Elton John (Dlx) (Exp) (Dig) [Original recording remastered]

Elton John | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 3, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 1970
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B0010NX2CE
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,144 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Your Song

2. I Need You to Turn To

3. Take Me to the Pilot

4. No Shoes Strings on Louise

5. First Episode at Hienton

6. Sixty Years On

7. Border Song

8. The Greatest Discovery

9. The Cage

10. The King Must Die

Disc: 2

1. Your Song [#][*][Demo Version]

2. I Need You to Turn To [Piano Demo][#][*]

3. Take Me to the Pilot [Piano Demo][#][*]

4. No Shoes Strings on Louise [Piano Demo][#][*]

5. Sixty Years On [Piano Demo][#][*]

6. The Greatest Discovery [Piano Demo][#][*]

7. The Cage [#][*][Demo Version]

8. The King Must Die [Piano Demo][#][*]

9. Rock and Roll Madonna [Piano Demo][#][*]

10. Thank You Mama [Piano Demo][#][*]

See all 20 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

2008 digitally remastered deluxe two CD edition of Elton's self titled album featuring an additional eight bonus tracks on the first disc plus a second CD containing 12 additional bonus tracks. Originally released in 1970, Elton John was his second album which spawned the classics 'Your Song', 'Take Me To The Pilot' and 'Border Song' and launched his musical career into the stratosphere. This deluxe edition features piano demos of eight of the album's tracks plus piano demos for five tracks that never made the album. Also included are non-album cuts, BBC sessions and more. Universal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic first album earns a fifth star for the second disc of unreleased demos and BBC performances makes this worth getting aga, June 4, 2008

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Elton John (Dlx) (Exp) (Dig) (Audio CD)

First a couple of things up front--if you liked the previous remaster of this album you'll LOVE this one simply because it sounds very similar but with an extra disc of material. If you prefer the earliest edition on CD (The DJM or MCA editions), you'll probably want to keep those discs. It all comes down to preferences in sound.

Elton John's self titled second album is where the magic happened. Everything came together. That's not to slight "Empty Sky"--Elton needed a better producer and Steve Brown knew that so brought in the late Gus Dudgeon. The meat here is the original album which sounds extremely good in this remastered edition. It can't top the original DJM CD (or probably the vinyl for that matter)but the real reason you're probably buying this AGAIN is the second disc. Is it worth it? Yep.

We get Elton performing the entire album solo minus two songs ("First Episode at Hienton" and "Border Song" are missing. There are also two songs that have never been formally recorded or released in any form offically. Most of these performances have never been released and vary a bit in sound but on the whole sound extremely good given the age of the tapes, the recording environment and the fact that they were never meant to be released. . It's like sitting at a solo performance of Elton when this album was first released. We also get b-sides from the singles that were on the first remaster. Additionally, we get those piano demos as well.

One technical note to be aware of--during one song from the demo selections the original mastertape for the demos was damaged causing what sounds like a drop out and tape drag causing some distortion.

Elton does the melody for the strings vocally for the songs included on this including "The Greatest Discovery". This is essential for fans of Elton John. The BBC performances feature Elton backed by DJM labelmates Hookfoot (Caleb Quayle the guitarist in that band performed on the original album as well).

The packaging is in the digipak format used for all the Deluxe Edition CD releases. Highly recommended.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of it's Kind, August 30, 2008

By 

PHILIP S WOLF (SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Elton John (Dlx) (Exp) (Dig) (Audio CD)

I purchased this LP on the same day I picked up: "Tumbleweed Connection", Elton's 3rd record. These two recordings by the exact same artist, are MILES apart from each other.

The Original Album:
I had heard 3 of these tracks already before I dropped this LP on the turntable. "Your Song" was a BIG Hit Single. FM Radio was playing "Take Me To The Pilot" & "Border Song", that said, I knew a little bit going in. Nobody could be prepared from this record, it was very different in 1971 from everything else from that time period, and today the gap is even bigger between this and the current Pop Music of 2008.

Like: "Pet Sounds" or Love's masterpiece: "Forever Changes", This Elton John record, stands alone on it's own merits. Go out there, and FIND a Record that sounds like this, of this production quality and/or these arrangements. If you do find another recording as unique and great as this, run don't walk and buy a lottery ticket, for your ship has indeed come in!

From the lilting harpsichord of: "I Need You To Turn To" in all it's baroque glory, to the Rock of: "Take Me To The Pilot" onto the country music of: "No Shoestrings On Louise" into the darkness of: "First Episode At Hienton". The arrangements and production are big and small as needed for each song. The lyrics? With the exception of: "Your Song" & "The Greatest Discovery", the two most straight forward things here, I have no idea what Bernie Taupin, is about, use your imagination and the journey becomes more enjoyable.

There are ten reasons to buy this CD, and those ten songs on: "Elton John" are the answers. Each of these songs are little mini-symphonies, and they are all unique in their form and shape. Many moods and colors are presented herein...This is a vast soundscape!

The Bonus Disc:
A lot has been said and written about the big arrangements and production used on this record. Now listen to these songs as just performed with Elton's voice and piano {14 Demos}. It's rough to take a song 38 years on and bring forth a totally new version {to us, Elton played these before the LP editions}. But for me to hear: "Sixty Years On" without the dark and gloomy strings is a bit of a relevation. Elton, knew what he was going to do from the start, he knew how special this material was and he knew where he was going with it.

"Grey Seal" has been issued before, but I never get tired of hearing this one, as a demo or finished up in the studio, it is one of Bernie and Eltons greatest compositions. "Bad Side Of The Moon" is fantastic as well, and this one was a showstopper when Elton played it live in 1970."Rock And Roll Madonna" is transformed from a piano demo into a full-out rocker in three versions heard here. The BBC sessions at the end of Disc Two confirm what Elton had in store for these songs as live pieces of music, big things were gonna happen.

It would take Elton a few years to become the biggest Rock Star of the 1970's. The albums: "Don't Shoot Me" & "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" would sell many times over what this record achieved in sales. Lot's of folks start their Elton John Collection in the 1973-1975 period, not here with this 1970 Record. There is no such thing as a: "Perfect Record". Opinions are as much opposed, as they are for ANY piece of art. But, if there was something that indeed flies close to the sun, this one would shine very bright!
FIVE STARS !!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Early Elton, October 15, 2008

By 

Kurt Harding "bon vivant" (Boerne TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Elton John (Dlx) (Exp) (Dig) (Audio CD)

Though Elton John's eponymous album does not reach the creative heights achieved by the follow-up Tumbleweed Connection, it still makes the listener wonder how someone could achieve so much early on and survive shifting musical tastes to remain a superstar into his 60s. What brings this into five-star territory is the quality and value added by the inclusion of the bonus disc.
With this special edition, you get nearly two hours of music and an attractive, informative booklet containing pictures, album info, lyrics for the original ten songs, and commentary on the development of EJ's early career.
My favorite songs on the first disc are classics: Your Song, I Need You To Turn To, Sixty Years On, and The King Is Dead. I also like the idealistic Border Song and The Cage. On the bonus disc, my favorite rare cuts are both versions of Grey Seal. I also enjoyed demo versions of the same songs I most liked on the first disc. Like another reviewer, I noticed the tape wobble on The Greatest Discovery and wonder why it had not been noticed and fixed.
For some reason, I never bought this album in high school although I bought Empty Sky, Tumbleweed Connection, and Madman Across the Water. But as they say, better late than never. I am delighted to own this now and you will be too.