Elton John - Live in Australia CD

Live in Australia songs Sitting atop the charts in 1975, Elton John and Bernie Taupin recalled their rise to power in Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, their first explicitly conceptual effort since Tumbleweed Connection. It showcases each at the peak of his power, as John crafts supple, elastic, versatile pop and Taupin's inscrutable wordplay is evocative, even moving. Although the musical skill on display here is dazzling, as it bounces between country and hard rock within the same song, this album needs time to reveal its treasures, but once it does, it captures John and Taupin at a career pinnacle. They collapsed in hubris and excess not long afterward, but this remains a testament to the strengths of their creative partnership. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Audio Remasterer: Tony Cousins. Audio Remixers: Gus Dudgeon; Phil Dunne. Liner Note Author: John Tobler. Recording information: Caribou Ranch, CO. Ensemble: Elton John. Illustrators: Harry Willock; Alan Aldridge. Arranger: Gene Page. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, strings, piano, electric piano, harpsichord, Clavinet, Mellotron, keyboards, synthesizer, ARP synthesizer); Elton John; John Lennon (guitar); Dee Murray (bass guitar, background vocals); Ray Cooper (congas, bongos, cymbals, Jew's harp, shaker, tambourine, triangle, percussion, bells, hand bells, gong); Davey Johnstone (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, ...

Live in Australia buy CD music Track Listing of songs: Bitch Is Back, The; Pinky; Grimsby; Dixie Lily; Solar Prestige a Gammon; You're So Static; I've Seen the Saucers; Stinker; Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me; Ticking; Pinball Wizard; Sick City; Cold Highway; Step into Christmas;

Live in Australia CD music The aptly titled A SINGLE MAN finds Elton John working without legendary partner Bernie Taupin, his usual lyricist, during a much-needed break from each other, following their turbulent, albeit wildly successful mid '70s collaborations. Joining forces instead with Gary Osborne, Elton takes the opportunity to present an album of pure craft--with its scaled down production, A SINGLE MAN is an almost live-sounding album, one of his most straightforward. This approach places in even greater relief John's gift for combining widely varying musical atmosphere with beautiful melodies and honest emotional performance. If A SINGLE MAN didn't produce any legendary hits for Elton John, it provided a welcome chance for him to cool off and just write songs. As is his wont, John takes on a wide variety of styles: the Spanish-sounding melancholia of "Return To Paradise" moves handily into the upbeat strut of "I Don't Care" in a stylistic segue which few could pull off. The swaggering honky-tonk of "Big Dipper" finds itself juxtaposed with the soft rock of "It Ain't Gonna Be Easy." Stripped down though it may be, the album isn't without its epic--in this case it's the heavily orchestrated, under-sung "Song For Guy." Digitally remastered by Gus Dudgeon (Abbey Road Studios). Additional Tracks Recorded at the Mill At Cookham, Berks, England between January & September 1978. Originally released on MCA (3065). Includes liner notes by Chris White. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, harmonium, Clavinet, organ, Mellotron, keyboards, string synthesizer, background vocals); Davey Johnstone (vocals, guitar, synthesizer, background vocals); Clive Franks (vocals, percussion); Chris Thompson, Stevie Lange, Joanne Stone (vocals, background vocals); Vicki Brown, Gary Osborne (vocals); Tim Renwick (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin); B.J. Cole (guitar, steel guitar); Paul Buckmaster (cello); John Crocker (clarinet, tenor saxophone, electric piano, Fender Rhodes piano, wind); Patrick Halcox, Henry Lowther (trumpet); Jim Shepherd (trombone); Steve Holly (horns, drums); Ray Cooper (vibraphone, congas, shaker, tambourine, timpani, percussion, wind chime); Herbie Flowers (acoustic bass). Audio Mixers: Clive Franks; Phil Dunne; Stuart Epps. Liner Note Author: Chris White . Recording information: England. Arranger: Joanne Stone. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, harmonium, Clavinet, church organ, keyboards); Davey Johnstone (guitar, synthesizer, background vocals); Tim Renwick (guitar); B.J. Cole (steel guitar); Paul Buckmaster (cello); John Crocker (winds); Patrick Halcox, Henry Lowther (trumpet); Jim Shepherd (trombone); Herbie Flowers (bass); Steve Holly (drums); Ray Cooper (marimba, congas, tympani, tambourine, percussion); Clive Franks (percussion, background vocals); Vicki Brown, Stevie Lang, Joanne Stone, Watford Football Team, South Audley Street Girl's Choir, Gary Osborne (background vocals). Engineers: Phil Dunne, Stuart Epps, Clive Franks.

Live in Australia album for sale Recorded live at The Royal Festival Hall, London, England on May 18, 1974 and Madison Square Garden, New York, New York on November 28, 1974. Includes liner notes by John Tobler and Paul Gambaccini. Digitally remastered by Tony Cousins (Metropolis Mastering, London, England). Elton John originally released 1975's HERE AND THERE to fulfill contractual obligations to Dick James Music, the label he started out on. Unlike most artists content to put out something sub-par, EJ instead released a pair of recent, exemplary live recordings. The CD reissue includes a number of outstanding additions. The original record split its tracks between two 1974 shows: London's Royal Festival Hall and Madison Garden. John began the London show by revisiting his earlier material, starting solo with "Skyline Pigeon" before being joined by the band for "Border Song." The first batch of bonus material includes "Take Me To The Pilot," "Burn Down The Mission" and a rare duet with Lesley Duncan, the composer of "Love Song." The polite performance of the London material is in direct contrast to the maniacal energy of John's MSG show. Complementing the effervescent readings of Elton hits such as "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" and "Rocket Man" is John Lennon's last live performance. This mini-part of the set (previously available as a separate EP) features the duo's collaboration "Whatever Gets You Through The Night" along with a pair of Beatles classics, "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" and "I Saw Her Standing There." Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano); Lesley Duncan (vocals); John Lennon (vocals, guitar); Davey Johnstone (guitar, background vocals); Dee Murray (bass, background vocals); Nigel Olsson (drums, background vocals); Ray Cooper (congas, duck calls, percussion). Engineers: Team Mobile (disc 1, all tracks); Fedco Truck Mobile (disc 2, all tracks).

Live in Australia CD music SLEEPING WITH THE PAST finds Elton John finishing off the eighties with a mature, and above all, serious musical statement. Kicking off with the tropical groove and social message of "Durban Deep," the album moves straight into the anthemic "Healing Hands," with its larger-than-life chorus, inspiring lyric and stirring piano runs. The seamless teamwork of Elton and Bernie Taupin reaches a career high with the instant classic, "Sacrifice," a tender ballad which instantly took its rightful place among the pair's best work. This varied, solid work finishes out with the epic production number that is "Amazes Me" and the quiet build and slow burn of "Blue Avenue." Digitally remastered by Gus Dudgeon. Additional Tracks Recorded at Puk Studios, Denmark. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, keyboards, background vocals); Fred Mandel (guitar, keyboards); Davey Johnstone (guitar, background vocals); Vince Denham (saxophone); Guy Babylon (keyboards); Jonathan Moffett (drums); Peter Iversen (programming); Natalie Jackson, Marlena Jeter (background vocals). Recording information: Puk Studios. Photographer: Herb Ritts. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, keyboards); Davey Johnstone (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Jonathan Moffett (guitar, drums); Vince Denham (saxophone); Fred Mandel, Guy Babylon (keyboards); Romeo Williams (bass); Marlena Jeter, Natalie Jackson, Mortonette Jenkins (background vocals).

Live in Australia buy CD music It seems as if Elton John was still settling on a discernable style on 1985's ICE ON FIRE. He brought in Gus Dudgeon, the architect of such elaborate, wide-screen productions as GOODBYE YELLOWBRICK ROAD, and his touch can be felt in the lush synthesized sound that dominates this record. Even the song credits, full of Simmons drums, synth-guitar, and Yamaha TX81C, attest to the slick production values. "Nikita" was the record's Top 10 single. The sweeping melody of this gentle ode to a Russian girl rides atop a percolating rhythm track. The synthesizer-drenched sound tends to place it firmly within its era, but the pull of "Nikita"'s melody is fairly irresistible. It features backing vocals by George Michael, who was at his peak of superstardom at the time. Elsewhere on the record, Elton joins forces with the rhythm section of Queen for "Too Young." The fade of "Wrap Her Up," in which Elton sings out the names of women he'd like to wrap up and take home--ranging from Princess Caroline of Monaco to Nancy Reagan--is the record's strangest moment. Digitally remastered 1998 reissue on Rocket of his 1985album for Geffen featuring the top 10 smash 'Nikita', thetop 20 'Wrap Her Up' and four bonus tracks: 'The Man WhoNever Died' (1985 Remix By Gus Dudgeon), plus live versionsof 'Restless', 'Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word' & 'I'mStill Standing'. All of the bonus tracks were originallyflipsides on the singles from the album & haven't ever beenon CD before! 14 tracks total. Digitally remastered by Gus Dudgeon (Abbey Road Studios). Recorded at The Sol Studio, Cookham, Berkshire, England. Originally released on Rocket (26). Includes liner notes by John Tobler. Onward International Horns: Phil Todd (alto saxophone); David Bitelli (tenor & baritone saxophones); Bob Sydor, Pete Thomas, Nick Pentelow (tenor saxophone); Paul Spong, Raul D'Oliveira (trumpet); Rick Taylor (trombone & bass trombones); Chris Pyne (trombone). Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Nik Kershaw (electric guitar); Davey Johnstone (baritone guitar, synthesizer); James Newton Howard (strings, congas, shaker, tambourine); David Bitelli (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Raul d'Oliveira, Paul Spong (trumpet); Rick Taylor (trombone); Fred Mandel (keyboards, synthesizer); Dave Mattacks, Charlie Morgan , Mel Gaynor (snare drum); George Michael, Alan Carvell, Katie Kissoon, Kiki Dee, Pete Wingfield, Sister Sledge (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Gus Dudgeon; Graham Dickson. Recording information: The Sol Studio, Cookham Berkshi. Editors: Gus Dudgeon; Graham Dickson. Photographer: Terry O'Neill . Arrangers: David Bitelli; James Newton Howard. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, synthesizer); George Michael (vocals); Fred Mandel (guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, sequencers, percussion); Davey Johnstone (guitar, synthesizer, background vocals); Nik Kershaw (guitar); Frank Ricotti (vibraphone, percussion); Paul Westwood, Deon Estus, David Paton, John Deacon, Pino Palladino (bass); Charlie Morgan, Mel Gaynor, Dave Mattacks, Roger Taylor (drums); Gus Dudgeon (percussion); Kiki Dee, Katie Kissoon, Pete Wingfield, Alan Carvell (background vocals). Sister Sledge: Kathy Sledge, Joni Sledge, Debra Sledge, Kim Sledge (background vocals).