John, I love your Elton videos. It's always so great to watch people nerd out over Elton stuff as much as I do. I feel that Elton's album covers have, with a few exceptions, been either plain or just plain gaudy. I prefer to see more creative covers like Captain Fantastic, Don't Shoot Me, or Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Madman and Tumbleweed Connection both have great covers too. Madman's cover *was* in fact done in denim. It was stitched onto a cushion which Gus Dudgeon ended up buying during Elton's 1988 auction of most of his possessions. The cover of Reg Strikes Back was taken from the exhibit for that same auction. The guy being arrested in that panoramic shot of Songs from the West Coast is Elton's then-longtime personal assistant Bob Halley. That picture is sadly almost prophetic, since Halley was fired some years later when Elton discovered he was grossly overspending. That first version of the Peachtree Road album cover is by far Elton's worst. It doesn't evoke the images of Peachtree Road that most people think of, and I really don't like the framing on it. The worst part is that it was selected from a bunch of pictures that the photographer took. Also, that neon pink clashes horribly with the cover photo. I'm really glad they changed it to the version with the cowboy hat for later issues. I was a little surprised that Captain Fantastic wasn't #1, but after hearing your rationale for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I totally see where you're coming from. My #1 is still Captain Fantastic, but I can't find fault with your placing those two album covers the way you did.
Thanks for the info. That is very helpful background. The first Peachtree cover is atmospheric, almost like Springsteen's Nebraska in its bleakness, but maybe doesn't fit the content too well, as you say.
My ranking : 1 Captain Fantastic 2 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 3 Blue Moves 4 Don't Shoot Me 5 Honky Chateau 6 Madman 7 Tumbleweed Connection 8 The Diving Board 9 Empty Sky 10 Too Low For Zero 11 Elton John 12 Peachtree Road 13 A Single Man 14 Sleeping With The Past 15 Rock Of The Westies 16 Songs From The West Coast 17 The Captain And The Kid 18 The One 19 Reg Strikes Back 20 The Big Picture 21 Made In England 22 Breaking Hearts 23 Ice On Fire 24 The Fox 25 21 at 33 26 Leather Jackets 27 Wonderful Crazy Night 28 Caribou 29 Jump Up! 30 Victim Of Love
1. Don't Shoot me I'm only the piano player 2. Goodbye yellow brick road 3. Too low for zero 4. Captain fantastic and the brown dirt cowboy 5. Tumbleweed connection 6. A single man 7. Sleeping with the past 8. Madman across the water 9. Elton john 10. The captain and the kid 11. Honky chateau 12. Songs from the west coast 13. Blue moves 14. Empty sky 15. Jump up 16. The one 17. Reg strikes back 18. Ice on fire 19. Breaking hearts 20. The fox 21. The diving board 22. Leather jackets 23. Rock of the Westies 24. The big picture 25.Made in England 26. Wonderful crazy night 27. Caribou 28.21 at 33 29. Peachtree road 30. Victim of love
It's too hard to put them in an objective order, so here's my top 6 in chronological order: Tumbleweed Connection (adds to the ambience), Captain Fantastic (great iconography), Too Low for Zero (clever design), The Big Picture (love the technique), Songs From the West Coast (360º), The Captain & The Kid (because Bernie Taupin!). On a side note, the alternative cover of Peachtree Road is a remake of the cover photo of the Sacrifice single, back in the 1990's.
Thanks, John! Hope you will upload something like that about ABBA covers. My personal favourite is... The Diving Board. I don't know, there's nothing about Elton, but I think this picture of a stranger tells something about his mood while recording. I've also got a limited edition box-set. It contains wonderful lithography and 50-page book with lyrics and shoots from studio works. But also pictures of this stranger reading Oscar Wilde and walking down the abandoned area. Too much coincidences with Home Again song - the saddest one from the album. My ultimate Top-5 is like: 1. The Diving Board 2. Made In England 3. Peachtree Road (2005 re-issue cover) 4. Songs from the West Coast (back cover also) 5. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (brings back to my childhood memories).
My favourite album cover is definitely Blue Moves. It's not too much: it's simple but still eye-catching to me. It also sets the mood perfectly. Very blue and mystic. Captain Fantastic is a close second - amazing artwork and a picture of Captain Fantastic himself! As much as I like the songs on Caribou, I do agree that the album cover is quite bland and disappointing. Also, John, just out of curiosity, what are you thoughts on Billy Joel?
I quite like Billy Joel and respect his achievements. I don't quite find the depth of emotion which Elton can turn on so easily. And Bernie's lyrics are always posing questions which not many other writers can ask. I also prefer Elton's voice.
1) GBYBR 2) 11 17 70 3) T . C. 4)E J 5 ) DON T SHOOT ME 6) M. A. T. W. 7) HONKY.. 8) A SINGLE. 9) BLUE M. 10) CAPTAIN......I stop here...your job is gettin' more and more interesting and historically great!! Thank's John! Still standing for ever!!
Thanks John, I must admit that I have never paid too much attention to album/CD sleeves, preferring to concentrate on the music therein However, my top 5 would be; 1, Blue Moves 2, Captain Fantastic 3, Greatest Hits Vol 2 4, The Complete Thom Bell sessions 5, The Captain and the Kid
0ops, I will check out my Elton collection, review my choices and check out the rules for inclusion again John. Yes, you are right about the Greatest Hits vol. 2. I didn't actually buy any of the greatest hits because I bought each album since 1970 upon release., but I am a keen cricket fan and I liked the colours and contrast on that sleeve! Watch this space !
Ok John, here is my revised list 1) Blue Moves 2) Captain Fantastic 3) The Captain And The Kid 4) Don't Shoot Me 5) G.Y.B.R. I do have the original Thom Bell sessions purchased in 1979 which is technically an E.P containing 3 songs and the complete sessions album containing all 6 songs from the recording session with Thom was released in 1989 with the same cover colourised.
John, I love your Elton videos. It's always so great to watch people nerd out over Elton stuff as much as I do.
I feel that Elton's album covers have, with a few exceptions, been either plain or just plain gaudy. I prefer to see more creative covers like Captain Fantastic, Don't Shoot Me, or Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Madman and Tumbleweed Connection both have great covers too.
Madman's cover *was* in fact done in denim. It was stitched onto a cushion which Gus Dudgeon ended up buying during Elton's 1988 auction of most of his possessions. The cover of Reg Strikes Back was taken from the exhibit for that same auction.
The guy being arrested in that panoramic shot of Songs from the West Coast is Elton's then-longtime personal assistant Bob Halley. That picture is sadly almost prophetic, since Halley was fired some years later when Elton discovered he was grossly overspending.
That first version of the Peachtree Road album cover is by far Elton's worst. It doesn't evoke the images of Peachtree Road that most people think of, and I really don't like the framing on it. The worst part is that it was selected from a bunch of pictures that the photographer took. Also, that neon pink clashes horribly with the cover photo. I'm really glad they changed it to the version with the cowboy hat for later issues.
I was a little surprised that Captain Fantastic wasn't #1, but after hearing your rationale for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I totally see where you're coming from. My #1 is still Captain Fantastic, but I can't find fault with your placing those two album covers the way you did.
Thanks for the info. That is very helpful background. The first Peachtree cover is atmospheric, almost like Springsteen's Nebraska in its bleakness, but maybe doesn't fit the content too well, as you say.
My ranking :
1 Captain Fantastic
2 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
3 Blue Moves
4 Don't Shoot Me
5 Honky Chateau
6 Madman
7 Tumbleweed Connection
8 The Diving Board
9 Empty Sky
10 Too Low For Zero
11 Elton John
12 Peachtree Road
13 A Single Man
14 Sleeping With The Past
15 Rock Of The Westies
16 Songs From The West Coast
17 The Captain And The Kid
18 The One
19 Reg Strikes Back
20 The Big Picture
21 Made In England
22 Breaking Hearts
23 Ice On Fire
24 The Fox
25 21 at 33
26 Leather Jackets
27 Wonderful Crazy Night
28 Caribou
29 Jump Up!
30 Victim Of Love
Sorry to see West Coast so low, but I'm with you on most of them. Lots of people seem to like the Diving Board artwork.
1. Don't Shoot me I'm only the piano player
2. Goodbye yellow brick road
3. Too low for zero
4. Captain fantastic and the brown dirt cowboy
5. Tumbleweed connection
6. A single man
7. Sleeping with the past
8. Madman across the water
9. Elton john
10. The captain and the kid
11. Honky chateau
12. Songs from the west coast
13. Blue moves
14. Empty sky
15. Jump up
16. The one
17. Reg strikes back
18. Ice on fire
19. Breaking hearts
20. The fox
21. The diving board
22. Leather jackets
23. Rock of the Westies
24. The big picture
25.Made in England
26. Wonderful crazy night
27. Caribou
28.21 at 33
29. Peachtree road
30. Victim of love
My list goes just like this:
1. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
2. Honky Château
3. Rock of the Westies
4. Caribou
5. Madman Across the Water
I love the 21 at 33 cover
It's too hard to put them in an objective order, so here's my top 6 in chronological order: Tumbleweed Connection (adds to the ambience), Captain Fantastic (great iconography), Too Low for Zero (clever design), The Big Picture (love the technique), Songs From the West Coast (360º), The Captain & The Kid (because Bernie Taupin!).
On a side note, the alternative cover of Peachtree Road is a remake of the cover photo of the Sacrifice single, back in the 1990's.
Thanks for this and for the info about Peachtree Road. I think I'd like a framed copy of that one!
Thanks, John! Hope you will upload something like that about ABBA covers.
My personal favourite is... The Diving Board. I don't know, there's nothing about Elton, but I think this picture of a stranger tells something about his mood while recording. I've also got a limited edition box-set. It contains wonderful lithography and 50-page book with lyrics and shoots from studio works. But also pictures of this stranger reading Oscar Wilde and walking down the abandoned area. Too much coincidences with Home Again song - the saddest one from the album.
My ultimate Top-5 is like:
1. The Diving Board
2. Made In England
3. Peachtree Road (2005 re-issue cover)
4. Songs from the West Coast (back cover also)
5. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (brings back to my childhood memories).
Good choices there. I would have changed the Diving Board cover for the Oscar Wilde page and maybe renamed the album to suit.
I love made in England too! Very basic but it works!
Simple but effective. Agreed.
Ice on fire and captain fantastic sun him up to me
My favourite album cover is definitely Blue Moves. It's not too much: it's simple but still eye-catching to me. It also sets the mood perfectly. Very blue and mystic. Captain Fantastic is a close second - amazing artwork and a picture of Captain Fantastic himself!
As much as I like the songs on Caribou, I do agree that the album cover is quite bland and disappointing.
Also, John, just out of curiosity, what are you thoughts on Billy Joel?
I quite like Billy Joel and respect his achievements. I don't quite find the depth of emotion which Elton can turn on so easily. And Bernie's lyrics are always posing questions which not many other writers can ask. I also prefer Elton's voice.
1) GBYBR 2) 11 17 70 3) T . C. 4)E J 5 ) DON T SHOOT ME 6) M. A. T. W. 7) HONKY.. 8) A SINGLE. 9) BLUE M. 10) CAPTAIN......I stop here...your job is gettin' more and more interesting and historically great!! Thank's John! Still standing for ever!!
Good list but I couldn't include any concert ones. People are mainly going for the early album covers.
@@eltonmusicfan I knew this, but I couldn 't exclude 11 17, the album made me fall in love with Elton John and his musical universe!!
Thanks John, I must admit that I have never paid too much attention to album/CD sleeves, preferring to concentrate on the music therein
However, my top 5 would be;
1, Blue Moves
2, Captain Fantastic
3, Greatest Hits Vol 2
4, The Complete Thom Bell sessions
5, The Captain and the Kid
Some of your choices don't qualify in my criteria, but I see where you are coming from. The Greatest Hits vol 2 is the cricket one, I think?
0ops, I will check out my Elton collection, review my choices and check out the rules for inclusion again John. Yes, you are right about the Greatest Hits vol. 2. I didn't actually buy any of the greatest hits because I bought each album since 1970 upon release., but I am a keen cricket fan and I liked the colours and contrast on that sleeve! Watch this space !
Ok John, here is my revised list
1) Blue Moves
2) Captain Fantastic
3) The Captain And The Kid
4) Don't Shoot Me
5) G.Y.B.R.
I do have the original Thom Bell sessions purchased in 1979 which is technically an E.P containing 3 songs and the complete sessions album containing all 6 songs from the recording session with Thom was released in 1989 with the same cover colourised.