Introduction:-->Elton John and Some Lost Gems

"There's a Greyhound outside in the lane...
it's waiting for us.
So tell him goodbye,
we gotta go west on that bus."
Elton John


As with most "Greatest Hits and Best Of" music collections...they just never seem to get it right. Often catering to the mainstream listener...while leaving the knowledgeable fans more frustrated than "Sipowicz" on a NY stakeout.
Elton John on RS 1973

So, in no particular order...ten of my favorite lost gems from Elton John.

1. "Blues For Baby And Me" ----- Don't Shoot Me... (1973)
("Your old man got mad when I told him we were leaving. He cursed and he raged and he swore at the ceiling.")

2. "Street Kids" ------- Rock Of The Westies (1975)
("And if you think you've seen gasoline burning in my eyes...
Don't be alarmed. Tell yourself it's good to be, its good to be alive.")

3. "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" ----- Honky Chateau (1972)
("Now I know "Spanish Harlem" are not just pretty words to say.
I thought I knew, but now I know that rose trees never grow in NY City.
Until you've seen this trash can dream come true,
You stand at the edge, while people run you through.
And I thank the Lord, there's people out there like you.")

4. "Blues Never Fades Away" ----- The Captain And The Kid (2006)
("
And how did we get so lucky?
Targets on the rifle range.
Who makes the call and who gets to choose?
Who gets to win and who gets to lose?
It's like a rolling dice in the belly of the blues
.")

5. "Amoreena" ----- Tumbleweed Connection (1971)
("Lately, I've been thinking how much I miss my lady.
Amoreena is in the cornfield brightening the daybreak")

6 . "All The Girls Love Alice" ----- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
("
Poor little darling with a chip out of her heart.
It's like acting in a movie when you got the wrong part.")


7. "The Captain And The Kid" ----- The Captain And The Kid (2006)
("But we stuck around for the battle...waiting for a plan.
To turn you into the Brown Dirt Cowboy
And me into a Rocket Man.
It pleases the people some of the time
Digging into our roots.
But I got a brand new pair of shoes
And you're on a horse in your old cowboy boots.")

8.
"Sweet Painted Lady" ----- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
("So she lays down beside me again.
My sweet painted lady, the one with no name.
Many have used her and many still do.
There's a place in the world for a woman like you.")

9.
"Elderberry Wine" ---- Don't Shoot Me... (1973)
("There's a fly in the window. A dog in the yard.
And a year since I saw you.
There's a trunk in the corner I keep all my letters
My bills and demands I keep too.")

10. "Captain Fantastic" ----- Captain Fantastic and the ... (1975)
(Captain Fantastic raised and regimented, hardly a hero.
Just someone his mother might know.
Very clearly a case for corn flakes and classics.
Two teas, both with sugar please in the back of an alley.")


And there you go. I could have easily chosen other songs...but these are the songs I'm feeling today.
If my list is short on songs from '80's-90's...well...a little education is probably needed.
Turn me on to a song or two, I should check out.

Here is a video someone put together of Elton John singing "Elderberry Wine" over clips of a earlier recommended "College Crowd" DVD Pick. The video is enjoyable on both fronts.

Good stuff!

Casey

Elton John:-->"Blues For My Baby And Me" (Don't Shoot Me...) (1973)
(Must Own)


Comments

Anonymous said…
Blues For Baby In Me is my favorite all-time Elton John song. Period.
Casey said…
Fusion..That's great. It's amazing how many people I run into who have never heard that song.
Which, I guess, is the point I was trying to make.
WZJN said…
Fantastic post and one that I just can not but comment to. For me, among the best Elton John that you never hear: "I've Seen That Movie Too", "We All Fall In Love/Curtains", "Sixty Years On", "Susie (Dramas)", "Have Mercy On The Criminal" (Live in Australia version), "Ticking", "Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)" (Could be my alltime fave), "Nakita", "If There's A God In Heaven (What's He Waiting For?)" ... off the top of my head these are coming.

Guess I'll have to dig 'em all out and burn them for the car. Great post Casey!
Casey said…
Wzjn - You mentioned "Ticking"...and I swear that was a song I was going to add and than I completely forgot about it...A fantastic song.
Talk about a song that is more than relevant today.
Off of "Caribou", I think.
The 70's was a very good decade for EJ.
There's a couple songs you mentioned I'm not familiar with...I'll just have to track'em down.
WZJN said…
casey - It would be my pleasure to send any of the above tunes your way. Heck - and a heck of a bunch more. Just say the word.
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