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by
Elton John
- Record Label: Island
- Release Date: Mar 24, 2023
- Summary: The 50th anniversary edition of Elton John's 1972 album includes a remaster of the original album as well as session outtakes and eight live recordings from his 1972 Royal Festival Hall show.
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- Record Label: Island
- Genre(s): Pop/Rock
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
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Positive: 5 out of 5
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Apr 4, 2023Many [of the demos] prove that producer Gus Dudgeon knew how to tweak the material, which had a tendency to get long-winded. ... Eight live selections from London’s Royal Festival Hall, recorded around the album’s release, confirm how tough John’s four-piece was. ... These songs still sound terrific, reminding us just how vital and prolific an artist Elton John was in his prime.
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Apr 4, 2023In these early recordings, Elton’s passion and dedication pleads to be heard. Whether nitpicking intros almost to the point of nausea or infusing vitality into each syllable like a mad scientist, a young Elton is constantly straining towards vein-popping perfection.
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UncutApr 4, 2023Demos - impressive for Elton's ability to nail a song on first take, amusing for his repertoire of Goons voices - and songs from the Feb 1972 Royal Festival Hall concert which amounted to his showbiz coronation. [May 2023, p.46]
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Classic Rock MagazineApr 4, 2023The 2LP set sacrifices the live cuts, which, while so competent they're not exactly bristling with edge, possess a different air to the out-takes. [May 2023, p.87]
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MojoApr 4, 2023John's piano at the Festival Hall brought a stentorian new dimension to a sped-up Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time) and the demos offer the sense of a band working out how to get the best from John's freewheeling melodies. In the end, they turned out to be just what was required. [May 2023, p.101]