I’ve been an Elton John and Bernie Taupin fan since I first heard “Your Song” on the radio in 1970. This tribute CD from 1991 has a broad range of groups and singers. I’m really amused by Kate Bush’s reggae version of “Rocket Man.” Joe Cocker had a minor hit with “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.” I heard Tina Turner perform “The Bitch is Back” in concert. She had everyone on their feet!
I was a bit disappointed by Hall & Oates’s lethargic “Philadelphia Freedom.” But I did enjoy Oleta Adams’s soulful version of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me.”
Are you an Elton John and Bernie Taupin fan? Do you have a favorite song? GRADE: A–
TRACK LIST:
| No. | Title | Performing artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Border Song“ | Eric Clapton | 4:21 |
| 2. | “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)“ | Kate Bush | 4:57 |
| 3. | “Come Down in Time“ | Sting | 3:38 |
| 4. | “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting[10]“ | The Who | 4:32 |
| 5. | “Crocodile Rock“ | The Beach Boys | 4:21 |
| 6. | “Daniel“ | Wilson Phillips | 4:03 |
| 7. | “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word“ | Joe Cocker | 3:57 |
| 8. | “Levon“ | Jon Bon Jovi | 5:27 |
| 9. | “The Bitch is Back“ | Tina Turner | 3:38 |
| 10. | “Philadelphia Freedom“ | Hall & Oates | 5:12 |
| 11. | “Your Song“ | Rod Stewart | 4:49 |
| 12. | “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me“ | Oleta Adams | 6:02 |
| 13. | “Madman Across the Water“ | Bruce Hornsby | 6:10 |
| 14. | “Sacrifice“ | Sinéad O’Connor | 5:12 |
| 15. | “Burn Down the Mission“ | Phil Collins | 6:11 |
| 16. | “Tonight“ | George Michael | 7:23 |
| Total length: | 79:53 | ||
Not a huge fan but I enjoyed some of his (John’s) early work! He gives me the willies, though!
Bob, Elton and Bernie had a string of hits in the 1970s!
Nobody wanted dibs on my favourite, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”? Wow, 1991! 1991 might as well be the Jurassic Age, so much has changed since then (and for large part, not for the better).
Fred, I would have enjoyed versions of “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and “Island Girl” too!
My wife was far more of a Bernie Taupin fan than an Elton John fan. For the most part, I could take them or leave them, although I am very fond of “Candle in the Wind.'”
Jerry, I like both versions of “Candle in the Wind”–the one about Marilyn Monroe and the one about Princess Di.
“Hold me closer, Tony Danza” is my favorite (non-) Taurine line. I was fascinated to read how he writes a bunch of lyrics and sends them to Elton, who writes the music to fit.
Another (real this time) lyric from Fred’s (and my) favorite album, GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD”
“So mark his grave well
Kentucky loved him.
Born and raised proper,
I guess life just tucked him.”
No, there is no one favorite. Jackie picked “Crocodile Rock” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”
In the summer of 1976, we went to Central Park to see a free concert by the New York Philharmonic. Nearby there was a Kiki Dee concert, so during the intermission, Jackie walked over the hill to a spot that overlooked the concert. By luck, she caught the moment when “surprise guest” Elton John came out to join her on “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” It was #1 at the time.
Jeff, I had a crush on Kiki Dee way back in the mid-1970s! Love “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” with it’s energy.
WordPress changed Taupin to Taurean.
WTF?
Jeff, welcome to my daily battle with WORDPRESS! It’s always changing things!
Taurine.
They changed “fucked” to “ticked”!
Jeff, typical of WORDPRESS! It’s demonic!
Tucked – that was my error.
I really liked a lot of the 1970s Elton John-Bernie Taupin stuff.
One of my sister’s boyfriends sent her a letter with a “heartfelt” poem. Duly impressed, she showed it to me. I pointed out it was the lyrics of Madman Across the Water.
That was the end of that relationship.
Beth, a lot of guys stole “poetry” from the lyrics of songs. But, I never did.
I love that story, Beth, though it is hardly the song I’d have chosen.
No one chose my rather obscure favorite, “I Feel Like A Bullet in the Gun of Robert Ford”. A song from the duo’s “artsy” period.
I love Lani Hall’s version of “Come Down in Time” from the 1970s. She was a singer with Sergio Mendes & Brazil 66 and is married to Herp Albert.