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List Price: $29.98 | | Label: Island / Mercury
Salesrank: 3070
Released: June 3, 2008 |
| Our Price: $13.93 |
| Used Price: $16.03 |
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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:
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 of it's day, 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 !!!
"Elton John" by ELTON JOHN 2CD DELUXE EDITION - The "Your Song" Album Gets AN AWESOME REMASTER!!
2008-08-03 - Reginald Dwight's 2nd album proper was recorded in a week in January 1970 at Trident Studios in London and then released in the spring of 1970. It included the monster hit "Your Song" and after years of soul-destroying session work and an underachieving debut album "Empty Sky", both the single and album finally kick-started Elton John's extraordinary career - which is still strong nearly 40 years after the event. This 2 June 2008 DELUXE EDITION 2CD set is a fully upgraded version of that forgotten album and along with the 2CD DELUXE EDITION of the LP that followed it, "Tumbleweed Connection" (see my separate review) these two beauties are in my books already up there as REISSUES OF THE YEAR.
Here's the layout:
DISC 1 is the 10-track album originally released in the UK in April 1970 on DJM Records DJLPS 406 and in the USA on Uni Records 73090 (39:29 minutes)
DISC 2 is the BONUS DISC with a primo haul of 20 tracks, 17 of which are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED DEMO, PIANO and BBC VERSIONS. The other 3 tracks are NON-ALBUM SINGLES from the period (69:53 minutes)
PACKAGING:
The LP originally sported a matt gatefold sleeve, which has been faithfully reproduced in the upgraded 28-page booklet that accompanies this set. Along with period photos of Elton, there's a very informative new essay by noted writer JOHN TOBLER, session details on the bonus tracks, both CDs are picture discs and the booklet reflects both the rear sleeve ensemble photo and the lyrics on the inner spread in the same way they were on the gatefold of the original album - all very nice touches indeed. But the big news is the SOUND....
SOUND:
Sourcing the first generation original masters tapes from the Universal Archives, GIOVANNI SCATOLA and TONY COUSINS at Metropolis Mastering in London have carried out the remastering - and surely a GRAMMY awaits each of them! As the owner of way too many re-issue CDs, this (and Tumbleweed Connection) are simply the best remaster of old albums that I've ever heard! Twenty seconds into the overly familiar "Your Song", with its brand new piano and acoustic guitar clarity and its string-arranged beauty fully renewed, I was already writing a review and picking my jaw up off the table as I went!
So what's changed? When GUS DUDGEON replaced the useless 1980s CDs with the excellent 1995 remasters, he got the best sound out of the tapes that he could at the time (he sadly passed away a few years ago). But 13 years on to 2008 and that's a lifetime in remastering techniques. These 2008 versions BREATHE - you can hear everything - and clearly too. Songs like "First Episode At Hienton", "Sixty Years On" and "The King Must Die" heavily feature the fantastic string arrangements of PAUL BUCKMASTER (who did "Space Oddity" for Bowie) - well now you can hear how good they are! The sound is so clean, it makes you double take on almost every track - a TRULY BEAUTIFUL JOB DONE and easy to see why Elton would want these new versions out in the marketplace as soon as possible.
BAND/GUESTS:
FRANK CLARK and COLIN GREEN provide sweet guitar work on "Your Song" and "Sixty Years On", while guest vocalists MADELINE BELL, TONY HAZZARD, LESLIE DUNCAN and ROGER COOK feature especially well on the brilliant "No Strings For Louise" and "The Cage". DIANA LEWIS plays Moog on the sparse "First Episode At Hienton". CALEB QUAYE of HOOKFOOT provides Lead Guitar on "Take Me To The Pilot" while TONY COX of PENTANGLE drums on "The Greatest Discovery" and the epic album closer "The King Must Die".
DISC 2 gives us 12 excellent PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Piano Demos in a row (1-12) along with two separate BBC sessions - the "Dave Lee Travis Show" from April 1970 and the "Sounds Of The Seventies Show" from July 1970 (tracks 18, 19 and 20). They vary in sound quality, but are more than pleasantly good. It should be noted that Track 1, the demo version of "Your Song" did turn up on the "To Be Continued" box set years back, but that was only briefly available. "Bad Side Of The Moon" is the non-album B-side of the 7" single "Border Song" issued March 1970 in the UK on DJM Records DJS 217, while "Rock & Roll Madonna" and "Grey Seal" are the A&B sides of the non-album 7" single DJS 222 issued in the UK in June 1970. "Grey Seal" was re-recorded and turned up on "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" - the version on this disc is often referred to as "Version 1970". These 3 were originally bonus tracks on the 1995 reissue CD of the album; here they've upgraded sound quality.
Then comes a genuine sensation; recorded for the Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis for his "Sound Of The Seventies" Sessions in July 1970 is an almost note-perfect rendition of "YOUR SONG" which frankly rivals the issued version. Luckily the sound is BEAUTIFUL, his performance heartfelt and not wearied by 38 years of playing the same song. It's FANTASTIC STUFF and a reminder of what initially drew so many music lovers to Elton in the first place - his great song-writing and vocal delivery. Whatever way you cut it, this version is an absolute gem and will thrill fans to the core!
To sum up: I've loved coming back to this album - the great sound quality - actual tunes with thought-provoking lyrics - the attention to detail in the well-thought out packaging - the bonuses you'll play more than once - all of it...
For fans of this unduly forgotten album, this is an absolute MUST BUY! For the casual buyer or just vaguely interesested, I urge you to try to get to hear just how good this re-issue really is. I know it's pricey, but it's worth it.
A job well done by all at Universal - and roll on the same deluxe treatment for "Madman Across The Water" and "Honky Chateau".
Another Notch Up For Elton
2008-07-22 - When Elton John's catalogue was remixed previously, the sound quality improved and bonus tracks were added, making the purchase well worth it. The new Deluxe Edition version of the Elton John Album has the previously mentioned bonuses -- plus! Gems include three live tracks from BBC Radio appearances (Border Song, Your Song and Take Me To the Pilot) plus Elton's demo and/or piano only versions of the other tracks on the disc.
It's a must for Elton fans. . .and for those who want a look at the genesis of some of these classic songs.
Elton John's Breakthrough Gets The "Deluxe" Treatment
2008-06-23 - "Elton John"(aka The Black Album)was the one that brought him to the big time,hitting #4 on the Billboard chart and gave him and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin their first major hit "Your Song",which remains one of Sir Elton's signature songs.It was first to be produced by Gus Dudgeon and to include Paul Buckmaster's string arrangements.It contains great classic songs ranging from the R&B and gospel-influenced "Take Me To The Pilot","The Cage" and "Border Song"(which was covered by Aretha Franklin),to the dramatic,heavily orchestrated "The King Must Die","The Greatest Discovery","I Need You To Turn To" and "Sixty Years On".This Deluxe Edition contains a stunning 2008 remastering of the original album(done by Giovanna Scatola and Tony Cousins at Metropolis Mastering)which surpasses all the previous masters,plus a second disc containing superb piano demos,singles and BBC sessions from the period including 3 previous unreleased songs "Thank You Mama","All The Way From El Paso" and "I'm Going Home".For EJ fans,this is truly essential stuff.
