Absolutely bang on the money! Tumbleweed Connection is a true masterpiece. My favourite album of all time. Just perfect on every level. (Your comment regarding Stevie - bang on the money too.)
@@tipple58I would say that Stevie Wonder, Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Bowie and Elton all had a run of records in the Seventies where they seemed to walk on water. It was their time.
I was incredibly lucky to see Elton with Dee, Nigel and Caleb at a run down club in the Uk just as he was breaking in America. A battered old white piano and a tiny, sweaty, overcrowded club. He was absolutely brilliant.
Only saw this video a year late... but I grew up a huuuuuuge Elton John fan when I was in grade school and middle school in Los Angeles. I had the full page ad that ran in the Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times for his Dodger Stadium shows... I had his TIME magazine cover ("Captain Fantastic") hung up in my room, along with a poster of Elton as the Pinball Wizard. His 70's output was among the best series of music ever recorded. My list is fairly close, but I had to put "CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY" album as his best. The packaging alone was mind-blowing. I remember going to my local record store (Aaron's Too in the valley) when this album came out and buying it. I was absolutely blown away by the package: TWO BOOKLETS (Scrap Book and Lyrics Book,), poster, and fan club flyer. Then the actual music... My god. The title track has EVERYTHING I want in an Elton / Bernie song... wonderful lyrics combing through a delicate song that explodes to life. The drums might be the best recorded drums in rock history (w/ XTC's Black Sea album). "Better Off Dead," "Bitter Fingers," "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" and maybe the best closer ever: "Curtains" with it's chiming, elongated closeout to this masterpiece. After that, Id' agree with you about most of your comments: "Grey Seal" is amazing... same with "This Song Has No Title"... My two others in the Top 3 would be "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Madman Across The Water"... I also adore "Honkey Chateau" and "Tumbleweed Connection" and the self-titled masterpiece, as well. I've got to do a typographic portrait of Elton... such an amazing talent. Thanks (again) for your wonderful thoughts on his best years, Mazzy!!
Elton’s best period for sure. Great video choice-so much better than a complete discography! Captain Fantastic for me. It just works as a whole faultless from beginning to end, and so intimate! Mazzy nails it with his comment about the drums.
Another reactor here on TH-cam is a musician in his own right and had Nigel and Dee play on a song that this guy wrote. He learned from Nigel that when Nigel was being recorded for all of these Elton John albums, there were 16 microphones placed strategically to get that full, rich drum sound that we have come to love from Nigel!.
Amoreena, Come Down in Time, Where to now St. Peter are 3 of the best songs in history by any artist or songwriter. Lyrics, music, arrangement, mood, delivery...stellar.
These albums are all special, and personal as well. #10 is a top three for me. "Don't Shoot Me..." often gets overlooked, and at the time "Crocodile Rock" was just a side closer. The tracks I love are "Blues For Baby And Me," "Have Mercy On The Criminal," and perhaps my favorite "High Flying Bird." These are top Elton/Bernie songs in my mind, and the whole album has a unique feel. Still, to each his own - and thanks for the inspired video.
Don’t shoot me was definitely a step in a more pop direction, but people shouldn’t sleep on it. Teacher I Need You and High Flying Bird are favorites. Daniel is Perfection.
I’m not Elton John’s big fan and I never was. However, the song I’ve Seen That Movie Too from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album is in my opinion a masterpiece. It’s hard for me to clearly explain why, but I guess because it’s so convincing in terms of personal emotions it conveys. And the whole album is outstanding indeed.
Exactly- Capt. Fantastic is perfect . I used to bumb my mom"s ear plug with a transistor radio at night . They played the hell out of "Someone saved my......"
Wow, what a thoughtful, touching, moving tribute to one of the best musical artists of my lifetime. No wonder I love your videos, this makes me wanna pull and play Elton’s entire 70’s catalog. What a wonderful video, Mazzy, thanks for this. 👍❤️
@@christy140 I meant The Elton John album, it was soooo good. The Empty Sky album wasnt released in the USA till after EJ album, and that was probably the right move....
Interesting ranking and commentary. I enjoyed watching it. BTW, I think you are confusing "Take Me to the Pilot" with "Border Song". The latter is a gospel style song while "Take Me to the Pilot" is an all-out rocker. "Border Song" is the song that Aretha covered.
I won a pair of tickets to see Elton. I love Elton. You have expanded my love of Elton. When I love that concert I'll be thanking you for the understanding of Elton you gave me.
Great job Mazzy; Elton definitely ruled the 70’s. You gotta give credit that all these Albums were different than each other not repeating the same thing over & over. They all had their own vibe & style. Loved the lyrics booklets & photos that were always included not many artists did that. As you said Producer Gus Dungeon was a major part of the E.J. sound & Elton always acknowledges that Thumbs Up.
Great video Mazzy! 1970's Elton John album is an excellent choice (although it would probably be number 4 for me). It has the classics Your Song, Border Song and Take Me to the Pilot. Sixty Years On is superb (I always loved the version he played live in Russia in 1979, with the images of the Russian war statues). Another favourite of mine on the album is The Greatest Discovery - a true hidden gem!
I appreciate your knowledgeable insights and providing a format to discuss Elton John albums. My favorite is Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player is my second favorite because only Goodbye YellowBrick Road has the same kind of consistency in listening and so many songs that I like. Daniel is my favorite song by him and Taupin and Crocodile Rock is also a top 10 favorite. I love the feel of the other songs too like the mix of aggressive rock with horns, swing, electric guitar and honky tonk piano with a great use of low register vocals like in Elderberry Wine, Midnight Creeper, I'm Gonna Be a Teenage Idol and the late night marquee spotlight cover conveys the sense of a live performance in a seedy but stylish seventies bar. I even like what seems to be the tongue and cheek overkill anger in Screw You. Another highlight is Have Mercy on the Criminal which is a great mix between Madman across the Water and Ballad of Danny Bailey on Gooodbye YellowBrick Road. However, there is also a great deal of diversity and balance with the fine ballads, High Flying Bird, Skyline Pigeon and Blues for My Baby and Me invoking a far more sensitive sense of dreamy idealism mixed wth a bit of melancholy. To me, the overall impression is this is the buildup to Goodbye YellowBrick Road and reminds me the most of it in diversity and quality and overall feel.
Excellent and thorough rendering of a unique artist at the time. Also, agree about including Friends and the live album. Music mattered in the 70s and Elton represented something like The Beatles for many. Fun, inscrutable, casual talent.
Thanks so much for this explanation of his music. I have seen him once a few years ago and appreciate how prolific he was with hits. When I saw him life it allowed me to see what an amazing musician he is. I am definitely not too cool to recognise his talent 😊
For me, it's Tumbleweed, Madman, Yellow Brick Road, then the rest. But as usual I love your commentary and certainly respect your rankings. Thanks for the recognition of Friends!
I’m going to have to revisit Capt. Fantastic. It’s been at least 20 years since I listened to it. I liked it when I first heard it, but it didn’t grab me in the same way as the albums that came before it. My favorite is Madman Across the Water. I love the huge orchestral arrangements juxtaposed against his Southern-influenced melodies. It’s a combination that should never work, but is pulled off flawlessly. Tiny Dancer, Levon, and the title track are some of Taupin’s best lyrics. Rotten Peaches, Razor Face, Holiday Inn, All the Nasties - just so f’n good.
The debit US album is perfection. The song "First Episode at Hienton" is still one that gets my gut tied up in knots. Good list of lp's you have there.
The Union, with Leon Russell deserves an honourable mention. His live album in Melbourne Australia, in the late eighties, provided a sign of hope during a uninspired era for Elton John.
@@mazzysmusic keep trying man. 😊 Parts of this album are heartbreaking in a good way if you know what I mean. There's a fragility and a vulnerability to Leon Russell's voice that just grabs me.
The night my dear grandmother had a stroke, my uncle drove me to the hospital then gave me the cassette of yellow brick road. I'd find out many years later that we live in the same town that wizard of oz author grew up in.there was a yellow plank road running through this town. The first I bought was don't shoot me then madman. I had the 11-17-70 on cassette then while working in a restaurant I met the cross-eyed toothless stuttering hunchback dishwasher and he gave me the vinyl version of 11-17-70. I did not know there is an expanded version. Meanwhile my father who grew up in DC and went to Woodstock lived in San Francisco and was a huge music fan with a massive record collection until he went homeless through the 90s. He was never an Elton fan though. I saw Elton in Syracuse off the One your, again in Cleveland with Billy Joel, Saratoga, Philly on the farewell tour and then one last time in Syracuse.
Thanks for highlighting the early Elton John/Bernie Taupin years. There was a time when everything they touched turned to gold, and deservedly so. Tumbleweed would be my number one, but any combination of those top four albums would, pretty much, be on the money. Special shout out for Caribou too, which doesn't get the praise that it should. Great stuff!
You're a man after my own heart on this topic. Elton was magnificent in the first half of the 70's. But unfortunately he became moribund very quickly in the second half of that decade. Oddly enough, so too did many other successful 60's and Early 70's artists. Too many to mention in fact. I know that Punk/Post Punk/New Wave was a factor and I got heavily into that music as well but the "old wave" music lost momentum prior to that revolution. This diminution in quality of so many great artists after 1975 has always fascinated me.
I'm not crazy about "Don't Shoot Me..." or "Caribou", but there is a song from each, that I just love. "Have Mercy on the Criminal" on "Don't Shoot Me.." and "I've Seen the Saucers" from "Caribou". I got each album when they came out, and I still love these songs just as much as ever.
Thanks for this. It brought me back to a fun time of my life. Saw him once at the Fillmore East opened for Leon Russell. One of the best concerts I ever saw. Elton was a huge part of my hippie days.
Thanks for highlighting what a fantastic run of albums Elton made in the 70s. My personal favourite is Madman Across the Water, but Honky Chateau and Captain Fantastic are right up there too. Blue Moves definitely deserves a re-appraisal. It's more jazzy that his other albums, but the band are on absolutely top form. I find it a great listen.
Thank you Mazzy - we love you too. Great video! EJ + BT certainly blew our minds for so many friggin' years. Don't forget to listen to their 2006 collaboration "The Captain & The Kid"...
Late to the party here but I'm so glad you mentioned "Friends". It seems like that album was released as a cutout from the beginning! But it's so intensely romantic and lush. Like most it's GYBR for me, but I could interchange many of these masterpieces at the top depending upon my mood. And I agree about "Ticking", but as I'm sure someone else might have commented, it was about a mass murder at a bar called "The Kicking Mule".
There’s a live version of that song and quite a few other songs from the early seventies in yt. Great to see him performing live on British television from back then. We did not get to see any of those performances in the U.S. I barely even knew what EJ looked like in the 1970s other than seeing photos of him back then.
I have 1300 CDs. I have less than 20 records. Even though I have both Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy on CD I couldn't pass on them both when I found both records for a $1 each in Goodwill last month.
Great video that makes me want to listen to my Elton John's albums again. My favourite song of him is tickin' from the Caribou album which I personally think is weak otherwise. What a great song so perfectly delivered and what great lyrics.. thanks again for this nice video.
I bought a record player a year ago (haven't had one in years) and have many of my older sister's albums (god rest her soul). One of them was Honky Chateau, the original copy and never heard it until recently. When I heard Honky Cat I was blown away. When those horns punch in I get goose bumps. The whole album is fantastic.
10. Rock of the Westies 9. Caribou 8. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy 7. 17-11-70 6. Honky Chateau 5. Madman Across the Water 4. Elton John 3. Don't Shoot Me I'm Just the Piano Player 2. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 1. Tumbleweed Connection Don't Shoot Me was the first Elton album I owned. The 2nd was the greatest hits collection. So much great stuff. I have always had a soft spot for Bennie and the Jets.
Good stuff! I missed his debut record (?!?) and started with Tumbleweed Connection, which is one of my favorites of his, and in general for that time period. Great songs, great arrangements, love the Americana feel to it. Where to Now St. Peter stands out for me. And I was blown away when I first heard 11/17/70 (which is where I first heard Take Me To the Pilot.) I need to seek out that UK version. And saw him in the early days, one of my favorite concerts, I remember a children's choir or chorale group at the end of the set and encore which was amazing at the time! Thanks!
Great video. Most of my collection is soul and jazz but it started for me with Captain Fantastic a perfect album and my favourite EJ album. Totally agree with your comment on Nigel Olsen on that record. The drum sound is magnificent throughout . Looking forward to seeing the man again on his current tour. Ps I love Blue Moves . Give it another chance 😀
Wonderful stuff. Saw Elton in a small college near where I lived as Your Song hot the airwaves in the UK. He'd played an earlier gig that night in at the Marquee but fulfilled his obligation coz he'd promised the student union he'd play for them. Oddly enough, some years later he bought a mansion near that self same college and it's where he still lives when in the UK. So pleased you picked out Friends, a big favourite of mine and which I recently bought again, this time on pink vinyl. Keep up the good work. Love yer, Mazzy !!
I so enjoyed this video!! I have six Elton John albums. After watching this I’m on the hunt for at least four more. I just got your number one pick today through Discogs. It’s a great album ( not my number 1 but great) I’m surprised you didn’t mention Border Song. It just keeps building. I had forgotten about Caribou but will hunt for it. Thanks for the video!!
Really enjoyed this video Mazzie, i was right there with you during the greatest period of Elton's career. You rankings make sense and you articulate the reasons for the ranking so clearly. You inspire me to put them on the turntable tonight ;)
All good to great albums imo. Actually, I think that “Blue Moves” is my favorite Elton John album. For me, it was a welcome return to his “Madman Across The Water” period in a way - a relief from the super radio-friendly music of the 74’ 75’ period. The album is quite diverse musically, and I think Elton’s vocals were at his absolute peak - particularly on songs like “Idol”, “Boogie Pilgrim”, and “Tonight”.. I agree with you about the “Friends” album, enjoyed the video Mazzy 👍
Mazzy, I’m late to the Elton game, but now in my mid 60’s…I finally get him. What a fantastic album ‘Captain Fantastic…’ is. And you’re spot on about the drums in ‘Someone Saved My Life Tonight’. Mid 60’s and I’m an out of the closet Elton fan. Go figure…
I can’t rank any of these albums because my favorite songs change from day to day. I ❤ all of his seventies albums. His most creative period was from 1970-1976.
Great video. Thanks Mazzy. The first ever music I bought was Elton's greatest hits on cassette as a 12 year old in 1974 Agree with you on Grey Seal.my favourite on GYBR.
Thank you! Got to see him twice and so glad I did. It's a toss-up between Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy and Good Bye Yellow Brick Road. Living down the hill from Caribou Ranch, I feel him in his songs recorded here.
hEY mAZZY, another great video. I have 3 EJ records in my collection (the cassette I had of 2 Low 4 Zero in the 80s doesnt count) and I thought thats all I needed. None of those 3 even make your top 3!!! Enough said. I'm especially intrigued by Tumbleweed Connection. Cheers mate!
Hi, just watched your review, enjoyed it as i am a big fan of elton john.The major disagreement is with dont shoot me album. I love high flying bird, elderberry wine, blues for baby, daniel, etc. I think this album should get more recognition. I think goodbye yellow is his best album, but agree that it woulda made an unbelievable album as a single album. These views of ours are all opinions as all these elton albums are classic. I wish i could go back in a time machine and be there when each album was released and listen for the first time!!!!!
I also loved Elton's early '70's albums. Most of my favorites came out when I was in high school. My favorite two are Yellow Brick Road and Tumbleweed Connection. When Caribou came out, I really hated it (I even hate the cover), and never bought another Elton album until the mid '90s. I bought Rare Masters, a double CD, that contains material from the first half of the 70s - outtakes, b sides, and other rarities. I really enjoy that CD. I've never listened to Capt Fantastic, but after seeing your video, I guess I'm ready to give it a try. Also, some personal history, when Yellow Brick Road came out, I was a senior in high school. Soon after graduating, I stopped listening to a lot of music that I liked in high school, Elton being one of the victims. Anyways, I really enjoyed your video.
People talk about the incredible run of Albums the Beatles did from Rubber Soul to Abbey Road or the Stones from Beggars Banquet to Exile. Elton does not get enough credit for his 1970 - 76 output. Bowie probably stole his thunder which is no mean feat.
I don't think Bowie stole Elton's thunder, since they were totally different artists. Bowie went from Glamrock to Art Rock, whereas Elton went from Americana to Pop. However, I share the feeling that Elton would have had benefitted greatly from a Bowie-like artistic reinvention by the end of the 70s (maybe in an alternate universe there is a Eno/Fripp produced Berlin album by Elton John), but, I guess, Elton was just too burned out at that time and who are we to demand more anyway, when him and Bernie gave us 7 years of genius songwriting.
very nice...despite elton's 'parody' of later years, his early works cannot be denied....and i love the fact that you mentioned bernie taupin so often...too many leave him out of the equation....and, if memory serves me, bernie left him around the 'blue moves' years, which set about elton's decline and really showed how important they were together....excellent 'ranking'...captain fantastic does deserve more love...good on ya'...peace always my friend...rocky
Goodness, Blue Moves for myself is his pinnacle album. Everything comes together in a wonderful homogeneous way. The tunes are super strong, the band, his best band period. AND, the production and engineering are amazing. If you've not listened to it lately, go back, pour yourself a bourbon and put the album on again. Fair enough, Bite Your Lip is kinda throw away, but hell, it really rocks. Btw, I do enjoy Rock Of The Westies somewhat.
Blue Moves is my favorite after Yellow Brick Road. But I don't like his honky tonk albums which everybody seems to love, so I should probably duck for cover...
@@prockrog5219 Blue Moves is such a mature album and certainly beats Honkey Chateau and Don't Shoot me. Blue Moves moves on from where Captain Fantastic ended.
Great choices, I would have flipped number one and two. PS, you haven't heard these until you hear the 5.1 SACDs. Gus' orchestrations, the choruses on Salvation and Rotten Peaches, etc. It all comes to life in surround.
It was wise to stay within that first burst of Elton John's career, an almost unparalleled string of creativity. After that the albums are more similar and less special. Glad you mentioned Friends too, since few know it exists. Madman got a real drubbing from the East Coast critics after 17-11-70 because they wanted him to go in that direction and resented the orchestration; I'm glad you ranked it so high. I first saw him in late 1974 (I believe) and that was a real show. Love your off the cuff, unscripted presentations.
It is always interesting when people talk of the matter of 'filler' on 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', when the original intention was never to release a double album. However, Gus Dudgeon, himself, said that the stuff Elton and the band recorded was too good to leave out. Thus, the classic release many fans know and love today. Me too!
Mazzy, don't remember if you've ever done a "perfect sides" video or not, but Side One of Madman is a perfect side. I'm starting up a channel soon (you and some others have inspired me), and when I do my Perfect Sides episodes, I'll definitely talk about that one.
So right about Elton John! Such a King in the 70’s. This is one song I do love by him in the 80’s. Blue Eyes, because it’s when I first met my wife and of course she had blue eyes. So tough to pick a favorite because every album had great songs. I guess if I had to pick one, it would be Goodbye Yellow Brick Road with Captain Fantastic a close second. I would definitely have put Don’t Shoot Me up higher, just for Daniel. Not sure why you diss the 50’s sound. Teacher I need You is so much fun, and great to do dance an east coast swing to.
I think Caribou and Rock Of The Westies are rather less regarded because they contain some lightweight, whimsical offerings. However they both contain some marvelous work too. Ticking and Feed Me spring to mind.
Tumbleweed Connection. To this day still my favorite Elton John album. A great run of albums as you said. Rivals Stevie Wonders 70s output. (IMO)
Absolutely bang on the money! Tumbleweed Connection is a true masterpiece. My favourite album of all time. Just perfect on every level. (Your comment regarding Stevie - bang on the money too.)
@@tipple58 Much Agreed!
Unbelievable Awesomeness!
@@tipple58I would say that Stevie Wonder, Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Bowie and Elton all had a run of records in the Seventies where they seemed to walk on water. It was their time.
Gus Dudgeon always regretted not having 'Harmony' out as a single.
To me all the great artists and their work was completed in the first half of the 1970's.
I was incredibly lucky to see Elton with Dee, Nigel and Caleb at a run down club in the Uk just as he was breaking in America. A battered old white piano and a tiny, sweaty, overcrowded club. He was absolutely brilliant.
Only saw this video a year late... but I grew up a huuuuuuge Elton John fan when I was in grade school and middle school in Los Angeles. I had the full page ad that ran in the Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times for his Dodger Stadium shows... I had his TIME magazine cover ("Captain Fantastic") hung up in my room, along with a poster of Elton as the Pinball Wizard. His 70's output was among the best series of music ever recorded. My list is fairly close, but I had to put "CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY" album as his best. The packaging alone was mind-blowing. I remember going to my local record store (Aaron's Too in the valley) when this album came out and buying it. I was absolutely blown away by the package: TWO BOOKLETS (Scrap Book and Lyrics Book,), poster, and fan club flyer. Then the actual music... My god. The title track has EVERYTHING I want in an Elton / Bernie song... wonderful lyrics combing through a delicate song that explodes to life. The drums might be the best recorded drums in rock history (w/ XTC's Black Sea album). "Better Off Dead," "Bitter Fingers," "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" and maybe the best closer ever: "Curtains" with it's chiming, elongated closeout to this masterpiece.
After that, Id' agree with you about most of your comments: "Grey Seal" is amazing... same with "This Song Has No Title"... My two others in the Top 3 would be "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Madman Across The Water"... I also adore "Honkey Chateau" and "Tumbleweed Connection" and the self-titled masterpiece, as well.
I've got to do a typographic portrait of Elton... such an amazing talent. Thanks (again) for your wonderful thoughts on his best years, Mazzy!!
Friends is Outstanding!
I was obsessed as a child with Elton John in the 70s.
Maybe people were ✌🏽
Really enjoyed this survey of Elton's...I was my 30s in the 70s & he totally bolled me over, starting with "Elton" & "Your Song". Perfection! Thanks!
Elton’s best period for sure. Great video choice-so much better than a complete discography! Captain Fantastic for me. It just works as a whole faultless from beginning to end, and so intimate! Mazzy nails it with his comment about the drums.
Another reactor here on TH-cam is a musician in his own right and had Nigel and Dee play on a song that this guy wrote. He learned from Nigel that when Nigel was being recorded for all of these Elton John albums, there were 16 microphones placed strategically to get that full, rich drum sound that we have come to love from Nigel!.
Amoreena, Come Down in Time, Where to now St. Peter are 3 of the best songs in history by any artist or songwriter. Lyrics, music, arrangement, mood, delivery...stellar.
These albums are all special, and personal as well. #10 is a top three for me. "Don't Shoot Me..." often gets overlooked, and at the time "Crocodile Rock" was just a side closer. The tracks I love are "Blues For Baby And Me," "Have Mercy On The Criminal," and perhaps my favorite "High Flying Bird." These are top Elton/Bernie songs in my mind, and the whole album has a unique feel. Still, to each his own - and thanks for the inspired video.
Elderberry Wine is my fav. on Don't Shoot...Wow its like he could no wrong in those years! 😂
Don’t shoot me was definitely a step in a more pop direction, but people shouldn’t sleep on it. Teacher I Need You and High Flying Bird are favorites. Daniel is Perfection.
Blues For Baby and Me is a hidden gem that most people don’t talk about.
Exactly! Those three songs are my favorites. "Dont Shoot Me" was the first LP I ever bought.
@@pauldaniels2019Yes i agree.
I’m not Elton John’s big fan and I never was. However, the song I’ve Seen That Movie Too from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album is in my opinion a masterpiece. It’s hard for me to clearly explain why, but I guess because it’s so convincing in terms of personal emotions it conveys. And the whole album is outstanding indeed.
Exactly- Capt. Fantastic is perfect . I used to bumb my mom"s ear plug with a transistor radio at night . They played the hell out of "Someone saved my......"
Im big Elton John fan for long time love all hits
Love Elton John
Wow, what a thoughtful, touching, moving tribute to one of the best musical artists of my lifetime. No wonder I love your videos, this makes me wanna pull and play Elton’s entire 70’s catalog. What a wonderful video, Mazzy, thanks for this. 👍❤️
Eltons first album was a huge impact on music and the world, made him a instant Star
Empty sky.or do you mean the ELTON JOHN ALBUM…?
@@christy140 I meant The Elton John album, it was soooo good. The Empty Sky album wasnt released in the USA till after EJ album, and that was probably the right move....
Interesting ranking and commentary. I enjoyed watching it. BTW, I think you are confusing "Take Me to the Pilot" with "Border Song". The latter is a gospel style song while "Take Me to the Pilot" is an all-out rocker. "Border Song" is the song that Aretha covered.
Brown Dirt Cowboy, Rock of the Westies and Blue Moves......essentially the same backing band. They kicked ass and that's my top three.
Great vid!
I won a pair of tickets to see Elton. I love Elton. You have expanded my love of Elton. When I love that concert I'll be thanking you for the understanding of Elton you gave me.
Great job Mazzy; Elton definitely ruled the 70’s. You gotta give credit that all these Albums were different than each other not repeating the same thing over & over. They all had their own vibe & style. Loved the lyrics booklets & photos that were always included not many artists did that. As you said Producer Gus Dungeon was a major part of the E.J. sound & Elton always acknowledges that Thumbs Up.
Fantastic is my #1. Westies is a personal favorite as well. Great list.
Saved my paper delivery money for a month to buy Goodbye YBR in 1973 .
Still have it . Still love it .
elton and bernie legends of music how many great songs can u write. great review thank u
Great video Mazzy! 1970's Elton John album is an excellent choice (although it would probably be number 4 for me). It has the classics Your Song, Border Song and Take Me to the Pilot. Sixty Years On is superb (I always loved the version he played live in Russia in 1979, with the images of the Russian war statues). Another favourite of mine on the album is The Greatest Discovery - a true hidden gem!
Love that psychedelic background on the monitor!
I appreciate your knowledgeable insights and providing a format to discuss Elton John albums. My favorite is Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player is my second favorite because only Goodbye YellowBrick Road has the same kind of consistency in listening and so many songs that I like. Daniel is my favorite song by him and Taupin and Crocodile Rock is also a top 10 favorite. I love the feel of the other songs too like the mix of aggressive rock with horns, swing, electric guitar and honky tonk piano with a great use of low register vocals like in Elderberry Wine, Midnight Creeper, I'm Gonna Be a Teenage Idol and the late night marquee spotlight cover conveys the sense of a live performance in a seedy but stylish seventies bar. I even like what seems to be the tongue and cheek overkill anger in Screw You. Another highlight is Have Mercy on the Criminal which is a great mix between Madman across the Water and Ballad of Danny Bailey on Gooodbye YellowBrick Road. However, there is also a great deal of diversity and balance with the fine ballads, High Flying Bird, Skyline Pigeon and Blues for My Baby and Me invoking a far more sensitive sense of dreamy idealism mixed wth a bit of melancholy. To me, the overall impression is this is the buildup to Goodbye YellowBrick Road and reminds me the most of it in diversity and quality and overall feel.
Excellent and thorough rendering of a unique artist at the time. Also, agree about including Friends and the live album. Music mattered in the 70s and Elton represented something like The Beatles for many. Fun, inscrutable, casual talent.
Great list finally someone agrees with me on Elton John Album!
Err my favourite is the Elton John album..as well..👌
Best ranking video I ever heard.
Thank you. I enjoyed your thoughts on these incredible albums!
Thanks so much for this explanation of his music. I have seen him once a few years ago and appreciate how prolific he was with hits. When I saw him life it allowed me to see what an amazing musician he is. I am definitely not too cool to recognise his talent 😊
FRIENDS thank you Mazzy what beautiful great sounding album. Paul Buckmaster..
For me, it's Tumbleweed, Madman, Yellow Brick Road, then the rest. But as usual I love your commentary and certainly respect your rankings. Thanks for the recognition of Friends!
I saw Elton perform solo at my company’s club trip. This was around 2000 and he was fantastic. Just Elton at his piano. Pure Magic 😎
I’m going to have to revisit Capt. Fantastic. It’s been at least 20 years since I listened to it. I liked it when I first heard it, but it didn’t grab me in the same way as the albums that came before it. My favorite is Madman Across the Water. I love the huge orchestral arrangements juxtaposed against his Southern-influenced melodies. It’s a combination that should never work, but is pulled off flawlessly. Tiny Dancer, Levon, and the title track are some of Taupin’s best lyrics. Rotten Peaches, Razor Face, Holiday Inn, All the Nasties - just so f’n good.
Watching and taking notes from the master himself. You are the best.
The debit US album is perfection. The song "First Episode at Hienton" is still one that gets my gut tied up in knots. Good list of lp's you have there.
The Union, with Leon Russell deserves an honourable mention. His live album in Melbourne Australia, in the late eighties, provided a sign of hope during a uninspired era for Elton John.
Yeah I tried to get into Union as I loved Leon. Wish they had collaborated earlier 🎶
@@mazzysmusic keep trying man. 😊 Parts of this album are heartbreaking in a good way if you know what I mean. There's a fragility and a vulnerability to Leon Russell's voice that just grabs me.
Hi Father happy birthday 🥳 👻
The night my dear grandmother had a stroke, my uncle drove me to the hospital then gave me the cassette of yellow brick road. I'd find out many years later that we live in the same town that wizard of oz author grew up in.there was a yellow plank road running through this town. The first I bought was don't shoot me then madman. I had the 11-17-70 on cassette then while working in a restaurant I met the cross-eyed toothless stuttering hunchback dishwasher and he gave me the vinyl version of 11-17-70. I did not know there is an expanded version. Meanwhile my father who grew up in DC and went to Woodstock lived in San Francisco and was a huge music fan with a massive record collection until he went homeless through the 90s. He was never an Elton fan though. I saw Elton in Syracuse off the One your, again in Cleveland with Billy Joel, Saratoga, Philly on the farewell tour and then one last time in Syracuse.
Thanks for highlighting the early Elton John/Bernie Taupin years. There was a time when everything they touched turned to gold, and deservedly so. Tumbleweed would be my number one, but any combination of those top four albums would, pretty much, be on the money. Special shout out for Caribou too, which doesn't get the praise that it should. Great stuff!
Yeah a magical tune for them both.
Thank you Mazzy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You're a man after my own heart on this topic. Elton was magnificent in the first half of the 70's. But unfortunately he became moribund very quickly in the second half of that decade. Oddly enough, so too did many other successful 60's and Early 70's artists. Too many to mention in fact. I know that Punk/Post Punk/New Wave was a factor and I got heavily into that music as well but the "old wave" music lost momentum prior to that revolution. This diminution in quality of so many great artists after 1975 has always fascinated me.
It is fascinating. I would have stayed if the music was good.
7/10 of these have been on my wishlist for quite some time. This has just bumped them up 😊
I'm not crazy about "Don't Shoot Me..." or "Caribou",
but there is a song from each, that I just love.
"Have Mercy on the Criminal" on "Don't Shoot Me.." and
"I've Seen the Saucers" from "Caribou".
I got each album when they came out,
and I still love these songs just as much as ever.
Wonderful. Thank you Mazzy
Thanks for this. It brought me back to a fun time of my life. Saw him once at the Fillmore East opened for Leon Russell. One of the best concerts I ever saw. Elton was a huge part of my hippie days.
Thanks for highlighting what a fantastic run of albums Elton made in the 70s. My personal favourite is Madman Across the Water, but Honky Chateau and Captain Fantastic are right up there too. Blue Moves definitely deserves a re-appraisal. It's more jazzy that his other albums, but the band are on absolutely top form. I find it a great listen.
Thanks Mazzy, so interesting!
Madman Across the Water is my favorite Elton John album. Indian Sunset and title track are great to me. Good list. 👍🏼
Thank you Mazzy - we love you too. Great video! EJ + BT certainly blew our minds for so many friggin' years. Don't forget to listen to their 2006 collaboration "The Captain & The Kid"...
Nicely done and as others have said, more valuable than a rundown of his entire career.
I love your comment about 17-11-70 and how the rest of the world (except the USA) has got the dating format wrong lol - great reviews
Oh yeah Levon ! Best lyrics ever ❤
Late to the party here but I'm so glad you mentioned "Friends". It seems like that album was released as a cutout from the beginning! But it's so intensely romantic and lush. Like most it's GYBR for me, but I could interchange many of these masterpieces at the top depending upon my mood. And I agree about "Ticking", but as I'm sure someone else might have commented, it was about a mass murder at a bar called "The Kicking Mule".
There’s a live version of that song and quite a few other songs from the early seventies in yt. Great to see him performing live on British television from back then. We did not get to see any of those performances in the U.S. I barely even knew what EJ looked like in the 1970s other than seeing photos of him back then.
I have 1300 CDs. I have less than 20 records. Even though I have both Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy on CD I couldn't pass on them both when I found both records for a $1 each in Goodwill last month.
Mazzy, you speak to me. Thanks for taking this on. EJ from the early 70s is a favorite.
Your background makes you seem angelic.
Great video that makes me want to listen to my Elton John's albums again. My favourite song of him is tickin' from the Caribou album which I personally think is weak otherwise. What a great song so perfectly delivered and what great lyrics.. thanks again for this nice video.
Yeah the Elton discography has been on my turntable for the past two weeks. Always fun to dig in again ✌🏽
I bought a record player a year ago (haven't had one in years) and have many of my older sister's albums (god rest her soul). One of them was Honky Chateau, the original copy and never heard it until recently. When I heard Honky Cat I was blown away. When those horns punch in I get goose bumps. The whole album is fantastic.
So good ✌🏼
10. Rock of the Westies
9. Caribou
8. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
7. 17-11-70
6. Honky Chateau
5. Madman Across the Water
4. Elton John
3. Don't Shoot Me I'm Just the Piano Player
2. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
1. Tumbleweed Connection
Don't Shoot Me was the first Elton album I owned. The 2nd was the greatest hits collection. So much great stuff. I have always had a soft spot for Bennie and the Jets.
Pretty close to my top picks. -Very Good!!!
Nice list... Captain Fantastic is way too low.
Great ranking & Nice vinyl pressings. Take Care.
Good stuff! I missed his debut record (?!?) and started with Tumbleweed Connection, which is one of my favorites of his, and in general for that time period. Great songs, great arrangements, love the Americana feel to it. Where to Now St. Peter stands out for me. And I was blown away when I first heard 11/17/70 (which is where I first heard Take Me To the Pilot.) I need to seek out that UK version. And saw him in the early days, one of my favorite concerts, I remember a children's choir or chorale group at the end of the set and encore which was amazing at the time! Thanks!
Great video. Most of my collection is soul and jazz but it started for me with Captain Fantastic a perfect album and my favourite EJ album. Totally agree with your comment on Nigel Olsen on that record. The drum sound is magnificent throughout . Looking forward to seeing the man again on his current tour.
Ps I love Blue Moves . Give it another chance 😀
I’ve given it three chances since it came out. Must recently 3 years ago. 🤷🏻♂️
Wonderful stuff. Saw Elton in a small college near where I lived as Your Song hot the airwaves in the UK. He'd played an earlier gig that night in at the Marquee but fulfilled his obligation coz he'd promised the student union he'd play for them. Oddly enough, some years later he bought a mansion near that self same college and it's where he still lives when in the UK. So pleased you picked out Friends, a big favourite of mine and which I recently bought again, this time on pink vinyl. Keep up the good work. Love yer, Mazzy !!
I so enjoyed this video!! I have six Elton John albums. After watching this I’m on the hunt for at least four more. I just got your number one pick today through Discogs. It’s a great album ( not my number 1 but great) I’m surprised you didn’t mention Border Song. It just keeps building. I had forgotten about Caribou but will hunt for it. Thanks for the video!!
Really enjoyed this video Mazzie, i was right there with you during the greatest period of Elton's career. You rankings make sense and you articulate the reasons for the ranking so clearly. You inspire me to put them on the turntable tonight ;)
Play it all ✌🏼
All good to great albums imo. Actually, I think that “Blue Moves” is my favorite Elton John album. For me, it was a welcome return to his “Madman Across The Water” period in a way - a relief from the super radio-friendly music of the 74’ 75’ period. The album is quite diverse musically, and I think Elton’s vocals were at his absolute peak - particularly on songs like “Idol”, “Boogie Pilgrim”, and “Tonight”.. I agree with you about the “Friends” album, enjoyed the video Mazzy 👍
"Chameleon" from "Blue Moves" is one of Elton and Bernie's best works imo.
Yes, I agree!
Great list! I love your channel.
I may be just flat out ripping off your opinion but these are now my favorite Elton John albums and I’m gonna keep an out now for these distinct ones
Mazzy, I’m late to the Elton game, but now in my mid 60’s…I finally get him. What a fantastic album ‘Captain Fantastic…’ is. And you’re spot on about the drums in ‘Someone Saved My Life Tonight’. Mid 60’s and I’m an out of the closet Elton fan. Go figure…
I thought I was the only one who love, loved Friends
I can’t rank any of these albums because my favorite songs change from day to day. I ❤ all of his seventies albums. His most creative period was from 1970-1976.
Great review and background info !
Nice pice at the end too
Two thumbs up video,i loved the accurate and passionate contains of this review,and yes Elton/ Bernie...i'm speechless !!!
You always hit on the major points of my favorite shit.😁 F**kin Awesome INDEED❗Keep on keepin' on! ❤️ Ya Mazzy!!
Well thank you 🎶
Great video. Thanks Mazzy. The first ever music I bought was Elton's greatest hits on cassette as a 12 year old in 1974
Agree with you on Grey Seal.my favourite on GYBR.
Thank you! Got to see him twice and so glad I did. It's a toss-up between Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy and Good Bye Yellow Brick Road. Living down the hill from Caribou Ranch, I feel him in his songs recorded here.
One of my favorite all time albums of not only Elton, but anyone.
"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", amazingly written in 2 weeks and recorded in two weeks.
hEY mAZZY, another great video. I have 3 EJ records in my collection (the cassette I had of 2 Low 4 Zero in the 80s doesnt count) and I thought thats all I needed. None of those 3 even make your top 3!!! Enough said. I'm especially intrigued by Tumbleweed Connection. Cheers mate!
Hi, just watched your review, enjoyed it as i am a big fan of elton john.The major disagreement is with dont shoot me album. I love high flying bird, elderberry wine, blues for baby, daniel, etc. I think this album should get more recognition. I think goodbye yellow is his best album, but agree that it woulda made an unbelievable album as a single album. These views of ours are all opinions as all these elton albums are classic. I wish i could go back in a time machine and be there when each album was released and listen for the first time!!!!!
Great video
Thank you Mazzy
I also loved Elton's early '70's albums. Most of my favorites came out when I was in high school. My favorite two are Yellow Brick Road and Tumbleweed Connection. When Caribou came out, I really hated it (I even hate the cover), and never bought another Elton album until the mid '90s. I bought Rare Masters, a double CD, that contains material from the first half of the 70s - outtakes, b sides, and other rarities. I really enjoy that CD. I've never listened to Capt Fantastic, but after seeing your video, I guess I'm ready to give it a try. Also, some personal history, when Yellow Brick Road came out, I was a senior in high school. Soon after graduating, I stopped listening to a lot of music that I liked in high school, Elton being one of the victims. Anyways, I really enjoyed your video.
People talk about the incredible run of Albums the Beatles did from Rubber Soul to Abbey Road or the Stones from Beggars Banquet to Exile. Elton does not get enough credit for his 1970 - 76 output. Bowie probably stole his thunder which is no mean feat.
Bowie and Stevie Wonder. Totally agree.
I don't think Bowie stole Elton's thunder, since they were totally different artists. Bowie went from Glamrock to Art Rock, whereas Elton went from Americana to Pop. However, I share the feeling that Elton would have had benefitted greatly from a Bowie-like artistic reinvention by the end of the 70s (maybe in an alternate universe there is a Eno/Fripp produced Berlin album by Elton John), but, I guess, Elton was just too burned out at that time and who are we to demand more anyway, when him and Bernie gave us 7 years of genius songwriting.
70s Elton Power Rankings is a very good video to do
7:24.... Oh man. Blue Moves is probably my second favorite record of his. It hurts to say you don't like it... But I get it 🤣. Great video 👍🎉
Probably one of my most played 8 track tape I owned was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Enjoyed your video
very nice...despite elton's 'parody' of later years, his early works cannot be denied....and i love the fact that you mentioned bernie taupin so often...too many leave him out of the equation....and, if memory serves me, bernie left him around the 'blue moves' years, which set about elton's decline and really showed how important they were together....excellent 'ranking'...captain fantastic does deserve more love...good on ya'...peace always my friend...rocky
Elton John is my favorite artist of all time I've seen him live over 15 times tumbleweed connection is my favorite album great list
Goodness, Blue Moves for myself is his pinnacle album. Everything comes together in a wonderful homogeneous way. The tunes are super strong, the band, his best band period. AND, the production and engineering are amazing. If you've not listened to it lately, go back, pour yourself a bourbon and put the album on again.
Fair enough, Bite Your Lip is kinda throw away, but hell, it really rocks.
Btw, I do enjoy Rock Of The Westies somewhat.
Blue Moves is my favorite after Yellow Brick Road. But I don't like his honky tonk albums which everybody seems to love, so I should probably duck for cover...
@@prockrog5219 Blue Moves is such a mature album and certainly beats Honkey Chateau and Don't Shoot me. Blue Moves moves on from where Captain Fantastic ended.
You have my sympathies.
Blue Moves is Elton's personal favourite.
@@gahree I didn't know that thing
Great choices, I would have flipped number one and two.
PS, you haven't heard these until you hear the 5.1 SACDs.
Gus' orchestrations, the choruses on Salvation and Rotten Peaches, etc. It all comes to life in surround.
Salvation in 5.1 is really great. gives me chills
Blue Moves Is incredible. Cage the song bird, idol, where the shoorah. Amazing underated album
Was a guest on early two ronnies shows,
It was wise to stay within that first burst of Elton John's career, an almost unparalleled string of creativity. After that the albums are more similar and less special. Glad you mentioned Friends too, since few know it exists. Madman got a real drubbing from the East Coast critics after 17-11-70 because they wanted him to go in that direction and resented the orchestration; I'm glad you ranked it so high. I first saw him in late 1974 (I believe) and that was a real show. Love your off the cuff, unscripted presentations.
It is always interesting when people talk of the matter of 'filler' on 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', when the original intention was never to release a double album. However, Gus Dudgeon, himself, said that the stuff Elton and the band recorded was too good to leave out. Thus, the classic release many fans know and love today. Me too!
One of my fav musicians
Elton john greatest hits well played .
Mazzy, don't remember if you've ever done a "perfect sides" video or not, but Side One of Madman is a perfect side. I'm starting up a channel soon (you and some others have inspired me), and when I do my Perfect Sides episodes, I'll definitely talk about that one.
So right about Elton John! Such a King in the 70’s. This is one song I do love by him in the 80’s. Blue Eyes, because it’s when I first met my wife and of course she had blue eyes. So tough to pick a favorite because every album had great songs. I guess if I had to pick one, it would be Goodbye Yellow Brick Road with Captain Fantastic a close second. I would definitely have put Don’t Shoot Me up higher, just for Daniel. Not sure why you diss the 50’s sound. Teacher I need You is so much fun, and great to do dance an east coast swing to.
I think Caribou and Rock Of The Westies are rather less regarded because they contain some lightweight, whimsical offerings. However they both contain some marvelous work too. Ticking and Feed Me spring to mind.
Goodbye yellow brick road , tumble weed connection ,honky chateau dont shoot me im only the piano player, and greatest hits because it played so well