Elton John Music:

Ice On Fire Reviews:
A great eighties album
2009-11-06 - Elton's career has had its ups and downs, but this album came at a time when he was in top form. It followed Breaking hearts (featuring Sad songs say so much, Passengers) and that in turn followed Too low for zero (featuring I'm still standing, I guess that's why they call it the blues). Both of those albums contained some fine album tracks as well as those major hit singles and some lesser hits, and this album followed the pattern. Gus Dudgeon, producer of Elton's albums from his classic 1970 to 1976 period, returned to that position for this album.

The biggest hit here was Nikita, which by making the UK top three, was Elton's biggest UK hit for nearly ten years, although he'd had plenty of UK top ten hits in between. Nikita also made the top ten in America. The follow-up single from this album, Wrap her up made the top twenty on both sides of the Atlantic without capturing the public imagination to the extend of its predecessor. Both hits featured George Michael on backing vocals. A third single from the album, Cry to heaven, became a minor UK hit. By that time, anybody who wanted the song probably had the album. Other great tracks on the album include This town, Tell me what the papers say and Candy by the pound.

When one thinks of Elton John's albums, this one isn't usually among the first to come to mind, but that's only because Elton recorded so many great albums. There is much to like about this album, which was later expanded to include four bonus tracks. This may not be the place to begin a collection of Elton's studio albums, but no serious Elton John fan should be without it.

Another album spoilt by 80's production values
2008-07-17 - If Elton John had produced this album in the first half of the 1970's or in the same way as 'Songs from the West Coast'/'The Captain and the Kid' was made it would probably be a fine album. As it is its an average album spoilt my the 1980's production values.

There are some very good songs on here: This Town, Cry to Heaven, Shoot Down the Moon. There are at least a couple of others that merit a few listens. Eventually once you get though the treacled layers of 80's keyboards you will find Elton's unique melodic gift shining through.

All the musicians on this album are top notch, but to a large degree they are wasted. If you want final evidence of the souless nature of this recording compare the album version of 'This Town' with Elton's performance on the UK TV show The Tube. There is no comparison the live version on the Tube is absolutely stunning. The album version sounds castrated by comparison.

So its worth getting, but be prepared to have to listen to it a few times to find the gems.

my favorite elton john album of ALL TIME
2005-05-13 - This is my favorite album ever by elton. i think you have to understand people who are a little nutty to love this album. The album communicates death and destruction to me and also love and drama and addiction and soul above all else. my favorite elton song of all time #7 satellite is on here, i listen to that song over and over and over again. I also love candy by the pound and tell me what the papers say. This album has that neo industrial funk sound which i have never heard anywhere else. I know gus is gone now and the man left us with a masterpiece bless his heart for anyone who said this album sucks has no idea what good music really is this album kicks ass i like it more than 21at33 but 21at33 is a better portrayl of the human spirit. Ice on fire is passionate and angry yet beautiful. Elton sings with a sword and sounds beautiful on many of the ballads, and the funk sounds and songs are hot, i hope he can make something in the future like this album or better, it's the only elton album i listen to everyday.

Firey ice
2004-02-02 - I listened to this and I have to say I thought the album got off to a cracking start. Yeah, I was never a fan of the "Is there really a God?" stuff but Cry to Heaven isn't really along those lines, it's more about how tough the people are doing it though with past lyrics in mind like one of the last tracks on Blue Moves the message still lurks around. As for the music, John is taking a jazzy step, like he did on 21-at-33. My fave tracks are Too young, an aching ballad about "I love her but she's Too Youn for me" then there's Nikita, the lovely ballad-ish pop song. Soul Glove and This Town are great uptempo jazz, Cry to Heaven and Shoot down the moon are dark ballads, and then there's Candy by the pound, perhaps too 80's fro some fans but ti's cute and fun to listen to. The others aren't that bad, especially Wrap her up. There is a dark undertone on a few tracks, and I noticed Renate isn't thanked in the credits nor did she record this album. Shoot the moon down is very dark, about a man who is being shot dead in a robbery.

Yet another masterpiece! Nikita and Wrap Her Up shine bright
2001-06-04 - On Fire is right! Elton John didn't receive enough acclaim for this 1985 album. Bernie Taupin and John teamed up, once again, for this collection of songs....and what resulted was more hits for them to add to their, already, impressive long list of Top 40 songs! Wrap Her Up is a clever dance hit with John and, guest singer, George Michael naming off the most beautiful and sexiest famous women in the world; whom they both fantasize of being with....for a cup of tea :) Nikita is the showstopper hit, and is my very favorite Elton John song to this date: 6/4/01! Nikita is a wonderful ballad....of a man proclaiming his love for a Russian female soldier who is alienated from him by way of a large fortress wall. The beautiful music and lyrics of Nikita are sheer perfection of John and Taupin; with George Michael adding his backing vocals superbly to this one-of-a-kind love song! I would recommend this album simply for these 2 songs alone....I also would suggest his "Greatest Hits 1976-1986" CD(which also feature these hits)! Get it here at Amazon.com! Peace.