Customer Reviews

Captain Fantastic (Aniv)

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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I own every EJ recording I can find; so plunking down more cash on something I already own several copies of wasn't my idea of fun, but it seemed necessary. After doing it, I can only say... worth EVERY cent!

First off, there are two discs, one of the original recording with extra tracks, and the other the Wembley performance of the tneire record front to back. Both feature the Captain Fantastic logo lending more authenticity than the "45-rpm" replica CDs offered last time.

Disc 1 apparently has been digitally sweetened or remastered -- I'm not exactly sure (I haven't read the liner notes yet) but it sounds even better than the remastered edition. It's crisp, clear, powerful; you'd swear this was recorded yesterday, not in 1975. It just blows out of my my speaks with unrivaled clarity and brilliance. Wonderful recording.

The concert is a gem for the second disc, because of its rarity and uniqueness. What's fun here is that Elton talks between tracks and gives some info on the writing behind the songs, as well as his trademark humor and raport with his audiences. You get to be part of the 1975 concert experience, which for me having been born in 1974, is pretty damned cool.

The other awesome, awesome, AWESOME part of this collection is the packing and other items. This disc set is presented as a "double album" treatment where the discs are in a box that unfolds, but slips neatly into a plastic case. Inside, in addition to the two discs, you'll be dlighted to find original artwork, original liner notes... the original Captain Fantastic poster (!)... printed interviews with Elton and Bernie several years on looking back, and notes on the reissue.

This is a classic recording -- the first album to EVER *ENTER* the Billboard charts at #1 -- and it gets the classic treatment it deserves here.

For an Elton fan, this is a must have, as I think it will be the definitive recording. As we've seen reissue after reissue, I think they have finally nailed it by giving you as complete a package as possible. Buy this, and let what Elton intended come from the end of the world... to your town.

"Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy" has aged "fantastically" well. It's one of those great albums, from days long gone by, that are an absolute pleasure to listen to, from beginning to end. All killer, no filler, as they used to say.

I'm biased, because way back in fifth grade, to me, this was the greatest album ever made since the invention of the phonograph. I loved Elton John, and loved this record.

Honestly, I don't think I've listened to this whole thing in decades, but a phenomenally scary thing happened. I sang right along in the car, without missing a syllable, to the opening title song. Every weird phrase I didn't understand, but I didn't care that I didn't understand, when I was young I still had locked somewhere in the vault of my skull. Words that I hadn't THOUGHT of in 20 years came flowing right out of my mouth. How on Earth did the phrase, "and the 68th summer festival wallflower is thinning..." stay intact in there this long? It was kinda weird. I still could "sing" the skip I uses to have on my old record. I remembered exactly where it was, and how I used to have to bump the record player to keep it going.

Anyways, the classic single, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" is on here too, and pretty much every other song is filled with strong melodies, delightful arrangements...the album definitely has an overall flow to it.

The remastering is exquisite. Finely detailed and separated.

The folks at MCA have added four era-specific singles to the end of the album proper, like his classic take on "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", and the huge hit, "Philadelphia Freedom"

The second disc is given to an extraordinarily well-recorded concert back in 1975, where he played, mere weeks after the release of the album, the entirety of "Captain Fantastic" from first track to last. I was amazed at the sound quality.

His performance is superb; a young Elton John must have been a sight to see in those days. I hear he recently (September 2005) did this sort of thing, playing this whole album, in NYC. All I'm saying is that there BETTER be a DVD coming out...

The live album ends with a raucous "Pinball Wizard" and a wild, rollicking "Saturday Night's (Alright For Fighting)." The energy is positively nuclear in intensity, and the band borders on "punk" in their ferocity. Seriously, I could not have been more impressed.

Let's review: a remastered classic; additional essential singles; an entire concert recording including one of the best live performance you'll ever hear...all for one absurdly low price?

Oh yeah...you want this. Bad.

I purchased the lp the day it was released in '75, saw EJ at Madison Square Garden later that year. One of 7 (SEVEN!)sold-out shows. The album and the concert are two of the greatest experiences I've had with music. This re-issue is phenomenal.
Just last Friday, my wife & I saw Elton again at Madison Square Garden. The first 45 minutes or so were dedicated to his most recent studio disc "Peachtree Road", which we all politely listened to. After, he went straight into "Captain Fantastic", (all but 2 songs)and the place went crazy. He continued to play more greats from back in the day, but one thing that struck me was how great "Captain" was/is, and not nearly as appreciated as it should be.

Here, at last, is a respectful treatment, worthy of what may well be Elton John's best album. While the sound quality of this superbly-remastered two-disc deluxe edition may still not be quite equal to that of the hybrid super audio CD, this thirtieth anniversary reissue is well worth the money, for fans of a drastically under-rated classic album. For one thing, ALL of the inserts and booklets included with the original vinyl record are here at last. Even more importantly, the second disc includes a live version of the entire album, recorded only days after its release. Both discs are superb from start to finish, making this a must for any serious Elton fan. I do have one question, though. Why, after all this time, and several reissues of "Captain Fantastic," have we still not heard "Dogs In The Kitchen," a song apparently left off the original album, although its lyrics are included?

Say what you will about "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", but "Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy" is Elton John's best album. The amount of artistic passion put into this album is unrivaled by any of his previous or later efforts. Elton and longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin trace their roots to create quite possibly the most cohesive and overall greatest concept album ever (and yes, that includes "Tommy", "Dark Side Of The Moon", "Desparado", "Quadrophenia" and "The Wall"). It set records as the first album ever to enter the Billboard Album Charts at number one, and sold millions in its initial relase. With the adevent of cds in the late 1980s', many diehard Elton fans had long awaited a digitally remastered version of "Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy". However, all remastering attempts made the album sound flat and lacking in depth and range. Until now. On September 13th, 2005, Universal released "Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy: Deluxe Edition". It featured yet another remastered version of the original album as well as a bonus live disc. How does it do? Read on.

When I got home, I immediyately popped the first disc into my dvd player. The moment I heard those familiar opening acoustic strains of the album's title track, I knew I was in for something special. It sounded, well, fantastic. Honestly, I heard instrumental parts I never knew were there before! The rest of the album did not disappoint. Nigel Olsson's drumming is powerful and commands your attention. Dee Murray's bass is brought to the forefront and at times overtakes all the other instruments in the songs. Davey Johnstone's guitar playing sounds fresh and original, while Elton's keyboard playing sounds lively and robust. As one reviewer pints out, this album sounds like it was recored just yesterday.

Disc Two is the real treat. It is the famed 1975 performance at Wembley Stadium. It was at this particular show that Elton did indeed perform the entire album. And let me tell you, despite the absence of Dee & Nigel, the songs sound just as good as the album versions. The playing is alive and robust, and some of the songs are even more enjoyable than the album version, especially the title track, which is given a more uptempo and peppy arrangement. The only disappointment is the performance of "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" that closes out this disc. It could've used better remastering job.

In the end, you should definitely snatch up this newly remastered edition of "Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy", even if you have every other edition of it. This is a must for any cd colection.

30 YEARS? ALREADY? CAN'T BE! I have 3 Original LPS(1 to play/1 to save & a reissue). I remember sitting by Dad's Motorola Console Combo, reading the scraps booklet,listening to all the words & crying when "Curtains" ended as I knew EJ's band would'nt be on his Rock of the Westies Tour later in '75. Being
a collector & a fan since '71, I have a vast Elton Emporium!
This 2 disc features the whole LP & a live version from Wembley
plus Extras! If U love EJ like I do, U WILL LUV this! 1 of my faves is "Tell me When the Whistle Blows". So NEAT! My 1st LP has turned silver from constant play! Skips & scratches included! It's a beautiful thing! Ahh, the 70's! He's been thru so much & "He's STILL Standing! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!!!"

30 years ago, I walked to my local record store (not yet of age to drive) to buy Elton's latest. I still have the original orange sticker from the platic wrap. I was one of those fans responsible for sending this album to number one its first week out. I loved this album then; I still love it now. Elton and Bernie telling there own story. Incomparable! I bought the remaster a few years back. I had to have this special edition because of the live portion, CD 2. Sure would have loved to be there for that show. Elton rocked this album live. The special edition packaging is great, just like the original but mini-sized. All are included, the gatefold cover, the two booklets, and even the original poster. Rumor has it that a movie is in the making for this album. Who could play Elton? My childhood is wrapped up in this album and many of Elton's others. Too bad
Peachtree Road doesn't stand up next to masterpieces like this.

Perhaps it was the otherwise gaudy cover of the previous album, "Caribou", which drove Elton to commission a serious artist for the cover of his next project. One's first contact with this album is the album cover...and one's first impression is simply "wow!"

That "wow" feeling continues as one listens to the album. Every song is a keeper. Elton's melodies are varied and catchy, and Bernie's lyrics tell the autobiographical story of their rise to stardom, from lowly songwriters on Tin Pan Alley struggling to get by to the greatest songwriting duo in pop rock (excluding perhaps Lennon/McCartney of course).

The title track starts off country before rocketing off into a jamming chorus. "Tower of Babel" is a catchy pop tune. It is amazing how much Elton's voice has progressed at this point. He hits all those really, really high notes like it was nothing. "Bitter Fingers" shows off Elton's spectacular piano work. "When the Whistle Blows" has a phenomenal backing string arrangement and oozes with that "Philly sound" that was so en vogue in 1975.

"Someone Saved My Life Tonight" commemorates old Bluesology bandmate Long John Baldry (from whom Elton got his new last name) and how he saved him when Elton tried to commit suicide. He was scheduled to marry the daughter of a slaughterhouse magnate in the mid 1960s. Following the failed suicide attempt, Baldry talked him out of it. Oh, by the way, this is also one of the greatest songs ever written, period.

"Meal Ticket" is a pure rocker. The album ends in classic form with the tender "We All Fall in Love Sometimes" and the crescendo of "Curtains". Note the appearance of a scarecrow in this song, for the first song Elton and Taupin penned was called "Scarecrow."

The remastered version makes a great album even better by adding two number one singles Elton had at the time, "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" recorded with John Lennon in 1974, and "Philadelphia Freedom" from 1975.

The 30th Anniversary deluxe version features Elton's June 21, 1975 concert in Wembley where he performed all of Captain Fantastic, cover to cover. Elton was headlining the performance. He was following up the Beach Boys and the Eagles who were performing on the same bill. It was a tough act to follow and Elton perhaps overstated his popularity with the fans. They were not willing to swallow the new, yet-to-be-released album whole and, yearning for the classics like "Rocketman" or "Crocodile Rock", they flocked to the exits.

Luckily you don't hear the fans flocking to the exits, but rather the thankful few who stuck around. Those who did leave missed a hell of a performance. They are surely kicking themselves for it thrity years later given the subsequent popularity of "Captain Fantastic". Elton's playing with his new band (minus Dee Murray and Nigel Olson) is energetic. The title track really smacks of country here. The extended jam on "Meal Ticket" is impressive as is the rocking jam at the end of "Curtains". The sound quality is superb. The concert ends with two hard rocking numbers, Townsend's "Pinball Wizard" and "Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting."

This album was the first EVER to enter the Billboard charts at Number 1, and with good reason. While there are no big singles on this album, the most refined critics consistently name this as Elton's best album.

It was part of my coming of age. I was nearly 15 years old. I too had been drawn in by Yellow Brick Road but even then Mad Man Across The Water was always the most substantial work in my view. (It's still the only EJ album that I listen to regularly today)
Captain Fantastic was sentimental and embarassing after the optimistic, Americana influenced albums that preceded it. It was saved by mega melodies, tight rhythms and pathos.
The day in Wembley was hot. The Beach Boys and The Eagles with new member Joe Walsh stole the show. EJ's new band wasn't what I was expecting. I was unfamiliar with his new songs. Even now listening to the second CD although recorded superbly and faithful to the original arrangements, the intimate nature of the songs does not sit well with a stadium audience. Particularly one that had fed so richly earlier in the day.

Since most of us who are willing to plunk down the cash for this reissue are already fans of the original album, it wouldn't make much sense to review disc one. The question is, do the restored inserts and disc two make this a worthwhile purchase?
The answer is a slightly qualified yes. Although the booklets and poster have been necessarily minaturized, it's good to have them back as they are part and parcel with the magic of the original release. As to disc two (Live at Wembley), Elton himself is in fine form. The problem is that the Elton John Band Mark II is not quite up to the material. Roger Pope's drumming is tepid and slightly out of sync and the guitars sometimes seem buried in the mix. The back up singing is a bit over pitched and frantic, while Ray Cooper loses all sense of musical proportion, hammering his gong incessantly during "Pinball Wizard". Perhaps the biggest disappointment is "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"; you would think with three great guitarists at hand, that ever-recognizable riff would shake the stadium to bits. Instead, it sounds tinny. Too bad. This was a historic show as far as Elton is concerned, and it's great to have a recording of it. One can't help but wonder, however, how much better things would have sounded if Nigel Olson and Dee Murray had not been dismissed from the band prior to this performance.