Elton John [Import]

elton john [import]

Track Listings

1. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

2. Daniel

3. Candle In The Wind

4. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

5. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

6. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

7. Song For Guy

8. Blue Eyes

9. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blue

10. Nikita

11. Sacrifice

12. Your Song

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Full Title - John,Elton-Greatest Hits Go Classic. Camden.2004.

Elton John,Classic Dream Orchestra,Bmg/Ariola Express,Pop,Rock/Pop Collections

Elton John [Import]

Average customer rating:

Fantastic Album!!!
An Overlooked Gem
Fans can never be objective...
Very Good and injustly forgoten..
heart in the right place.

The Fox
Elton John
Manufacturer: Mca Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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21 at 33
Jump Up!
Breaking Hearts
A Single Man
Too Low for Zero

ASIN: B000002OJ3
Release Date: 1992-05-19

Tracks:

Breaking Down Barriers
Heart In The Right Place
Just Like Belgium
Nobody Wins
Fascist Faces
Carla/Etude/Fanfare
Chloe
Heels Of The Wind
Elton's Song
The Fox

Album Description

Canadian pressing of 1981 album, his first for Geffen, that's out-of-print domestically. Ten tracks including four co-written with Bernie Taupin & the hit, 'Nobody Wins'.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Album!!!.......2007-03-15

I have this on vinyl, and had been wanting to find a copy on CD... This is one of my favorite EJ albums!

An Overlooked Gem.......2006-09-23

During this period, many consider Elton John to have been at his creative low point. Other than Little Jeannie and Mama Can't Buy You Love, he hadn't even had a hit single for 5 years. Incredible, considering his hit machine status of the 70's, mid 80's and 90's.

That said, this very European sounding album. Chloe is a remarkable song and proves Elton's voice was in tip top form. Heart's In The Right Place and Breaking Down The Barriers are also great additions. Elton doesn't always score a direct hit with this album however as demonstrated by the boring, Just Like Belgium.

This isn't the funky, fun Elton John of my childhood, nor is it the music of the elder statesman of pop music he's become of late. Taken as a whole though, this is a very good listen and worth the purchase for those Elton fans like myself who may have overlooked this diamond in the rough.

Fans can never be objective..........2006-05-05

From the OBJECTIVE reviewer...although this is an electronic sounding album, the songs are strong enough to carry it. "Chloe" "Heart In the Right Place" and "The Fox" are standout tracks and there really isn't a song worth skipping. It would have been nice to hear this without the electronic sound and probably could have been better without it.

Very Good and injustly forgoten.........2006-01-27

"The Fox" is a very good Elton John cd that suffered because he was at a moment of his career when the media and public lost temporary interest in him and his music (like most of great artist do). This cd contains great and very good produced songs like "Just Like Belgium", "Elton s' Song", "Cloe", and "Nobody Wins" (was a minor hit but is a very good song). among others. For these cd he recorded more songs that are still unreleased after all those years. He could have had more hits from these cd but only "Nobody Wins" was released in America (i think "Just like Belgium" was a hit in Europe.
Good efford without a doubd. I am still wondering what about is "Elton s' Song", a song he co-wrote with Robinson the autor of a song called "Glad to be gay"............

heart in the right place........2005-12-16

21 at 33 was an omen of something great to come. And that was, of course, Elton's 1981 release The Fox. This is, probably tied with Tumbleweed Connection, Elton's least commercial album. But this is no Tumbleweed. Instead, Elton seemed to be showing us what he could do, going from the rollicking Breaking Down Barriers to the synth-extravaganza that is Nobody Wins (the album's low point) to the beauty of Carla-Etude. The introspective Elton's Song is one of the albums strongest songs, despite a few moments of lyrical stupidity. Elton still wasn't writing every song with Bernie at this point, but with the exception of Chloe and Breaking Down Barriers (both with lyrics by Gary Osborne) the John/Taupin compositions are the best on the album. The sound of this album is so unique, it's become one of my favorites. Somehow he's managed to put a little bit of everything into these nine songs, and they flow. Sadly, this was Elton's 80's peak. It's all downhill from here.

Average customer rating:

Another Great Album by Elton John
One Of Elton's Very Best And Still Holds Up Nearly Twenty Five Years Later.....
Not bad 25 years on. . .
Jump Up! Qualifies As Classic Elton
Fans can never be objective...

Jump Up!
Elton John
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Fox
Too Low for Zero
21 at 33
A Single Man
Breaking Hearts

ASIN: B00008ZPDJ
Release Date: 2003-05-12

Tracks:

Dear John
Spiteful Child
Ball & Chain
Legal Boys
I Am Your Robot
Blue Eyes
Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)
Princess
Where Have All the Good Times Gone
All Quiet on the Western Front

Album Description

Remastered reissue of 1982 album. Ten tracks including the hits, 'Blue Eyes', 'Princess', & 'Empty Garden'. Mercury. 2003.

Album Details

Originally Released in 1982, "Jump Up" features the Singles "Blue Eyes", "Princecss" and "Empty Garden", Elton's Tribue to John Lennon. Guest Muscians Include Pete Townshed on "Ball and Chain" and James Newton Howard on Synthesizer.

Customer Reviews:

Another Great Album by Elton John .......2007-03-28

This album is great. Songs like "Dear John", "I am Your Robot", "Ball and Chain", "Spiteful Child", and "Where Have All The Good Times Gone" are just great songs. I like it because of the great melodies and hooks. It doesn't have any fluff, or slow crap that plagued Elton in his later years. This is 90% Rock, 10% Nice Slow Songs, and 100% great material. "Jump Up!" is a must for any Rock 'n Roll Fan's Musical Collection. I have all of Elton's music, and when ever I am in the mood for Elton John, I frequently find myself turning "Jump Up!" on. Buy this Album, you'll be glad you did.

One Of Elton's Very Best And Still Holds Up Nearly Twenty Five Years Later............2006-12-29

"Jump Up!" was one of Elton John's best albums from the 1980s, and I think it still holds up quite well today. It was Elton's first album with producer Chris Thomas, who would produce most of Elton's 1980s and 1990s albums, and the last album featuring songs co-written with lyricist Gary Osborne. Recorded on the West Indian island of Montserrat, "Jump Up!" truly captures Elton at one of his happiest moments in the 1980s, backed ably by a fine studio band which included long-time associate, bassist Dee Murray, and legendary studio session drummer Jeff Porcaro, best known for his work with his band Toto and of course, with Michael Jackson too. The album harkens back to Elton's early to mid 1970s sound, with an eclectic range of pop ballads and uptempo rockers. The two songs which most listeners will recognize are the Elton John/Gary Osborne ballad "Blue Eyes", which was recorded later by none other than Frank Sinatra, and the Elton John/Bernie Taupin ballad "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)", which is Elton's bittersweet homage to the late John Lennon; both songs still rank as among the finest ballads ever composed by Elton in his nearly forty-year long career. And yet these aren't the only fine songs on "Jump Up!"; even the song which I regard as the weakest on the album, the Elton John/Bernie Taupin ballad "All Quiet On The Western Front" - the songwriting team's musical tribute to World War One's Western Front - I'd regard as one of their most memorable compositions. In other words, "Jump Up!" is that rarity among Elton John albums, one which truly doesn't have a lackluster song on it (My other favorites include the Elton John/Gary Osborne ballad "Princess", the Elton John/Bernie Taupin Philly Soul tribute rocker "Where Have All the Good Times Gone", the Elton John/Gary Osborne rocker "Dear John" (It features a fine guitar solo from none other than Pete Townshend of The Who!), the Elton John/Tim Rice ballad "Legal Boys" (their very first collaboration, long before Disney's "The Lion King"), and last, but not least, the Elton John/Bernie Taupin cyberpunkish rocker "I Am Your Robot".). Without question, I would regard "Jump Up!" as an essential Elton John album that should be acquired by both diehard fans and others interested in his music.

Not bad 25 years on. . ........2006-08-10

Jump Up was recorded and released during Elton's relationship with Geffen Records. While the albums that came during that period were not the monster hits of his 70s work (Captain Fantastic, Rock of the Westies), there is still some strong performances included.
The opening cut, Dear John, features guitar work from none other than Pete Townshend. Legal Boys has words from Tim Rice, who Elton later collaborated with on the Lion King Soundtrack.
A misnomer from this period is that there was some type of seperation between John and longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin. Not true -- in fact, one of the duos most meaningful works appears on Jump Up -- Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny), a tribute to John Lennon at the time of his murder.
Gary Osborne is the other writer on the disc and teams with John for the hit Blue Eyes, a ballad that still stands strong.
For Elton enthusiasts, the album is a must for a complete collection. For others, it's still a worthy listen.

Jump Up! Qualifies As Classic Elton.......2006-08-06

While the album art and photos on Jump Up! are almost comically dated, the music, for the most part, stands up to time's test quite well. Opening with the uber-catchy 'Dear John' (which stands as one of the most clever lyrics produced by Elton's creative tryst with Gary Osbourne) and moving forward with the Taupin-penned 'Spiteful Child,' Osbourne's 'Ball & Chain,' and the first collaboration between Elton and Tim Rice, 'Legal Boys,' this is a strong, energetic record that, twenty-four years on, is still worth hearing. Okay, so 'I Am Your Robot' is a clear relic of the pre-digital age (Jump Up! was probably the first record of Elton's to come out on CD as a new release, come to think of it), sounding kind of naive and quaint here in 2006, and 'Princess' and 'Where Have All The Good Times Gone' also sound very 1982, but so what? Like the album art, these songs serve to remind us of a time that was less cynical and more relaxed than our own time of higher technology and temperatures, lower government and expectations, senseless international conflicts and economic lunacy on an unprecedented scale. Either way, like the three that open the album, songs like Osbourne's laid-back 'Blue Eyes,' as well as Taupin's John-Lennon tribute 'Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)' and 'All Quiet On The Western Front' will survive in any climate, whatever the state of the world, providing pleasure and escape from the trials of mundane existence in any place and time. From our music, what more can we ask?

Fans can never be objective..........2006-05-06

From the OBJECTIVE reviewer...Like 21 at 33 an otherwise lackluster release gets bumped to 3 stars on the strength of two classic tracks, "Blue Eyes" and "Empty Garden." On the other hand, since those songs are available on Elton collection CDs, maybe this is worth skipping.

Average customer rating:

Candle in the Wind
Elton John
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Remixed
Something About the Way You Look Tonight
Elton John - Greatest Hits 1970-2002
The Queen

ASIN: B00004WQE9
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Tracks:

Candle in the Wind 1997
You Can Make History (Young Again)

Album Details

2007 Reissue of the Biggest Selling Single of all Time! Sir Elton's Record Label Had Solicited this Original EP Configuration, but Never Issued It. "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" Comes from the Album "The Big Picture", While "Candle in the Wind 1997" was Re-recorded Just Days after the Death of Princess Diana Spencer. "You Can Make History (Young Again)" Eventually Appeared on the Compilation "Elton John - Love Songs".

Average customer rating:

Breaking Hearts ain't what it used to be
Fans can never be objective...
More consistent than "Too Low" - has his best song too!
Beautiful ballads and pop hits
Average isn't good enough for Elton

Breaking Hearts
Elton John
Manufacturer: Mca Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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21 at 33
The Fox
Jump Up!
A Single Man
Too Low for Zero

ASIN: B000002OJ7
Release Date: 1992-05-19

Tracks:

Restless
Slow Down Georgie (She's Poison)
Who Wears These Shoes?
Breaking Hearts (Ain't What It Used To Be)
Li'l 'Frigerator
Passengers
In Neon
Burning Buildings
Did He Shoot Her?
Sad Songs (Say So Much)

Album Description

Canadian pressing of 1984 album for Geffen that's out-of-print domestically. Ten tracks including three Top 40 hits, 'Sad Songs (Say So Much)', 'Who Wears These Shoes?', & 'In Neon'.

Customer Reviews:

Breaking Hearts ain't what it used to be.......2007-06-27

Capitalizing on the momentum Elton regained with "Too Low for Zero" and the hit "I Guess That's Why The Call It The Blues," the reunited team Elton (Taupin, Davey Johnston, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson) quickly released "Breaking Hearts" a little more that a year later. While it is a good album and has three great singles on it, it falls short of "Too Low For Zero" and is also dated in its sound.

Blame for that falls to producer Chris Thomas, who burdened a lot of the album with 80's buzzy synthesizers and a reluctance to let the rockers really rock. "Restless" and "Slow Down Georgie" could have been knockouts like "I'm Still Standing," but they just come off as restrained. "Who Wears These Shoes" has a great soul bass-line and a good kick, and was deservedly a hit. (It also had a great video.) The big hit was "Sad Songs Say So Much," which not only was a top ten single and MTV hit, but was quickly mutated into a jeans commercial. Both of these songs are classic Elton, the hooky choruses and trademark vocal harmonies of his glory days are intact.

The other of Elton and Bernie's greatest strengths is also here: great ballads. Their second tribute to Edith Piaf, "In Neon," is a rare top forty record in waltz time. But better still is the title track. Mostly Elton and his solo piano, it is the kind of song that can give you chills. There is also the quirky experimental song in "Passengers." A major hit outside the US, a cryptic call for peace in a reggae mode. It is the most unusual song amongst a batch of rather atypical 80's Elton, on an album that could have used a bit more fire. For the most part, it is a consistent Elton John album with the usual prerequisite great hits (especially "Sad Songs'), but still just average overall.

Fans can never be objective..........2006-05-06

From the objective reviewer..."Sad Songs" is the only stand out track with a couple of decent songs...not enough to warrant a better rating.

More consistent than "Too Low" - has his best song too!.......2005-05-28

I've got a feeling I'm gonna be really unpopular, but I've never been a big fan of Elton John's 70's material (a few songs here and there, but overall, it's too "singer-songwriter-y"), and in the 90's he just got too boring, for lack of a better word.

Because I tend to like catchy pop songs, I prefered some of his 80's hits, namely from TOO LOW FOR ZERO.

Even if nothing else here equals my favorite, the big hit "Sad Songs" -- an upbeat classic rock/pop-rock song with a strong 80's sound which blends piano and guitaring really well -- some sure comes close!

Gotta rave about the 'beware of chaeating girlfriend' advice in the heavy guitar-driven "Slow Down Georgie" (which recalls his 1983 hit "Kiss the Bride") and the 80's-style hard rockability of "Lil' Fridgerator." These just sound like alot of fun, as does the new wave-ish "Who Wears these Shoes", a minor hit.

The hard pop of "Did he Shoot Her" is like a 1984 update of his harder 70's rock sound.

The album-opening "Restless" is one of my favorites - a rocker showing Elton in a humorously angry mode. Very upbeat and guitar-driven with subtle use of synths. If not for the unmistakable vocals, I could almost call it an REO Speedwagon or Loverboy song (that's a compliment!) mixed with a bit of vintage 60's rock.

The accoustic, singer-songwriter type title track, which sounds like a gigolo's anthem (LOL), and "In Neon" - which attempts a kind of Christopher Cross sound, only less good - are the two ballads.

"Burning Bridges" is a mid-tempo, political themed song with a strong British pop sound (makes clever use of the bagpipes too!).

While these three are far from bad, they're less catchy and don't stand up in quality to much of the upbeat material, IMHO.

I'm torn between whether to call this or TOO LOW FOR ZERO my favorite EJ album. That one had more standout hits, but this is a slightly better consistant listen. On a side note, while "Who Wears These Shoes" is a good song, I'm not sure it should've been the other single - I bet either Restless, Slow Down, or Burning Bridges would've pushed it a little further up the charts.

Also, out of 10 songs, only two are ballads, while 8 are upbeat rockers or pop numbers. For a piano singer-songwriter such as Elton, that's a bit of a departure, but I love it - in fact, I'd even go far enough to say this is probably his overall hardest rocking album.

Beautiful ballads and pop hits.......2005-01-31

This Lp,released in 1984 as a follow-up to TOO LOW FOR ZERO ,consolidated Taupin's return to his songwriting alliance with Elton John.This was best illustrated in love songs such as IN NEON ,BURNING BUILDINGS and the title track.The main hit single,SAD SONGS(SAY SO MUCH) and the second one WHO WEARS THESE SHOES? proved Elton was still #1 in the pop music world.Some tracks such as RESTLESS and SLOW DOWN also made an appearance on rock charts whilst PASSENGERS made a dent on European territories.

Average isn't good enough for Elton.......2005-01-17

This CD fails to make it into the four star category mainly because too many of the songs feel only partially "cooked". "Passengers" has a GREAT hook but the verses never really click. The title tune could have been a great tribute to an aging Don Juan but it's just too spare for the radio. It needs more "punch" in the chorus. "In Neon" is a pale "Candle in the Wind" rewrite.

Choosing "Who Wears These Shoes?" as the 2nd single probably killed the CD's momentum. Had "Did He Shoot Her?" (not a great song but "commercial" sounding) or "Slow Down Georgie" been chosen instead, followed with "Burning Buildings" and a re-tooled "Passengers", this could've been a 4 hit album.

THE GOOD: "Sad Songs (Say So Much)"[#5 U.S.], while not in the league of his best 70s material, is catchy and lodges its hooks deep in your cranium. It deserves the heavy airplay it continues to receive on adult contemporary radio. "Burning Buildings" paints the portrait of a love affair that's over although neither lover will admit it. "Slow Down Georgie (She's Poison)" is a friend's warning about a straying woman.

THE BAD: The only other hit tune on here, "Who Wears These Shoes?" [#16,1984] is pretty unremarkable and suffers from an uncomfortable transition from the 2nd verse into the hook. "L'il 'Frigerator" wastes a nice rocker on lyrical piffle comparing an emotionally distant woman to the kitchen appliance.

BOTTOM LINE:
This is one I'd borrow from your local library or a friend before making the decision to pay your hard-earned money. Definitely a comedown for someone who's written LPs like CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY,TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION and DON'T SHOOT ME, I'M ONLY THE PIANO PLAYER.

Average customer rating:

+0 Bonus Tracks

Madman Across the Water
Elton John
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Elton John
Tumbleweed Connection
Honky Chateau

ASIN: B00005NS1A
Release Date: 2007-06-25

Tracks:

Tiny Dancer
Levon
Razor Face
Madman Across the Water
Indian Sunset
Holiday Inn
Rotten Peaches
All the Nasties
Goodbye

Album Description

Japanese reissue of 1971 album, packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Version featuring an LP Style Slipcase Cover.

Customer Reviews:

+0 Bonus Tracks.......2002-10-23

I have the (West) German LP on DJM/Hansa/Ariola. It was first released in Japan by Toshiba-EMI, then Nippon Phonogram, and in the U.S. & Canada by UNI/MCA. I have the reissue baked up on CD-R, which is legal. Featuring the hits "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon". The bonus tracks should have been the ones from the movie (NOT the show) "Friends", since the soundtrack is out of print. I would also add the early rare single, "I've Been Loving You" and its B-side. Japanese released usually have more to offer so stores in Japan don't sell imports because they'd be cheaper, and if they all did that, the Nikkei would fall.

Average customer rating:

An Underrated Elton John Album From 1980....
21 At 33-- 17, actually
a testament to the superior songcraft of Elton John
A Good Hand
The Decade Gets Off To A Pretty Good Start

21 at 33
Elton John
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Jump Up!
The Fox
Breaking Hearts
A Single Man
Ice on Fire

ASIN: B00008ZPDL
Release Date: 2003-05-12

Tracks:

Chasing the Crown
Little Jeannie
Sartorial Eloquence
Two Rooms at the End of the World
White Lady White Powder
Dear God
Never Gonna Fall in Love Again
Take Me Back
Give Me the Love

Album Description

Remastered reissue of 1980 album for MCA that's out-of-print domestically. Nine tracks including three co-written with Bernie Taupin & the hit, 'Little Jeannie'. 2003.

Album Details

Elton's First Album of the 80's was to Spawn the Hit Singles "Little Jeanie" and "Sartorial Eloquence". This Digitally Remastered Version of the Original 1980 Album Comes Complete with Enhanced Packaging and New Sleevenotes by John Tobler.

Customer Reviews:

An Underrated Elton John Album From 1980...........2006-12-31

"21 At 33" is often overlooked by fans and critics; if it is remembered at all, it is best known as the album which yielded Elton's American Billboard Top 3 Hit "Little Jeannie", which ranks along with "Blue Eyes" as the best song he co-wrote with lyricist Gary Osborne. However, I think this fine album deserves recognition as yet another example of his splendid songwriting craft, having written all of the songs on this album in August, 1979 in France's Cote d'Azur (The album was co-produced by Elton and long-time associate sound - and concert stage - engineer Clive Franks.). Musically it is also noteworthy for being a partial reunion of the John/Taupin songwriting team, yielding such memorable rockers as the opening track, "Chasing The Crown", "Two Rooms At The End Of The World" (A post-"Captain Fantastic" sequel reminding listeners that the team had been separated only by distance - since Bernie had moved to California - and that they were still musically at - or at the very least close to - the stratospheric artistic heights they had achieved from the early to mid 1970s.), and "White Lady, White Powder". While these were among this album's best songs, along with "Little Jeannie", the most memorable ones also included the minor hit "Sartorial Eloquence" (co-written with Tom Robinson) and the bluesy hymn "Dear God" and the country-western ballad "Take Me Back" with lyrics from Robinson and a young English songwriter, Judie Tzuke, who was signed to Elton's Rocket Records. "21 At 33" should also be remembered as the first partial reunion of Elton with his original rhythm section of bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson (Olsson has a memorable drum solo on "Little Jeannie".), who would be featured - either together or separately - on every Elton John album in the early 1980s, and with both officially rejoining his touring band by 1980.

21 At 33-- 17, actually.......2006-08-06

In fact, 21 At 33, supposedly Elton's 21st record at the age of 33, is his seventeenth (unless collections count). Either way, the numbers don't matter; Elton sounds on this record like he has the energy of age 21 at 33-- hell, that's what I thought the title meant when I was a kid and I first bought this record on cassette! Having just received the CD through the Amazon Marketplace, replacing that long-lost cassette, I put it right on, hearing it for the first time in about fifteen years. Unlike me, the record hasn't aged a day; if anything, it sounds better, and the reissue art and liner notes from the omnipresent John Tobler are lovely additives. Not that the record needs them; 21 At 33 is, in my estimation, one of Elton's best, not only from this transitional period of his career but from his entire ouvre. Bernie Taupin makes a triumphant return to his partner's work here, with the three best songs on the record: 'Chasing the Crown' (John/Taupin's answer to the Rolling Stones' 'Sympathy for the Devil'), a hard-rocking testiment of the eternal Adversary that has never received the attention it deserves (Elton, if you're listening, you should add this one to your live show!); 'Two Rooms at the End of the World,' a state-of-their-union update and response from John/Taupin to the rumour that their creative relationship had reached its end, and 'White Lady, White Powder,' an honest and good-humoured ode to Bernie's coke habit (which, according to Phillip Norman's book 'Sir Elton,' was coming to an end around this time). Of the non-Taupin songs, the best is 'Sartorial Eloquence,' with lyrics by the gay punk-pop songwriter Tom Robinson. This one should go down in music history as one of the gayest love songs ever (sample lyric: 'Oh your lifestyle shows / In the clothes you chose / Sitting pretty in the masquerade'). Robinson's other lyric on this album, 'Never Gonna Fall In Love Again,' isn't as much of a standout, however; it's merely good. Of the remaining four tracks, three are written by Elton's collaborator on A Single Man, Gary Osbourne, whose best contribution here is the hit single 'Little Jeannie,' a seemingly straight love song that verges on sappiness at times, but is redeemed by Elton's emotionally effective but restrained vocal and the song's relaxed tempo. Osbourne's other two contributions here, the spiritual 'Dear God' and the countrified 'Take Me Back' are good, if not especially remarkable; the important thing is that they work in their context, neither slowing the record down or otherwise upsetting its flow. Outside of their context, neither song stands out particularly, but in it, they work beautifully. One of the great strengths of Elton John over the years is the diversity of not only his work entire, but specifically of his 'love songs.' While many an artist sticks with one, or at best, two dimensions of what we call 'love' (namely hetero-sexual lust and romantic love of the straight variety), the work of Elton John (particularly in tandem with Bernie Taupin) runs the gamut: straight love ('Tiny Dancer,' 'Amy,' 'Blues For Baby and Me,' 'Little Jeannie,' etc.); [...] love ('Elton's Song,' 'Sartorial Eloquence,' 'Razor Face,' 'Dan Dare [Pilot of the Future],'); brotherly love ('Daniel,' 'Two Rooms...,' 'We All Fall In Love Sometimes/Curtains'); etherial love ('Candle In The Wind,' 'Lady Samantha,' 'High Flying Bird'); dysfunctional love ('All the Girls Love Alice'); damaged and failed love ('Someone Saved My Life Tonight,' 'Cold As Christmas,' 'Sacrifice,' 'Dear John,' 'Love Lies Bleeding'); rented love ('Sweet Painted Lady,'); interracial love ('Amazes Me'); international love (Nikita) long-distance love ('I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues,') and just all-purpose, whomever-you-are love ('Your Song,' 'Love Song,' 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me,' etc). Lord knows I could go on; off hand, I can think of several more categories and tunes to fill them, but I digress. This brings me to the good all-purpose love song that concludes the album, the appropriately titled "Give Me the Love,' Co-written by Elton and Judie Tzuke (an artist that was signed to Rocket at the time). It's a funky little number, and an excellent closer to an underrated record by a man who still hasn't even come close to running low on energy and a songwriting team who still have much to teach us about love.

a testament to the superior songcraft of Elton John.......2006-01-13

"21 at 33", originally released in 1980, is not usually considered to be one of Elton John's best albums. More precisely, it seems to be viewed as something of a transitional record for Elton following his notorious and commercially disastrous disco album "Victim of Love".

That said, "21 at 33" is an incredibly impressive achievement. Despite the personal problems Elton was going through during this period, including his increasing drug dependency, absolutely none of the songs here fail to display Elton's superior knack for songcraft. In other words, there's simply not a weak song on the disc. And the production, by Elton and Clive Franks, is mostly very tasteful, and the performances are spirited.

Granted, Elton's reliance on other people to write the lyrics for his songs does give him a certain advantage in that he can focus solely on writing the music, and he can also use the lyrics he's been provided with as a vantage point for the type of song he's going to concoct. Bernie Taupin, following his songwriting absence on the previous two albums, returned here, co-writing three of the songs. Gary Osborne was also continuing to co-write songs with Elton, and there are additionally two co-writes from Tom Robinson, and one co-write from Judie Tzuke. The liner notes inform us that all of the songs here were written at the Cote d'Azur in Grasse, France in August of 1979, which inescapably brings to mind the thought that Elton can turn out great song after great song in his sleep--even if these tunes were all written quickly, they all seem carefully thought out musically, and none of them feel merely like album filler.

"Chasing The Crown" is a great, energetic album opener that rocks out quite nicely with super-cool guitar and piano licks. "Little Jeannie" is a supremely melodic ballad with a soaring chorus and an irresistible fade that's based on the instrumental intro. "Sartorial Eloquence" starts off with a lovely sequence of piano chords and again is splendidly melodic with an irresistibly catchy chorus. "Two Rooms At The End Of The World" is a toe-tappingly catchy horn-laden pop-rocker with neatly placed harmony vocals. The neatly-unpredictable "White Lady White Powder" is an extremely well-crafted and catchy uptempo pop-rocker. The 6/8 time "Dear God" is a gently-swaying, arrestingly tuneful ballad. "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again" is also a solid ballad with a nice sighing quality to it. "Take Me Back" is a fun, musically upbeat song that shows just how comfortable Elton is a country-western setting. The album ends with the absolutely infectious grooving soft-rocker "Give Me The Love": unbelievably catchy vocal melody; irresistible syncopation; great horn and string arrangements; a really fun, spirited Elton vocal delivery; and great Elton piano fills.

"21 at 33" is an album that you can absolutely play straight through. On the other hand, you might have a hard time doing that due to a temptation to play certain tracks two or three times in a row. With a nice variety to the songs, and so much catchiness, this is a really great and underrated album from Elton, and I really can't fathom how any fan wouldn't love it.

(P.S. Further demonstrating what a roll Elton was on at this time, there are at least a couple songs from the "21 at 33" sessions that didn't make the album. One is the fine ballad "Conquer the Sun" which appeared as a b-side for the "Little Jeannie" single. Another is the irresistibly funky "Lonely Boy" which appeared as a b-side to the single for "Who Wears These Shoes?" in 1984. It would have made this album even sweeter had these two songs been added here as bonus tracks--fans won't regret tracking them down.)

A Good Hand.......2005-02-13

That title for this review plays off the cover artwork for this 1980 release. With his recording career in a unexpected and doubtful place, Elton John re-emerged once again with a collection of songs that let's his fans know that he can deliver when he needs to. After the stark and moody "A Single Man" and the disco disaster of "Victim of Love", "21 at 33" rightfully puts Elton back in the pop-rock category. It may not hold together all the way through but at least his diversions are minimal and do not way down the entire effort.

Starting with the highly charged rocker, "Chasing The Crown", you know right away he mean business. Effective backing vocals and a great guitar by Richie Zito start the album off with a bang. "Little Jeannie" follows and is simply one of those enduring and memorable ballads Elton has built a successful career upon. It has one of his most unique lyrical hooks ("I want you to be my acrobat"), courtesy of Gary Osbourne, in years. Further, this may be the best John/Taupin song without a Taupin lyric. The way the melody flows and marriage of the lyric to the melody are very reminiscent of anything Elton and Taupin did back in '73.

And speaking of Taupin, this was his much herald return to an Elton John album since 1976's "Blue Moves". Here, he contributes three lyrics: the mentioned above "Chasing the Crown", a cocaine laced "White Lady/White Powder" and "Two Rooms At The End Of The World", which tells the tale of their reunion. Elton, with tongue clearly in cheek, give "White Lady" a melody that is so full of cheery piano fills and backing vocals, that it almost appears to be a parody when contrasted with the lyric about cocaine addiciton. And on "Two Rooms", an overproduced uptempo song that has too strong of a horn arrangement, misses some of the drama and insight into Taupin's story about how they write songs. "Two Rooms" isn't bad, it's just very busy with horns, piano solos, and many backing vocals that keep the listener very busy.

Elsewhere, lyrics are shared with Gary Osbourne, with the exception of "Little Jeannie," turns in more mundane, b-side worthy material (the ill-advised "Dear God", which follows the cocaine song - go figure, and "Take Me Back", a routine country song that feels way out of place among the others). These songs sound like leftovers from "A Single Man". But Tom Robinson provides Elton with lyrics for two pretty ballads:"Sartorial Eloquence" and "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again". This is a relationship that seemed to work nicely and a shame they didn't explore more opportunities in the future (though Robinson did make one last appearance on the next release, "The Fox").

Rounding out the last of the lyrical contributors is "Give Me The Love," which is written by Elton and Judie Ztuke. A jazzy, disco style upbeat number that certainly sounded very 1980 and contemporary when it came out. Not a bad song but again, a little out of place.

Elton produced this release with sound engineer Clive Franks and the results are overwhelming at times. However, this remastered version is very well done and the sound is crisp, clear and solid. It also helped that Elton brought back some of the original band members (drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray) for a few songs - notably the huge hit "Little Jeannie."

"21 At 33" is not his best album but certainly a signal that Elton John was getting serious about his music again. And at that time in his career, it proved he had a ace or two up his sleeve.

The Decade Gets Off To A Pretty Good Start.......2003-06-28

Elton John, fresh off 1979's active year, with a top 10 hit (the Thom Bell written and produced "Mama Can't Buy You Love"), being one of the first ever rock artists to tour the Soviet Union (the Berlin Wall was still up) and blast through the speakers of discos across the country with the "Victim Of Love" album, opened the new 80's decade with his last album for MCA, "21 At 33". As most people know, the title refers to the number of albums released (21) and his age at the time (33).

With the first single "Little Jeannie" becoming one of his biggest hits of the decade, the album got off to a great start, backed with a solid tour as well. What one notices right from the start on this record is how clean sounding the production and the arrangements are. The bell-tree in "Little Jeannie" is crisp and crystal clear. The horn arrangement in the autobiographical "Two Rooms At The End Of The World" (Elton in London and Bernie in Los Angeles) is pointed and the staccatos have punch to them.

The second single, "Sartorial Eloquence" was a decent, building-ballad (although I've never understood why MCA released it as the key line from the song "Don't You Wanna Play This Game No More"). EJ & Taupin even (blushingly) take on (of all things) cocaine in "White Powder White Lady". All with the Eagles provided ample backing vocals (and perhaps, noses???). But the next two tracks could have been stronger. "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again", written with England Gay New-Waver Tom Robinson, was OK, but "Take Me Back", a country-esque number complete with "fiddle" was in retrospect too obvious of a "filler".

Much more interesting was the album's closing number "Give Me The Love" written with label-mate Judy Tzuke (think elements of Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush), who had a gorgeous hit the previous year with "Stay With Me Till Dawn". The song takes on a fluid, crisp jazz quality, one which was a head-turner for the hard-core Elton fan. It was so well written and executed, that I couldn't help but wonder if Elton was listening to Boz Scagg's "Middle Man" album while writing the music. It's always been my belief that Elton should do more exploration into Jazz, as well as compose and release an album of instrumentals. "Give Me The Love" seems to support both.

As with the other newly-released, import remasterings, they could have included some really great bonus tracks like "Conquor The Sun" (B-side to "Little Jeannie"), and "Cartier", "White Man Danger" (which should have been on the album instead of "Take Me Back"), as well as other european B-sides like "Love So Cold" and "Tactics". They really blew it...especially with most of the "Classic Year" remasterings containing bonus tracks.

Tracks:

Your Starter for It
Tonight
One Horse Town
Chameleon
Boogie Pilgrim
Cage the Songbird
Crazy Water
Shoulder Holster

Tracks:

Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
Out of the Blue
Between Seventeen and Twenty
Wide Eyed and Laughing
Someone's Final Song
Where's the Shoorah?
If There's a God in Heaven (What's He Waiting For?)
Idol
Theme from a Non-Existent TV Series
Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)

Album Description

This melancholy 1976 release includes what would be EJ's last Top 10 hit for three years ("Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word") and is loaded with numbers reflecting the ennui and burnout both John and Taupin were experiencing at the time ("Between Seventeen And Twenty," "If There's A God In Heaven [What's He Waiting For?]"). Elsewhere, John and Taupin write songs in tribute to Edith Piaf ("Cage The Songbird") and a depressingly debilitated Elvis Presley ("Idol"). Despite the inclusion of these and other heart-wrenching compositions like "Tonight," John's irrepressible upbeat attitude comes to the fore on tracks such as the Caleb Quaye instrumental "Your Starter For..." and "One Horse Town," a peppy song about life in the rural South. Most gratifying is a collaboration with the Reverend James Cleveland and his Southern California Choir on the funky "Boogie Pilgrim. Mercury. 2004.

Album Details

2007 Reissue of the Digitally Remastered Edition of Sir Elton's 1976 Double Album Opus that Presented the Elton John Big Band in a Big Way. With Slick Production Down to a Science, John and Bernie Taupin's Compositions Took a Decidedly Darker Tone as their Relationship Became Strained in the Face of Elton's Growing Dependence on Chemical Stimulants and the Pressures of Success. Following an Answer to the Question of his Sexuality in Rolling Stone, his Most Ardent Fans were the Only Ones to Truly Appreciate this LP at the Time of Release. As Time Passes, Critics and Fans Alike Still Come Back to the Fact that Most of These Tracks Are Simply Brilliant. The Opener of "Your Starter For/Tonight" is Simply Breathtaking, the Fun of "Crazy Water" and the Lush Harmonies of "Chameleon" (With Toni Tenille on Backing Vox) as Well as the Stunning "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" Are all Highlights of this Work that Still Stands as One of the Highlights of John's Celebrated Career.

Customer Reviews:

Moody and Arty.......2007-06-22

Almost eight years into an extraordinary career, Elton John and Bernie Taupin had about had enough. There was tension, fatigue and substance abuse, and they were feeling the strain. "Rock of the Westies," while quite successful in its own right, was the least successful Elton John album since "Honky Chateau." They were both still chafing from the fact that critical acclaim seemed elusive, and "Blue Moves" was a bid to be taken seriously. Even the cover art begged the question, instead of the gaudy covers and glamour shots of old, Patrick Proctors' moody "The Guardian Readers" graced the folded sleeve.

But MCA seemed reluctant to really get behind another double album, Elton had announced his first "retirement," and then this ambitious album was a low-key, morose collection. Elton was trying to be a Gershwin, but he was trying to be something he wasn't quite capable of yet. That's not to say "Blue Moves" is lacking great songs; it is loaded with some amazing material. But is is also bloated, and unlike "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," filler abounds.

But as you listen to the dynamic opener, "Your Starter For...Tonight," a lot can be forgiven. Same for the "One Horse Town," which captures the energy of Elton at his finest. James Newton Howard and Paul Buckmaster's orchestral arrangements on these to songs alone provided a glimpse at what Elton was aiming for; they are absolutely brilliant songs. The songs dedicated to Edith Piaf, "Cage The Songbird," features Graham Nash and David Crosby on background vocals, and is a strong companion to "Candle In The Wind."

Problem is, the songs are all morose and depressing. Only "Boogie Pilgrim" and the funky "Bite Your Lip" push the smiles, and it is one of "Blue Move's" detractions. The weighty themes ("If There's A God In Heaven, (What's He Waiting For?)"), the instrumentals and the lack of an obvious single (even if "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" has become a classic), coupled with the over-saturation of Elton on the airwaves, "Blue Moves" all factor into "Blue Moves" initial reception. Had Elton and Bernie been willing to treat this as a single album (the original CD was trimmed of a few songs), they might have been able to keep on target. As it stands, however, it's gained luster over the years. Make sure to get the remastered version, because it brings out the magic of the arrangements that Elton and company were striving for.

Average customer rating:

21 at 33 Elton John
Fans can never be objective..
a testament to the superior songcraft of Elton John
One fragmented album
21 at 33 ~~Elton John

21 at 33
Elton John
Manufacturer: Mca Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Fox
Jump Up!
Breaking Hearts
A Single Man
Too Low for Zero

ASIN: B000002PBF
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Chasing The Crown
Little Jeannie
Sartorial Eloquence
Two Rooms At The End Of The World
White Lady White Powder
Dear God
Never Gonna Fall In Love Again
Take Me Back
Give Me The Love

Album Description

Canadian pressing of 1980 album for MCA that's out-of-print domestically. Nine tracks including three co-written with Bernie Taupin & the hit, 'Little Jeannie'.

Album Details

A Transitional Album for the Legendary Piano Man that Yielded the Hit "Little Jeannie"...except It was his First that Didn't have Bernie Taupin's Name in the Credits. Taupin Returns to Cowrite Most of the Album's Nine Tracks after Sitting Out the "Victim of Love" and "a Single Man" Sessions. Still, John Managed to Write with Gary Osbourne Again (Featured on "a Single Man") and Singer/Songwriter Tom Robinson, who Had Just Emerged from Postpunk England.

Customer Reviews:

21 at 33 Elton John.......2006-11-08

The product was awesome and just as advertised. We are very happy with it.

Fans can never be objective.........2006-05-06

From the OBJECTIVE reviewer...Elton was starting to move away from pop disco with this release and two classic tracks, "Little Jeannie" and "Sartorial Eloquence" are enough to push this otherwise lackluster recording to 3 stars.

a testament to the superior songcraft of Elton John.......2006-01-13

One fragmented album.......2005-12-02

After his infamous disco Lp,"Victim of Love",I expected something better from my beloved EJ.Instead,we got a mediocre offering boasting gems like love song LITTLE JEANNIE and the confessional WHITE POWDER while practically pushing drekky tunes such as DEAR GOD & NEVER GONNA FALL IN LOVE AGAIN.Robinson's and Osborne's presence didn't help the formula that luckily was not repeated in his subsequent better albums THE FOX & JUMP UP

21 at 33 ~~Elton John.......2005-11-14

Dr. Hayes is right. A mistake has been made. This is defintely pan flute, not Sir Elton.

It should be corrected. This is not Elton's best work, but it does contain a couple of good songs that aren't available on his other albums.

LF, Covington, Ga

Average customer rating:

Big Music comes in Small Packages.
Fans can never be objective...
Elton shows serious soul...
Thank you Amazon.com!
Elton John meets Philly Soul... how cool is that?

The Complete Thom Bell Sessions
Elton John
Manufacturer: Mca Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Jump Up!
21 at 33
The Fox
Leather Jackets
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ASIN: B000002PFC
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Nice And Slow
Country Love Song
Shine On Through
Mama Can't Buy You Love
Are You Ready For Love
Three Way Love Affair

Album Description

1989 compilation culled from his abortive 1977 sessions with Philadelphia International producer Thom Bell. Includes three previously unreleased tracks 'Nice And Slow', 'Country Love Song' & 'Shine On Through'.

Customer Reviews:

Big Music comes in Small Packages........2007-01-09

Are you ready for one of the most wonderful collection of soulful music ever..Let me say quite frankly that this is music that satisfies the soul however there is a catch, you must have a soul. Disregard any negative reviews from people who obviously don't have any real soul.

Fans can never be objective..........2006-05-06

From the OBJECTIVE reviewer..."Shine on Through" is the one decent song, but Elton and pop disco don't work well together.

Elton shows serious soul..........2004-11-05

Jimmy Wade's review was right on - this one is a hidden gem from Elton. Of the tracks on the EP, only "Mama Can't Buy You Love" went in the Top 40 at the time, though recently the reissued "Are You Ready For Love?" topped the charts in the US and England. What's most interesting about the disc is the range of material. As Jimmy notes, it's not really a "disco" album - just pure, good Philly Soul, most of the tracks done w/ the Spinners (I think they play on all the tracks, though they don't sing on all of them) and all produced by Thom Bell. The mixes of the songs originally included on the vinyl 3 song EP in 1979 are (as Jimmy points out) NOT the Elton John/Clive Franks mixes, but the original Bell mixes. The complete EJ/Clive Franks mixes can, however, be found as addl. tracks on the CD single for "The Last Song", and "Are You Ready For Love?" and "Three Way Love Affair" are on the recent single edition of "Are You Ready...?" Pick it up and give it a spin - it's a lot of fun and very well done. Check out "Country Love Song" and "Nice and Slow" - these would have been great singles at the time as well! Enjoy!

Thank you Amazon.com!.......2004-09-23

I would like to Thank Amamzon.com for sending me this materpiece. It is, in my opinion, one of his best albums. It does geta reputation of beinga disco album but listening closely there's only really a definite Gospel feel on every track. You can hear his voice progress from his young days into his latter day lower register voice through the course of this album. I like how even though it's mid-late seventies R&B there are other styles that can be heard in the mix. I like the strings, they give it a majectic feel. There is not that much synthesiser, except on the track three way loev affair. There is a definite disco feel to some of the songs, others are more like straight R&B. My favourite two songs are Three way love affair and Ncie and Slow.

Elton John meets Philly Soul... how cool is that?.......2004-06-22

This should be one of the best-known and most beloved moments in Elton John's career - but it isn't. Two iconic sounds of the 70's combine and the result is rich, buttery ear candy - but it gets consistently glossed-over when people run down the handful of enduring pop music from the disco era. Elton makes his bid to be one of the great blue-eyed-soul singers of his time - and few even notice. Elton would quickly move on from here, but echoes of this benchmark can be heard in all that follows. A true forgotten classic in every sense.

Average customer rating:

Misses too many songs to be a true "greatest" collection
DIFFERENT FROM THE AMERICAN EDITION

Greatest Hits 1970-2002
Elton John
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hits
Anthology
Elton John - Greatest Hits
The Very Best of Christopher Cross
Forty Licks

ASIN: B0000DG7EU
Release Date: 2005-03-14

Tracks:

Your Song
Tiny Dancer
Honky Cat
Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
Crocodile Rock
Daniel
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Candle in the Wind
Bennie and the Jets
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
Bitch Is Back
Philadelphia Freedom
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
Island Girl
Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Kiki Dee, Elton John
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word

Tracks:

Blue Eyes
I'm Still Standing
I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
Sad Songs (Say So Much)
Nikita
Sacrifice
One
Can You Feel the Love Tonight?
Circle of Life
Believe
Made in England
Something About the Way You Look Tonight
Written in the Stars - Elton John, LeAnn Rimes
I Want Love
This Train Don't Stop There Anymore
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word - Blue, Elton John
Are You Ready for Love

Customer Reviews:

Misses too many songs to be a true "greatest" collection.......2006-12-18

Elton John has been a force in music for more than 30 years. He has an incredible amount of talent, both as an author of music, and as a performer. This collection attempts to pull together some of the best of Elton's work from his career, beginning with the "Elton John" album and ending with "Songs from the West Coast."

Nearly every song on this CD is musically good to excellent. Most of these songs were hits. As a sampler of Elton's music, this collection is a very good start. However, this CD does have a few flaws. The principal flaw is that while the CD purports to be Elton John's greatest hits, it does miss quite a few hits. The missing songs that stood out most noticeably to me are "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and "Pinball Wizard". However, there are other songs that were top 10 that were missed as well. It is impossible to represent Elton's greatest hits with only two CDs, and that is the main flaw of this collection.

The difficulty with most "greatest hits" collections is choosing the songs. Regardless of how good a job you do, there will be a fan who thinks a song was neglected. Conversely, there will be other fans that think a song on the collection should have been excluded. Rather than complain about what was or wasn't on this collection, the focus should be on this collection alone. At this time, this collection is the best single representation of Elton over the bulk of his career. For the songs that were missed from this collection, you can add "Rare Masters" and "Love Songs", which pick up a lot more of Elton's early career and fills in more of Elton's best.

Note that there are several versions of this collection. The U.S. version has "Levon" and "Blessed." This version replaces those songs with "Blue Eyes" and "Made in England." I like all four songs, but choices have to be made to keep this collection to two CD's.

With more than 40 albums, comprising hundreds of songs, choosing the 34 best is an absolutely terrible job. Similar to those people who would have added other songs, or subtracted some of those included, I too would have done something similar. However, we would never have agreed on the best. So take this CD as the best collection available to sample Elton's career. From that viewpoint, this CD rates 5 stars. Then you can add the other CDs I mentioned, and in the case of the classic albums and a few others, add original albums as well. We live in an imperfect world, thus a less than perfect collection of Elton's career is better than not having this collection at all.

DIFFERENT FROM THE AMERICAN EDITION.......2006-02-28

THIS EUROPE EDITION OF THIS DOUBLE GREATEST HITS IS DIFFERENT TO THE AMERICAN EDITION, U.S. VERSION HAS 18 TRACKS PER CD, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE SINGLE VERSIONS, EUROPE EDTION HAS 17 TRACKS PER CD BUT ALL OF THEM COMPLETE, BOTH VERSIONS DIGITALLY REMASTERED,THIS IN A CONVETIONAL DOUBLE CD CASE, AMERICAN COMES IN DIGIPACK. IT'S UP TO YOU. ENJOY THIS SUPER HITS COLLECTION.

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