Review

RARITIES AND REISSUES

Elton John, "Elton John -- Deluxe Edition" (Mercury/UMe) 5 stars

Contrary to what a lot of his American fans still think, 1970's "Elton John" album was not the songwriter's first release.

It had been preceded by "Empty Sky" in the U.K. in 1969, but that album failed to generate much heat and wasn't even released in the U.S. until John became a star.

That stardom was initially triggered by this eponymous breakthrough disc, which has now been expanded from 40 minutes to nearly two hours, thanks to this double-CD "Deluxe Edition."

It's a beautiful recording, heartfelt and soulful, one that set a mood that John never quite duplicated in his many subsequent offerings. Tracks like "Your Song," "Take Me to the Pilot," "I Need You To Turn To" and the touching "The Greatest Discovery," tapped into early 1970's singer/songwriter sensibilities with a new passion, a new approach and a new style that was as fresh as it was distinct.

The edition features a 20-song bonus disc, mostly filled with piano demos, as well as rarities like "Grey Seal," which was initially the B-side to a single before being re-recorded several years later for "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road."

While fascinating from a historical perspective, the demos are far from the definitive versions of the songs, with several like "Your Song," lacking the power and presence of the final recording, while others like the BBC session version of "Take Me to the Pilot," played too fast and lacking a groove.

Several major rarities are featured however, including "Thank You Mama," "All the Way Down to El Paso," and "I'm Going Home," which are all previously unreleased in any form.

The "Deluxe Edition" is being reissued simultaneously with a similar double-disc look back at another one of John's early great albums, "Tumbleweed Connection."

A worthy cause...

RVL S.C.O.R.E. Proudly
Presents

Robbie Vierra-Lambert Spinal Cord
Organization for Regaining Excellence

Direction/Musical Direction by
Mike Walker

Choreography by Marie Madera
Gleerup

TICKETS

Adults $15

Kids 18 & Under
$10

You may order tickets from cast members or reserve your tickets
by calling

(310) 377-3706

rob@rvlscore.org

Reserved seating based on a 1^st come 1^st
served basis

Please make your donation payable to

RVL S.C.O.R.E.

PERFORMANCE
DATES

August 7, 8, 9, at 7:00
p.m.

Matinee Performance - August 9 & 10 at 2:00
pm

At

Miraleste
Intermediate School

29323 Palos Verdes Drive East


Rancho Palos Verdes California 90275

For More Information Please Call (310) 377-3706 or
rob@rvlscore.org

Cool!

Elton's White Tie and Tiara Ball

Stars sparkle at Sir Elton John's White Tie & Tiara Ball
By Hilary Alexander, Fashion Director
Last Updated: 6:26PM BST 27/06/2008
Sir Elton John's White Tie & Tiara Ball: The theme was 'Surfin USA', circa the sun-drenched 60's of California, set to the music of the Beach Boys, star act of the night.

Sadly the barometer was set to a gloomy British summer, with temperatures chilly enough to make the pecs on the honed and toned 'Muscle Beach' models quiver in the stiff breeze.

There were certainly no takers for the pristine white diving board in the middle of the lake which dominates the gardens of Sir Elton John and David Furnish's £20 million Woodside home at Old Windsor.

But nothing could dampen the spirits of the 630 party-goers at £3,000 a head for the 10th annual White Tie & Tiara Ball, nor dull the sparkle of the amazing jewels which glittered in the cavalcade of bronzed cleavage, shimmering in the candle-lit setting

"Elton John: ME, MYSELF AND I,"

VH1's 'Elton' strolls down star's yellow brick road

Wednesday, June 11th 2008, 4:00 AM

ELTON JOHN: ME, MYSELF AND I. Thursday at 9 p.m., VH1

"Elton John: ME, MYSELF AND I," which gets its first American showing on VH1 tomorrow night, turns out to be something of a vanity project.

That's fitting. In fact, with Elton John, it's redundant.

As he would be the first to acknowledge.

Confidence, he remarks at one point during this production, has never been a problem for the boy who was born Reginald Dwight and grew up to become the unlikeliest rock star this side of Elvis Costello.

He looks like someone you'd meet behind the counter at the auto parts store. Only his skill at creating hummable melodies, combined with his good fortune in teaming up early with lyricist Bernie Taupin, made him one of the most durable rockers ever.

It can be argued that he sometimes plays to easy cheap sentiment, and that his later work got less interesting. Still, anyone who can play a 2-1/2-hour concert composed entirely of catchy hits, and still have two dozen left over, obviously has done something right.

This 2007 British film, unlike a documentary done 10 years ago, doesn't try to capture the full Elton. No tantrums here, no diva moments.

Instead, he walks the viewer through his life, chronologically, in a calm and reflective tone. If anything, he's subdued. While he talks about how much fun he's had being Elton John, we don't get a visceral sense of it from the brief film clips.

Nor does he offer any major revelations about his off-stage life, though it's revealing that he dwells on two events most fans might not have guessed were major turning points.

One was owning the Watford football (soccer) team, which he said taught him crucial lessons about management and about realizing you don't always win.

The other was his friendship with the late Ryan White, the Indiana boy who became a symbol of AIDS victims. Beyond the relationship itself, John says spending a week with the dying boy and his family jolted John into changing - and ultimately saving - his own life.

That meant kicking a drug habit so serious he once joked about the Swiss Alps reminding him of all the cocaine he had snorted.

It revived his career, inspired him to start an AIDS foundation that has raised more than $100 million and led him to what he calls a much more balanced life.

At the same time, it's still a rock-star life. While this special doesn't talk about the flowers, the decorating, the wardrobe and John's legendary conspicuous consumption, they're the unspoken backdrop.

"Elton John" doesn't present itself as definitive autobiography, which it's not. It acknowledges just briefly his ill-fated heterosexual marriage and seems to tread delicately on the still-tender matter of Princess Diana's death. It leaves virtually all discussion of his music and songs for another day.

It's a solid chapter in the book of his life.

Was Not Was: "Crazy Water"

No not that one;

Deluxe Editions to finally see the light of day...

Amazon has them listed for June 3rd, if you pre-order you are guaranteed to get the lowest prices from Amazon should the prices drop;

"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" piano on the block

Elton John 'breaking my heart' piano for sale - Music - Entertainment

The grand piano on which Elton John rehearsed his British chart topping duet with Kiki Dee, Don't Go Breaking My Heart goes on sale next month with a price tag of up to STG45,000 ($A93,000).

The maple-finished Steinway was completed in Hamburg in 1971 and shipped to London where the flamboyant British singer bought it for his home in Windsor.

"I haven't owned that many pianos in my life and particular pianos have special memories," said John.

"It was a totally amazing time - the huge success in America, the touring, producing a new album at the rate of sometimes two a year. Just incredible!".

It will go on sale at auction house Bonhams entertainment memorabilia sale on June 18 alongside another of John's Grand Pianos, a Black Steinway made in the United States in 1971 which was originally bought for his Beverley Hills home.

That is expected to fetch up to STG35,000 ($A72,000).

Other items in the sale in Knightsbridge include film and concert posters, autographed record covers, concert tickets, items of clothing, musical instruments and photographs.

Reuters

Duffy: "Mercy"

My new favorite song;

Elton is selling two of his pianos

Elton John Pianos May Fetch 80000 Pounds at Bonhams in London

Elton's Lucy In The Sky - because I'm bored

Elton John - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Elton John to play Mohegan Sun

Elton John to play Mohegan Sun

GateHouse News Service
Posted May 27, 2008 @ 11:34 AM

Elton John is coming to Mohegan Sun Arena at 8 p.m. Nov. 14, as part of his 2008 tour: "Rocket Man: Number Ones." Mohegan Sun will be Elton John and his band's only public performance this fall in New England.

New Journey "After All These Years"

Since there is no new Elton music in the near future here is a new track from Journey called "After All These Years" with new lead vocalist Arnel Pineda. It really is quite good and very Journey sounding;

He's likely to accept the offer?

Elton John has been offered £2.6 million ($5 million) to play for a Russian woman tycoon for just an hour.

John, 61, is likely to accept the tempting offer, which is a record for a single artist. A private jet will fly him and guards will escort him to the hotel in the posh Rublyovka district, reports thesun.co.uk.

An informed source said: “Initially, Elton turned her down because he is so busy. But when the offer crossed the £2 million barrier it was too much to refuse, even for someone of his means. And let's be honest, £2.6 million buys a hell of a lot of flowers. He's on the verge of saying yes.”

Ok, for some reason I don't believe him...

After recording what are arguably his best 3 albums since the mid-70s according to his fans and critics, Elton has decided that he doesn't need to record another...

Elton John: 'I won't make another album'

Friday, May 9 2008, 13:09 BST

By Simon Reynolds, Entertainment Reporter
Elton John: 'I won't make another album'

Rex Features
Elton John has revealed that he may not release another album, BBC 6 Music reports.

Speaking after a recent performance in Austria, the popstar said: "I don't know if I'm ever going to make another record again at the moment. I have no plans to do another album as such.

"I am so busy touring and doing shows and promoting musicals and producing films - I would like to make another record but I don’t know when or where or if I am gonna make one."

John's last album, The Captain & The Kid, was released in 2006.

Sir Alan Sugar reportedly hired the 61-year-old to perform at his recent ruby wedding anniversary.

My new HDTV

I just bought this TV last week and I am STUNNED by the brilliant picture it produces. So here is my shameless plug for anyone looking for a new HDTV. This is the Samsung LN-T4671F and it has just been discontinued because it is the 2007 model. The price has come down $800 from last week and it probably will continue down until they exhaust their inventory. So check it out, buy it and also get "Elton 60: Live at Madison Square Garden" to be the first DVD or Blu-Ray you watch. You will be amazed!

Meet and Greet Elton on ebay....

Pretty cool but a bit out of my price range...

More Red Piano dates...

Elton John has added another round of dates to his ongoing Las Vegas production, dubbed "The Red Piano," and will work in some concerts outside of Sin City, as well. This month, John will tackle shows in Austria, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and China before returning stateside in late May for a couple of shows in Alaska, then back to the Vegas stage once again in June.

"Street Kids" included in Grand Theft Auto IV

According to a post on The Crazy Water Forum and confirmed here on the very unreliable Wikipedia Elton's 1975 song "Street Kids" is included in the new video game Grand Theft Auto IV.

Wolfgang's Vault adds 1988 Elton show...

Click here for the Elton John section of Wolfgangs Vault...

Wolfgang's Vault Adds Concerts by Elton John, America, Motorhead, etc.

Sunday, 27 April 2008

Wolfgang's Vault, the world famous music archive website "where live music lives", has just uncovered and presented 14 new concerts to be streamed free beginning today. These shows recorded between 1968 and 1988, have not been heard since then and are exclusive to www.ConcertVault.com.

These previously unreleased concert recordings are:

* Motorhead 1983

* Elton John 1988

* Crosby, Stills & Nash 1973

* America 1978

* Eddie Money 1978

* Slade 1976

* Jefferson Airplane 1969

* Steve Miller 1974

* Sammy Hagar 1977

* Garland Jeffreys 1978

* Todd Rundgren 1982

* Jimi Hendrix Experience 1968

Also this week, Wolfgang's Vault fans gave The Allman Brothers 1971 Fillmore East concert on the www.ConcertVault.com the highest rating in the Vault, edging out last week's winner: Stevie Ray Vaughn's 1983 Ripley Music Hall show.

Other news on Wolfgang's Vault includes the announcement of 15% off discount on all Rock Posters for a limited time. A discount coupon code was sent today to newsletter subscribers.

Rare luxury items are offered today on Wolfgang's Vault's eBay Store, in a "Big Ticket Auction." Included: an early Jefferson Airplane poster for the Vietnam Day Committee's Peace Trip; a handbill for the Hell's Angels' Chocolate George featuring the Dead and Big Brother; an extremely rare hand-painted poster for Jimi Hendrix; a signed Grape Strike Benefit poster; a New York Pop Festival poster; and offered for the first time ever, a set of over 600 BG tickets.

And [http://www.crawdaddy.com Crawdaddy!, The Magazine of Rock features:

Interviews with Ted Nugent,

Reviews of the new Rolling Stones film by Martin Scorcese: Let It Shine,

Music Sound Quality challenge: MP3 vs. Vinyl vs. CD

Black Lips, Billy Bragg, Brian Jonestown Massacre and more

About Wolfgang's Vault:

Wolfgang's Vault began in 2003 as the home of the Bill Graham Archives and has become the world's largest collection of concert recordings for streaming and download, and all related live music art including fine art rock posters, rock photos and vintage and retro apparel and rock memorabilia.