70's Elton John vs. 70's Paul McCartney

[12stringbassist]

Hmmmmm.... balancing what they did in the first half of the 70's, I think Elton John comes out in front. That quite surprised me when I thought about it. The latter half of the decade wasn't really very good for either of them.

[12stringbassist]

Single disc GBYBR:

Love lies bleeding
Candle in the wind
I've seen that movie too
Sweet painted lady
Ballad of Danny Bailey

Dirty little girl
All the girls love Alice
Saturday night's alright for fighting
Roy Rogers
Social disease

Single disc Blue moves:

Tonight 7:52
One Horse Town 5:56
Cage The Songbird 3:25
Crazy Water 5:42
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 3:48
Between Seventeen And Twenty 5:17

Someone's Final Song 4:10
Where's The Shoorah? 4:09
If There's A God In Heaven (What's He Waiting For?) 4:25
Idol 4:08
Theme From A Non-Existent TV Series 1:19
Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance!)

[Quaco]

Single disc Blue moves:

Tonight 7:52
One Horse Town 5:56
Cage The Songbird 3:25
Crazy Water 5:42
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 3:48
Between Seventeen And Twenty 5:17

Someone's Final Song 4:10
Where's The Shoorah? 4:09
If There's A God In Heaven (What's He Waiting For?) 4:25
Idol 4:08
Theme From A Non-Existent TV Series 1:19
Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance!)

Side one is more than 30 minutes long!

[Quaco]

Elton at a push is my reflex action, which in one way is strange since I own nothing by him and yet have a couple of Macca's albums knocking about. Hmm, maybe i'd like to change my vote....

No! Just buy a couple Elton albums.

[Quaco]

Elton at a push is my reflex action, which in one way is strange since I own nothing by him and yet have a couple of Macca's albums knocking about. Hmm, maybe i'd like to change my vote....

No! Just buy a couple Elton albums.

I'll admit, I'm really not averse to acquiring two or three of the "classics." Just never really got round to it.

Of course, no one will agree which are the classics.

[toomanyhatz]

I'll admit, I'm really not averse to acquiring two or three of the "classics." Just never really got round to it.

Of course, no one will agree which are the classics.

Tumbleweed Connection seems about the closest thing there is to concensus with Elton.

Opinions vary on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but it's sprawling and diverse enough that most people should find something to like there.

For a third, I'd go for the self-titled one.

[Quaco]

As an honorary gay man, Andy, you should get GYBR and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, his most colorful and fabulous pop albums. From there, you can get the boring ones if you want.

[toomanyhatz]

As an honorary gay man, Andy, you should get GYBR and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, his most colorful and fabulous pop albums. From there, you can get the boring ones if you want.

Caribou is sort of his Beatles for Sale in that it came out at the end of an extremely busy period for him, and he sounds and looks a bit tired in spots. But I'd argue that it's every bit as poptastic as the two you mention.

[Quaco]

As an honorary gay man, Andy, you should get GYBR and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, his most colorful and fabulous pop albums. From there, you can get the boring ones if you want.

Caribou is sort of his Beatles for Sale in that it came out at the end of an extremely busy period for him, and he sounds and looks a bit tired in spots. But I'd argue that it's every bit as poptastic as the two you mention.

Yeah. It's a funny album. It is indeed poptastic, and has some real high points ("I've Seen the Saucers"). Normally, I'm all for weaker albums by people who are on a roll, especially when accompanied by colorful cover art and proposterous filler ("Solar Prestige a Gammon"), but even I think it's a bit of a dog. Still, I keep at it!

[Beno]

I'll admit, I'm really not averse to acquiring two or three of the "classics." Just never really got round to it.

Of course, no one will agree which are the classics.

Tumbleweed Connection seems about the closest thing there is to concensus with Elton.

Opinions vary on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but it's sprawling and diverse enough that most people should find something to like there.

For a third, I'd go for the self-titled one.

No, Captain Fantastic is the one to go for.

[Muskrat]

I was looking for something else, and came up with this
[youtube]VTJAy6vSVlU&feature=related[/youtube]

Anybody know if that's Hank Crawford on alto? Looks kinda like him.

[geoffcowgill]

Of course, no one will agree which are the classics.

Tumbleweed Connection seems about the closest thing there is to concensus with Elton.

Opinions vary on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but it's sprawling and diverse enough that most people should find something to like there.

For a third, I'd go for the self-titled one.

No, Captain Fantastic is the one to go for.

You thickos, Honky Chateau is obviously his masterpiece.

[The Slider]

The eponymous second, Tumbleweed and Madman are as good a triple whammy as anyone else's.

I think Madman falls away badly on what would have been the original side 2.

I've been cogitating on this, and played it again on my way into work this morning with this in mind.

While there is no doubt that the four songs on side one are a tough act to follow (Levon might be my favourite of all his songs, if push comes to shove) and that it is quite heavily top-loaded, the five remaining songs are still pretty top notch.

[The Slider]

and Griff likes The Band, so 'Elton John', Tumbleweed Connection' and 'Madman Across The Water' would be much more likely to grab his attention. They also have the added bonus of not being full of songs with which we are horribly overfamiliar (Your Song on the eponymous one aside).

[soundchaser]

I think it's already been mentioned, but I'd just like to put in a word for the original Madman Across the Water, which is now an extra on Tumbleweed Connection: that solo by Mick Ronson was just outstanding. And to Griff: I found the impact of Tumbleweed Connection to be as great as when I was first getting into Pet Sounds...and I still rate it that highly.

[soundchaser]

The eponymous second, Tumbleweed and Madman are as good a triple whammy as anyone else's.

I think Madman falls away badly on what would have been the original side 2.

I've been cogitating on this, and played it again on my way into work this morning with this in mind.

While there is no doubt that the four songs on side one are a tough act to follow (Levon might be my favourite of all his songs, if push comes to shove) and that it is quite heavily top-loaded, the five remaining songs are still pretty top notch.

It's been a while, so I'll cogitate on Madman myself today and back to you.

[soundchaser]

Oh, and much as I love Tumbleweed Connection, I still went with Paulie in this poll.

[soundchaser]

What songs would be on your ideal single-album version?

Okay, I've given it some thought and this is what I've come up with.

Side 1.

Grey Seal.
Harmony.
Benny & The Jets.
I've Seen That Movie Too.
The Ballad Of Danny Bailey

Side 2.

Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting.
This Song Has No Title.
Dirty Little Girl.
All The Girls Love Alice.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

This is now a playlist, so I'll give it a few listens.

If I may say so: Fucking Wow! In this sequnce I have discovered an album that is every bit the equal to Tumbleweed Connection. Cheers to Quaco.

[Quaco]

What songs would be on your ideal single-album version?

Okay, I've given it some thought and this is what I've come up with.

Side 1.

Grey Seal.
Harmony.
Benny & The Jets.
I've Seen That Movie Too.
The Ballad Of Danny Bailey

Side 2.

Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting.
This Song Has No Title.
Dirty Little Girl.
All The Girls Love Alice.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

This is now a playlist, so I'll give it a few listens.

If I may say so: Fucking Wow! In this sequnce I have discovered an album that is every bit the equal to Tumbleweed Connection. Cheers to Quaco.

Sadly, though I may have been the one to pose the question, it was the esteemed Rokster who devised this particular sequence!

[kath]

obviously it really *is* just me this time, but i happen to think anyone who cuts funeral for a friend/love lies bleeding from this album needs to be taken outside and duck-whipped.