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List Price: $11.98 | | Label: Polygram Records
Salesrank: 366288
Released: October 25, 1990 |
| Our Price: $4.04 |
| Used Price: $3.41 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Empty Sky Track Listing:
1. Empty Sky
2. Val-Hala
3. Western Ford Gateway
4. Hymn 2000
5. Lady What's Tomorrow
6. Sails
7. Scaffold
8. Skyline Pigeon
9. Gulliver/It's Hay Chewed/Reprise
10. Lady Samantha [*]
11. All Across the Havens [*]
12. It's Me That You Need [*]
13. Just Like Strange Rain [*]
Editorial Review:
Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this classic album from the British singer/songwriter and entertainer, originally released in 1969. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Includes four bonus tracks. Universal. 2008.
Empty Sky Reviews:
Empty Sky by Elton John 
2007-10-26 - Empty Sky
This was my first Elton John record in the 1970s' and I think it's his best. I have it on Vinyl and C.D. Give it a listen and find the music consume you. You will enjoy it no doubt in my mind.
Elton's Album Debut 
2006-08-28 - I purchased this album on vinyl when it was released in 1975, and was disappointed. However, my disappointment was because I compared the 1975 U.S. release with Elton's contemporary recordings, and I should not have compared this album with anything, because it was Elton's first album, originally released in England in 1969. With time, I have come to appreciate this album for the hints provided of what was to come. Besides those hints, there is some music that is pretty good.
The original album contained nine tracks. This version adds four early Elton recordings, including Elton's first British hit, "Lady Samantha." Note that the four bonus tracks are also included on the "Rare Masters" CD. The additions are interesting, and in some ways are better than many of the original "Empty Sky" tracks. I think that Elton's earliest recordings, though very commercial and pop, had fewer gimmicks and were better produced than much of "Empty Sky," which tried too hard to sound hip and cool.
The title song, for example, has a single guitar riff thrown in that tries to make that song sound contemporary and cool, and just ends up making the song feel very dated and a bit amateurish. Excluding those little idiosyncrasies, the song is a decent R&B song, with a bit of experimentation and several interesting special effects.
There are several features of these songs I enjoy. The harpsichord in "Val-Hala" is interesting and unusual. "Sails" is one of the few songs that clearly links the style of this album to later albums such as "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player." "Scaffold" has lyrics that achieved less than Taupin may have desired, but Elton saved the song by writing a catchy tune that had little reliance on the lyrics. On later Elton albums Taupin's lyrics were frequently either barely comprehensible or incomprehensible, and Elton's music often made the song work out.
I was also impressed by the final original track, "Gulliver/It's Hay Chewed/Reprise." I enjoyed the reprise, which seemed quite unusual to me when I first heard it. "Gulliver" presents an interesting opening sound effect, and again presented a song suggesting later Elton John albums. Another interesting aspect of this track is its seven minute length. In 1969 progressive rock with characteristically long tracks was becoming a fully realized form of music. I suspect that the intention of the track was to experiment a bit, and the result was that Elton created a track that had some of the attributes of a progressive rock song.
The song from this CD that is most remembered is likely also the musically best song on this CD. "Skyline Pigeon" contains an excellent mating of well-conceived lyrics with well-matched music and vocals, again providing a connection to the fully realized collaboration between Elton and Taupin on albums that were already in conception when this album was released in 1969. The harpsichord in this song is wonderfully matched to the song, and is a rarity in modern music. "Skyline Pigeon" was later used by Elton as an incredibly moving tribute song to a young victim of AIDS. Sometimes a song expresses feelings better than words.
The music on this CD is relatively crude when compared to the polish accomplished by Elton John and Bernie Taupin by 1972. However, this music at its release was a bit bold and experimental. Elton was still trying to discover his sound, and there are places where blues, jazz, and even a bit of country flavor these songs. Indeed, it can be difficult to classify this album because the influences are broad. If you have an open mind, and can hear the genius that would soon inspire seven number one albums in a row, this album is a must-have for any Elton John fan.
Because of the perspective that time has given me on this music, and the four added bonus tracks, I rate this album 4 stars.
Enjoy!
