@@brianflon6310 Yeah, I was wondering what they meant by B side as it refers to this album. I had a few 45s when I was a kid but me and all my friends were mainly into album oriented rock. Madman is definitely something to be taken in as whole album. Levon is one the best tracks on it.
Yes! His concert was one of the most fun I have ever been to! We were on a blanket under the stars on a lovely summer night. Everywhere I looked, people of all ages, were singing. Everybody knew the words!
Wished he had played it at the Pontiac Silverdome in '76. But damn, what a fuckin' amazing show. Over 80, 000 and the place was electric!!!!!! We knew that it was going to magic!!!!
Subjective, but perhaps his greatest work. If you are old enough and followed the flow of his work and progression before he become extremely popular, this one is dear to our hearts for those that were fortunate to experience his growth as a musician along with Bernie.
Think of when it was written. It was a time when sons were being told to go to a pointless war and didn’t want to go, while their veteran fathers considered them to be unpatriotic cowards and family embarrassments. Perhaps Jesus is thinking about dodging the draft, maybe going to Canada or some other far away place and Levon is being less than supportive. But he knows that there’s a good chance they might never see each other again. There’s something so utterly sad about that. Or not. Poetry is tricky.
@@Firbette It was written by two English men. Don't think a lot of Britts were heading off to Vietnam. However, it seems like Bernie Taupin had a lot of affection for America as well as a keen knowledge of American history, and lore. (Revisit Bullet in the Gun of Robert Ford.) Not many Americans at the time would have been familiar with that story, but Bernie was. So, maybe he was being sympathetic to young GI's on their way to Southeast Asia. It would be interesting to ask.
Red hot. Elton John's 70-75 span is perhaps not quite the heights of Stevie Wonder magic 5 album run of 72-76 or Prince's 79-87, but it's pretty close.
In high school in the 70s I was an Elton John fan. I bought every album as soon as it was in the local record store. My dad was a jazz fan. He had Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Ray Charles, Stan Getz among many albums. One day when I came home from school I found my dad on the sofa, his eyes closed, headphones on and singing along with Elton's "Someone Saved My Life Tonite" and I thought maybe I have some sense of good music. I left him in peace. One of my favorite memories of him.
My dad was similar. Played piano. One day I asked if I could put EJ 8 track on, in the car. He heard Rocketman. He said, "That song is Brilliant ". I felt like I was on the right track too...
Beautiful memory, indeed. That song is brilliant… and it’s on my all-time favorite Elton album, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC & THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY… which is perfect from beginning to end.
@@heidigrezel2596 Music, bringing generations together since forever--it's been like magic in my life, with my parents, with my husband and his daughters, with me and the girls and at every concert of my long life with total strangers for fleeting moments that mean a lot in the long run, for our total happiness! I hate that people, in general, don't seem to respect and honor Elton John today the way they should, much less the brilliant lyrics of Bernie Taupin! Together the magic was made and hearts were touched! Then, people had a homophobic reaction and distanced themselves, imo, and lost out on something they had loved dearly a short time before! They let someone else's biases take away something that they Knew was beautiful and good--the music they made. I saw their music make grown men cry--men who couldn't cry, when they needed to, Vietnam veterans, etc. listening to words like the ones, "Levon wore his war wounds like a crown..." I don't think there was much, if any, help for them in the 70s, and one died from an overdose, trying to help himself, one drank himself into being an abusive husband and finally shot himself, and the list goes on. One voice that got through was silenced, for them, by that ignorance America has never yet risen above because most religions won't yet tell them to rise above it! imo--and I've, sadly, never seen therapy help as much as I saw that music help in those early years. Your dad was right--they were brilliant! Sorry to choose you tonight to address all of this to, but my eye caught those words and my Dad played piano, too. May the fathers and the soldiers RIP.
You left out the last line "Alvin Tostig had a son today". In the earlier days of the internet, I spent a few hours researching who Alvin Tostig was. Got no answer. 20+ years later, I got my answer: just a made up name. 😅
This is one of my favorite Elton John songs. Been listening to it for 50 years and I am still not 100% sure what it is about. It always makes me cry and I don't know why. It just hits me in my heart.
Elton John's album Tumbleweed Connection is incredible. It's my favorite Elton album. I play piano and have a lot of Elton song books. Come Down In Time is one of the most beautiful songs ever written.
@@collincolston8443 I did not say it is about Levon Helm , Elton stated in an interview he got the inspiration for the name Levon from Levon Helm . Kinda like Levon , " because he liked the name " . Pretty sure Helm never sold balloons, nor lived in a garage by the motorway .
@@MichaelEnglish-m2jBernie wrote lyrics for the songs, but he got ideas from Elton. For instance, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" was about Elton's suicide attempt, not Bernie's.
Not only was this an A side it was a bigger hit than "Tiny Dancer" Levon #24 US Billboard Hot 100 Tiny Dancer #41 Also the album cover is to represent blue denim - the pockets are on the back cover. Watching this video with the album cover in the back and Andy's faded blue jeans in the front paints the picture.
Thank you for pointing out that Levon was bigger than Tiny Dancer. it was. Levon is even on the Greatest Hits Volume 2 album. Tiny Dancer is a wonderful song, but was made popular later in it's life with the movie Almost Famous...and I do appreciate Cameron Crowe for that inclusion.
In 1971 Levon did reach # 24 on the US Billboard Hit 100. Maybe not of Eltons biggest commercial successes , but ask his biggest fans Elton’s too 10 songs , Levon more often then not will be on their list .
My top 3, too. Daniel, Your Song are the others. Honourable mentions: I Guess Why They Call It The Blue & Crocodile Rock, lol. Daniel & Crocodile Rock are deep rooted in my childhood. 😊
S tier. I can be in the woods hunting completely silent just birds and wind and squirrels making noise, and this song playing note for note in my mind. I can listen to this song and Tiny Dancer repeatedly, and never tire of them. I'm 65 years old and have listened to these songs since the 70s literally thousands of times, and still love them.
@@tracycampbell3060 My Sweet Lord, Maggie May, Stairway to Heaven,It’s Too Late, Bobby McGee, Your Song, Lonely Days, Oye Como Va, Got to be There, Wild World, etc.
@@tracycampbell3060 Several complete albums - Fragile, Who’s Next, Led Zeppelin IV, and individual songs, Starship Troopers (Yes), Changes (Bowie), Bang a Gong (T-Rex), and a ton of others already mentioned. There were literally no “dead” weeks where some amazing album wasn’t released.
Clearly, S tier, guys. Ain't no effing A-! The lyrics were probably referencing the (in)famous Time Magazine cover in 1966, "Is God Dead?" So, not the NYT, but maybe "New York Times" sang better as a lyric. You guys have got to hit the title track to Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy! Every time you do an Elton John song, I suggest it, so I figure you two owe me by now! 🤣
@@MichaelPhillipsatGreyOwlStudio They have, naturally, because l think ir was the only single released from that album, but the variety and the production value of all of the songs impresses me each time l listen to them. EJ and his bandmates were at the top of their form, l think.
My first concert: San Diego Sports Arena, 1972, Elton John. Handstands on the keyboard during the extended outro to Levon. I was sitting directly behind the sound engineer. Unmatched.
Love that album!! Had it when it was new, I’m old! Listened to it in high school constantly. Dang, it’s been forever since I heard it and I remembered every word!
@@dabigsqueezy I don’t think so, my memory is selective 😝. I remember buying it after it had been out for awhile. My albums are stored to where I can’t easily access them, but I believe I still have it.
Story is he snookered that song away from Rod Stewart. Elton: "I suppose my one famous film role was in Tommy, although it didn’t really involve acting, just trying not to fall over while wearing a pair of four-and-a-half-foot Doc Martens.” He said he rejected the idea of taking the part when it was first offered to him. “They contacted Rod Stewart and I told him to turn it down as well. ‘I wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole, dear.’ Then Pete Townshend from the Who rang me and I felt like I couldn’t say no. Rod was absolutely furious: ‘You bitch! You did that on purpose!’ I’ve obviously spent a significant proportion of my life deliberately trying to annoy Rod Stewart - that’s very much the nature of our friendship - but that time it was completely accidental.”
"'Cause he liked the name," is why the song is called Levon. Levon Helm was a founding member of The Band--who made it big as Bob Dylan's backup band. But the song is not about Helm in any way. BTW, Helm was born in Turkey Trot, AR--about 50 miles from where I was born and raised. This may not have been his most successful song as far as a money maker but it was very successful in a more important way. It helped establish Elton John as a major recording artist. After "Your Song", this was the first time I heard him on the radio--bought the single and later the album on eight track.
Elton John at his best - holy shit what a great song. A song like this is why you listen to music - because it SPEAKS to you. You can FEEL this song in your bones, in your head, but most importantly in your heart. What a joy.😉
The more you listen to this album, the more you appreciate the album cover. The title song which matches album name is superstellar . Out of the park awesome!!
Early Elton was incredible. So many great songs. Thanks for reminding me how lucky I was growing up during that time. I haven’t heard this song for a while, yet was singing every word loudly. “Mona Lisas and Madhatters” is another early Elton gem.
Old woman here, Levon was a HUGE hit when it came out. I don't know how you missed it but its nice that you found it. Daniel is my favorite Elton song - very touching.
The song went to #24 and was a staple on classic rock stations. It was on his greatest hits album. I wouldn't call it a lesser song. It's also a really beautiful song.
This is the 3rd album Elton released in 1971 ALONE - to still have the quality of tracks that are on this album is just out of this world. Most artists couldn't release 3 albums in their careers to this standard.
No Alex, this isn't one of his best songs, it is the holy Grail of Elton John songs. This is the song that made him. His performance of this song at the Troubador in West Hollywood is the thing of legends. There are people that swear he actually levetated while playing the piano. That audience was full of industry king makers that wanted to see for themselves this madman from across the water. He did not disappoint and the rest is history. This is Elton at his finest taking the reigns of his destiny in his own hands and riding that horse for all he could get out of it.
My dad got stationed in Okinawa in 74 and there was one military radio station basically and the day time DJ played Elton all the time- brings back memories
I did my hitch in the 70s too. Military bases and family housing were the hippest places during the Great Recession years. Armed Forces Radio was way cooler than any fly-over states local A.M. radio offering warmed over country-swing and farm reports
You could not turn on a radio in the 70’s without being bombarded with Elton and Bernie’s music. They really helped shape the entire decade. Still sounds just as good even after hearing their songs a thousand times.
Lucky us people over the age of 60. We got to "grow up" to this wonderful music. Elton was a treasurer right from the start. Early stuff the best stuff IMO. 🙃
Eltons vocal is titanic in this one and the string arrangement provides a perfect countermelody, one of my personal favorites. Was pleasantly surprised to see you guys react to this did not expect it! 🔥 Elton made the 70s.
Back then we didn’t care about the hits as much. It was all about the Album and the better songs that weren’t radio hits so to speak. The best songs were often the songs between the hits. Levon was epic. We all had the album and knew every song. Levon played on repeat. If Levon is a B-Side, then God Bless the B-Side. It’s so different now. We play the hit. You pick an album and I’ll tell you my favorite song off it and it won’t in most cases be the hit. Maybe I’m just contrary. IDK. Great job again boys.
This is one of several early songs that Elton plays when he plays with a symphony orchestra. I have a DVD of a performance with with Royal Conservatory Orchestra it was in a box set sold 20 years ago at Best Buy -still holds up well. 6:05
Haunting gospel sound with the organ and the soaring strings, paired with the delicate gospel piano and his soulful vocals. This song has been giving me goosebumps since I first heard it around age 12 back in 1976.
Went to see Elton John maybe 7 or 8 years ago with my husband, this literally brought my husband to tears.. We've been together since 1983 and I have only seen this happen maybe one other time and we've been to many many concerts together. Amazing song!
As many others here have made clear, this is not a "B" side. For many of us it is one of his finest songs
What song are they saying this was the B side to?
@@Wordsmyth8 I think they're misusing the term. They probably mean 'album track' or 'deep cut'.
@@Wordsmyth8 Madman across the water
@@brianflon6310 Yeah, I was wondering what they meant by B side as it refers to this album. I had a few 45s when I was a kid but me and all my friends were mainly into album oriented rock. Madman is definitely something to be taken in as whole album. Levon is one the best tracks on it.
When an album is this epic, there is no “B” side.
Early Elton John is the bomb! His early 70s work is absolutely incredible!
His very best imo! 😊
Right there with ya! I’ve owned Captain Fantastic in album, 8-track, CD and mp3!
Without question.
Before his voice changed.
One of his very best songs. This was on the radio all the time through out the 70s and 80s.
Yeah, this song was everywhere.
Was that in the US? I'm a 62yo Brit and genuinely hadn't heard this before.
@@guymersh3148 I am in the U.S.
@@guymersh3148 Was all over in Canada too.
Thanks to you both 🙂
Me screaming "It's LEE VON"!!
Yeah, me too.
Lol
I figured that by the time I typed the phonetic pronunciation, they'd hear the word in the song. 😅
Me too!!!
Youngsters😂
This whole album is S tier.
yep
I personally don't think it's S tier because of the weaker side 2. But side 1 is really strong.
Even the so called weaker songs are stronger than most stuff then and now.
FINALLY!!!!!!
This song is breathtaking in a stadium show with 80,000 people singing every word.
I’ll bet it is !
Been there, done that 3 times and loved every second of it!
Total enchantment
Yes! His concert was one of the most fun I have ever been to! We were on a blanket under the stars on a lovely summer night. Everywhere I looked, people of all ages, were singing. Everybody knew the words!
Wished he had played it at the Pontiac Silverdome in '76. But damn, what a fuckin' amazing show. Over 80, 000 and the place was electric!!!!!! We knew that it was going to magic!!!!
That album is a masterpiece.
Yeah
Subjective, but perhaps his greatest work. If you are old enough and followed the flow of his work and progression before he become extremely popular, this one is dear to our hearts for those that were fortunate to experience his growth as a musician along with Bernie.
Imagine, this was just normal for us the hear this high quality music every day, all day! We didn’t know how good we had it back in the day! ❤️❤️❤️
And this is why Madman Across the Water is the favorite Elton John album for so many.
Best album Elton did!!
Imnsho;)
classic album as were most of his early releases, after he ditched the band i drifted away.
When he says “Jesus wants to … leave Levon far behind .. while Levon slowly dies”, that line rips my heart out.
The story of every father saying goodbye and being separated from their son.
Why does he want that?
@@Meandmymirror
He wants to leave because he's bored with the family business.
Think of when it was written. It was a time when sons were being told to go to a pointless war and didn’t want to go, while their veteran fathers considered them to be unpatriotic cowards and family embarrassments. Perhaps Jesus is thinking about dodging the draft, maybe going to Canada or some other far away place and Levon is being less than supportive. But he knows that there’s a good chance they might never see each other again. There’s something so utterly sad about that. Or not. Poetry is tricky.
@@Firbette It was written by two English men. Don't think a lot of Britts were heading off to Vietnam. However, it seems like Bernie Taupin had a lot of affection for America as well as a keen knowledge of American history, and lore. (Revisit Bullet in the Gun of Robert Ford.) Not many Americans at the time would have been familiar with that story, but Bernie was. So, maybe he was being sympathetic to young GI's on their way to Southeast Asia. It would be interesting to ask.
Elton was fucking red hot in the early 70s... Everything he touched was a classic
To me, his early 70's work was his best.
Sinatra->Elvis->Beatles->Elton->MJ
Red hot.
Elton John's 70-75 span is perhaps not quite the heights of Stevie Wonder magic 5 album run of 72-76 or Prince's 79-87, but it's pretty close.
Amen.
@@bradleyjjohnsonHard agree
In high school in the 70s I was an Elton John fan. I bought every album as soon as it was in the local record store. My dad was a jazz fan. He had Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Ray Charles, Stan Getz among many albums. One day when I came home from school I found my dad on the sofa, his eyes closed, headphones on and singing along with Elton's "Someone Saved My Life Tonite" and I thought maybe I have some sense of good music. I left him in peace. One of my favorite memories of him.
My dad was similar. Played piano. One day I asked if I could put EJ 8 track on, in the car. He heard Rocketman. He said, "That song is Brilliant ". I felt like I was on the right track too...
Beautiful memory, indeed. That song is brilliant… and it’s on my all-time favorite Elton album, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC & THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY… which is perfect from beginning to end.
@@johnmavroudis2054 i like it fine but i get so sick of the tra-la-las and la-ti-das. ya dig? 😀
@@robertwiles8106 Yup! lol.
@@heidigrezel2596 Music, bringing generations together since forever--it's been like magic in my life, with my parents, with my husband and his daughters, with me and the girls and at every concert of my long life with total strangers for fleeting moments that mean a lot in the long run, for our total happiness! I hate that people, in general, don't seem to respect and honor Elton John today the way they should, much less the brilliant lyrics of Bernie Taupin! Together the magic was made and hearts were touched! Then, people had a homophobic reaction and distanced themselves, imo, and lost out on something they had loved dearly a short time before! They let someone else's biases take away something that they Knew was beautiful and good--the music they made. I saw their music make grown men cry--men who couldn't cry, when they needed to, Vietnam veterans, etc. listening to words like the ones, "Levon wore his war wounds like a crown..." I don't think there was much, if any, help for them in the 70s, and one died from an overdose, trying to help himself, one drank himself into being an abusive husband and finally shot himself, and the list goes on. One voice that got through was silenced, for them, by that ignorance America has never yet risen above because most religions won't yet tell them to rise above it! imo--and I've, sadly, never seen therapy help as much as I saw that music help in those early years. Your dad was right--they were brilliant! Sorry to choose you tonight to address all of this to, but my eye caught those words and my Dad played piano, too. May the fathers and the soldiers RIP.
He was born
A pauper to a pawn
On a Christmas day
When the New York Times
Said ‘god is dead & the war’s begun’
That is so freaking good.
Thank you Bernie!
You left out the last line "Alvin Tostig had a son today".
In the earlier days of the internet, I spent a few hours researching who Alvin Tostig was. Got no answer. 20+ years later, I got my answer: just a made up name. 😅
I thought it was "Tostika" - maybe because of the way he sings it.
55yr old song. Still holds its own.
53 years. It was released in 1971.
This is one of my favorite Elton John songs. Been listening to it for 50 years and I am still not 100% sure what it is about. It always makes me cry and I don't know why. It just hits me in my heart.
If a song can make me cry, I know it's great!
I get goosebumps!
...it gets better like a fine wine .
Each listen I believe I have a morsel of the story.... The passion & soul wins the listener.
I saw an interview with Sir Elton once where he was asked the meaning behind this song. His reply was, "I have no idea."
Probably because Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics@davidberry7719
If ever an album was worthy of full coverage on Patreon, it’s this one.
Captain Fantastic
Yep, and I would add TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION❤
Everybody should listen to Madman Across the Water
This whole album is amazing. His best work.
I agree with liking this album cover. This reminds of all the embroidery we did on jeans in the 70’s
Elton John's album Tumbleweed Connection is incredible. It's my favorite Elton album. I play piano and have a lot of Elton song books. Come Down In Time is one of the most beautiful songs ever written.
Probably my favorite Elton record as well.
Come down in time, double top tier!
Mosst say Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. I'm glad you agree.
@@Fuphyter and Honky Chateau!
Same here only when I was kid... my dad hated it
I would bet any serious Elton John fan's all-time EJ top 10 includes Levon. It's S-tier and one of his very best!
It is indeed one of his biggest songs.
Every song on this album is a masterpiece
S Tier Elton John. An absolute classic. songwriting, writing, musicianship, string arrangement. Perfect. Tiny Dancer should be NEXT.
They've done it. Check it out.
ELTON named the song for Levon Helm from The Band . This has always been a favorite of mine .
Ironically, because he liked the name.
Bernie wrote the words and came up with the title, not Elton.
This song is not about Levon Helm. It is about a veteran of some war whose name happens to be Levon.
@@collincolston8443 I did not say it is about Levon Helm , Elton stated in an interview he got the inspiration for the name Levon from Levon Helm . Kinda like Levon , " because he liked the name " . Pretty sure Helm never sold balloons, nor lived in a garage by the motorway .
@@MichaelEnglish-m2jBernie wrote lyrics for the songs, but he got ideas from Elton. For instance, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" was about Elton's suicide attempt, not Bernie's.
Not only was this an A side it was a bigger hit than "Tiny Dancer"
Levon #24 US Billboard Hot 100
Tiny Dancer #41
Also the album cover is to represent blue denim - the pockets are on the back cover.
Watching this video with the album cover in the back and Andy's faded blue jeans in the front paints the picture.
Thank you for pointing out that Levon was bigger than Tiny Dancer. it was. Levon is even on the Greatest Hits Volume 2 album. Tiny Dancer is a wonderful song, but was made popular later in it's life with the movie Almost Famous...and I do appreciate Cameron Crowe for that inclusion.
In 1971 Levon did reach # 24 on the US Billboard Hit 100. Maybe not of Eltons biggest commercial successes , but ask his biggest fans Elton’s too 10 songs , Levon more often then not will be on their list .
Honestly Tiny Dancer was always my fave and I never knew other people liked it as much as I do, but LeVon is my close second it's so good.
Top 3 for Me with Tiny Dancer and Love Lies Bleeding
@@jml-rj5re My top 3 also !
My top 3, too. Daniel, Your Song are the others.
Honourable mentions: I Guess Why They Call It The Blue & Crocodile Rock, lol.
Daniel & Crocodile Rock are deep rooted in my childhood. 😊
and "Tiny Dancer" didn't even reach the top 40! (got to #41)
Burn Down the Mission from his Tumbleweed Connection album is fire. Many great songs from that album.
the live version especially
This song still sounds incredibly fresh and brilliant
My father surprised my sister and me with tickets to an EJ concert when he first broke through in US-early 70s It was stupendous!
@@nickersonsherrillc nice!
Another genius song by Elton and Bernie.
The strings plus piano in the song are just incredible
Elton and his arrangements!
The drumming is absolutely in the pocket too
S tier for me. This song moves you even if you don't know what its about.
This is the song many people would consider his biggest and/or best song. It was huge for years and is still on the radio.
It is indeed one of his biggest songs, some would say his best song. I've always like 'Someone Saved My Life Tonight'.
this was HUGE when I was a kid; my dad died; always made me feel connected to other people’s grief and love
S tier. I can be in the woods hunting completely silent just birds and wind and squirrels making noise, and this song playing note for note in my mind. I can listen to this song and Tiny Dancer repeatedly, and never tire of them. I'm 65 years old and have listened to these songs since the 70s literally thousands of times, and still love them.
1971 - the year that changed music. The list of performers and albums is incredible. Turned 15, this and the rest on the radio.
Same here. I tell people that if I have to be this old to listen to the music of that time back then, it’s been well worth it.
I turned 5 in 71. What were some of your favourite songs from that year ?
@@tracycampbell3060 My Sweet Lord, Maggie May, Stairway to Heaven,It’s Too Late, Bobby McGee, Your Song, Lonely Days, Oye Como Va, Got to be There, Wild World, etc.
@@tracycampbell3060 Several complete albums - Fragile, Who’s Next, Led Zeppelin IV, and individual songs, Starship Troopers (Yes), Changes (Bowie), Bang a Gong (T-Rex), and a ton of others already mentioned. There were literally no “dead” weeks where some amazing album wasn’t released.
@@1sad1956 wow that was a great time to be alive! Todays music sucks in comparison.
Clearly, S tier, guys. Ain't no effing A-! The lyrics were probably referencing the (in)famous Time Magazine cover in 1966, "Is God Dead?" So, not the NYT, but maybe "New York Times" sang better as a lyric.
You guys have got to hit the title track to Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy! Every time you do an Elton John song, I suggest it, so I figure you two owe me by now! 🤣
1,000x Yes!
My favorite Elton album.
Captain Fantastic, for sure, needs to be experienced as a whole album. It's a trip worth taking. Thanks for banging the drum about it.
@@joekennedy4662 They've already heard at least one track, I think. "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"
@@MichaelPhillipsatGreyOwlStudio They have, naturally, because l think ir was the only single released from that album, but the variety and the production value of all of the songs impresses me each time l listen to them. EJ and his bandmates were at the top of their form, l think.
Been on the radio for 50 years straight.
I called my first son Levon from this song and it's very rare from where i live ,thank you to to have chosen this song .
My first concert: San Diego Sports Arena, 1972, Elton John. Handstands on the keyboard during the extended outro to Levon. I was sitting directly behind the sound engineer. Unmatched.
Elderberry Wine. One of Elton’s favorites but never released as a single. FM stations played it millions of times.
B side of Crocodile Rock. Funny, I never heard it on the radio.
Elton John had a run of Albums from 1970-1974 that are among the greatest of all time. Every single song is a classic.
Love that album!! Had it when it was new, I’m old! Listened to it in high school constantly. Dang, it’s been forever since I heard it and I remembered every word!
Did you have the real denim edition?
@@dabigsqueezy I don’t think so, my memory is selective 😝. I remember buying it after it had been out for awhile. My albums are stored to where I can’t easily access them, but I believe I still have it.
The lyrics, the vocals, the music. An absolute classic. My favorite Elton John song.
This is my favourite Elton song. This album is possibly his most under appreciated of all time.
You guys really need to do Elton's cover of Pinball Wizard. It's so amazing, even The Who said it was better than theirs.
And I agree with The Who!😂
Damn straight!!
Story is he snookered that song away from Rod Stewart.
Elton: "I suppose my one famous film role was in Tommy, although it didn’t really involve acting, just trying not to fall over while wearing a pair of four-and-a-half-foot Doc Martens.”
He said he rejected the idea of taking the part when it was first offered to him. “They contacted Rod Stewart and I told him to turn it down as well. ‘I wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole, dear.’ Then Pete Townshend from the Who rang me and I felt like I couldn’t say no. Rod was absolutely furious: ‘You bitch! You did that on purpose!’ I’ve obviously spent a significant proportion of my life deliberately trying to annoy Rod Stewart - that’s very much the nature of our friendship - but that time it was completely accidental.”
The first time I was blown away by Elton John was watching him perform Pin Ball Wizard in the Tommy movie. That performance is just sick.
complete coincidence yesterday i was putting away vinlys sing again rod has his version of pinball wizard the novelty pull out scotch glass mercury
I haven’t heard this in so many years. That orchestra is awesome. Just perfection. 🥰
One of Elton's Masterpieces. If you ever saw him live, this was one of the most anticipated songs.
"'Cause he liked the name," is why the song is called Levon. Levon Helm was a founding member of The Band--who made it big as Bob Dylan's backup band. But the song is not about Helm in any way. BTW, Helm was born in Turkey Trot, AR--about 50 miles from where I was born and raised.
This may not have been his most successful song as far as a money maker but it was very successful in a more important way. It helped establish Elton John as a major recording artist. After "Your Song", this was the first time I heard him on the radio--bought the single and later the album on eight track.
"Levon" is definitely one of my top 5 favorites by Elton. ❤
Thanks guys!! My favorite Elton song!!🤘🔥
One of my favorite ones too!
The album this comes from is in my mind the best Elton John album by far. The title song is simply perfect.
Elton John at his best - holy shit what a great song. A song like this is why you listen to music - because it SPEAKS to you. You can FEEL this song in your bones, in your head, but most importantly in your heart. What a joy.😉
Abd your soul❤
I don't know how you could call this a b side. Its one of my favorites and was played all the time on the radio.
The more you listen to this album, the more you appreciate the album cover. The title song which matches album name is superstellar . Out of the park awesome!!
Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy is the, pardon me, fantastic album cover that I remember as a child.
They need to hit the title track along with “Tower of Babel & “Bitter Fingers" off that gem!
One of the greatest songs of all time, period.
Some of the best lyrics Bernie ever wrote - paired so beautifully with Elton’s music, melody. Always brings me to tears.
Early Elton was incredible. So many great songs. Thanks for reminding me how lucky I was growing up during that time. I haven’t heard this song for a while, yet was singing every word loudly. “Mona Lisas and Madhatters” is another early Elton gem.
Old woman here, Levon was a HUGE hit when it came out. I don't know how you missed it but its nice that you found it. Daniel is my favorite Elton song - very touching.
Love every song on this album.
The song went to #24 and was a staple on classic rock stations. It was on his greatest hits album. I wouldn't call it a lesser song. It's also a really beautiful song.
This is totally one of his big songs. It was on the radio all the time
This is the 3rd album Elton released in 1971 ALONE - to still have the quality of tracks that are on this album is just out of this world. Most artists couldn't release 3 albums in their careers to this standard.
It was a truly remarkable era for music. Bands were putting out an album a year at least. Just incredible.
The first shipment of Madman came with a 20 page photo book including lyrics inside the album. It was well presented and very special.
No Alex, this isn't one of his best songs, it is the holy Grail of Elton John songs. This is the song that made him. His performance of this song at the Troubador in West Hollywood is the thing of legends. There are people that swear he actually levetated while playing the piano. That audience was full of industry king makers that wanted to see for themselves this madman from across the water. He did not disappoint and the rest is history. This is Elton at his finest taking the reigns of his destiny in his own hands and riding that horse for all he could get out of it.
My dad got stationed in Okinawa in 74 and there was one military radio station basically and the day time DJ played Elton all the time- brings back memories
I did my hitch in the 70s too. Military bases and family housing were the hippest places during the Great Recession years. Armed Forces Radio was way cooler than any fly-over states local A.M. radio offering warmed over country-swing and farm reports
You could not turn on a radio in the 70’s without being bombarded with Elton and Bernie’s music. They really helped shape the entire decade. Still sounds just as good even after hearing their songs a thousand times.
Hey guys!!! Excellent choice! Elton has many hidden gems in his music catalogue!
But this one was never hidden, been on the radio non stop since it was released.
Songs like this one is why I took exception when their first reaction was to I'm still standing.
One of my favorite Elton songs!
Lucky us people over the age of 60. We got to "grow up" to this wonderful music. Elton was a treasurer right from the start. Early stuff the best stuff IMO. 🙃
Dudes, that entire record is money. Side one is a masterpiece.
Old Elton John is magical. Propels one to another place. Love it.
I haven’t heard this for a minute. I forgot how epic it was. Overlooked Elton classic.
Elton John was King Midas in the 70s. Everything he sang was gold.
Ohhh, heck yeah. One of his most powerful. He uses a lot of orchestration, which I always appreciated.
So great. Love love love. Saw him in concert about 15 yrs ago. Best concert I've ever been to by far!
Eltons vocal is titanic in this one and the string arrangement provides a perfect countermelody, one of my personal favorites. Was pleasantly surprised to see you guys react to this did not expect it! 🔥 Elton made the 70s.
To me, it's his finest song. It melts my heart and I don't know why: That's a trademark of a great song.
Indian Sunset from that album is excellent. Different vibe.
The dude is a prolific genius... gifted pianist and composer, amazing vocalist, and try to deny it, no one wore shades as well as Sir Elton!❤❤❤
Back then we didn’t care about the hits as much. It was all about the Album and the better songs that weren’t radio hits so to speak. The best songs were often the songs between the hits. Levon was epic. We all had the album and knew every song. Levon played on repeat. If Levon is a B-Side, then God Bless the B-Side. It’s so different now. We play the hit. You pick an album and I’ll tell you my favorite song off it and it won’t in most cases be the hit. Maybe I’m just contrary. IDK. Great job again boys.
I think it was a single, along with Tiny Dancer. It didn't chart that high but still got a ton of airplay, even decades later.
Serious, well crafted, and executed songwriting.
His early recordings are my favorite. Just keep listening and you’ll see why.
This is one of several early songs that Elton plays when he plays with a symphony orchestra. I have a DVD of a performance with with Royal Conservatory Orchestra it was in a box set sold 20 years ago at Best Buy -still holds up well. 6:05
65 year old here...This is my favorite Elton John Album...
Haunting gospel sound with the organ and the soaring strings, paired with the delicate gospel piano and his soulful vocals. This song has been giving me goosebumps since I first heard it around age 12 back in 1976.
One of his best songs and albums.....I was 12 when I got this record....memories!
Elton library goes so deep and has so many bangers its hard to even believe sometimes
Tumbleweed Connection is my favorite Elton John album.
One of my top 5 favorite Elton songs. And he has so many incredible songs.
Double S tier.
This IS one of his best songs. A masterpiece. Definitely deserves an A+. Need to hear it a few times and then rethink that assessment
This is one of my favorite Elton songs. Just like it. Thanks for reacting to it.
Went to see Elton John maybe 7 or 8 years ago with my husband, this literally brought my husband to tears.. We've been together since 1983 and I have only seen this happen maybe one other time and we've been to many many concerts together. Amazing song!
Not one his bigger songs??
😆😆😆
You couldn't get away from this song in the 1970's.
A masterpiece. One of his finest.
So this is definitely one of his biggest songs of all time. This was on the radio regularly for 40 years.
Where to go next time with Elton? Anywhere!
Everything EJ touches turned to gold during the 70s and 80s.
A musical treasure ❤
My absolute favorite Elton song. Everything just flows so amazing. Love it.