The Elton John Band 1970-75 | A Celebration of Musical Excellence - Hi Def Re-Upload
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- Опубликовано: 23 авг 2024
- #eltonjohn #eltonjohnband #classicrock
This is a Hi Definition re-upload of my most popular episode! I've always felt The Elton John Band (comprised of Elton, Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone) and producer Gus Dudgeon recorded the best catalog of music from the 1970s. They were an incredible musical partnership who carried on with the creative spirit and adventurism of The Beatles. I spent over 100 hours producing this video as it was a pure labor of love. The music that team produced between 1970-75 thrilled me as a kid and inspired me to become a musician and producer myself. This video is my way of honoring these 5 talented and creative artists who created so much amazing work.
Check out my other EJ episodes:
• Why Did Elton Fire Dee...
• Reflections on Goodbye...
• Recording with Dee Mur...
• Elton John Guitarist C...
• When Nigel Played On M...
• Elton John Recording E...
If you'd like to support my channel please make a donation at paypal.me/Only...
#eltonjohn #eltonjohnband
![Elton John Aquarius 1971 [Rare Documentary]](/img/1.gif)
The Elton John Band (Dee, Nigel, Davey) should be in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. Their contributions are countless and incredible, especially in that 1970 to 1975 period. Also, Ray Cooper, Caleb Quaye, and Roger Pope were very important players with Elton through that 1969 to 1976 time. I cannot listen to CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY without putting on the headphones and focusing on the guitars or the bass or the drums or the percussion (or the arrangement of Gene Page, for that matter). Each band member is playing so well (not overplaying) that it is pure joy just to listen to the individual parts. That album ends with Nigel doing every conceivable drum fill on "Curtains" after starting the song with tender & gentle fragility. Elton and that band were packed so many great musical ideas and, combined with producer Gus Dudgeon, were unbeatable and forever memorable. People need to go back to those great studio albums between 1970 and 1976 and pass on listening to Elton's hits packages. They had sooooo many great album tracks with so much great musicianship. Elton was an "album" artist before he was a "hits" or "singles" artist. Thanks for promoting the EJ Band - they are well-deserving!
Nice call-out of Roger Pope. He was a fine drummer.
Davey, Dee and Nigel have never gotten the credit they deserve. Not just as musicians but their backing vocals are outstanding.
I loved "Rocket Man" but one sour note was the absence of any reference to these three. If I missed it I'm sorry. But I kept waiting for it. As Mr. Blackstone says, it was a "recording" and "live" unit and those albums are milestones in popular music.
I too am a musician since 1969, at 72, started as a drummer - still writing songs mainly on acoustic guitar and enjoying developing bass and drum and percussion parts for my originals. I also get teary eyed at some songs which are so beautifully played. It really helps "Painted Lady" that it features such a perfect and beautifully sounding snare!!!! Brian - Las Vegas
Thanks for taking me back to my childhood. This many decades later, this era of Elton John is only second to my love for The Beatles, and every decade they both continue to be all I need to keep my love for music satisfied. In recent years I found it necessary to hoard anything and everything Elton John 1969 to 1978 before I got too old and can't afford it. This includes all of those original vinyl records I first heard all of these, old remasters, new remasters, box sets, posters (my prize possession is the entire Captain Fantastic package in mint condition). So, as it were, I'm really enjoying your dig into all the Elton John stuff, and I'm enjoying it right there with ya. Thank you.
It’s possible that Nigel is objectively the most perfectly consistent drummer in the business. It actually jumps out at you. The guy has a metronome in his brain.
I couldn’t agree more! Watching him in the studio was an amazing experience. I hope you’ll check out my video of that wonderful wonderful day. Thanks for watching!
I'd put him up there with Ringo, in that I think both of them have not only faultless timing, but also a keen understanding of what to play and what NOT to play. Their fills are judicious, but also MUSICAL, they're not just keeping time, but part of the overall arrangement. Listen to "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me." Nigel's not there to keep time, Elton's doing that and everyone's following the piano. Nigel's there because he brings something special to the overall arrangement. It's brilliant. Cheers also to you, Jon, for focusing on the band as a whole. Leave it to you to effectively make the case ... you da man!
@@andygeisel2177I love the way you expressed that! I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for watching. Hope to hear from you again!
I had floor seats (gold) for the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour at Maple Leaf Gardens in 74, an 18th birthday present from my sister. What an evening, starting with Funeral for a Friend amazing.
That was THE best of the Elton John Band!!! To start out as just a trio - no lead guitarist, and made the most incredible music. Dee was no ordinary bassist. He made magic with the bass line. In my opinion 11-17-70 is completely underrated. I still listen to the album.
I can’t believe you got to work with Nigel and Dee! That had to be the most amazing experience! Nigel was my school girl crush!! I think he still is LOL!
Another fantastic video of our Elton John Band. ❤
Thanks Patti! I can understand your crush on Nigel. I remember thinking he was so cool when I was a kid. I had posters of these guys on my wall!
When I purchased tumbleweed connection- all happenstance as a copy of what I was yet to discover in the local record shop (small town New Zealand), that album was so different to me. I adored it.
As a 15 year old NYer, I heard this live concert on ABCFM as it happened on the radio, and of course I've owned the album ever since it was released.
Dee, Nigel & Davey were not only great musicians that were so telepathic & tight, but as Jon mentioned, they were also amazing background singers as well. "Rocket Man" & "Harmony" are just two songs with amazing background vocals. Great presentation & analysis of the musical interplay of the EJ Band 1970-75.
Very well said! I think you know I agree with every word. Thanks for your comments!
Thank you for this video Jon. I agree with you 100% word-for-word about this incredible band. RIP Dee Murray, one of the best bassists ever.
Thank you for watching and for the kind words! It appears that we both agree with each other about Dee Murray!
Guy, I don’t know you but I’m so much grateful for this 1:20 hours of your work! I had a splendid time baking during hearing you and Sir Elnton. Bless you! Thank you!
Thank you so much. I sincerely appreciate your kind words. I hope you check out my other Elton videos!
Back when I was 18 or 19 I became overwhelmingly smitten with a girl who was a full-blown Elton fanatic, and although I was already aware of his existence, she was the catalyst of me doing a deeper dive into album cuts. What a discovery!!! Initially I did it for her, but it immediately became my thing for me. I was just starting to play acoustic guitar, and I was mesmerized by the use of acoustic guitars in rock music. Sixty Years On and Madman Across The Water were only 2 of many that had acoustics high in the mix, and I was in so deep. I lost her but I will never be without my acoustic guitars. But I still think of her. Great video my man!!!
Thank you so much for the great comments! And thank you for sharing some of your own story. I love hearing other peoples experiences. Stay tuned for more!
I was just 13yo, and I got to go see my idol EJ at Olympia Stadium in Detroit, i attended the11/15/74 show, my sister went the following night for the 11/16/74 show.Absolutely changed my life! My very first concert experience!
Thanks for watching and the great comments! Elton was my first concert too! I saw him in 1975 when I was 12 years old. I begged my parents to let me see the 74 tour but they said I was too young. I would have loved to see the original band in their prime but I did finally see them in 1984.
Oh how i wanted to see the Captain Fantastic tour! In my too 3 Elton records. But alas, he fired Dee and Nigel, rehired Caleb Quaye and Roger Pope, with Danny Passerelli (sp?) on bass. I always believed that Elton shot himself in the proverbial foot firing those guys. Such an integral part of his sound. The backing vocals that Dee, Davey, and Nigel created could never be duplicated.
@@uncletom618I hated that they were gone and the dismayed surprise on rock of the westies with the new crew. And it wasn't nicely done.- They only found out through management. If that was the case, it was a bit cowardly I feel. It hurt them.
I was there to!
I have memories of my mother yelling "turn the music down" I played 17-11-70 as loud as my old stereo could manage. It was the album that really got me hooked on Elton
So glad I lived through this era as a young enthusiast - it all sounded special and wonderful at the time but you never knew it was a unique period in music history - something that hasn’t been repeated since, in my view.
Great video - you did a great job !
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching and for the kind words!
Elton's band was so underrated. Dee Murray in particular was a phenomenal talent. Benny and the Jets, Honky Cat, Philadelphia Freedom and all those other shimmering hits from EJB's golden era are inconceivable without Dee's fantastically funky, inventive bass lines.
I couldn’t agree more! I hope you check out my other videos. Dee is my favorite bass player. I got to work with Dee and Nigel on my first album.
@@JonBlackstone wow Jon, how incredibly cool that you actually worked with Dee at one time. That is mind blowing! Dee definitely belongs in the pantheon of the greatest bass players ever, right up there with Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, Bernard Edwards, and a few select others. No slight intended to Nigel and Davey who were also amazingly accomplished musicians.
@@tambourineman17 I agree with every word; but I would include McCartney for sure!
Underrated by whom?
I was saddened that there was no mention or feature of his band when his bio picture came out. Band was great, but the focus was on him. Awful
Wonderful tribute to these brilliant (and under appreciated) musicians.
Thank you!!!
Love 70’s Elton the most!
Take Me to the Pilot, Yes ! I’ve always seen this, since the 70s, as one of his most underrated tracks. Elton and band KILLING IT live, with the funk and blues !
Absolutely! The core rhythm section along with Ray Cooper on percussion makes that track just blastoff on the live version. Thanks for watching!
Masterful. I'm near tears with this. You are a true authority. Thank you.
Tons of groove and r&rolll energy.
Agreed! Thanks for watching!
Your enthusiasm for Elton and The Band is contagious. This is my favorite Elton / Bernie time period. Very influential on my musical path. Thanks for doing this video!
You are very very welcome! Thank you for the kind words and thank you for watching!
25:00 Funeral for a Friend 🤩🤩🤩
Now I understand why the bass is so powerful, propulsive, and dynamic - it was from their years as a unique piano/bass/drums trio.
Absolutely! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this awesome video. Insanely great band combination. Just such a unique chemistry and brand they produced when they played together. As a kid in the 70s, they were one of my biggest musical influences. Something I carried into adulthood as a musician. Unfortunately, EJ in a mindless moment stupidly fired them! After that I still listened to EJ but something changed-something had died. Also the contribution of Bernie cannot be understated…nearly all the lyrical content is attributable to him. Thanks again on a great job!
Thank you so much for the great comments! Of course you know I agree with every word you said. It’s nice to know I’m not alone. Thanks again for watching!
Great video. Very much enjoy your musical passion and love of EJ.
Thank you for the kind words and thank you for watching!
Wow! thanks for reminding me about this album, I had forgotten about it. Totally underrated early rendition Elton was an amazing vocalist as well as all the rest and Nigel and Dee are superb !
Congratulations for your awesome video. Magic period for Elton John band ! My favourite albums are GYBR and Captain Fantastic
@@watcher171 Thank you very much! I appreciate you taking the time to write. Those are my two favorites too!
Hearing this music was the very thing I needed today. These songs and records were my childhood. After having studied “serious” music, my appreciation for these musicians soars each time I hear them. Thank you!!
I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. As you can tell when I was filming the video I was very much enjoying myself. It’s nice to know that I could take others along for the ride. Thanks for watching!
The first rock record I bought was captain fantastic. All the tracks are super tight. A great band album. Under rated album by a great band, not just elton.
fhis takes me back. to me the best elton was yellowbrick road and before. I wrmt to shool abd listen to those phenominal albums. Thanks for reminding me when artists made music.
I wasn't just an Elton John fan in the 70s. I wanted to be Elton John.
I love that comment! I’ve never spoken about this in a video before, but my friend and I used to mime to Elton John records. The same way kids used to mine to beetle records. I was always Alton and my friend always wanted to be Nigel. It’s funny because we ended up forming a band when we were teenagers and he was the drummer! Thanks for the great comments. By the way, I just uploaded the full length of version of the video. It will be available to watch in about an hour and a half from now. The one I posted before was missing the ending, which is really cool.
amen to that
I’m so glad I was a teenager back then. We’ll always know what heights popular music CAN reach, no matter how it sounds now, because we saw and heard it happening, right in front of us.
I totally agree. Thanks for watching!
I totally agree with you about this band. I saw them in concert in Detroit in November 1970 when Your Song was being played on the radio. I expected him to be a mellow piano player and vocalist like Carol King at the time. They played at the Eastowne, a small theater where I also saw bands like Procol Harum and Humble Pie. It was the kind of venue where you could purchase your drug of choice for a dollar a hit while walking up the stairway to the balcony. Elton and his little 3 piece band completely blew away the audience of mostly stoned young kids. It's the only time I've seen a band receive standing ovations in the MIDDLE of songs. The dynamics of those songs from the early albums played live was just incredible.
I also would go to Michigan Palace to see the band spirit, steppenwolf, vanilla fudge and the availability of drugs were mind-boggling
Wow, what an incredible story. You have been so privileged to be able to see all of those performances in such a legendary venue when all of them were at the peak of their careers. Wow, amazing simply amazing. I’d love to hear more if you want to share. Thanks for watching!
Wow I never realized how good they were then and love the sound of Elton's country voice. If I remember correctly Melody Maker were very critical of his music around that time, especially Charles Shaar Murray.
Thanks for watching and the great comments! Yes Melody Maker (and England in general) were basically ignoring Elton until he exploded in America. They didn’t know what a treasure Elton was!
It's interesting to me to hear these songs again. I actually don't listen to these songs much anymore, but Elton's musical approach definitely influenced my piano work for a while. It was eventually the jazz musicians and Steely Dan that ultimately influenced me - my keyboard approach.
Don't know if I'm convinced they were "The Best" but definitely one of the best of the era. Thanks for an amazing time and loved all the great music. Cheers!
I love many bands from the 1970s. I put a lot of thought into making that proclamation. It really comes down to them being so creative and technically excellent in the studio and being able to play so many different genres of music with such authority. They really were like the Beatles of the 1970s. That. Between 1970s and 75 especially from honky Château onward are some of the greatest recordings in the history of pop music. There are many bands that are in that same universe; but I still feel that they take the edge that pushes them to the top. Thanks for the comments and thanks for watching!
Ha, I found you again! I saw this a couple of months ago when I was sick with the flu and was just thinking about what a cool, and musically pretty comprehensive history of Elton's band during this time and was literally just thinking of it two days ago but didn't remember any deets to go searching with, annnnd....low and behold, there it is today in my feed.
I’m so glad you found me again! It’s great to hear from you. I hope you subscribe this time 😎. More is coming soon!
@@JonBlackstone yeah, definitely subbed. I've been watching a couple of your vids and I'm digging the topics and your style of delivery. I think we're about the same age and Ive also been pretty much a lifelong musician so I can relate to a lot of where you're coming from at least so far😎 . You really opened my ears to this period of Elton s career, the early trio stuff is sick and I love the bass playing because I have always viewed bass as like a secret world , good players are always telling their own stories that are at once, very different from the top level, out front harmonic stuff, yet totally being the glue between the song's melody and it's groove. Know what I mean? I wish I could say English isn't my first language, but it is 😞
Thanks for this, Jon! I agree wholeheartedly with your comments regarding Fantastic. The MCA CD is my gold standard for how good a digital release can sound. The analog source recordings were outstanding, and then it was digitally mastered with enough headroom to avoid distortion, which is unique in itself. It’s phenomenal. On a side note, I used to be a drummer and the title track was one of my top 5 favorite practice songs to play along with.
I love hearing from people who are fellow audio files! Makes me feel like I did a good job. Thanks for watching!
Many years ago I had downloaded a complete Shaw Theatre performance from 9/72 with most of the banter inbetween tracks, and you inspired me to split it into individual tracks, as it was an enjoyable experience hearing them again! So many great shows from the peak period are available, and so many great videos too!
Superb insights, given me a whole new understanding of the music I've listened to since 1973.
Heard the band live at the Preston Guildhall for the 'Louder than Concorde but not as pretty' tour.
Salutations from the mother country.
Thanks for watching and the kind words! I’m humbled to get such a positive review from a country that produced the greatest artists of the 20th century. Cheers!
@@JonBlackstone my honour sir. As a beginner/intermediate guitarist I was fascinated by your deconstruction of the 'end product'. These walks in the park with an expert such as yourself are truly inspiring. Keep them coming, subscribed!
@@Back2TheBikeThanks again! More on the way!
I saw them on the Madman Across the Water tour in Syracuse, NY. Truly amazing show. They did every song from all three of his albums up to that point. Elton was like Jerry Lee Lewis on steroids.
Thanks for the great comments! I totally agree. Back then Elton was a true rock musician. Now he resembles Liberace more than anyone else. Thanks for watching!
Thrill of a lifetime: Greatest Hits tour launch Feb 2011 in Victoria, BC, Canada. Every bar played flawlessly by Davey and Nigel (and EJ was on fire). No tricks or gimmicks.
Thanks so much for watching!
I've often wondered if the entire Hollywood Bowl concert was filmed - can you imagine if that complete show was released on dvd
What a dream! That’s why I synchronized footage from that concert with nice audio. It was my way of trying to fulfill that dream. Thanks for watching!
Yes, I remember listening to these records in the 70s - I think they belonged to my friend's older sister. As the years passed I became increasingly aware of what a good band they were. And right, they never appeared on any 'best of' lists. They were seen largely as 'backing musicians' or 'sidemen'. Maybe Elton could have shared out some the glory more fairly. Check out Ken Scott's book 'Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust' for some insider anecdotes. Great video Jon!
Thanks for watching! I have that book by Ken Scott. I really love it. Thanks for the kind words!
Hey Brother. I dig your emotional truthfulness.
Very groovy
Keep on keeping on ✌🏻
Thank you good sir. I appreciate that very much. More coming soon!
Fantastic presentation!
Glad you enjoyed it! Hope you check out my other episodes!
The 5.1 surround mixes are wonderful
Wow! You are only about the fifth person that has said some thing about the surround mixes! It’s a tragedy that more people don’t understand about surround sound music. The mixes that Greg Penny did in the early 2000s on Elton‘s classic albums are amazing. Being the audio file nerd that I am I already had a surround Soundsystem when those were released. I bought a SACD player so I could listen to those releases. I haven’t had much opportunity to listen to the Dolby Atmos mixes; but the few I’ve heard are amazing. Thanks for watching and thanks for the great comments!
Thanks so much for this video! I've always been a huge EJ fan since I played piano and everything in the 70s was guitar, guitar, guitar (or so it seemed). My first concert was Elton John at Dodger Stadium in 1975 at age 15, sat out on the lawn. The opening act was EmmyLou Harris, which seemed so strange since EJ was rock n roll and EmmyLou Harris was not! And I didn't know that the "Here and There" album was re-done in the 90s, will have to check it out. Thanks again! Signed, Brenda in California
Great video thanks so much.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
Jon, thank you for another fantastic video on EJ and the band. Hope you are doing well.
Thank you for watching and the kind words!
Fantastic video and band. Early 70s Elton John was amazing. What a great live band too. I had never seen or heard some of those recordings so thank you for this video.
Thank you so much for the kind words! It makes me feel so good that people are enjoying it as much as I did make it. Thanks for watching!
Elton John Live at Randwick Racecourse Sydney. 1971 in OctoberI think. Sheer brilliance.
Listen to that...Take me to the Pilot....Gorgeous
this video is so spot on.................and needed to be made . you are RIGHT. WOW!
Thank you for the very kind words! I hope you subscribe and I hear again from you soon!
I saw that 3 piece - to be honest I don't think Elton was ever better. Dee Murray one of thee best EV-VER.
Obviously, you know I agree with every word you said. Thank you for the comments and thank you for watching!
Jon, you are a brillant moderator und music- expert. This video is a piece of art an i share it with my friends.
Best regards from germany
Jo
Wow that’s high praise indeed! You’ve made my month! Seriously. Thank you!
@@JonBlackstone jon thanks for the Amsterdam.
Can you please make a Video about the Band and the records of " Rock of the westies" and especially " blue moves" (one of my all time favourites and more white album than captain fantastic), which in my humble oppinion are masterworks
.
Another band, but also superb . By the way, Drummer roger and guitarist caleb played on the very first Album of elton. I' m Sure, you know That.
Would be great joy for me.
Best regards,
Joachim
Thanks for the " answer" must be the first line
@@joachimschreiner9675I hope you enjoy this. Caleb and I listen to tracks from Westies and Blue Moves. Elton John Guitarist Caleb Quaye (Interview September 12th 2023)
ruclips.net/video/XrCgAcKYxhg/видео.html
@@JonBlackstone thank you jon.
I watched and enjoyed this and on between Otter videos from you.
You are the best music- Journalist beside rick beato.
Me myself im also a music- Journalist, but on a much deeper Level.
Glad i habe found your Chanel.
Lets keep in contact
Greetings from Frankfurt, germany,
Joachim
Very nice overview. I was right with you when you indicated particular things to listen for.
These guys were all rare and exceptional.
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
Thank you! I'm with 100% on this!
So glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!
Great job
I was an Elton John fanatic in the late seventies in college. My friends turned me on to the "cool" music like Aerosmith and Stones and such. Lately I've returned back to listening to those old Gems that you describe here and find them more "Cool" than ever!! Take Me to the Pilot again and again, please. Thanks Jon . Your productions are wonderful
When I was 12 in 73 my dad took me to see Dee,Nigel, Davey,EJ & Linda Lovelace at the Hollywood Bowl & for me they were always a band. In 74 I was going to shows with "older" pals & saw them at the Forum on the Caribou tour.. I'd like to think I saw th at their peak. Shout out to the Memphis Horns and Ray Cooper.
THANK YOU for so much you put in this episode! Tons of video, still photos and insights from you. This has been the best thing I've seen in ages!
Thank you so much for watching and for the very kind words! It was my pleasure as you could tell 😎.
I have always hungered for an expanded series of live archive recordings for this period. Especially, 1973 and 1974. I treasure it, but the expanded "Here and There" CD version is not enough to satisfy the desire to hear more of this band's fantastic performances from their great run.
You comments on "Bennie and the Jets" are so relevant to me. I recall thinking, "wow, I have never heard a song like this before" when it was released as a single in 1974. That song and "Rock On" by David Essex just blew me away when I first heard them. Then "Philadelphia Freedom" came out in early 1975 (your are totally right, incredible bass by Dee on this one) and I became a fan for life! It was Dee's bass & Elton's vocals plus the Gene Page arrangement that first caught my ear on "Philadelphia Freedom." Thanks for the journey back to an era of master musicianship!
Great information. Well put together video. Thanks👏
So glad you enjoyed it! I hope y’all check out my other Elton John videos too. Thanks for watching!
Thanks, Jon. After watching this, I’m in my happy place.
I know you put a ton of time into these videos. Thanks Jon - very well done. And Captain Fantastic is without a doubt one of the best albums ever made!!
Obviously, you know I agree with every word you said. Thank you for the kind words and thank you for watching!
I used to thrash that live love lies bleeding too. I still have it and love all my records. New Zealand, wishing he would come visit.
Nigel's kick timing was alien-tier. Better Off Dead, Love Lies Bleeding .. not pushing, more like teasing.
That’s a perfect way to describe it! Thanks for watching!
I seen Elton John 5 times...the most memorable was October 31 1979 at the O'keefe Centre in Toronto
Elton John was my true introduction to rock music. Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player was the first album I ever owened at 8 yrs. Elton John was the first concert I ever went to in 1976 at the age of 11, when he played the Pontiac Silverdome. Not the greatest of venues from an acoustic standpoint, but it was a magical moment nevertheless. When Elton let Dee and Nigel go ahead of recording Rock of the Westies, nothing was ever the same. It was the beginning of the end of that magical period from 1969 - 1975 when the bulk of Elton's hits were written. Sure, he had a number of big hits from 1976 - 2010, but the songwriting quality from album to album was never the same. That magical connection Elton share between Dee, Nigel, Davey and later, Ray, was severed, never to be repaired. Sure, there were a couple of albums the original band played on in Elton's later years, but he was well past his peak by that point, as were they as players. That said, Elton's song and album output during this period arguably rivals the Beatles.
@MikeBodo Elton, although great, didn't change the world musically and otherwise like the Beatles. The Beatles were under a much larger microscope than Elton because they changed the course of music and had no lives doing so due to the media. When the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan show, they basically spawned the rock and roll Era and changed the fate of many of our eventual musical heroes
@@user-cg3il8xh4y That's not what I was driving at with my comparison to the Beatles. It was more the overall body of work and classic hits written in such an abbreviated window of time. The output of incredible songs BT, EJ and the band recorded in that six year time span is only rivaled and exceeded by the Beatles, but not by a lot.
I agree with every word you said! However, I really love some of the songs on rock of the Westies and blue moves. In fact, I think blue moves contains some absolute gems that are part of his classic period. Because of the change of musicians, those two albums have a different flavor; but Elton was still writing fantastic songs. If you haven’t listened to blue moves recently you should check it out again. It was the last album I really fell in love with. But I’ll never forget buying “single man“ on the day it was released. I put on side one and immediately felt the magic was gone. Elton simply wasn’t writing great songs anymore. Of course he has some beautiful gems from that time up to the mid 2000s. I haven’t enjoyed a single thing he’s done over the past 15 years. He’s just too different now. Thanks again for watching!
@@JonBlackstone Rock of the Westies and Blue Moves each had there moments, but the latter was truly the end of the "classic" Elton John Era as we knew it. Jump Up! ws the last EJ album I ever bought and I primarily got it it for Empty Garden and the songs the original band members performed on together and Bernie wrote. Outside of that Elton became a parody of himself in 80's and first half of the 90's before he cleaned himself up and started putting out good material again. But never did he come close to reaching the heights he did in the 70's.
Christmas came early this year with this video!!!! AWESOME!!!!!
Thank you for the kind words! And Merry Christmas!
Great !
Thanks so much for watching!
I always felt everything after Capt Fantastic was unremarkable now I know why. I am also one who dismissed Here & There you have convinced me otherwise. However big fan of 171170 love the version of 60 years on despite the lack of orchestration. Many thanks 🙏
I’m so glad you will reconsider that album. I think it’s absolutely fantastic. Thanks for watching!
I feel the same. There are some good tracks on blue moves when I guess Elton had to write his own words.
@@positivelivingmusic5497Actually Blue Moves is all Bernie Taupin. It wasn’t until the following album Elton started working with other lyricists. Single Man is an abysmal album. I bought it the day it was released and immediately felt the change. Elton had lost his magic as a composer. Blue Moves has several amazing songs; the last gasp of his golden period.
@@JonBlackstone OK, yeah I wasn't sure.
Thanks for making this video. The thing I hated most about the Rocket Man movie is that his band was entirely erased from his story. That must have been hurtful for them, given how much of a role they played in his success. And Elton John PRODUCED THAT MOVIE!? So how did his band not even get a subtle nod here and there?
Also, I just want to say they had the tightest background vocals of any band, ever.
Thanks for watching. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Obviously, you know I agree with every word you said. I hope you subscribed. I’ve got some other great Elton videos you should check out!
That's another thing - he didn't need backing singers - the band were fantastic harmonisers!
I know! The background vocal work. Those three guys did on those albums is impeccable. I always felt like they kind of carried the spirit of the Beatles into the 70s. I can’t think of another band that was more creatively unique. Thanks for watching!
IMO, the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" double album is one of the best ever recorded by any artist in history. I think the title song isn't even in the top eight songs on the whole album, just ahead of "Benny and the Jets". "Funeral For a Friend" is absolute genius, lyrics and music.
You wouldn’t get any argument for me! I consider easily one of the greatest albums of all time and certainly in my top 10 favorite albums of all time. However, the title track is my favorite all-time Elton John Bernie Taupin composition. I think it’s one of the most beautiful and elegant songs ever written in the musical performances and production are other worldly. Thanks for watching!
Jon. This is the video that got me interested in your channel. I didn't realize you are "sort of a drummer" as well as a producer.
I have been studying Elton since 1974. The First Time I heard Caribou and Don't Shoot Me was Dec 13, 1974 - the same night my little sister was born across town.
I love all those deep tracks too. My personal favorite obscure one is the Song that Has No Title.
I wish someone filmed those 1970 American shows, since we only have photos... Truva
Elton is great!!!
I think it was the lyrics that makes or breaks a band. I went to see Bernie Taupin when his book came out. It's his lyrics which makes Elton John ' s band one the best ever.
For example " I'm back on dry land once again, opportunity awaits me like a rat in drain, we're all hunting honey with money to burn , just a short time to show you the tricks that we've learned". ( Sweet painted Ladies).
Game changer for a brown dirt cowgirl in the 70s🔥 PS it was great geeking out💨🔥💯
Great job here Jon . . . can you give the address to the vids from "Here and There" ... I've never seen these and would love to see them. Blessings . . . . BTW . . . Saw EJB November, 1975, McNichols Arena, Denver, touring for Rock of the Westies . . . 3.5 hour show, my first ever.
Thanks so much for watching! The live footage is from “hammersmith odeon 1974”. There are several different versions of it on RUclips of varying quality. I took the music from the “here and there“ album and synchronized it to the Hammersmith footage. The other life footage is from a documentary from 1973. The title is “goodbye Norma Jean and other things“. You can also find that on RUclips. There’s a ton of great live videos on RUclips if you search by each year. Thanks so much again!
@@JonBlackstone thanks 4 the reply.
I saw Elton John in 1973, 1974 and in 1975…before he fired his band. Those were great years…before EJ went off the deep-end with drug use. By 1975 he was just starting to get weird. I later saw Elton in Moscow in 2007 and in Stockholm in 2012 when he was back playing with Dave and Nigel again. Elton John’s a big part of the soundtrack of my life.
Wow, what a blessing to have seen the original band so many times! I only saw them once and that was in the early 80s. I did see the 1975 tour which was great because Elton was still young. But I would’ve loved to seen the original band. Thanks for watching!
@@JonBlackstone When I saw Elton John (and the original band) in Portland on August 30, 1973, I didn’t realize what I was in for: The opening band was Sutherland Brothers & Quiver and I became a lifelong fan after hearing them in concert (playing songs from their “Lifeboat” LP). EJ came on and played Daniel as the first song. Then he played songs from the yet-unreleased LP, “Goodbye Yellowbrick Road.” We had never heard these songs before - it was all new and the record hadn’t even been released yet. At the time, I couldn’t even comprehend that I was hearing these songs for the first time.” EJ was playing them in concert for the first time! When he played “Funeral for a Friend,” I had to leave for a while…the deep, organ beginning was overwhelming…and I was high at the time…it was the best concert I ever attended.
Voluminous.. prolific.. Danny Bailey..
Thank you so much for watching!
Oh yeah, "I've Seen That Movie Too"..
@@Calatriste54 I covered that song here: Elton John - When Great Artists Go Bad
ruclips.net/video/VEaCrRdsaFI/видео.html
Great video Jon, thoroughly enjoyed it!
On a bit of a side-note, I was hoping to get your take on something....
Are you familiar with Leo Sayer's 'How Much Love' ?
I've always felt it sounded very Elton John-ish, and recently I've discovered that Nigel Olsson and Paul Buckmaster were in the studio with Leo to assist on it. Pretty wild.
The song went to #7 on the Pop charts, but I can't help think if Elton sang it, it would have gone straight to #1 like a moonshot.
Oh well, just my 2 cents 😅
Thank you for the kind words! I’ll check out that Leo Sayer song. I believe I’ve listened to the album that Nigel played on before? But I’ll check it out now!
Ironically,the great Barry Morgan played drums on the album version of 'Take Me To The Pilot', I believe.
Yeah, I believe you’re right! Nigel and Dee didn’t play on the self titled album; and they only played on a couple of tracks on tumbleweed. It wasn’t until honky Château that the full band was in the studio working together. Thanks for watching!
@@JonBlackstone brilliant show, thanks.
My favorite elton album is tumbleweed
I love Tumbleweed too. Do you not like Elton’s records after that album?
@@JonBlackstone I like everything he's put out except for maybe victim of love my favorite Elton live album is here and there
Captain Fantistic is my favorite EJ album of all time. While there weren't necessarily many if any hits, outside of Someone Save My Life Tonight, the songs from beginning to end stand on their own and are excellent in their own right. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road could have easily been redued to a single album, as there are a lot of songs I skip over. Whereas I can listen to Captain Fantastic from beginning to end no problem. Not a weak song on there.
Thanks for the great comments! Out of curiosity I’d love to know the songs that you skip on yellow brick Road? There are a couple I skip but most of them I absolutely love. In fact, I can only think of two that I actually skip. Send me your list!
@@JonBlackstone I do not care for Jamaica Jerk Off, Sweet Painted Lady, Dirty Little Girl, Your Sister Can't Twist, for sure and I've Seen that Movie Too, Roy Rogers and Social Disease are just okay. Cut these songs out and you have arguably EJ's greatest album of all time.
@@MikeBodoThat’s so interesting. The only songs I skip are Jamaca and Dirty Little Girl. The others are favorites on mine. Social disease is one of my faves as is Dixie Lily. I’ve Seen That Movie, Roy Rogers are in my top 15 favorite Elton tracks. In fact those are the songs that give the album a cinematic vibe for me. Jeff and I discuss our love for “Seen That Movie” here ruclips.net/video/VEaCrRdsaFI/видео.html I don’t think “Your Sister can’t twist” is a great song but I love Elton’s vocal and the band’s vocals. That’s one thing about that period between 72-75 is Elton’s voice was so incredible and the band were so creatively inspired I can find something to love even in the weakest tracks. Thanks for sharing your list. It’s fascinating to see how music hits people differently. If you have time I’m curious why you don’t like those songs? I completely understand “Jamaca and Dirty” but I’m interested to know why you don’t dig those other songs. Hope to hear from you again!
@@MikeBodoWow I just noticed you don’t like Sweet Painted Lady! That’s also in my top 15. That’s why I featured it in my retrospective. I’m very curious what you don’t like about those tracks?
@@JonBlackstone I don't particularly care for how those songs are arranged and the lyrics don't resonate with me. I mean, Jamaica Jerk Off is a poor attempt at Reggae and it doesn't really fit with the majority of songs on the album. Your Sister Can't Twist would have been a more appropriate song for Don't Shoot Me, but he'd already done a 50's style tribute song in Crocodile Rock, which this song could never hope to live up to. It was a rehash of an idea that worked once, but failed horribly the second time. Lastly, there's a reason EJ never played many of the beyond deeper cuts off that album live and that's because they weren't his nor the bands favorites either. As it was, you rarely heard Grey Seal performed live once this tour ended and that's a much stronger song off this album than all those I list as being "less than."
Curious as to which "Here and There" CD has the 1970's mix like our vinyl's? The 1992 single disc Polydor issue?
Thanks for watching! The way you can tell is by the number of songs. The newer version has 2 CDs. As long as you’re buying the single disc version it will be the original 1976 mixes. Mine is on Polydor but I don’t see 1992 anywhere on the packaging. It actually has 1976 as the date.
@@JonBlackstone Thank you!....and Thanks for re-upping this great video in upgraded definition!
I have that here and there album- the first one.
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say I think these guys are gonna be big.
I love your comment. Thank you for watching! By the way, I posted a corrected version of this episode. That will be available today at 12:30 PM Pacific standard time. It features an additional song at the end. It’s a live version that really rocks!
@@JonBlackstone Thanks for taking the time to put all of this together. I'm a piana/vocalist, besides all the other things i've done in my musical journey, I did 10 years solo piano/vocal on cruise ships and learned/performed a lot of Elton John material and I have to say what a genius i consider him to be. Keep up the good work.
Jon, as much as I enjoy your intelligent commentary, and Enthusiasm for Nigel Olsson’s drumming….that drum fill in the live version of “Don’t Let the Sun…” is far from being the greatest drum fill of all time? C’mon Man - it’s Pedestrian as all phuck! Rings did that hundreds of times, and it SO So What? Steve Gaddis fills on Steely Dan’s “Aja” are all more amazing than that, as are Bill Bruford’s in both YES, and King Crimson. And Phil Collins? I’ll go nerd to nerd with you on drummer’s any day!
I love your enthusiasm! I’m pretty sure you and I have different ideas about what makes great musicianship. All my favorite drummers are not technically great with the exception of Bonham. My other favorites are Ringo, Charlie Watts and Nigel. What I love in a drummer is the expressiveness of their playing. For instance two of my favorite drum moments are when Bonham enters Stairway to Heaven. Those 4 simple tom hits are musical heaven for me. It’s the same with Charlie Watts intro to the opening of Beast of Burden. Like I say in the video I’ve worked with countless technically excellent drummers. They are a dime a dozen. What’s almost impossible to find is a drummer who plays to the lyrics and puts their own emotional stamp on a song. Ringo’s drum solo on Abbey Road is as simple as simple can be; but it still thrills me after thousands of plays. The drum fill in the live version of Don’t Let The Sun is one of the most emotionally powerful and expressive of any drum fill I’ve ever heard. What are your favorite drum fills?
Sounds like Dee was influenced by McCartney in that he, too, plays melodically and helps drive the song forward. They "play" their instruments.
I love the way you said that. Obviously I agree with every word you said. Thanks for watching!
Why then, did Elton sack Nigel? I always loved his drumming but never understood about the nuances that you have explained and expressed. Thank you so much!
Listening to just the piano, bass and drums really brings where the emphasises lay that was not apparent to me in the full expression of the song when I just used to put the headphones on and just listen and dream away. The voice does do much to the whole, not to diminish the band's input of course. Wow, what a talent I'm so more aware!
So Elton writes the tune in form first for the song, but then when it goes to the band, the final piano play is more about support to the song? Meaning that parts aren't so pronounced, but subtle? Full rip for the solo type parts?
At about 48:20 on a live Daniel, what recording was that? Looks British-Top of the Pops? I've never seen that one before.
And yes I agree about those drum fills, but I've never heard that before? It's lovely.
Fun fact: Davey was not an "electric" guitar player when Elton hired him.
How do you get the 90's Here and There?
How does one get the video version?
Mostly what I hear on that song Philadelphia freedom is the string section and the backup singers, I hear some of the bass sometimes, but not like that. But the live performance is going to be a different matter, cause they would have to play their part the way they did on the album, so I kinda feel like whether they can be heard or not, doesn't really matter, its like a contract, they must at least sound the way they did on the record, with or without backup singers an orchestra. But that song on the record is mostly singing and orchestra.
I wonder if elton serviced each member of the band after each show.
Well elton didn't really need much of a band cause he was a great piano player. It could be that he needed company, and he needed people who were humble and wouldn't be political.. HE needed people who could play. And I think through his generosity as we assume he is the same person on stage and off stage, if you give confidence to your band members that they are secure in their part, they will give back more as thanks, in the form of precise integration. Cause they are not competing, they know who the composer is. Its not a typical band atmosphere , its not one where each member is contributing something as if there wasn't this well of songs coming out of one guy.. Elton was the glue, and his confidence in them, made them what they were. Cause they could be themselves and could focus on the goal.