original ten songs, and commentary on the development of EJ's early career.
My favorite songs on the first disc are classics: Your Song, I Need You To Turn To, Sixty Years On, and The King Is Dead. I also like the idealistic Border Song and The Cage. On the bonus disc, my favorite rare cuts are both versions of Grey Seal. I also enjoyed demo versions of the same songs I most liked on the first disc. Like another reviewer, I noticed the tape wobble on The Greatest Discovery and wonder why it had not been noticed and fixed.
For some reason, I never bought this album in high school although I bought Empty Sky, Tumbleweed Connection, and Madman Across the Water. But as they say, better late than never. I am delighted to own this now and you will be too.
Glaring Error Makes You Wonder 
2008-10-07 - First the good news.... the quantity and relative (sound) quality of the bonus tracks, especially since they include three never-before-heard titles, one of which I could imagine being finished off and fitting in on the original LP ("I'm Going Home"). It's great how Elton vocalizes the orchestral parts on the demo for "The Greatest Discovery"... (but with all the computer technology available today, couldn't they have done something about the tape glitch that shows up at 3:04?) And I love the laugh-fit that breaks out at the end of the "band demo" of "Rock and Roll Madonna".
Not-so-good-news.... there's no detailed info at all about the demo's, etc. (dates, locations... anything), with the exception of the three "BBC Sessions" tracks. Speaking of which (this is where the "glaring error" mentioned above comes in).... the supposed "BBC Session" of "Your Song" is actually the original hit version, just with the orchestra removed (unless you listen real close in spots). Which is fine by me.... I like hearing a stripped-down "band only" version of the same vocal recording I've heard hundreds of times over the years with all the strings, etc. If it had been a BBC version it would probably be the same performance that was shown on VH1 Classic awhile back. My question is, how many people listened to these tracks when this was being put together, and how could none of them have picked up on the mix-up? (I guess the same way none of the previous reviewers here seemed to notice?) Has to make you wonder about the accuracy of the liner notes as well, which has at least one problem confusing "Bad Side of the Moon" with "Rock and Roll Madonna" in the second paragraph.
Then there's the price.... definately too much for a re-release which has absolutely zero production costs to recoup, as far as the actual content (other than the mastering of the bonus disc). And the price is an especially thorny issue when you consider that many of those people purchasing this will be picking up every other release in the Elton "Classic Years - Deluxe" series. I was planning on getting the "Tumbleweed Connection" set along with this one, but I'll be holding off until I see it in the $15-$20 range somewhere. As far as the sound quality of the original album, I can't say I've noticed any improvement over the previous reissue. It's basically all about the bonus disc here.
One of it's Kind
2008-08-30 - 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 !!!
