I got quite shocked when you gave "Tower of Babel" one mark! It is one of my favorite tracks, not only because of awesome lyrics, but due to its very intresting and catchy musical structure as well, specially the modulation into the chorus and the key change is awesome in my opinion.
If you ask me, I would say that this album is extremely underrated, from the cover you can see that this album is going big, I wish it received more attention since it deserves it. Greetings from México and thanks for talking about this hidden gem!
GREAT video!!!! This is one of my all time favorite Lps. I just recently discovered this and bought this: ELTON JOHN Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (Rare US limited edition issue of the 1975 10-track LP pressed on translucent Brown vinyl, complete with large full colour fold-out poster of the album artwork, a 16-page A4 full colour 'Scraps' booklet with photos & press cuttings & a 16-page full colour illustrated lyric booklet, gatefold picture sleeve. This copy has been Autographed by both Elton & Bernie Taupin inside the gatefold. The sleeve has just a little wear mostly to the edges whilst the poster & two booklets are flawless & the vinyl remains excellent with only light evidence of play) ***Limited to 2000 copies only***. I didnt even know it existed till very recently.
That is a great find. You are lucky to have this. I haven't heard of the coloured vinyl before for this one though I have gybr on yellow. I have done a second review on Captain Fantastic, changing some of my scoring.
This was the first LP I ever purchased and was highly motivated by the TV advert for it that was an animation of the album cover set to the guitar work in Tower. So I too am shocked to see a score of 1 and a similarly low score for Bitter Fingers. I find the title track to be some of the bands best work ( solid 7). Curtains is very Beatlesque and drawn out as you say, but I'm still hard pressed to give anything here less than a 5. Happy to acknowledge that I have a strong bias for this album.
Thanks for your comments. I realise I may have undermarked some of these and will shortly be doing a revisit video to this album. Got to say that Tower of Babel is not a favourite of mine, but I was a bit harsh I think!
Another great, well-thought-out review. Probably my biggest disagreements were on "Tower of Babel" (I love the piano and Elton's vocal on this one, and Davey's guitar work during the instrumental bit after the first chorus is superb), and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (I've always loved what Elton did with this one. His extension of the song via the instrumental breakdown between the second chorus and third verse is genius, and I've always loved Ray Cooper's percussion, particularly his use of tubular bells in the fade-out). It's worth mentioning that the Classic Years CD reissues made a glaring omission when they chose not to include "House of Cards", the B-Side of "Someone Saved My Life Tonight", on the Captain Fantastic reissue. I've never understood that decision, since the CD had more than enough room to include it. The 30th Anniversary reissue of Captain Fantastic *does* include "House of Cards", as well as a bonus CD from the Midsummer Festival 1975 concert at which Elton and the band performed the entire Captain Fantastic album in running order.
A masterpiece of an album. One of his very, very best. I’d rank it right up there with GYBR. Superb. Not one dud song on it and stunning lyrics. Perfection
I probably need to re-appraise my review in light of all the comments on this but I do have issues with two or three of the tracks. It's a great package though and one of Elton's best 'concept' albums.
@@eltonmusicfan oh each to their own. That album I believe was the first ever to enter the US charts at number one in its first week so it can withstand criticism. For me it showcased what I love about Elton - solid melodies and rich lyrics presented as ballads and rockers and no trashy commercial pap which unfortunately to me defined much of his music from 1979 - 1989. I think it is one of the finest albums ever made and for some strange reason always feel that it sits perfectly alongside songs from the west coast - both very strong albums in terms of musicality and storytelling
I would give Writing 7/10 due to the excellent work by Gus Dudgeon. Have you had chance to listen to that one with headphones? There is a great word painting here on 'half and half'.
I would hate for this guy to evaluate my songs.This album was the first in music's entire history to debut at Number 1 on the chart THE DAY IT CAME OUT!And deservedly so.I evaluate an album on the number of songs I like out of the total.I like 9 of the 10 very much and my favorite is Curtains.I couldn't disagree with John Howes more.Very likely Elton and Bernie's best ever.I'm not including the songs after Curtains because they were not on the original release.
Thanks for your feedback. Fair comment, indeed. I'm just giving my own views and picking out my favourite songs. I acknowledge I'm out of step with almost all music fans on this one. I just think the Madman, Don't Shoot Me and Goodbye Yellow Brick collections are stronger sets of songs.
A bit harsh on Tower Of Babel?! I personally love songs that surprise me in the direction they go in. It’s sad to see how safe EJ plays it today in his songwriting…
John - I love ya man! I do! But my wife and I are chuckling at this one. I leave it at this, I think this one needs your heart and ears for a month, with no other music competing for your attention. You’ll see it differently I think. Just live with it awhile.
You will be pleased to know that I am going to take a fresh look at this album. I still prefer others - Madman, Yellow Brick, Don't Shoot Me, Tumbleweed - but I think I could be more generous to some of the Fantastic songs.
I bought this album in 76 when I was in my mid teens, wore it out, and bought another one right behind it, later on I bought his Madman across the water album,, I always had listened to his music, haven’t heard it in ages, my brother-in-law sent me captain fantastic via text and listened to it, talk about brought back memories , forgot how much I love that song,, Tower of babel might not fancy you too much but that’s your opinion that was one of my favorite songs also,,
Babel is growing on me which sounds odd after nearly fifty years. I still lean towards Madman as the album I enjoy more but maybe I like the gloom a bit too much.
(Another try here... im on my ipad, maybe there’s some kinda hair trigger on it...😆) one of my fav albums I particularly love “Tell Me When The Whistle Blows” and the way it sounds like Davey is mimicking Eric Clapton a little 😆 and how it plays right into “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” incedently, would you have an idea what that low windblowing sound is on the 2 songs “Bitter Fingers” and “We All Fall In Love Sometimes”?? That puzzled me for a long time since i first heard it. it almost sounds like the very beginning of “Funeral For a Friend” which opens the album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”
This is an absolutely superb album, everyone is entitled to give scores but there is not 1 track on here that should score less than 8 and the majority should score the full 10, Elton John and Bernie Taupin at their very best
@@eltonmusicfan I know i might give higher marks for his tracks on here as I've been a huge fan for years and years but I just found it was incredible to see you gave Tower of Babel 1 point, I would give Aggadoo by Black Lace 2 points and its certainly so much better than that, Not everyone is going to give the same scores, keep up the good work, I Enjoy your reviews on all the albums.
Don't get me wrong, i do like EJ, i was happy to hear they were going to reissue the lps in 2017, of which i purchased them over a period of time . I've got most of the RSD releases as well, my interest spans the early lps upto and including single man .After this period, the mood and music changed imo. I'll put elton on when critical listening isn't required for a more indepth listening experience. My go records are early YES and early GENESIS spanning the same 69 to 78 period in time they seem to offer me a more aw inspiring experience. No offence is intended to anyone here as we all appreciate elton and bernie in our own individual ways.😊.
Sorry, mate, have to part company with your view here. I won't heap onto what has already been said, but you are a musician and thus must admit that the chord progression scheme in "Babel" is just extraordinary and unseen elsewhere in a rock song. Gold Elton applied over a tin lyric. Last slap: you rank The Fox above Cap'n Fan......'nuff said.
I have to say I am out of step with virtually everyone else on this! I particularly dislike this song, but must admit lots of people really rate it. So probably disregard everything I say! I have always felt that song-for-song, Captain Fantastic does not stack up against Goodbye Yellow, Tumbleweed, Madman and Don't Shoot Me, but I am just one voice and I respect the views of others, including yourself.
One of Elton’s best, in my opinion. Beautifully produced, written and sung. I shall let you analyse the music because I know nothing about that. If you let me loose on a piano it would sound like a cat walking on the keyboard. Let me see how the scores add up. I’m stopping where the original album stopped, at Curtains. (This was written before seeing your review, all except a few notes at the end and the sentence above about the piano!) 1) Captain Fantastic. Lovely song, beautifully played with such wonderful imagery. Seems pretty bright and breezy for the Captain and the Kid as they start their journey but it ends on a warning note: ‘From here on sonny. It’s a long and lonely climb.’ Not the very heights, so I shall score 7. 2) Tower of Babel. Things are already looking bleak for our trusty duo. The dealer’s in the basement filling out a prescription for a brand new heart attack, and the call girls are crawling under the table. Another great song, 7. 3) Bitter Fingers. This is one of my very favourite Elton songs, the tune is just wonderful. It’s a definite Top 10. The troubled twosome are churning out garbage for second rate acts, and feeling the pressure. When I’m in London I often take a detour via Denmark Street and think about Elton and Bernie up in one of those top rooms. (I don’t know if they ever did that, still, it’s because of this song that I go there.) That guitar fade-out, then the la-di-das come back in. Just brilliant, 9. 4) Tell Me When the Whistle Blows. Is it all worth it, should they take the train home? Now I’ve listened to this one in close proximity to ‘Give Me the Love’ I can see they’re quite similar - no wonder I like this. Not quite as good as the first three, so a 6 from me. 5) Someone Saved My Life Tonight. Relationships aren’t easy when you’re a young man trying to work out who you are. What can you say about this? Just perfect. When yet another reaction channel on You Tube plays Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I always say, listen to Someone Saved. 9. 6) (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket. Things are going badly for the pair, lucky losers landing on skid row. Such a propulsive song, just races along skid row. Scores 7. 7) Better Off Dead. This really sums up a city at night to me. It’s amusing that ‘la-la-las’ are used on a song that has such downbeat sentiments. Short and bittersweet, I’ve always loved this one. 8. 8) Writing. Finally everything is clicking for the titular pair. And they love life enough to see it through. A relieved breath after some wonderful but downbeat songs. The whole song sounds so happy. I’ll score 7. 9) We All Fall In Love Sometimes. I must admit I kind of forget about this one but listening to it again, maybe I should recommend this one for people to listen to. A really nice ballad, going to listen to this one a few more times. 7 from me, could go up. 10) Curtains. Farm imagery from Bernie, and I read that the first song they wrote was ‘Scarecrow’. The duo have matured (‘I once wrote such childish words for you.’) but they still remember the old days and how they influenced the present. Everyone has a once upon a time, and this has been their story. Great end to the album, nice fade-out, another 7. So 74/100, 7.4 per track. That’s the same as my score for Rock Of the Westies and slightly lower than The Fox. Which surprises me, but there you are. As to the extras, I’m no Beatles fan I’m afraid so LSD doesn’t really do anything for me. And I just played that One Day At A Time, god how dreadful. Had he been breathing helium again? Philadelphia Freedom, on the other hand is one of my favourite songs, Top 10, especially the live version from ‘One Night Only’. (My Top 10 is like the Universe, it expands and contracts as necessary.) Mm, songs about Tennis. I can only think of one, er, ‘Tennis’ from my second favourite artist, Chris Rea. Not one of his best but interesting lyrics and production and actually, it’s not about tennis, not really.
I'm guessing you will be a bit disappointed when you watch my review. I have been urged to revisit it and I promise to do so. I cannot get on with Tower of Babel at all. For me, this album has good moments, is beautifully packaged, but stronger on lyrics than melody. I know this is an unpopular view but we all have our favourites.
@@eltonmusicfan I just replied that I saw your review and then wrote my thoughts. Then I read what I actually wrote and it was the other way round. Getting old, mind going, comment deleted. Anyway, yes, we're all different. Loved this album, listening to it again in its entirety.
It's so sad to know that there are people who still think Lucy in the sky with diamonds is about drugs. Have you not heard what john lennon said the song is about, or do you just not believe him?
CF was always somehow less favorite to me in comparison with GYBR, DSM, MATW, EJ, HC and even Caribou, but still a very good album. My rating: 1. CF&TBDC - Nice country-ish song. Verse is slightly boring. Chorus is a nice change, but to be honest, I was never a big fan of this song. It's ok. 6/10 2. Tower of Babel - One of my favorite songs on the album. I noticed that you don't like much creative approach to composing. Sometimes it doesn't work, but in Elton's case it mostly works. I don't need to be able to whistle a tune to enjoy it. Most of the greatest classical music you can't whistle. It's musically very interesting and creative. 8.5/10 3. Bitter Fingers - I agree with you about this one. Very nice verse, yet the chorus seems somehow rushed and childish. It's still a catchy and likeable song. 7/10 4. Whistle Blows - I was never a fan of this one. Great orchestration, but the song as a whole sounds somehow flat and lame. 5/10 5. SSMLT - Pretty much musically a complex song. I remember it was hard for me to get into it, but today I appreciate it much much more. Some great lyrics. For me, it's not up there with other 70's classics, but still a great song. 8/10 6. Meal Ticket - Kinda forced rock song. It's an ok song, but not one of my favorites. 6/10 7. Better Off Dead - My favorite song from the album. Very fun and musically exciting. 9.5/10 8. Writing - Just like 'Whistle Blows'. Even though it's a nice song, I don't care much about it. 5.5/10 9. We All Fall in Love - Great piano ballad. Classic Elton. Great melody, interesting lyrics. 9/10 10. Curtains - Musically interesting and unique, but not one of my favorite songs. 6.5/10 Bonus tracks: 11. Lucy - To me, it's better than the original. I was never a big fan of it, but I still like it. Not up there with his greatest classics, but for sure, pretty good and fun cover! 7/10 12. One Day at Time - Song written by Lennon. Yeah,there's not much here to enjoy. Pretty much uninteresting song. 4.5/10 13. Philadelphia Freedom - A classic! Fun, exciting, musically pretty complex. Great orchestration and backing vocals by Elton. I believe this one deserves 10/10
I agree it is a good album and I've had a lot of stick on here for some of my ratings. I just find two or three of the tracks below par. Oddly I would rate Meal Ticket higher than you but Tower of Babel and Bitter Fingers are misses for me. As for Lucy, I have never liked that song, but that is not a popular view either.
Thats strange how could it dissapear.... just a glitch in the system? I said alot of positive things I forgot now... i wish i knew what happened...☹️ this happens to me sometimes i post a comment then it vanishes as if i never posted it...
@@eltonmusicfan No I'm in the UK. I thought House of Cards was on the remastered 1996 cd, turns out not. I wonder if that was on Rare Masters or something else instead when I first heard it! It later came up on the Deluxe Captain Fantastic cd in 2005. Track 14 on the Deluxe one.
In my opinion, this the most overrated album in Elton’s oeuvre. The conclusion We All Fall in Love Sometimes/Curtains is unlistenable to my ears, his most saccharine songs. I actually don’t have a problem with Tower of Babel as I like the dynamics and slightly experimental concept. Lucy in the Sky was a deserved #1 single over here. I like the instrumental section and the verse sung over 4/4 time (not 3/4).
I tend to agree though that is not a popular opinion on UA-cam! I don't mind the closing track but Tower of Babel is too experimental for me. I didn't know about the timings on LSD. I must listen again.
This review is totally wrong…Tower of Babel is about the big cities’ decadent life style , with drugs ( snow, junk,ángel) ,and prostitution ( call girls), lavish parties ( Sodom meet Gomorra)…On the other hand this song deserves a 8 mininum
@@eltonmusicfan I have always loved the two songs in combination, We All Fall in Love Sometimes and Curtains. Watch this live performance; it's simply fantastic. ua-cam.com/video/8JoAC8rBxac/v-deo.html
I got quite shocked when you gave "Tower of Babel" one mark! It is one of my favorite tracks, not only because of awesome lyrics, but due to its very intresting and catchy musical structure as well, specially the modulation into the chorus and the key change is awesome in my opinion.
Fair enough. We can't all like the same things! Perhaps I was a bit tough on it.
I agree, would have said tower of Babel by your ranking would be around a 6 as think, whilst unusual is a strong song
My favorite rock album EVER!
MASTERPIECE!
It's my favourite albums ever as well. I love it so so much.
@@shesfatale 👍👍👍👍
Thanks for this.
If you ask me, I would say that this album is extremely underrated, from the cover you can see that this album is going big, I wish it received more attention since it deserves it.
Greetings from México and thanks for talking about this hidden gem!
Thanks for your comment. Yes, a great cover. Elton's Sgt Pepper!
GREAT video!!!! This is one of my all time favorite Lps. I just recently discovered this and bought this: ELTON JOHN Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (Rare US limited edition issue of the 1975 10-track LP pressed on translucent Brown vinyl, complete with large full colour fold-out poster of the album artwork, a 16-page A4 full colour 'Scraps' booklet with photos & press cuttings & a 16-page full colour illustrated lyric booklet, gatefold picture sleeve. This copy has been Autographed by both Elton & Bernie Taupin inside the gatefold. The sleeve has just a little wear mostly to the edges whilst the poster & two booklets are flawless & the vinyl remains excellent with only light evidence of play)
***Limited to 2000 copies only***. I didnt even know it existed till very recently.
That is a great find. You are lucky to have this. I haven't heard of the coloured vinyl before for this one though I have gybr on yellow. I have done a second review on Captain Fantastic, changing some of my scoring.
the artwork reminds me of a yellow submarine ish movie cartoon look
This was the first LP I ever purchased and was highly motivated by the TV advert for it that was an animation of the album cover set to the guitar work in Tower. So I too am shocked to see a score of 1 and a similarly low score for Bitter Fingers. I find the title track to be some of the bands best work ( solid 7). Curtains is very Beatlesque and drawn out as you say, but I'm still hard pressed to give anything here less than a 5. Happy to acknowledge that I have a strong bias for this album.
Thanks for your comments. I realise I may have undermarked some of these and will shortly be doing a revisit video to this album. Got to say that Tower of Babel is not a favourite of mine, but I was a bit harsh I think!
Another great, well-thought-out review. Probably my biggest disagreements were on "Tower of Babel" (I love the piano and Elton's vocal on this one, and Davey's guitar work during the instrumental bit after the first chorus is superb), and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (I've always loved what Elton did with this one. His extension of the song via the instrumental breakdown between the second chorus and third verse is genius, and I've always loved Ray Cooper's percussion, particularly his use of tubular bells in the fade-out).
It's worth mentioning that the Classic Years CD reissues made a glaring omission when they chose not to include "House of Cards", the B-Side of "Someone Saved My Life Tonight", on the Captain Fantastic reissue. I've never understood that decision, since the CD had more than enough room to include it. The 30th Anniversary reissue of Captain Fantastic *does* include "House of Cards", as well as a bonus CD from the Midsummer Festival 1975 concert at which Elton and the band performed the entire Captain Fantastic album in running order.
Thanks. Tower of Babel is good piano and vocal. I just don't enjoy the tune. I've got quite a lot of flak over this one!
@@eltonmusicfan You do you, man. If you don't like "Babel", there's nothing wrong with that. No flak from me on that :) .
A masterpiece of an album. One of his very, very best. I’d rank it right up there with GYBR. Superb. Not one dud song on it and stunning lyrics. Perfection
I probably need to re-appraise my review in light of all the comments on this but I do have issues with two or three of the tracks. It's a great package though and one of Elton's best 'concept' albums.
@@eltonmusicfan oh each to their own. That album I believe was the first ever to enter the US charts at number one in its first week so it can withstand criticism. For me it showcased what I love about Elton - solid melodies and rich lyrics presented as ballads and rockers and no trashy commercial pap which unfortunately to me defined much of his music from 1979 - 1989. I think it is one of the finest albums ever made and for some strange reason always feel that it sits perfectly alongside songs from the west coast - both very strong albums in terms of musicality and storytelling
Some of Elton's best melodies on some of the tracks. This album, Honky Chateau and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road are his best ever albums for me.
I would give Writing 7/10 due to the excellent work by Gus Dudgeon. Have you had chance to listen to that one with headphones? There is a great word painting here on 'half and half'.
I would hate for this guy to evaluate my songs.This album was the first in music's entire history to debut at Number 1 on the chart THE DAY IT CAME OUT!And deservedly so.I evaluate an album on the number of songs I like out of the total.I like 9 of the 10 very much and my favorite is Curtains.I couldn't disagree with John Howes more.Very likely Elton and Bernie's best ever.I'm not including the songs after Curtains because they were not on the original release.
Thanks for your feedback. Fair comment, indeed. I'm just giving my own views and picking out my favourite songs. I acknowledge I'm out of step with almost all music fans on this one. I just think the Madman, Don't Shoot Me and Goodbye Yellow Brick collections are stronger sets of songs.
A bit harsh on Tower Of Babel?! I personally love songs that surprise me in the direction they go in. It’s sad to see how safe EJ plays it today in his songwriting…
John - I love ya man! I do! But my wife and I are chuckling at this one. I leave it at this, I think this one needs your heart and ears for a month, with no other music competing for your attention.
You’ll see it differently I think. Just live with it awhile.
You will be pleased to know that I am going to take a fresh look at this album. I still prefer others - Madman, Yellow Brick, Don't Shoot Me, Tumbleweed - but I think I could be more generous to some of the Fantastic songs.
There also was a poster of the cover, I made a book cover from it.
I recall it, but don't know what happened to mine!
I bought this album in 76 when I was in my mid teens, wore it out, and bought another one right behind it, later on I bought his Madman across the water album,, I always had listened to his music, haven’t heard it in ages, my brother-in-law sent me captain fantastic via text and listened to it, talk about brought back memories , forgot how much I love that song,, Tower of babel might not fancy you too much but that’s your opinion that was one of my favorite songs also,,
Babel is growing on me which sounds odd after nearly fifty years. I still lean towards Madman as the album I enjoy more but maybe I like the gloom a bit too much.
(Another try here... im on my ipad, maybe there’s some kinda hair trigger on it...😆) one of my fav albums I particularly love “Tell Me When The Whistle Blows” and the way it sounds like Davey is mimicking Eric Clapton a little 😆 and how it plays right into “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” incedently, would you have an idea what that low windblowing sound is on the 2 songs “Bitter Fingers” and “We All Fall In Love Sometimes”?? That puzzled me for a long time since i first heard it. it almost sounds like the very beginning of “Funeral For a Friend” which opens the album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”
Not sure about the wind. A bit of atmosphere from somewhere. A bit like the fake crowd in Bennie and the Jets perhaps.
This is an absolutely superb album, everyone is entitled to give scores but there is not 1 track on here that should score less than 8 and the majority should score the full 10, Elton John and Bernie Taupin at their very best
Thanks for your feedback. I'm going to revisit this album shortly to check to see if I wasn't a bit harsh in my marking!
@@eltonmusicfan I know i might give higher marks for his tracks on here as I've been a huge fan for years and years but I just found it was incredible to see you gave Tower of Babel 1 point, I would give Aggadoo by Black Lace 2 points and its certainly so much better than that, Not everyone is going to give the same scores, keep up the good work, I Enjoy your reviews on all the albums.
Don't get me wrong, i do like EJ, i was happy to hear they were going to reissue the lps in 2017, of which i purchased them over a period of time . I've got most of the RSD releases as well, my interest spans the early lps upto and including single man .After this period, the mood and music changed imo. I'll put elton on when critical listening isn't required for a more indepth listening experience. My go records are early YES and early GENESIS spanning the same 69 to 78 period in time they seem to offer me a more aw inspiring experience. No offence is intended to anyone here as we all appreciate elton and bernie in our own individual ways.😊.
Spot on, sir, with Bitter Fingers. Two songs bolted together, with little thought given to the verse to chorus.transition.
Sorry, mate, have to part company with your view here.
I won't heap onto what has already been said, but you are a musician and thus must admit that the chord progression scheme in "Babel" is just extraordinary and unseen elsewhere in a rock song. Gold Elton applied over a tin lyric. Last slap: you rank The Fox above Cap'n Fan......'nuff said.
I have to say I am out of step with virtually everyone else on this! I particularly dislike this song, but must admit lots of people really rate it. So probably disregard everything I say! I have always felt that song-for-song, Captain Fantastic does not stack up against Goodbye Yellow, Tumbleweed, Madman and Don't Shoot Me, but I am just one voice and I respect the views of others, including yourself.
One of Elton’s best, in my opinion. Beautifully produced, written and sung. I shall let you analyse the music because I know nothing about that. If you let me loose on a piano it would sound like a cat walking on the keyboard. Let me see how the scores add up. I’m stopping where the original album stopped, at Curtains. (This was written before seeing your review, all except a few notes at the end and the sentence above about the piano!)
1) Captain Fantastic. Lovely song, beautifully played with such wonderful imagery. Seems pretty bright and breezy for the Captain and the Kid as they start their journey but it ends on a warning note: ‘From here on sonny. It’s a long and lonely climb.’ Not the very heights, so I shall score 7.
2) Tower of Babel. Things are already looking bleak for our trusty duo. The dealer’s in the basement filling out a prescription for a brand new heart attack, and the call girls are crawling under the table. Another great song, 7.
3) Bitter Fingers. This is one of my very favourite Elton songs, the tune is just wonderful. It’s a definite Top 10. The troubled twosome are churning out garbage for second rate acts, and feeling the pressure. When I’m in London I often take a detour via Denmark Street and think about Elton and Bernie up in one of those top rooms. (I don’t know if they ever did that, still, it’s because of this song that I go there.) That guitar fade-out, then the la-di-das come back in. Just brilliant, 9.
4) Tell Me When the Whistle Blows. Is it all worth it, should they take the train home? Now I’ve listened to this one in close proximity to ‘Give Me the Love’ I can see they’re quite similar - no wonder I like this. Not quite as good as the first three, so a 6 from me.
5) Someone Saved My Life Tonight. Relationships aren’t easy when you’re a young man trying to work out who you are. What can you say about this? Just perfect. When yet another reaction channel on You Tube plays Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I always say, listen to Someone Saved. 9.
6) (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket. Things are going badly for the pair, lucky losers landing on skid row. Such a propulsive song, just races along skid row. Scores 7.
7) Better Off Dead. This really sums up a city at night to me. It’s amusing that ‘la-la-las’ are used on a song that has such downbeat sentiments. Short and bittersweet, I’ve always loved this one. 8.
8) Writing. Finally everything is clicking for the titular pair. And they love life enough to see it through. A relieved breath after some wonderful but downbeat songs. The whole song sounds so happy. I’ll score 7.
9) We All Fall In Love Sometimes. I must admit I kind of forget about this one but listening to it again, maybe I should recommend this one for people to listen to. A really nice ballad, going to listen to this one a few more times. 7 from me, could go up.
10) Curtains. Farm imagery from Bernie, and I read that the first song they wrote was ‘Scarecrow’. The duo have matured (‘I once wrote such childish words for you.’) but they still remember the old days and how they influenced the present. Everyone has a once upon a time, and this has been their story. Great end to the album, nice fade-out, another 7.
So 74/100, 7.4 per track. That’s the same as my score for Rock Of the Westies and slightly lower than The Fox. Which surprises me, but there you are.
As to the extras, I’m no Beatles fan I’m afraid so LSD doesn’t really do anything for me. And I just played that One Day At A Time, god how dreadful. Had he been breathing helium again? Philadelphia Freedom, on the other hand is one of my favourite songs, Top 10, especially the live version from ‘One Night Only’. (My Top 10 is like the Universe, it expands and contracts as necessary.)
Mm, songs about Tennis. I can only think of one, er, ‘Tennis’ from my second favourite artist, Chris Rea. Not one of his best but interesting lyrics and production and actually, it’s not about tennis, not really.
I'm guessing you will be a bit disappointed when you watch my review. I have been urged to revisit it and I promise to do so. I cannot get on with Tower of Babel at all. For me, this album has good moments, is beautifully packaged, but stronger on lyrics than melody. I know this is an unpopular view but we all have our favourites.
@@eltonmusicfan I just replied that I saw your review and then wrote my thoughts. Then I read what I actually wrote and it was the other way round. Getting old, mind going, comment deleted. Anyway, yes, we're all different. Loved this album, listening to it again in its entirety.
Without a doubt my favorite Elton John album !, I remember saving up my money to but the 33lp the day it came out I was all of 9 years of age!!
Albums sound even better when you save up for them. I hope it prompted you to collect many more.
@@eltonmusicfan sure did I’ve got boxes of them Beatles ,led zep,Floyd,Charlie Daniels,Leonard skynrrd ,Peter Paul and Mary Yes some never opened.
Tower of Babel is very Beatlesque. Especially the guitar break. The Beatles employed a lot of chord shifts and key changes.
Thanks for this. I'm going to re review this album though I have to say this track is still not one of my favourites.
It's so sad to know that there are people who still think Lucy in the sky with diamonds is about drugs. Have you not heard what john lennon said the song is about, or do you just not believe him?
"Tower of babel" , i would give 6 or 7 marks ; and 10 marks for We all fall in love sometimes / Curtains.
I have done a second video reviewing some of my scores for this album.
Captain Fantastic top 5 album. Disagree with your ratings on Tower, Bitter Fingers, Curtains.
Masterpiece
CF was always somehow less favorite to me in comparison with GYBR, DSM, MATW, EJ, HC and even Caribou, but still a very good album.
My rating:
1. CF&TBDC - Nice country-ish song. Verse is slightly boring. Chorus is a nice change, but to be honest, I was never a big fan of this song. It's ok. 6/10
2. Tower of Babel - One of my favorite songs on the album. I noticed that you don't like much creative approach to composing. Sometimes it doesn't work, but in Elton's case it mostly works. I don't need to be able to whistle a tune to enjoy it. Most of the greatest classical music you can't whistle. It's musically very interesting and creative. 8.5/10
3. Bitter Fingers - I agree with you about this one. Very nice verse, yet the chorus seems somehow rushed and childish. It's still a catchy and likeable song. 7/10
4. Whistle Blows - I was never a fan of this one. Great orchestration, but the song as a whole sounds somehow flat and lame. 5/10
5. SSMLT - Pretty much musically a complex song. I remember it was hard for me to get into it, but today I appreciate it much much more. Some great lyrics. For me, it's not up there with other 70's classics, but still a great song. 8/10
6. Meal Ticket - Kinda forced rock song. It's an ok song, but not one of my favorites. 6/10
7. Better Off Dead - My favorite song from the album. Very fun and musically exciting. 9.5/10
8. Writing - Just like 'Whistle Blows'. Even though it's a nice song, I don't care much about it. 5.5/10
9. We All Fall in Love - Great piano ballad. Classic Elton. Great melody, interesting lyrics. 9/10
10. Curtains - Musically interesting and unique, but not one of my favorite songs. 6.5/10
Bonus tracks:
11. Lucy - To me, it's better than the original. I was never a big fan of it, but I still like it. Not up there with his greatest classics, but for sure, pretty good and fun cover! 7/10
12. One Day at Time - Song written by Lennon. Yeah,there's not much here to enjoy. Pretty much uninteresting song. 4.5/10
13. Philadelphia Freedom - A classic! Fun, exciting, musically pretty complex. Great orchestration and backing vocals by Elton. I believe this one deserves 10/10
I agree it is a good album and I've had a lot of stick on here for some of my ratings. I just find two or three of the tracks below par. Oddly I would rate Meal Ticket higher than you but Tower of Babel and Bitter Fingers are misses for me. As for Lucy, I have never liked that song, but that is not a popular view either.
Was my comment deleted? Im sorry if i said something wrong....☹️ or maybe I shouldn’t have posted a video on a comment. I am sorry...
Not by me! All views welcome as long as they're polite!
Thats strange how could it dissapear.... just a glitch in the system? I said alot of positive things I forgot now... i wish i knew what happened...☹️ this happens to me sometimes i post a comment then it vanishes as if i never posted it...
Was House of Cards not on your cd?
No. Only three bonus tracks. It is a UK release though. Are you in the US?
@@eltonmusicfan No I'm in the UK. I thought House of Cards was on the remastered 1996 cd, turns out not. I wonder if that was on Rare Masters or something else instead when I first heard it! It later came up on the Deluxe Captain Fantastic cd in 2005. Track 14 on the Deluxe one.
I rate this album eight out of ten…
Calm down, people. Maybe he's deaf.
In my opinion, this the most overrated album in Elton’s oeuvre. The conclusion We All Fall in Love Sometimes/Curtains is unlistenable to my ears, his most saccharine songs. I actually don’t have a problem with Tower of Babel as I like the dynamics and slightly experimental concept. Lucy in the Sky was a deserved #1 single over here. I like the instrumental section and the verse sung over 4/4 time (not 3/4).
I tend to agree though that is not a popular opinion on UA-cam! I don't mind the closing track but Tower of Babel is too experimental for me. I didn't know about the timings on LSD. I must listen again.
This review is totally wrong…Tower of Babel is about the big cities’ decadent life style , with drugs ( snow, junk,ángel) ,and prostitution ( call girls), lavish parties ( Sodom meet Gomorra)…On the other hand this song deserves a 8 mininum
Thanks for this. I do revisit my review of this song in a follow-up video called Did I get it wrong? See what you make of that.
Curtains, 4 out of 10, just no way.
I know there are a lot of fans out there for this one. What would you give it?
@@eltonmusicfan I have always loved the two songs in combination, We All Fall in Love Sometimes and Curtains. Watch this live performance; it's simply fantastic. ua-cam.com/video/8JoAC8rBxac/v-deo.html
@@eltonmusicfan 10
Masterpiece