Tag: Elton John

Feature LP

Wednesday 7/28/21 12am ET: Feature LP: Elton John – Madman Across The Water (1971)

Madman Across the Water is the fourth studio album by Elton John, released November 5, 1971 through DJM and Uni Records. The album was his third album to be released in 1971, at which point John had been rising to prominence as a popular music artist. The album contains 9 tracks, each composed and performed by John and with lyrics written by songwriting partner Bernie Taupin.

There were two singles released from Madman Across the Water, “Levon” and “Tiny Dancer.” It was certified gold in February 1972, followed by platinum in March 1993, and 2× platinum in August 1998 by the RIAA. The album was included in Robert Dimery’s 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

  1. “Tiny Dancer” 6:17
  2. “Levon” 5:22
  3. “Razor Face” 4:42
  4. “Madman Across the Water” 5:57
  5. “Indian Sunset” 6:47
  6. “Holiday Inn” 4:17
  7. “Rotten Peaches” 4:58
  8. “All the Nasties” 5:09
  9. “Goodbye” 1:49

Elton John – acoustic piano, vocals
Brian Dee – harmonium (2)
Rick Wakeman – Hammond organ (3, 4, 7)
Jack Emblow – accordion (3)
Diana Lewis – ARP synthesizer (4, 7)
Caleb Quaye – electric guitar (1, 2, 3), acoustic guitar (6)
B. J. Cole – steel guitar (1)
Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar (1, 4, 7), mandolin (6), sitar (6)
Chris Spedding – electric guitar (4), slide guitar (7)
David Glover – bass guitar (1, 3, 6)
Brian Odgers – bass guitar (2)
Herbie Flowers – bass guitar (4, 5, 7)
Chris Laurence – double bass (5)
Dee Murray – backing vocals (1, 6, 7), bass guitar (8)
Roger Pope – drums (1, 3, 6)
Barry Morgan – drums (2)
Terry Cox – drums (4, 5, 7)
Nigel Olsson – backing vocals (1, 6, 7), drums (8)
Ray Cooper – percussion (4), tambourine (7, 8)
Paul Buckmaster – orchestral arrangements and conductor (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
David Katz – orchestra contractor (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
Tony Burrows – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
Roger Cook – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
Lesley Duncan – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
Barry St. John – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
Terry Steele – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
Liza Strike – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
Sue and Sunny – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
Cantores em Ecclesia Choir – backing vocals (5, 8)
Robert Kirby – choir director (5, 8)

Feature LP

Monday 7/26/21 10pm ET: Feature LP: Elton John – Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth studio album by Elton John. The album is an autobiographical account of the early musical careers of Elton John (Captain Fantastic) and his long-term lyricist Bernie Taupin (the Brown Dirt Cowboy). It was released in May 1975 by MCA in America and DJM in the UK and was an instant commercial success.

The album reached number 1 in its first week of release on the US Billboard 200, the first ever album to do so, reportedly selling 1.4 million copies within 4 days of release, and it stayed in that position in the chart for seven weeks.

Though they would all appear on later albums, this was the last album of the 1970s with the original lineup of the Elton John Band (guitarist Davey Johnstone, bassist Dee Murray, and drummer Nigel Olsson). Murray and Olsson, who had formed John’s rhythm section since 1970, were sacked prior to the recording of the follow-up album Rock of the Westies, while Johnstone would leave in 1978. This was the last album until 1983’s Too Low for Zero that Elton John and his classic band would play on together.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 158 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list

1. “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy” 5:46
2. “Tower of Babel” 4:28
3. “Bitter Fingers” 4:35
4. “Tell Me When the Whistle Blows” 4:20
5. “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” 6:45
6. “(Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket” 4:01
7. “Better Off Dead” 2:37
8. “Writing” 3:40
9. “We All Fall in Love Sometimes” 4:15
10. “Curtains” 6:15
11. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” 6:18
12. “One Day at a Time” 3:49
13. “Philadelphia Freedom” 5:22
14. “House of Cards”

Elton John – lead vocals, acoustic piano (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10), Fender Rhodes (1, 4, 5, 8), clavinet (4, 6), ARP String Ensemble (5), harmony vocals (7, 8), harpsichord (9, 10), mellotron (9, 10)
David Hentschel – ARP synthesizer (9, 10)
Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar (1, 5-10), electric guitar (1-4, 6, 9, 10), mandolin (1), backing vocals (3, 5-10), Leslie guitar (5), acoustic piano (8)
Dee Murray – bass guitar, backing vocals (3, 5-10)
Nigel Olsson – drums, backing vocals (3, 5-10)
Ray Cooper – shaker (1, 5, 8), congas (1, 3, 4, 9, 10), gong (1), jawbone (1), tambourine (1-6, 9, 10), bells (3, 9, 10), cymbals (5), triangle (7, 8), bongos (8)
Gene Page – orchestral arrangements (4)

Sounds of The 80s

Tuesday 6/22/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 80’s

1980-1989 Today we feature music from and not in this order: Prince, Huey Lewis & The News, Blondie, Michael Jackson, Peter Wolf, Tina Turner, Men At Work, Donna Summer, Van Halen, Elton John, Toto and more . . .

Sounds of The 70s

Monday 6/21/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 70’s (Actual start 1:30)

The best music from 1970 – 1979 featuring tunes from: Billy Paul, Bonnie Pointer, Outlaws, Paper Lace, Diana Ross, Andy Gibb, Don McLean, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton and more . . .

Sounds of The 70s

Monday 6/14/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 70’s

The best music from 1970 – 1979 featuring tunes from: Raspberries, Elton John, Cheap Trick, Dave Mason, Van Halen, Billy Joel, Jackson 5, Jefferson Airplane, Kinks, Joe Hinton and more . . .

Sounds of 2000

Thursday 6/10/21 2pm ET: Sounds of 2000

Featuring music from 2000 – 2009. This week music from Rick Astley, Ricky Martin, Clay Aiken, Britney Spears, Norah Jones, Elton John, Staind, B-52s, and more . . . 2pm to 4pm ET

Sounds of the 90s

Wednesday 6/9/21 3pm ET: Sounds of The ’90s

This week we feature music from Alannah Myles, Collective Soul, Sheryl Crow, Cher, Amy Grant, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, UB40, Janet Jackson, Tears For Fears, Roxette and more. . . 3 – 6pm ET

Sounds of 2000

Thursday 6/3/21 2pm ET: Sounds of 2000

Featuring music from 2000 – 2009. This week music from Fantasia, Disturbed, Cher, Elton John, Santana, Bo Bice, Michael Jackson, Black Eyed Peas and more . . .