Post by Phil Seaman on Jul 29, 2005 17:25:15 GMT
10 / Rock Of The Westies / 1975
The First time that Elton was critisised by press and fans, although this is more rocky than previous efforts, and uncommerical. It was also the last time Elton managed to get a no.1 album since 'Honky Chataeu'. There is only one ballad on the album, which is really good - I Feel Like A Bullet. The other songs that are good are Dan Dare, a weird uptempo pop song, one of Elton's best rockers - Street Kids, and the weird genreless Billy Bones & The White Bird which is uptempo with a variety of styles all bundled in at once. The jazzy 'Feed Me' is also good. Other than this, the songs are rocky but not really catchy, which is a welcome relief after the pop dross that could be found in parts on the previous album 'Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy' Island Girl's reasonable melody is ruined by racist lyrics, and Hard Luck Story is terribly camp. A good album.
Best Songs: I Feel Like A Bullet, Street Kids, Billy Bones, Feed Me
Avoid: Island Girl, Hard Luck Story
7.5/10
11 / Blue Moves / 1976
Elton did another double album here, which has a vast number of different styles, and it is possibly the last time Elton experimented musically. Tonight is a great classical ballad, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word is a moving ballad, If There`s A God In Heaven (What`s He Waiting For) is Eltons best gospel song, and Idol is his best jazz song. Other than that, there is a lack of real brilliant quality, but it all works well in context with all the songs. Crazy Water is an ok pop-rocker, and Bite Your Lip would be one of Elton's best rockers if it was half the length it is. Shoulder Holster has a good brass part, but doesnt really have the neccessary chorus. Cage The Songbird is a nice but average acoustic track, and only the numerous instrumentals, and the awful disco Boogie Pilgrim stop the album from getting higher grades. A good album, but if listened to in one go, an even better one.
Best Songs: Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, Tonight, Idol, If There`s A God In Heaven (What`s He Waiting For)
Avoid: Boogie Pilgrim, Out Of The Blue
8.5/10
12 / Thom Bell Sessions / 1977
Elton took time out after 'Blue Moves', and came back with this damp squid of an album, a disco-style album. Elton wrote 2 of the 6 songs on this, and it fails to match decent disco music. Mama Can't Buy You Love is superb, however, and was a big disco hit. Shine On Through is a nice disco-ballad. Other than that, the songs are overlong and slightly appalling, including the original Are You Ready For Love, which is close to 8 minutes in length and is dire. A missed opportunity.
Best Song: Mama Can't Buy You Love
Avoid: Are You Ready For Love, Three Way Love Affair, Country Love Song
4/10
13 / A Single Man / 1978
A kinda boring album. Shine On Through from the previous album is remade and improved upon greatly, and is a classic ballad. Big Dipper is pretty funny and very camp, something that is rare in Elton's catalogue. Part Time Love is the best song here by far, a superb pop-rock number. Song For Guy is ok, but a tad repetitive, and the bonus track, Ego, is superb. The rest of the album is unmemorable without being terrible, and marks the first real decline in Elton's song writing. The album has the 'honour' of having the Watford Football Team singing backing vocals as well.
Best Songs: Part Time Love, Shine On Through, Ego
Avoid: Nothing really bad here
4.5/10
14 / Victim Of Love / 1979
This is the worst album ever made. Yuk. Its an attempt to do disco, and Elton doesnt even write the songs. The cover of Johnny B Goode is the worst cover ever - why do it? Only the title track has any average melody at all, and Spotlight is merely bad, unlike the utter crapness of the rest of the album.
Best Song: There Are None
Avoid: The cover of Johnny B Goode is the worst thing ever, but avoid the entire album.
0/10
Elton had fallen a long way in a short period of time. With his career in tatters, was there any way back?
The First time that Elton was critisised by press and fans, although this is more rocky than previous efforts, and uncommerical. It was also the last time Elton managed to get a no.1 album since 'Honky Chataeu'. There is only one ballad on the album, which is really good - I Feel Like A Bullet. The other songs that are good are Dan Dare, a weird uptempo pop song, one of Elton's best rockers - Street Kids, and the weird genreless Billy Bones & The White Bird which is uptempo with a variety of styles all bundled in at once. The jazzy 'Feed Me' is also good. Other than this, the songs are rocky but not really catchy, which is a welcome relief after the pop dross that could be found in parts on the previous album 'Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy' Island Girl's reasonable melody is ruined by racist lyrics, and Hard Luck Story is terribly camp. A good album.
Best Songs: I Feel Like A Bullet, Street Kids, Billy Bones, Feed Me
Avoid: Island Girl, Hard Luck Story
7.5/10
11 / Blue Moves / 1976
Elton did another double album here, which has a vast number of different styles, and it is possibly the last time Elton experimented musically. Tonight is a great classical ballad, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word is a moving ballad, If There`s A God In Heaven (What`s He Waiting For) is Eltons best gospel song, and Idol is his best jazz song. Other than that, there is a lack of real brilliant quality, but it all works well in context with all the songs. Crazy Water is an ok pop-rocker, and Bite Your Lip would be one of Elton's best rockers if it was half the length it is. Shoulder Holster has a good brass part, but doesnt really have the neccessary chorus. Cage The Songbird is a nice but average acoustic track, and only the numerous instrumentals, and the awful disco Boogie Pilgrim stop the album from getting higher grades. A good album, but if listened to in one go, an even better one.
Best Songs: Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, Tonight, Idol, If There`s A God In Heaven (What`s He Waiting For)
Avoid: Boogie Pilgrim, Out Of The Blue
8.5/10
12 / Thom Bell Sessions / 1977
Elton took time out after 'Blue Moves', and came back with this damp squid of an album, a disco-style album. Elton wrote 2 of the 6 songs on this, and it fails to match decent disco music. Mama Can't Buy You Love is superb, however, and was a big disco hit. Shine On Through is a nice disco-ballad. Other than that, the songs are overlong and slightly appalling, including the original Are You Ready For Love, which is close to 8 minutes in length and is dire. A missed opportunity.
Best Song: Mama Can't Buy You Love
Avoid: Are You Ready For Love, Three Way Love Affair, Country Love Song
4/10
13 / A Single Man / 1978
A kinda boring album. Shine On Through from the previous album is remade and improved upon greatly, and is a classic ballad. Big Dipper is pretty funny and very camp, something that is rare in Elton's catalogue. Part Time Love is the best song here by far, a superb pop-rock number. Song For Guy is ok, but a tad repetitive, and the bonus track, Ego, is superb. The rest of the album is unmemorable without being terrible, and marks the first real decline in Elton's song writing. The album has the 'honour' of having the Watford Football Team singing backing vocals as well.
Best Songs: Part Time Love, Shine On Through, Ego
Avoid: Nothing really bad here
4.5/10
14 / Victim Of Love / 1979
This is the worst album ever made. Yuk. Its an attempt to do disco, and Elton doesnt even write the songs. The cover of Johnny B Goode is the worst cover ever - why do it? Only the title track has any average melody at all, and Spotlight is merely bad, unlike the utter crapness of the rest of the album.
Best Song: There Are None
Avoid: The cover of Johnny B Goode is the worst thing ever, but avoid the entire album.
0/10
Elton had fallen a long way in a short period of time. With his career in tatters, was there any way back?
