CD-Charts Position 1
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Duets

by: Elton John, Various

Release Date November 16, 1993
It is always interesting to see which guests are present on a collection like this. Elton has chosen duet partners from a diverse range of musical backgrounds so although they all adapt, to some extent, to sing with Elton, it still makes for a somewhat eclectic album. So if you have broad musical tastes, you will enjoy the contrasting styles - if not, may find the album to be somewhat patchy.

The set opens with Tear drops, supposedly a duet with k d lang although, to my ears, it sounds more like an Elton John solo with k d providing harmony vocals. Next comes a superb duet with P M Dawn, When I think about love. Little Richard is the next guest (on The power), but despite the title suggesting an up-tempo rocker, this track is just ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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The Captain and The Kid

by: Elton John

Release Date September 18, 2006
I can't believe this album didn't sell too well. It is, put simply, fantastic. A lot has been said about Elton being famous for being famous, but this shows and reminds us as to why he is where he is. The songs are all very strong, its the kind of album which is a playlist in itself, there are no tracks which require the skip button.

Having learnt lessons from his failures, he also shows that he no longer wishes to rest on his laurels. Him and Bernie have written honest songs, not hollywood glamour songs. 'And the house fell down' is arguably the most touching on the album, as he cries out 'When you're this deep in there's no place else to fall', amongst the cryptic but digestable lyrics. if he doesn't write an autobiography, this will serve as his ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

by: Elton John

Release Date May 10, 1995
GYBR is usually referred to as a classic album and routinely appears on "Greatest Albums Of All Time" lists. The truth is, it is a terrible album that happens to contain a few classic `70s Pop tunes - namely, the title track, "Candle In The Wind", "Harmony" and "Roy Rogers". There are a couple of half-decent album fillers - the melodic "Sweet Painted Lady" and the rather overblown "I've Seen That Movie Too" - but the rest of the album is abysmal: the falsetto caterwauling of "Bennie And The Jets", the annoying lilt of "Danny Bailey", the horrid `50s pastiche of "Your Sister Can't Twist". Some of the other tracks are actually rather unpleasant and leave a bad taste in the mouth. What is more, the album is very poorly produced. A case in point is "Saturday Night's Alright ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Reg Strikes Back

by: Elton John

Release Date June 01, 1998
This is a lot better than the dire Leather Jackets that preceded it by a few years, but I would say this is album for completists only. Some of the songs are quite good, noteably 'Heavy Traffic' and 'I don't wanna go on with you like that' which is the best track on the album by some margin. However for me the benchmark for Elton John albums is whether it has a great song on it. When I say a great song I mean a song that will stand the test of time like 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' 'Your Song' or 'Border Song' or more recently 'This Train don't stop there anymore'. Sadly the answer is no, although 'I don't wanna...' goes close.

Like a previous reviewer said the absence of real Piano is another sore point for me. If you get an Elton John album that has no real Piano ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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Live In Australia

by: Elton John The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Release Date June 01, 1998
I have had this cd since it was first released and have transported it around from Russia to Turkey and eventually back to the UK. It has been my solace and inspiration for many years. The fact that poor old Reg had his throat operated on just after this gorgeous recording, is almost apparent from the slightly rasping, yet divine, quality of his voice from this concert. From the very opening bars of the opening song, 60 Years On, you know that something very special is about to happen. He plays a variety of favourite tracks, including Your Song, Tonight, Have Mercy on the Criminal, each being perfectly orchestrated and enhanced by the Sydney orchestra. Having destroyed the central part of the disc during my various peregrinations, I have just received the latest remastering, which ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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Honky Chateau

by: Elton John

Release Date July 31, 1995
The singles Honky cat and the awesome rocket man are just two of the stand out tracks on this very good early Elton John album.
I would recommend this album to any genuine Elton fans particualy fans of the albums Tumbleweed connection and madman accross the water. Very good indeed.

CD-Charts Position 7
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Madman Across The Water

by: Elton John

Release Date July 31, 1995
1969-71 was a prolific period for Elton John as an albums artist - in just 3 years he produced 4 studio albums, plus a film soundtrack and a live album, while managing just one hit single, the ubiquitous 'Your Song'. The tone of these early albums was often downbeat, but 'Madman Across The Water' shows Elton's music at its darkest, and makes a fitting end to the first phase of his career. Originally housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve with booklet, it provides a good snapshot of the directions rock music was taking in 1971 - Elton at this point coming across as an introspective singer-songwriter with leanings towards progressive rock. As with 'Tumbleweed Connection' no UK singles were taken from the album, although the first two songs, 'Tiny Dancer' and 'Levon', were both released as 45s ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy

by: Elton John

Release Date July 31, 1995
Probably one of my favourite Elton John albums, favourite tracks We All Fall in Love Sometimes/Curtains, Better Off Dead and Writing. Just one point to the original reviewer, the last three tracks were not on the original album, I have it in vinyl, bought on it's release date and it finishes with Curtains, IMO where it should. These have obviously been added to plump it out at a much later date. I can understand why however because during that time period Lucy and Philadelphia Freedom were only available on a Greatest Hits. I find this album also quite sad as it was the last one before the parting of the ways with Nigel Olsenn and Dee Murray, although of course they came back again much later. I remember going to see the Louder Than Concorde tour at Earl's Court shortly after this album's release and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Ice On Fire

by: Elton John

Release Date June 01, 1998
If Elton John had produced this album in the first half of the 1970's or in the same way as 'Songs from the West Coast'/'The Captain and the Kid' was made it would probably be a fine album. As it is its an average album spoilt my the 1980's production values.

There are some very good songs on here: This Town, Cry to Heaven, Shoot Down the Moon. There are at least a couple of others that merit a few listens. Eventually once you get though the treacled layers of 80's keyboards you will find Elton's unique melodic gift shining through.

All the musicians on this album are top notch, but to a large degree they are wasted. If you want final evidence of the souless nature of this recording compare the album version of 'This Town' with Elton's performance on the Tube. There is no comparison ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
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Elton John

by: Elton John

Release Date May 10, 1995
In his long career EJ has never produced a perfect album. Every set contains at least one or two misfires, usually in the form of irritating mid-tempo or up-tempo tracks - often with very silly lyrics. On the "Elton John" album those honours go to "No Shoestrings On Louise", "The Cage" and "Take Me To The Pilot" - three horrible sounding tracks that mar an otherwise beautiful record. The outstanding tracks here are "Your Song", "Need You To Turn To", "The Greatest Discovery" and "First Episode At Hienton", an atmospheric and totally original song that somehow manages to transcend the rather trite lyrics. The rest of the original album is predictably pleasant. The bonus tracks included here are, as with almost all of the 'extras' on EJ CD reissues, of poor quality. You've got to hand it to Elton - he always knew ... Read More: