Elton John - an alternative playlist
I watched a documentary on iPlayer the other night which inspired me with today's write-up. The singer/pianist born Reginald Kenneth Dwight had celebrated half a century in the business at the time of filming and was also promoting an autobiography, via an interview excellently conducted by Graham Norton. During the film the obvious hits were referred to, however my mind was cast back to other works which either weren't as popular or, in one case, may not even be as well-known that he even played on it. This list that I refer to today touches on such numbers:
He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother - The Hollies (1969)
Clearly not an Elton tune but listen to that piano: that's our man on the keys as the session musician. A top three hit upon initial release, it was released nearly 20 years later following its inclusion in a beer advert. One cannot feel that emotional pieces of this nature did not influence the songwriter's later output with his own heartwrenchers.
https://youtu.be/Jl5vi9ir49g
Skyline Pigeon (1969)
Apparently the first composition with lyricist Bernie Taupin of note, even before 'Your Song' became the game-changer. This may be the singer's first recorded confession, a theme that would recurring over later releases, where he expresses a wish to be free in order to "spread his wings/And fly away again".
https://youtu.be/nPzlGklVNb0
Indian Sunset (1971)
An early prog-rock example lasting over six minutes - not uncommon if you're familiar with 'Tiny Dancer'. This one tells the story of an anonymous Native American, possibly during the US' Reconstruction era. Today the song is best known from being sampled by Tupac's 2005 chart-topper 'Ghetto Gospel', produced by Eminem.
https://youtu.be/qmTx_K_m4fU
Honky Cat (1972)
Underrated to a fault, it's easy to listen to 'Honky Cat' and realise why it was no bigger a hit than it was (UK No.31); then upon re-listen, think that may actually have been a shame. The song has a dance rhythm and boasts substantial composition but feels majorly stripped down compared to what later productions would follow.
https://youtu.be/iPicSRPwogI
I Saw Her Standing There - duet with John Lennon (1975)
This was a Beatles number recorded live from Madison Square Garden along with one of tune's writers in what became his final major live appearance. A feature of various compilations, it was released as the B-side to 'Philadephia Freedom' before getting it's on A-side treatment a year after Lennon's death.
https://youtu.be/aGkqm2MkyF8
I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (1988)
Elton in the late '80s took a somewhat darker turn in a potential protest over polygamy. Although it appeared on Now That's What I Call Music 12, the catchy piece only scratched the top 30 in a transitional period between eras of his back catalogue. Nevertheless, within two years he was one of rock's undisputed statesmen.
https://youtu.be/_OJ9M_d5s14
The Measure Of A Man (1990)
A forgotten gem which made the end credits of Rocky V, over a number of stills chronicled images of Sylvester Stallone's boxing saga which may have worked better without the cast/crew names visible. This all but distracts anyone who cared to stick around after the lacklustre film finished, therefore doing the ballad disservice.
https://youtu.be/bYLbASoecyc
You Can Make History (Young Again) (1996)
This pleasant but rather bland ode to new love could've easily been the singer's swansong as the accompanying music video formed a tribute to his layered career. Released as a single in North America only, it would gain international recognition a year later as B-side to a well-known tribute hit for somebody else....
https://youtu.be/n5J5aMvVBJQ
Recover Your Soul (1998)
Taking the unenviable follow-up spot from 'Candle In The Wind '97', this easy-listening beauty reminded audiences that life goes on - and our hero had other work to promote! This, the second release from The Big Picture album, would become a regular feature on both VH-1 and BBC Radio 2 at the start of the new year.
https://youtu.be/F92bwrMXU0Y
Original Sin (2001)
A title that shared the subject matter of some GCSE Religious Education syllabuses, this called back both the earlier confessional element lyrically and featured a string arrangement by Elton's latter-day producer Paul Buckmaster. Whilst in the shadow of comeback hit 'I Want Love', it still earned a Grammy nomination in its own right.
Clearly not an Elton tune but listen to that piano: that's our man on the keys as the session musician. A top three hit upon initial release, it was released nearly 20 years later following its inclusion in a beer advert. One cannot feel that emotional pieces of this nature did not influence the songwriter's later output with his own heartwrenchers.
https://youtu.be/Jl5vi9ir49g
Skyline Pigeon (1969)
Apparently the first composition with lyricist Bernie Taupin of note, even before 'Your Song' became the game-changer. This may be the singer's first recorded confession, a theme that would recurring over later releases, where he expresses a wish to be free in order to "spread his wings/And fly away again".
https://youtu.be/nPzlGklVNb0
Indian Sunset (1971)
An early prog-rock example lasting over six minutes - not uncommon if you're familiar with 'Tiny Dancer'. This one tells the story of an anonymous Native American, possibly during the US' Reconstruction era. Today the song is best known from being sampled by Tupac's 2005 chart-topper 'Ghetto Gospel', produced by Eminem.
https://youtu.be/qmTx_K_m4fU
Honky Cat (1972)
Underrated to a fault, it's easy to listen to 'Honky Cat' and realise why it was no bigger a hit than it was (UK No.31); then upon re-listen, think that may actually have been a shame. The song has a dance rhythm and boasts substantial composition but feels majorly stripped down compared to what later productions would follow.
https://youtu.be/iPicSRPwogI
I Saw Her Standing There - duet with John Lennon (1975)
This was a Beatles number recorded live from Madison Square Garden along with one of tune's writers in what became his final major live appearance. A feature of various compilations, it was released as the B-side to 'Philadephia Freedom' before getting it's on A-side treatment a year after Lennon's death.
https://youtu.be/aGkqm2MkyF8
I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (1988)
Elton in the late '80s took a somewhat darker turn in a potential protest over polygamy. Although it appeared on Now That's What I Call Music 12, the catchy piece only scratched the top 30 in a transitional period between eras of his back catalogue. Nevertheless, within two years he was one of rock's undisputed statesmen.
https://youtu.be/_OJ9M_d5s14
The Measure Of A Man (1990)
A forgotten gem which made the end credits of Rocky V, over a number of stills chronicled images of Sylvester Stallone's boxing saga which may have worked better without the cast/crew names visible. This all but distracts anyone who cared to stick around after the lacklustre film finished, therefore doing the ballad disservice.
https://youtu.be/bYLbASoecyc
You Can Make History (Young Again) (1996)
This pleasant but rather bland ode to new love could've easily been the singer's swansong as the accompanying music video formed a tribute to his layered career. Released as a single in North America only, it would gain international recognition a year later as B-side to a well-known tribute hit for somebody else....
https://youtu.be/n5J5aMvVBJQ
Recover Your Soul (1998)
Taking the unenviable follow-up spot from 'Candle In The Wind '97', this easy-listening beauty reminded audiences that life goes on - and our hero had other work to promote! This, the second release from The Big Picture album, would become a regular feature on both VH-1 and BBC Radio 2 at the start of the new year.
https://youtu.be/F92bwrMXU0Y
Original Sin (2001)
A title that shared the subject matter of some GCSE Religious Education syllabuses, this called back both the earlier confessional element lyrically and featured a string arrangement by Elton's latter-day producer Paul Buckmaster. Whilst in the shadow of comeback hit 'I Want Love', it still earned a Grammy nomination in its own right.
https://youtu.be/8R6Qbq3sQeM
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